DLA Mandatory Reconsideration 2023

[Mumofboysteamginge]

Hi, I’ve been following the DLA wait times thread since I applied for my 7 year old son in October. We had the decision yesterday and it was declined 😭 I was absolutely devastated.

We applied because my son was involved in a serious RTC (we were going on holiday with our friends, he wanted to travel in their car following us, a car came round a bend missed us but hit them head on) understandably he struggles with the fact he was the only one in the car and blames us for letting him in there). He was the only one awake and conscious in the vehicle, he has chronic flashbacks, normal everyday life things (sirens, bangs, travelling, weather conditions and so on are triggers) they send him into a state of survival and all his rational thinking is gone. Nights are horrendous for him, he lives like his life is in constant threat, he fights sleep and often gets dressed in the middle of the night so he’s ready should anything bad happen. Flashbacks are more prominent through the night.

school are aware of his issues. Now he’s under CAMHS school have been asked to stop any mental health interventions as this could interrupt the trauma therapy. hes happy at school because of the structure and routine, no real unpredictability etc.

anyway I’ve done this tread for anyone going through MR and hope we can all support each other through the process!

xxx

My daughter has been diagnosed with ASD since 3, she’s 9 this year, she’s always been entitled to MRC and LMC. All the professionals involved with her couldn’t understand how she wasn’t entitled to HRC at least so I put in for COC in May 2023, decision was made Nov 2023 declined, MR received 8 weeks ago and again was declined yesterday. I was in literal tears on the phone, I put so much detail, her up to date EHCP stating that she’s starting a specialist school in Sep 2024 as currently in a CCN base and can’t keep up with needs, I went into so much detail and for them to turn around and say she’s developed far, which yes in a sense she has, but also care wise has just got progressively worse and will continue to do so the older she gets. She sleeps 3-4 hours every night, she has melatonin to help get her to sleep, she is a constant danger to herself and others around her, apparently they class verbal (she’s non verbal) she can say 1 word maybe 2 together but that is literally it. Has no sense of danger, uses a wheelchair or disabled pushchair when going out, we don’t go out on our own always need another adult as has lots of meltdowns, refusal to walk, very overwhelmed incredibly easily. She also self harms where she repeatedly smashes her head on the floor or punches herself in the face, it’s extreme but apparently having to do all needs for her, bathing, washing, even as far as prompting her to go to the toilet because she just doesn’t have the capacity to just know when she needs to go. I’m so stressed with it all and seriously considering weither it’s even worth it.

Can I ask if you sent any supporting evidence? I’m also waiting for a Coc but I now feel that the decision won’t be changed based on your circumstances

I sent a personal statement, updated EHCP stating change of schools due to being unable to fulfill needs at CCN base, covering letter as to why I think she’s entitled
to it amd
they had the original paperwork, including a child phycologist report

Very similar evidence to me, I also sent some sleep diaries because I hadn’t sent any originally. I’m honestly not very confident now as it appears to me that you should he entitled to HRC & HRM

I was completely mind blown if I’m honest how it was awarded the first time but I was following a previous thread on here so I wasn’t holding out much hope but life is so difficult, I absolutely love her to pieces but nobody understands how much of a struggle every single day is, unless your a parent to a child with SEN it’s a whole nother ball game. Some of the reasons were ridiculous, she’s not in a specialist school now was one of them, yeah because they don’t have the space but as soon as a space comes available she will be starting there prior to September just that’s a definitive date, also she can write, does math sums, she understands being spoken to and actually very intelligent, fantastic at drawing but unfortunately doesn’t have the communication. She is very selective, so regardless she does what she likes, and if she doesn’t want to do something she won’t, home and school, she refuses to use PECS, did have a communications aid but it became a distraction for her because she’s constantly mess around with it and change the fonts, backgrounds etc and not really using it for what the funding was for. Over time obviously being her mum I’ve grown to know what behaviours are displayed for what she wants or needs but they don’t seem to give a damn. I said to the lady on the phone who was ever so polite, you know these people wouldn’t be able to pick our children out of a crowd and there making decisions on what our children are entitled to, I said take her for 24 hours and tell me her needs aren’t significantly higher throughout day and night they’ll soon change there mind!

