dare I apply for dla mobility too?

[annie987]

Last year my son was awarded high rate care and I feel extremley lucky for that.
He is now 3 and his paed has suggested we apply for mobility. Due to his problems he can walk short distances but falls a lot and is very wobbly. He also is up for most of the night in a great deal of pain if he has walked a bit that day. Now I am aware it can only be high rate at his age and feel a fraud applying as he can walk so is not unable to.
Also if I did apply would I have to fill in the whole form again as nothing case wise has changed. Or could I just do the first two pages relating to mobility. I am also panicing that if I apply they'll look at it all again and decide he gets nothing.
I really don't know what to do for the best and hadn't even thought of it until the paed put it in a report as a recommendation. Thanks.

If you had a paediatric report stating in black and white that you apply for Mobility, that is a very positive thing.

Firstly, there is a 'virtually unable to walk' test, which takes into account the speed, distance and manner of walking. Also, the form asks for how far your DS can walk without 'severe discomfort'. If you could complete a diary, and it shows that every time he walks during the day, he is up at night with pain, then you can show that his walking leaves him in severe discomfort.

DD1 is nearly 5 and can walk, but is wobbly and tires easily and has no sense of danger. She has just been awarded HRM.

NorthernSky we just got awarded HRM, and although DD can walk, and I have made that explicitly clear, I put '0' on the 'how far can he/she walk without severe discomfort' question (thanks, SaintlyDameMrsTurnip, for that tip), as she can't walk at all outside in unfamiliar places without either a crelling harness or Maclaren Major, due to issues such as your DS, so she is incapable of independent walking.

Annie - life is challenging enough... you've been recommended to claim it, make life a little easier and do it!!!

Hi Annie
I'm having the same dilemma atm

Ds is 3.4 and I was advised to claim for mobility once he turned 3, I've had the forms since just after his birthday but haven't completed them yet for the same reasons you state.

Ds was (to my surprise) awarded higher rate care at 2.8 and the forms I have been sent to complete are a change of circumstances covering care and mobility and have been told to complete it all as they told me they do a whole reassessment now.

Northern sky I considered putting 'no change' or something similar in the care sections but if someone were being picky, ds and his needs have changed to an extent in the last 8 months - well actually his care needs are probably more - but I worry that they wouldn't accept that.

So no real advice (you've already had better than I could give!) but just to say I feel your pain!

And If your paed has recommended then you should put in for it.

Can I bump up this thread to ask for help with my decision re applying for Mobility or not?

DS2 was awarded HRC last Oct and they sent the forms for mobility a few months ago. He turns 3 in Jan.

They sent me the forms, i didn't request them 'due to change in circumstance' (or whatever it says). But if i'm truthful things have changed.

Since Oct he's had brain surgery, he's now seizure-free, he's off all epilepsy meds, he is developing, albeit very slowly.

According to his portage worker, SALT, etc. he is a definite for SN pre-sch next year, his Statement (process just started) is a 'formality' and they think it is worth applying for mobility.

But, do i
a) fill out all the forms, and possibly lose/reduce the care component
b) leave things as they are, not ask for mobility, as his current DLA is valid until Oct next year
c) fill out just the mobility section
d) some other option?

Im unsure too, DD was awarded HRC in Sept, but although she was 3 years old by that point, we applied in June when she was 2.9 months.
I been advised to apply but dont want to lose HRC as it pays for her SN school (private)

At the moment his HRC (& Carers & council Direct Payments) pays for our part-time nanny, who is also his 1-to-1 at his current, mainstream, pre-sch.

If we lose it we would have to reconsider her hours, but can't lose her pre-sch time so would have to pay for it ourselves. Only until April when he moves to the SN pre-sch (term after he turns 3) but still... just don't know what's for the best.

Hi When you fill in the form, for the care part of the for go through and write no change in each part. That's what we did when we applied for the mobility element, which was awarded to 2015!! :)