Is it worth appealing DLA decision

[Cookie1986]

Hi there,

I'm hoping someone could help and advise if I should appeal a recent DLA renewal.

My daughter almost 7 has autism, speech delay, hyper mobility, processing delays and has significant help in school with a comprehensive ehcp. All documented and evidenced and sent when reapplying.

Today, I have recieved a letter to confirm she only qualifies for middle rate care with no mobility element. This has been the same rate since she was 4 and her needs are ever increasing, especially on the mobility element.

I ticked the box to confirm there is a change, and answered all the questions as to how things changed. Particularly around her struggling to bend her knees, confirming how her hyper mobility affects her wrists, ankles and spine and sent evidence of this as she has OT at school too. I even written about how rigid her routine has become day to day (she screams a lot). Going outdoors can be a challenge as she refuses to walk unless I hold her hand, takes twice maybe three times longer than a typical child to walk because of her mobility problems and will need constant breaks. She generally manages a 10 minute walk and needs to sit down and rest.

Shes also under SALT for speech delays and has various support to help with her autism.

Is it worth me appealing or is this normal for a near 7 year old.

Thanks

Be aware if you request a mandatory reconsideration, the award may decrease. You would then still be able to appeal, but it is something you need to be aware of.

Low rate mobility is for guidance and supervision outside in excess of what is typically expected for a child DD’s age. There isn’t enough information in your post to say for certain whether this is applicable, but it does sound like it is the case.

High rate mobility has several ways of qualifying. The two possible ways for DD to qualify would be under the severely mentally impaired (SMI) criteria and the virtually unable to walk (VUW) criteria. The bar is high. It doesn’t sound like she would qualify under the SMI criteria. From your post, I doubt she would qualify under the VUW criteria either.

You can see the criteria in this document.