Anyone else getting so anxious with the wait. I'm 8 weeks today

@ohhollyfred I had a phone call today from decision maker they are getting in touch with school to ask for some info for my daughter. It’s been 7 and a half weeks wait up to now for my daughter. It might be worth giving them a call x

Hi I’m thinking of starting a MR I’m just wondering if it’s as bad as the dla forms ? Lengthy ? Hard ? What evidence do I have to send it is it as hard as everyone says it is, through this whole thread I haven’t seen Many get a better outcome ?

@Homesweethome93 It’s nowhere near as bad as the forms you first fill in. It is as lengthy as you want to make it. I just put reasons for every point they declined my daughter on. I filled in the form you can get offline then added extra pages at the back. I did send extra evidence, sleep diary, up to date IEP, letter from CHAMHS and emails thread between me and my daughter’s teacher about her toileting needs. She went from no award to MRC. Don’t get me wrong it wasn’t the easiest wait but it definitely shows not to give up x

@Homesweethome93 When I put the forms in they didn’t wait for the evidence I sent in and made a decision without it. There is no forms to fill in. Ask for a statement of reasons and bullet point each point you don’t agree with and show which evidence you sent in to back you up. You can either do it over the phone or write in to do the MR x

Hi everyone just an MR update for those waiting. Woke up to a back payment in my account this morning 8 weeks exactly, no letter or text received other than the generic it’s taking up to 15 weeks now. Put The Mr in on the 21st November. Mrc to Hrc.

Congrats! You must be relieved

Happy for you I’m exactly 6 weeks so still a while to go

Thank you, it’s been a lengthy process but I knew my child met the criteria for High Rate Care and the evidence was there. keep fighting for what your child is entitled too and don’t settle for less. Hope you all have successful outcomes.

@EmmiBlossom amazing news xx

2 hours in the queue to be told my request wasn't even in the queue as it has been forgotten about!!! So she said she wil mark it as urgent but another 2-3 weeks!!! Not ideal

@ohhollyfred that is disgusting, I'm sorry to hear this hopefully they speed up and gets looked at sooner xx

Hey still waiting it's been over 7 weeks now, I had to resend evidence in which I already sent in November via recorded delivery, but they say they don't have it, I hope they receive it this time before it gets looked at. GL to everyone still awaiting, it really is gruelling. Xox

Hi there I’ve been keeping up to date with this forum for a few months now, done MR 7 weeks today still haven’t heard anything I’m just wondering is anyone else on the forum doing/ been successful with the mobility side under smi or vuw for hrm . Was giving lrm but they should definitely be entitled hrm by what they’re saying factors for it. Thank you

Hello first time posting on this form and thought I would update my mr
I called today and the lady told me I’m exactly 7weeks today and then received a phone call from the decision maker what asked me some questions im not sure of the outcome yet I asked her if it was a decline and she said ummm no? but fingers crossed 🤞 good luck to everyone still waiting

@Dla96 96 i am appearing for HRC and HRM under SMI, I am yet to have my decision and from what I hear it is difficult to get, I have studied the criteria for HRM and SMI and my son definitely meets these. I'm working with citizens advice and they will be helping me with the tribunal if the MR is declined. Hope you hear something soon, definitely fight for what your LO deserves..xox

@Melliee fingers crossed for you, sounds really positive. Xox

Yeah my LO gets hrc lrm but I didn’t really put much evidence in at the time for the hrm I thought I had enough in, obviously I never but from what I’ve read on there own website my LO Definitely meets the criteria also have evidence from all the specialist I work with also. Also got everything lined up incase I need to go to tribunal. Thanks for your reply mojo.

We were awarded this morning, woke up to money in the bank. I have no idea which rates he's getting though, my maths isn't up to working it out