DLA waiting times & sending letters asking for further info

[LoisPrice]

I put in a DLA form on 9 July and had a text back to say it was received, then a letter asking for a birth certificate and now a letter asking about foreign finances, holidays abroad - which I don't have and can't go abroad duet o dc condition (couldn't get insurance and consultant doesn't recommend travelling abroad)

Im wondering why they think I may have foreign finances and asking? I don't have anything to hide
Im wondering if this is standard?

anyone have any ideas please?

Asking about travel abroad is to ensure DC are eligible. There is a question about this on the DLA form. Did you miss it? Are the foreign finances about benefits in the EEA or Switzerland? If so, they are also questions on the form. On the same page as the question about travel abroad. It is about determining eligibility.

I must have missed those questions on the form, can't travel abroad and even going away in uk have to ensure that dc is within 30 minutes of an a&e department as it would be to risky otherwise

The form also wanted to know dc was in hospital on a particular date ? there have been multiple admissions this year none longer than 2 weeks but this particular date they've given, dc wasn't in hospital

The hospital question will stem from the old rules about payments when an inpatient. Those rules have changed now but they still ask the questions (not least because when some people say hospital they actually mean another residential care setting and some of those have other rules). It used to be the case for new claims DLA wasn’t paid until the child was discharged and it used to be the case DLA was suspended when DC were in hospital (or had linked admissions) for so long. Don’t worry about that either.

Thanks

itt just seemed a random date not near any of his discharge dates or admissions

do you think someone is looking at the forms to make a decision? Or is this pre that stage

I wouldn’t worry about. There used to be what were known as the linking rules that could mean multiple admissions within set time periods would mean child DLA wasn’t paid during that time, so it used to be that seemingly random dates could be important. While this linking rule no longer applies to hospitals it does still apply to some other residential placements/admissions.

Yes, it could be the claim is being looked at by a decision maker now.

Good news, it has now been paid - but haven't yet had a letter.

I need to apply for carers allowance but am nt sure of the DLA reference number for my daughter - is it the same reference number as they put on their letters each time?

apparently carers allowance can be backdated 3 months - does anyone know how to get this back dated please?

Yes, it is the reference number on the letter. It looks like a NI number (because it is actually the NI number).

Carer’s allowance can be backdated to the start date of the DLA award. You put the date on the carer’s allowance application.

I had a feeling the reference number was the NI number - I have that so can proceed, I shall put the date of the start of the DLA claim - which was 16 weeks ago.

Thanks for the info