Child disability payment

[mayaknew]

Dd has been sitting on waiting list for asd assessment for nearly a year. I have just found out I can apply for this benefit even without a diagnosis.

Anyone have any advice? How do I prove her difficulties ?

What's the process and waiting times like ?

Anyone with any experience would be helpful thank you

Just fill in the form with as much detail as possible, it's pretty much explaining how much help they need for certain things eg. Waking in the night, how many times, etc. Needing more support than another child of that age outside for safety. Needing help feeding, dressing, anything you have to buy to support needs. They will loom at it and decide, based on age, how much extra support they need compared to peers and award DLA based on this.

We're still awaiting diagnosis as well it's such a long wait list. But just fill in the form on mygov.scot best you can highlighting any extra care and difficulties. In terms of evidence we've had a letter written by our health visitor and a report written up by nursery to submit, with all of the specialists we've seen e.g speech therapist.
Heads up though we applied in April and just recently got a call to say it may be another 2 months.

We don't have any other agencies involved. She is in school but they are useless. We have been referred to the sleep clinic but there's a waiting list for that as well. Other than that we just kind of struggle along.

We have a diagnosis for our daughter and submitted the application form on 5th Feb. They have received it but still haven't even assessed it yet. The waiting list is unbelievably long and the funds are much needed at the moment. DD is incredibly destructive and we have to replace a lot of household items. We have reduced our hours at work and lost income and I'd love to be able to spend the funds on therapy due badly needs as we have been badly let down by an overstretched camhs.

When you fill it out, think of her worst days. This can be quite emotionally draining so take time for yourself too. I got help with mine from a carer’s association. I heard some Citizen’s Advice Bureaus can help as well.

Where are you based? I got help with the forms from vocal in Edinburgh, there are several charities that will help with forms. Took about 3 months to hear roughly

If you google Cerebra they have an excellent guide to help you identify and explain the kind of difficulties and additional help your child needs. It’s been prepared for the old DLA so still follows that format but it’s still helpful for things that can be tricky to explain.

And yes, think of her in her worst day, as if every tick and quirk and need happened all at once. It can be hard but remember this isn’t all of your child, it’s just a part of her that needs some help.

Following as need to complete one for my little boy with no diagnosis