evidence for HRM DLA?

[Whoistheeasterbunny]

Hey there- a while ago my dd got awarded HRC and LRM, which I am so grateful and happy with. However, I wanted to try and get a bus pass for her, and eventually a blue badge when I'm driving and for that I need HRM.

I read that for SMI she actually should get HRM, but as I had been successful with HRC and LRM, I didn't want to rock the boat. But now I think I should at least try, as the bus fares are getting more and more expensive where I live and she really won't walk anywhere.

But if I apply for coc what evidence can I use? They already had all my evidence I used before, but it was mostly to do with school refusal, early help short term involvement and things like this. How do I evidence that she has impluses to run into traffic :( and won't walk anywhere without a balance bike to push herself along. It's always just me and her when we go out. She also refuses to walk from room-to-room at home if she needs something. Shall I re-send the evidence I sent before? None of it mentions her mobility.

She hasn't got her ASD and possible ADHD diagnoses' yet, but she has been referred for a second time by GP to a private assessment centre locally. They have a backlog.

forgot to add that since getting the DLA, i now home ed her, as this money allows me to, and she was struggling so much at school.

You can use things like EHCP, EP report, OT, SALT, physio, CAMHS, paeds, social care, information from any EHE groups you attend. You can re-send evidence you had already sent. However, you will need evidence demonstrating mobility needs.

The SMI flowchart is in this document. Also look at Contact’s leaflet. You need to prove each part of the test.

For SMI, one of the tests you need to demonstrate is that DD has “an incomplete physical development of the brain“ or “arrested development which results in severe impairment of intelligence and social functioning“. A diagnosis of autism can be one of the ways of proving this. Without a formal autism diagnosis, you will need to demonstrate it another way, e.g. via having a learning disability or GDD.

You could also look at the VUW route if you think that may apply.

Personally I would wait until you do have the right evidence to support each test for smi, I have just done all the tests for smi criteria to send to them and even I don’t know if it will be enough, apparently it’s hard to get HRM under the smi rule. I’ve done a 27 page letter to them stating why she qualifies for each test, adding the evidence to support it from her ehcp, diagnosis / paediatrician report, educational psychologist report, preschool reports. All throughout my change of circumstance form and evidence states she qualifies but I know they don’t always read everything so I have pin pointed it all so it doesn’t get missed. Maybe have a look at vuw to see if you meet that criteria best?

BTW, you can apply for a blue badge without HRM. It is just you aren’t automatically eligible.

There are other ways of qualifying for a bus pass too. It is worth looking if DD meets any of the other criteria.