Disability

[TattedMomma]

My son just started receiving disability. Does anyone know what I can and cannot purchase?

Anything you want as long as it’s of a benefit to the child in some way.

No one checks what you spend the money on btw, incase you’re worried about that.

Not sure there are any set guidelines, I use it for classes / hobbies that help ds with his needs and provide social enrichment, but the rest mainly goes into the “family income” pot, because I earn a lower income than I could if he were able to cope with afterschool club in order to support him.

I was doing research online and it says you have to clear everything with them Incase it wouldn't get approved and then it said to keep receipts because once a year they will ask? I feel like they have strict rules. They say you can buy what he needs but I feel like you really can't. I'd have to ask to buy him soap, a new bed, dresser, bookcase, pulse ox cords, cannula, food, mattress, toy box, clothes, shoes, toys, stroller, car seat, and all that? I'm almost afraid to spend the money with all that I've read and been told. I don't want them coming after me for something. Why do they say they watch where the money goes if they don't? I was also told the money left over each month has to go into some kind of separate account or something. I am very confused with what I can do.

Ours goes towards household bills because he's a bedwetter, so extra water, electricity, soap powder to wash a lot of extra bedding.
It goes on shoes because he gets through so many pairs. On clothes because he picks holes and destroys them far more frequently than my other children.
We pay for a particular social activity which is about 20 miles away (nothing closer) so petrol can be factored in.
He sleeps with the light on so that costs more.
He also has a tendency to smash things up when in a meltdown so things have to be replaced/ house needs repaired.

Who told you that nonsense?

Are you in the UK?

If you’re in the UK they don’t check. Of course it should go on something that benefits the child, but to be honest that could include gas/electricity bills, food bills, pretty much anything. Because it’s to enable the child to have extra help needed because of their disability. So if their disability means less wages coming into the house, and not having to worry about bills that’s part of it.

Is this disability, as in dla?? Because they definately don’t check. However there are other disability grants from charities that indeed do check and ask for receipts. Maybe there are crossed wires here??

My son is 14 months old and has failure to thrive, gerd/acid reflux, Pierre robins sequence, mixed sleep apnea, and they are checking on a few other things, but he is to young to tell. I am in USA. I feel like they wouldn't have time to answer everyone's calls just to approve everything they needed. I'm just really confused because everyone says something different. Even the little book I got and the Internet.

I'm so sorry to hear that Tatted. I think you would be better asking on a US form. In the UK people are free to spend disablility benefits on whatever they like.