DLA wait times part 16 (2023)

[JME85]

Following on from part 15…

Hi just looked on guide dog web site I have asked for reconsideration already with my reasons I disagree but wish I looked on that web site first as I could of added so much more but il save it for appeal if they say no again thankyou

Hi all! Scan date 22/06. First text 30/08 second text 19/09. Called this morning at 9am and was on hold for 50 mins. They made a decision yesterday but I hadn’t been told and didn’t get any text. They awarded my son higher rate until 2025!! He’s currently 7 months old. Just thought I would update this thread as I’ve been lurking! I am over the moon.

I saw someone ask about awards for children under 1….. it was hard to complete the form because a lot of the questions didn’t really apply to a baby (of course they need help eating and are non verbal at 3 months old!!). Instead I wrote a long statement detailing his care & sent 3 pages listing his upcoming appointments & referrals.

I sent a supporting letter from his lead consultant explaining his diagnosis. I told the consultant it was for DLA & they specifically explained why he requires more care than the average child his age!!

I also included a 24 hour diary and 6 letters from his surgeons/consultants confirming his diagnosis. (They were just letters that we’d been copied into discussing his care, not written specifically for DLA)

They told me that backdated payments take 2-3 days.

Good luck everyone x

Thank you so much gor such a detailed reply! Do you mind if I ask what your son has? I feel like i completed the form and sent loads like you said but I done things like filled in the appointments upcoming section but just filled in the space on the sheet! Like I'd have a lost as long as my arm with all his appointments! So hopefully it's enough without doing more than the sheet says on each section! Congratulations on your award! 🥳🙌🙏 xx

Aw thank you so much 💗

He has something called VACTERL… he has a tumour in his spine and a tethered spinal cord, one kidney (with reflux), a aortic arch and vascular ring (where his heart artery constricts his windpipe), and imperforate anus (no butthole!). His bowel is connected to his bladder at the moment so he has a colostomy bag. Strangely only the single kidney was found on my ultrasounds!! Shocked is an understatement!

honestly I only sent in all the extra information because I was worried about his age vs the questions they ask. It was hard to explain why he needed more care than the average 3mo old….as all 3mo olds need constant care…..🙄

I did update them with his new appt list a couple of weeks ago. To give you an idea, I think it had 34 appts on there. But I didn’t give any details about them…just date and what it was for.

I have everything crossed for you!!! Xx

Personally I think the strongest evidence was the consultant letter so definitely worth telling the medical staff/care staff that you’re applying for DLA as they might write a statement X

My first time posting. My child was awarded in 2021, he has undiagnosed ASD as well as other things. I did not realise that I had to reapply after two years and never received the paperwork to do it, I phoned and spoke to a lovely lady who explained the process. She told me waiting times at that point were 13 weeks (this was end of may) I’ve chased 2 weeks ago and was told it was just about to go to the decision maker.

my scan date was 21/6

I am really hoping we hear this week as, I know this sounds silly, but I am even dreaming about to and I am so worried. I just hope we get the same award and I am able to restart my sons private tutoring.

Aww wow your little guy sounds like an absolute warrior 💪 I'm so happy he got the award he so rightly deserved!! I have a pile of appointments attached to my fridge and the pile is so thick wish I did the same now! It is so hard because as you say they all need a lot of care but when you know you definitly do more care than someone else with a baby but worried just because age you might be declined is so stressful!! I did get a letter from his neurosurgeon as told him I was applying for dla but all he wrote on there was
'he will require ongoing care needs due abnormal neurology in his lower limbs and the requirement to manage bladder disfunction. I would be grateful if this is considered as part of his application' didn't explain much about him at all!! Xx

Thank you for your reply Mummyrach x

Thankyou Lovely, was cut off before finding out rates so i could inform UC, looking forward to that battle with those idiots lol xc

That happened to me last week Harrydog, i read someone said they will take your call after 5pm if you have been on hold, 1 hr 40 mins later hit 5.30 and disconnected.

@tmxx the fact that they wrote ‘ongoing care’ should work in your favour as it shows it’s not a short-term requirement!

And there’s nothing stopping you from adding the list of appointments to your application (I just sent it to Freepost DWP DLA Child and put his reference, name & DOB) 💗 I suppose you could save it for a MR if you need one, but fingers crossed you won’t!

Your little one sounds very similar to my boy - they are absolutely amazing aren’t they?! They just take everything in their stride & get on with things. I am sure you will get positive news. It made me quite emotional to have someone actually recognise the work we do for our children when they have extra needs 💗

Hang in there Xxxx

I hope so! It will be his whole life so fingers crossed it actually helps! They do sound similar! I often look at what a happy baby is and it makes me cry at the life he doesn't realise is to come but for you with your award now you can now get any equipment that may be needed at any point! It will be such a huge relief! It's just little things that they don't realise that's so hard! Like my boys care is all hard but for examplne he doesn't do any more than a 4 month old as hes so delayed and just me being the one to move him around all day absolutely exhausts me! He's this massive 10 month old and he cannot support himself at all so it's like a dead weight all day!

