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Original poster

DLA Mandatory Reconsideration 2023

874 replies

Mumofboysteamginge · 11/02/2023 10:58

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

OP posts:
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WreckTangled · 15/04/2023 10:01

There is a massive lack of consistency. It just depends on whose table your application lands on I think

Lougle · 15/04/2023 10:15

webuiltthiscityonrockandwheat · 15/04/2023 09:32

This is an interesting thread. I'm just starting to process of filling it out for my 5 year old. He very likely has autism and has just been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and needs a lot of care and treatment. The whole process seems daunting. I hear from parents of children with IBD saying they were awarded it first time and others saying they had to go to tribunal so I have no idea what to expect! I'll be following this closely for advice!

Don't assume that they will know anything about ulcerative colitis. If you give medication, detail all the steps you take. For example, when my DD was young, I had a medication that I had to dissolve, mix, draw up x MLS, then administer. To administer it we had to catch DD1, wrap a towel around her, then administer it. I described those steps in detail, and gave a description of how long it takes each time.

If you are up in the night, include all the time it takes. For example, waking, listening to ascertain if you need to get up, getting up and dealing with the issues, settling child back to bed, returning to bed, listening for signs that the child has settled, returning to sleep.

So many people are turned down simply because they assume that the decision maker knows about conditions, so only describe care briefly, or they have got so used to what they do that they don't realise it's above and beyond normal care needs.

I always give a comparison for each question with a typical child of their age. E.g. "I have to do x, y, and z for my child. I typical child of their age would be able to do x & y, and would know that z needed to be done and ask for help. My child isn't even aware that z needs to be done."

webuiltthiscityonrockandwheat · 15/04/2023 19:26

@Lougle that is amazingly helpful! Thank you for taking the time. My DS is only recently diagnosed with UC but I suspect it's been rumbling on for a while so things like night wakes and loose poos have become so normal for us. It's helpful to know to over explain things

Macariosmummy · 18/04/2023 22:33

Hi everyone I found out today that my son’s mandatory reconsideration has been declined, I don’t know if it is worth going for a tribunal appeal 😢

WreckTangled · 19/04/2023 16:46

Macariosmummy · 18/04/2023 22:33

Hi everyone I found out today that my son’s mandatory reconsideration has been declined, I don’t know if it is worth going for a tribunal appeal 😢

Mine did too. I’m giving up. It’s so frustrating when you know children with similar needs get it yet yours gets declined. It’s shit.

Macariosmummy · 20/04/2023 11:38

@WreckTangled it is so frustrating I think I’m going to give up and try and get some more involvement from the paediatrician etc I have a telephone consultation with a clinician next week to see if my son needs medication to help him sleep, I need the school to pull their finger out, I don’t understand how they say my son is fine because he cries and has meltdowns all day everyday, he don’t sleep, he needs help dressing etc 😢 I’m at my wits end

Yes1991 · 30/04/2023 12:48

Hiya, I put in for MR and it was recieved 4th April. Had a call today from dla to ask a few questions and said a decision would be made and I would know in the next 7 days, is this usually how they work? Is this a good sign or a bad sign. I've felt like this has consumed my life since November 2022 and just praying it's positive

Shellbel10 · 30/04/2023 13:08

I’m saying it’s a good sign if they’ve rang you. Ring tomorrow it’s more than likely a decision will be made today

Yes1991 · 30/04/2023 14:30

@Shellbel10 I'm going to ring Tuesday. Its a bank holiday tomorrow. I'm hoping it's good news I just don't have that positive vibe

webuiltthiscityonrockandwheat · 30/04/2023 14:48

Macariosmummy · 20/04/2023 11:38

@WreckTangled it is so frustrating I think I’m going to give up and try and get some more involvement from the paediatrician etc I have a telephone consultation with a clinician next week to see if my son needs medication to help him sleep, I need the school to pull their finger out, I don’t understand how they say my son is fine because he cries and has meltdowns all day everyday, he don’t sleep, he needs help dressing etc 😢 I’m at my wits end

Have you been referred to an OT? They would be able to help with the dressing and write a report which you could then use in a DLA application. I had a phone triage appointment on Friday for DS and they said they would write a report and send it to us, school, the GP, the paediatrician and the people doing his autism assessment

Happyher · 30/04/2023 15:18

I had to take my sons PIP claim to appeal when he transitioned from DLA. I sought advice from https://www.fightback4justice.co.uk/ I wrote the appeal myself challenging each point that DWP turned him down on and saying what points and why I thought he qualified for. The appeal was during lockdown so by telephone. My son is an adult so I asked for a reasonable adjustment that I could speak for him as he has ASD and struggles on the phone. They agreed this. Whilst the appeal was quite challenging I felt I’d finally got to speak to ‘adults’ rather than spiteful DWP robots and they listened and questioned, my son did speak for himself a lot of the time. After the hearing, it took them about 10 mins to make a decision and my son ended up being given a higher award than his DLA.

