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

Hi, I'm just looking for a little advice. My daughter was refused dla I still havnt recieved the letter for the reasons why yet this was sent out 12 days ago, she is a complex case (as medical professionals put it) I sent off all her consultants letters she has 4 at the minute, but because she is developing normally she was refused. I rang and was told the reason why it was refused,
Now what can I do if she is developing normally in their eyes. She has several medical conditions, they stated she isn't on medication which was a lie.
Do I need to wait for the letter to do the MR, if I don't need the letter what do I need todo to get the MR started, what other evidence can I send.
Sorry for all the questions but this is really frustrating when she deserve an award,

I'm so sorry to hear my oldest who has been diagnosed with both ASD and significant impairment due to ADHD and has been refused im currently awaiting a MR decision, you do not need to wait for the letter if you have been told the reasons use those and reply of the back of them for example they stated my son "didn't require additional night support" my response was..."as stated previously my son experiences night terrors that result in both vomit and incontinence issues at least four time a week blah blah blah, please see attached melatonin prescription and peadtrician report that reflects sleep difficulties (what I done was then highlighted the sections on all his reports that proved their reason for declining his claim was unsupported and not accurate) im not sure of where you live but I'm in Northern ireland and it's seems to take weeks for DLA to actually post or receive documentation so they provided me with a email address that ensures it sent directly onto the system. I got the MR form of the website filled it in and sent it to the email address, followed it up with a call the next day just to cover basis as you do need to do it it within one month of notification. I called them and told them I've completed a MR form and then they took some additional information as to why I was wanting the MR. Hope this helps?

@Mumof2DLA Thank you so much for your reply, I'm going to get onto it, I'm still waiting for 2 letters from the hospital still, suppose I could do the MR and then send additional evidence, it really is a pain, hope yours goes well and you hear soon

I didn't send anymore evidence in with my MR. I wrote a letter stating the points in the letters they had. I then phoned and ran through a couple of things. Mine was still declined at that stage but get the ball rolling for the MR ASAP. Hope it goes well for you.

Thank you, can you do an MR over the phone, only i can't remember what they said that's why I was hoping i would get the letter before now, so glad to see how yours ended bet it was a total shock for you.

Just joining
sent off my daughter original claim and was scanned 17/2 she was declined
sent off MR 10 days ago
she has a brain tumour (benign) and epilepsy
reasons she was declined is that the school
didnt have anything written into her plan that she has at break time and that she can cross a road by herself
the school have provisions in place at break time but it just wasn’t in her plan , they have written into her plan and I’ve sent a copy off with the MR and a supportingbletter from the school nurse … not sure how long this takes, but not holding out too much hope tbh

@Jay53 can I ask who it was that helped you with your appeal please? I went to CAB but to be honest they wernt that helpful x

well done to all that have out the outcome their child deserves and good luck to the ones that are still fighting for it ….
does anybody know the waiting time for appeals at the min? X

@Shellbod81 yes of course, what area are you in? I'm not sure if that matters but you could search only for your area. Let me dig the number out. I'll pop in on this morning for you. X

@Jay53 im in North wales , thank you appreciate it x

@Shellbod81 I've looked it's your local council - welfare rights. I'm in Leeds.

@Shellbod81 they basically do it all, they are so helpful and will be honest with you. I launched the appeal but it ended up not needing a tribunal.

@Jay53 thanks for the help I’ll look into it x

my Daughter mandatory reconsideration has been awarded … I put her claim in 17/5 she was declined 29/5 … I put in a mandatory reconsideration listing every point why she was declined and basically addressed why I thought they were wrong … a supporting letter from the school nurse too …. And she has been awarded today … lots of people were saying it’s no worth it and they very rarely change heir mind … definitely put in you have nothing to loose x

That's amazing news @Kenny312 I was wondering how everyone was getting on!

I sent mine off 11 days ago, how did you find out? did you all or just wait for the letter! I'm hoping it isn't a long.

Thank you
i called on the 19th June to check was it was all received and they said it had just been scanned in that day … I have no idea what she’s been awarded I just noticed a payment in my bank …. So only a couple of weeks , hopefully yours won’t be too much longer…. Fingers crossed for you too x

Hi, thought I would also update here, I sent of my daughters MR 26th June I listed the points why I thought they were wrong, also sent off a care plan from school and SALT referral, on the 18th July I received backpayment into my account, I got the letter this morning (20th july) to say she has been awarded middle rate care.
Good luck to anyone else waiting hear back from them.

That's great news! We recently got declined, you've given me hope doing a MR after all the waiting

Following recently declined last week will be sending off MR this week

@Lo89 keep us updated, going to send ours tomorrow. 🤞

Hi all, one of my point was that DD attends mainstream school and doesn't have a EHCP. I mean I don't seen how this a reason to decline tbh so many children with extra needs attend mainstream and may not be on a plan.

Any ideas what I can reply in my MR to this:

she currently receives extra support in school and we also now have a meeting booked in for September obvs being holidays with the SENDCO

@Lo89 that’s such a straw man argument! I’ve looked on the GovUK website and only 4.3% of school pupils had an EHCP in 2023 while 13% required SEN support without an EHC plan. I write as the mother of a teen who was initially refused DLA even though she is registered blind and diagnosed with ADHD and ASD. It took me three years to secure an EHCP (totally by my own efforts). Please don’t give up. You can put in your own EHC needs assessment request today(Google for template letters).

@EmmatheStageRat thank you so much for this

Officially in the post today. I sent it special delivery 🤞🏽I'll keep you updated

@Lo89 what address did you send it to? Good luck