Yes I bet it was emotional! To know someone recognises the hard work and effort you put in everyday must have been such a good feeling! Praying I have this feeling soon 🤣 with it taking most people 18 weeks I still have another 3 and honestly I don't know how im going to cope!

I also don't think if we get declined thst I will be doing a MR I really don't think I can handle it I'm such an anxious person with anything I life I really don't think I could 😪🤣 xxx

@KirstyBushbye86 i have dreamt about it too between the sleepless nights. This is the most anxious thing I have ever waited for.

Im sure your decision won’t be too far off as seen a lot of awards upto around the 23/6.

Hey guys 😊 im new to mumsnet but a long time watcher on these posts that google sent me to lol. My scan date was 26/6 n I called friday to be told a 2 week wait. I called again today because I have a few new documents that could help my claim...and the lovely lady said a decision had been made on tuesday for MRC and LRM. I literally cant explain how happy I am! Its been such a long wait and I really felt like giving up towards the last few weeks but honestly I am so glad I waited it out. Please ppl DO NOT GIVE UP!
She said they have been so busy with claims nobody would understand how much pressure they are under.

Congrats @MamaJOY1989 I’m 26/6 too and a few others so hopefully we won’t be long too. Glad you got what your child deserves the journey is exhausting x

@MamaJOY1989 congratulations on your award brilliant news! I'm also 26/6 and called Tuesday and was told 2nd week of November for a decision 🙄 I'm not calling again I feel disappointed everytime they tell me no decision maker yet xx

Anyone know how long a Mr decision tends to take? I'm preparing myself for a decline and would like to know a rough idea of how long the mr turnover is xx

Exhausting is a complete understatement!! The last 2 weeks of checkin has proper ground me down. I think any1 with 26/6 should call tmoz just to check. Whats the worse that could happen? Thankyou to ppl that have congratulated me. Every little helps. And it stops jobcentre demanding weekly appointments!! My son is on a reduced timetable..1 hour each day n they was demanding me get another job to make up hours...yet i was workin 25 hours a week even with his issues. Nowadays iv swapped my day shift for evening, so home schooling him plus work is a 12 hour day!! Can they just leave us good mums that want the best for our kids alone!!!..

Sorry rant over 😂

@MamaJOY1989 I won't bother calling, sitting on hold for over a hour to sometimes get a horrible rude person whinging that we called a few days prior 🤣 n I know that feeling hun they were bugging Me and my partner because of my health I couldn't so my work coach advised pip so I made a application not thinking I'd be accepted and to my surprise first attempt at applying I was accepted and managed to put my partner down as a carer so now UC don't bother us... but it's still crap because anytime we do need to contact them they told me my case goes missing all the time because we don't have a work coach at all anymore. Like surely just because I'm classed as disabled doesn't mean I can't communicate with them about payments etc anymore or deserve a response! Uc boil my blood! Haha its 3am I'm 31 weeks pregnant and tired but can't sleep so I'm in rant mode!!! I'm hoping our dla claim is sorted soon and it's awarded and not declined I'll be devasted and exhausted If I have to do a MR xx congrats again on your award decision must be such a relief now xx

Morning all scan date 29/06 17 weeks today ! In 2 minds about calling I want to leave it till next Thursday but at the same time I’m starting to see more mid late June and early Julys! Anyone else with near a 26/06 calling today? GOOD LUCK TO THOSE CALLING ❤️🌈 update here if anyone gets any updates ! X

Does anyone know how long the letter confirming rates takes to come through from Dla?

good luck today everyone 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼

@Spicegirl91 hi I believe it can take around up to 2-3 weeks! X

@LGR004 im the 30/6 and called yesterday but got cut off, I was going to call at 9 but I'm so nervous my daughter will be declined, I've only send her autism diagnosis and and iep from school, I did ring on week 15 and they told me first week of November but looks like alot of people are being awarded earlier x

@Courtneymxo hey ! Yeah I don’t know if to call or not?! And we’ll fingers crossed you do! As long as you’ve sent the bits explained enough how she needs more care than another child her age then I don’t see why you could get declined ! Think positive sweet! I know it’s very hard ! I mean for my LO I sent , school SEND additional funding, audiology assessments, Paediatric report, speech and language therapy assessment and physiotherapy referral , sons awaiting an ASD diagnosis and all the help from the other departments but even me myself It might sound like I’ve sent enough but I’m in doubt he’ll be declined myself I don’t know why I just been seeing quite a lot of declines here I didn’t expect to! I’ll let you know if I pluck the courage up to call at 9 😂😩! Sending positivity sweet xx

26/06
I've never rang but going to today once back from school run.
Cba with the snotty one so hopefully it's someone nice 😅
Also feel like it's going to be a decline.

First time posting. Long time reading. 👋

I called yesterday re 30/06 scan date.

The nice man I spoke with said that week commencing 19/06 claims are being worked on at the moment and week commencing 26/06 claims will be going to decision makers this weekend.

He said if I hadn't heard by Thursday or Friday to call again.