My best advice would be do not leave out anything you consider relevant as the panel will only know what you tell them

Good luck. I hope you’re successful

https://www.fightback4justice.co.uk/

WreckTangled · 30/04/2023 15:48

webuiltthiscityonrockandwheat · 30/04/2023 14:48

Have you been referred to an OT? They would be able to help with the dressing and write a report which you could then use in a DLA application. I had a phone triage appointment on Friday for DS and they said they would write a report and send it to us, school, the GP, the paediatrician and the people doing his autism assessment

Show quote history

I had 36 page OT report which I sent in

WreckTangled · 30/04/2023 15:48

Oh sorry you weren’t taking to me 😅

Yes1991 · 02/05/2023 11:42

But the bullet and rang.. So glad I did.. Awarded MRC and LRM after what seems like a life time please anyone out there going through this or doing an MR don't give up.. Mine went in with no evidence other than screen shots and print outs from school.. School told me they wouldn't support my claim and refused to speak to dla and I battled and won what my child deserves.. Having a SN child means we never stop battling so please with dla don't stop x

Mumof5123 · 05/05/2023 20:58

I don’t post on here really but I just wanted to give some people some hope with mandatory reconsiderations ,
my daughter was recently awarded mrc but with her complex needs I was advised she should have been receiving the higher rate I asked for it to be looked at and they have agreed the 1st decision was wrong and had now been awarded the high rate care. So don’t give up. You know your child. It took them 4 weeks to reconsider ans get a new decision :)

Jay53 · 06/05/2023 08:51

Just following thread on MR. I submitted mine 2 weeks ago. I don't have much hope though 🙄

Jay53 · 13/05/2023 14:07

My MR took 2 weeks. Received the letter today. Still not been awarded. Has anyone appealed and won?

Mum2two7 · 17/05/2023 11:47

Joining we sent our MR off last week they said 4-5 weeks so we'll see but I don't hold out much hope. If I'm lucky enough to have do you get letter before payment.

Jay53 · 17/05/2023 14:32

I have put in for an appeal today! Dreading what's ahead. Can't seem to find much on netmums regarding appeals.

Mum2two7 · 18/05/2023 07:18

Jay53 · 17/05/2023 14:32

I have put in for an appeal today! Dreading what's ahead. Can't seem to find much on netmums regarding appeals.

No it all goes quiet around MRs and Appeals strangely doesn't it. Good luck with the appeal

Jay53 · 18/05/2023 20:32

@Mum2two7 let me
Know how you get on with the MR. Hope it goes well for you!

Mumof2DLA · 26/05/2023 11:25

Just jumping on in the hope it helps someone, I applied for both my kids who have impairments, my oldest boy (6) is diagnosed with ASD and ADHD (significant impairment) his claim that was scanned on 23rd Feb 23 was declined on 17 may 2023 his application took a very long time from the beginning i send documents in january took 5 weeks to get scanned on the system the decison maker shocked me as he has full reports etc my youngest son is 3 years old non verbal, devolpmental delay and referral to ASD services was awarded high rate care from 23rd of May his application was scanned 3rd of April 2023 took just over 6 weeks. I have sent of a MR2 form(I'm in Northern Ireland) for mandatory reconsideration from my eldest and have been advised it will take another 4-6 weeks and possible appeal. Has anyone had any luck with a mandatory decision being awarded if the child has his diagnosis?

LYWHBJJL · 07/06/2023 13:24

Hi all just to give some hope hot my Mr today after 4 weeks and have changed don't give up

Jay53 · 07/06/2023 20:15

Just wanted to post a quick message and tell you all not to give up. My son was declined DLA. Applied for MR which took 2 weeks, was also declined. I then was given a number by my friend of a place which take on the appeals for you. I called them and requested to start an appeal. Was told as soon as I received any documents to call them and they would then arrange a meeting with me to get set for the tribunal. Anyway... today I had the shock of my life when I looked at my bank and I had received a payment from DLA. I then checked the post and sure enough a letter from them to say they have looked at everything again and decided they were wrong and it doesn't need to go to tribunal.
Don't give up!!

LYWHBJJL · 07/06/2023 22:26

Delighted for u well done thays its guys don't give up