EHCP and DLA

[abbs1]

My DS has been assessed and told he needs an EHCP. Does anyone know if he is entitled to DLA or if I'm able to get carers allowance? Been a long stressful year. Any help would be much appreciated.

They are completely different processes. EHCPs are about the educational needs of the child. DLA is about the care needs of the child. It's quite possible to have care needs but not met the threshold of the EHCP, and vice versa.

If you think your child would qualify for DLA you can either phone for a form, or print a form, or fill it out online https://www.gov.uk/disability-living-allowance-children/how-to-claim

He obviously has SEN if he needs an EHCP so he may be entitled to DLA - but having an EHCP doesn't confer automatic eligibility to DLA.

If you apply for and are awarded DLA for him, and his award includes the middle or high rate of the care component, then you would be eligible to claim Carers Allowance.

Sorry, I should have said I am sorry to hear about your long and stressful year. I have been there and got the t-shirt and you have my sympathy cos it's a really hard road x

You can apply for DLA without having an EHCP.

My DD(6) now receives DLA. She doesn't have an EHCP yet but we'll be applying soon.

Flowers for you OP. Sorry it's been so hard.

Thankyou everyone for your replies. The reason I ask about carers allowance/DLA is my DS will be attending a special school for children with SEND from next Sept but would be at the SEND school in the morning but then mainstream at our chosen school on his EHCP in the afternoons. His mainstream school doesn't offer what the SEND School can.

I had planned to go back to work part time while hes in school but due to having to now drive him to the special school then pick him up after lunch and take him to mainstream school and then school pick up in the afternoon I can't get a part time job as he needs me. He's currently in nursery part time and I'm home with my other child but they will be doing more hours next September to enable me to work to get the 2yr+ funding.

My priority is of course to put him first always but financially it will impact us as a family as I won't be able to work. Would the schools arrange transport for him does anyone know or would that stay my responsibility?

I'm totally new to all of this.

If he's going to a specialist school, he almost certainly has enough care needs for DLA. You can apply now.

The local authority may arrange transport but it's unlikely. Most LAs will only transport at the beginning and end of the day. However, you could get it written into his EHCP that they'll transport, or you could ask for a parental mileage allowance, so they pay you the mileage costs for the transport.

Definitely apply for DLA. The Cerebra guide is helpful when completing the form.

I second looking at transport. If the LA refuse transport based on DS having dual placement and/or needing to move between sites during the day, contact SENTAS who can help you challenge the LA’s decision because despite what some LAs think the law doesn’t limit their duty to the normal start/finish time or to 1 site only.

Definitely apply for dla. But remember it's not about diagnosis but care needs above what is considered 'Normal' for a child the same age.

There are some good guides out there that will help advice how to answer each question. Cerebra and ippsea and some amazing Facebook pages.

It can feel soul destroying answering the questions as most parents want to say 'my kid struggling at xyz....BUT he is amazing' so not to feel we are attacking our own child. But it's not about writing the flip side. It really has to be clinical and very descriptive about needs.

Though if u have been through an EHCP then I'm sure you understand the structure of paperwork.

Depending on age, as I may have missed your childs age, the mobility element cant be claimed until they turn 5 unless high needs.