To apply for DLA for DD when we have a household income of over 300k?

[Milesandmilesandmiles]

Just that really - we have an autistic daughter who needs support with most things (although is in mainstream school). Between us DH and I earn over 300k, so we don’t need the money. However, conscious that we won’t be around for ever and we could save it for DD’s needs as she grows. But is this what state benefits are for?

I don't think it's means tested if it's the same rules as PIP. So yes, anyone can apply.
I guess some might say you don't 'need' the money, but it's not like your taking it out of someone else's benefits. It's what that benefit is meant for. If they only wanted it to go to low income people then they'd have it means tested.

The Op,s daughter wouldnt Necessarily qualify as it goes off need not diagnosis,and the autism spectrum is huge
But if she does its because has significant needs

Get all the help you can for her @Milesandmilesandmiles . That's just being a good parent. x

Having the DLA assessment showing her needs will also help you be able to get other support/resources for her.

My DB has been on DLA since the age of 11 - he's 28 and still gets DLA - an indefinite award. (He has ASD) and my DM uses the DLA for him.

My guess is that the government will kick the consultation (which has now closed) on PIP reform into the long grass.

Introducing vouchers would be a major change to PIP requiring primary legislation. There was nothing in the King's Speech to give Parliamentary time to this.

Vouchers were a batshit idea dreamed up by a toxic Tory government in its death throes.

Osborne tried to introduce something along the same lines, but much less draconian (disability aids instead of PIP). He got his arse absolutely kicked, ministers were kicked off disability charity boards and Osborne swiftly dropped the idea. Same would happen if Labour went down the vouchers route and Starmer knows this.

My DB gets DLA - he's 28 and has an indefinite award since the age of 11 - so not necessarily.

Me either ,my son is 14 now and he's been getting DLA since he was 3 nobody asks whatsit gets spent on.

I wouldn't hesitate.

It's for her, not you. It isn't means tested. It might make access to other services easier later on.

A no brainer.

Yes - she's lit the touch paper on this one .....thinking it's a troll poster

That must be very rare ,most people were moved over to PIP
Generally speaking DLA is children up 16 and PIP for 16 +

The rules have changed. Every child who’s in receipt of DLA has to apply for PIP once they’re 16 (18 in Scotland I believe). It’s because often things are quickly changeable with children’s needs. I can easily evidence my son hasn’t cognitively developed since he was two and they only gave an 18 month award last time I applied due to this reasoning. Hopefully it will be recognised that he needs high care for a long time when I have to do his third application this winter.

We're high earners and are going through the process of applying for DLA. I feel no guilt whatsoever. We pay an extortionate amount of tax and receive zero other benefits.

We are a higher income family but not quite as high as yourselves. We claim DLA as it's a gateway benefit in many respects, it can make getting a blue badge easier if needed, access to sen passes or quieter sessions at days out. Even school took us more seriously once he was awarded. Whether it's true or not I don't know as we are many years away but I was told it can help when applying for pip if they have already had a DLA award.

That award was made 17 years ago. Rules have changed and DLA now stops at 16 for new applicants. They do not do infinite awards anymore and if couldn't therefore happen to OP in any case.

Good, you shouldn’t. You’re doing the right thing by your child and their future.

DLA is for extra costs incurred due to disability. You incur these costs, therefore you are entitled to claim.

If you want to save money for her, do that from your income.

You should claim what you're entitled to IMO. Everyone else does.

Personally i would

Yes apply as pp says the money is for your daughter and as a child she has no other income. Whether you can afford her disability costs or not is irreverent,dla is meant to cover the extra costs of having a disabled child putting you on the same financial position as another family with a £300k income without a disabled child.

@LostTheMarble

Thank you for that comment. It actually made me cry, so I suppose I must have some guilt there after all! It's all just such a struggle to get any support.

There are 2 streams of thought here.

1, what you can legally do.
2, what you can morally do.

Yeah you’re ‘entitled’ to it but could you sleep at night knowing our country is skint and you’re claiming an extra £50 a week that you can easily, easily afford yourself to put away for her?

Her DD has enough, she’s been born into wealth and privilege. This isn’t equity, it’s greed.

I’ve been there. I actually applied for my second child first and felt almost silly applying for my eldest. It was absolutely the right thing to do - his needs grew so much in the following couple of years and as I said above it has been a godsend in using as evidence of his needs without having to go through all the hard paperwork that DLA entails. ‘My son has been deemed as High Rate Care from DLA so why are you not recognising this’ - shit that it has to come to that but at least it’s in place for him. It is a bloody struggle, and it’s made harder by people like on here simply not understanding what a fight every day can be from every bloody direction - you’re doing great and don’t have a moment of doubt or guilt!

Too bloody right.

I've applied too, I expect my DC will be awarded Lower Rate. That's less than £1250 per year. To put it into context, I paid almost £30k in tax last year. So why shouldn't I get a fraction of that back? If it makes you feel better, see it as a 'tax relief' on some
of the masses of tax you pay.

Wealth and privilege that may not always be available and certainly may not be something she may be able to earn like her parents have. DLA is for her to recognise what may be a lifetime of struggle due to disability that may hinder her from personal economic development through no fault of her own. Her parents can’t magic up disability support simply from having good jobs. If people like David Cameron could recognise that, why can’t you.

Yep, can sleep perfectly well thanks. Me claiming doesn't affect you claiming.