Hi can a child with HF autism apply for the family fund?

[WHAThisFlappinNotFlyin]

Hi I wanted to apply for a holiday from the family fund,I emailed them told them about my son and asked if we are elidgable to apply,I got a email back saying the family fund help serverly disabled children,55,000 families with 33.0000 grants ect...
But I don't know if autism is severly disabled he gets HRcare DLA,and can't talk properly his 4 in march,but is it worth us applying?

i would apply

We have applied (sent forms off 2 days ago), dd1 has AS and dd2 has HFA. Deffently worth applying.

I think I'll give it a go! But still recovering from claiming DLA!!!

Go for it. As he receives HRC DLA you should get it (as long as your salray is below 28K).

I receive it for DS2 who has autism, have for the past two years. Driving lessons first year and a holiday last year.

I got help from the FF a few years ago for ds1 (HFA). It's worth applying.

HR care DLA should equal help although have always chickened out myself .

might gice it a shot actually; ds3 needs a bed badly (in bunks until recently but moved to dining room for security).

Good idea, hope you get it.

Would be great I'm hoping to get some thomas cook vouchers,so we can hopefully book flight only to go back and see my daddy and stepmom in Barbados! I know we would have to pay the majority but even £400 towards would be a nice help,that place is like paradise for carers,my son can run around in his pants outside,splash in the sea without getting told off,flap around and feel free,and be treated like a star by the locals no one passes judgement there...while I sit back with a glass off slush rum and Relaaaaax...oh I can only dream!!!

Btw the Family Fund has changed its income criteria again recently (see here) - no longer the £28k limit but anyone with CTC, WTC or other income-related benefits:

"To make sure we are helping families who are on the lowest of incomes and in greatest need, the Fund will be making a change to its income criteria and will now be guided by a family?s entitlement to government financial support in the form of benefit and tax credits.

This means that we will now consider a grant application from any family caring for a disabled child or young person aged 17 and under in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, where they are eligible for, and can send us evidence of entitlement to, one the following: Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit, Income based Job Seekers Allowance, Income Support, Incapacity Benefit, Employment Support Allowance, Housing Benefit and Pension Credit. Families must still however meet all our other eligibility criteria in order to be eligible."

Interesting- we hit that easily.

Worth a shot I guess.

have had help from family fund last few years. Asked for help for holiday either get thomas cook vouchers or haven holiday voucher. this year was given £550 haven voucher which is a fantastic help, wouldnt take ds on a plane have done before way too much hassle so always book haven uk break, so im very happy. Application is very straightforward, on 1st application someone came to my house for home visit to go over form, from then on apply once a year and because had previously they have all your details on file so only takes few minutes to do application, which can be done online. They give funds for various different things like driving lessons, computer, holiday, clothing, tumble drier etc, definetly worth a try.

my son has asd and i applied when he was 15 ( didnt know about it untill then )for a new bed and woman from ff told me to claim for as much as possible, i got a fanily fund card with cash on it to be spent at argos for a new bed, tv for his room to play games console ( 28in flat screen )new trampoline and holiday vouchers for £565 for Haven holidays, my sw told me to apply, ds gets middle rate care so i would go for it, no one even came to visit me, all done over phone.

Has anyone qualified for this with LRC?

"As the Family Fund has limited funding, and is unable to help all families caring for a disabled child or young person it has its own definition of severe disability.

To meet the Family Fund definition of severe disability, children and young people must have additional complex needs, or have a serious or life threatening illness.

AND
There must be evidence that the child?s additional needs impact on family?s choices and their opportunity to enjoy ordinary life; and the degree of planning and support required to meet their needs is much greater than that usually required to meet the needs of children and young people.

AND
They must require a high level of support in three or more of the following areas:

* The physical environment
* Education
* Communication
* Access to social activities
* Personal care, supervision and vigilance
* Specialist resources, including Information and Communications Technology, required
* Medical or therapeutic treatment and condition management

AND
The child?s condition must be long term or life limiting. By long term we mean lasting or likely to last 12 months or more.

If you are in doubt as to whether your child or young person would meet the Fund's definition, please do complete an application form for us to review. "

Depends not on level of DLA, but on whether they meet the above criteria

I have to say I am shocked, because we applied in April '09, were awarded. However in 2010 the income criteria had changed, and we weren't eligible because of our Housing Benefit...now we are eligible again :D

Thanks Lougle.

I guess for me it is the "high level of support" where I would be stuck. Dyspraxic son with lots of sensory issues I think probably wouldn't qualify as "high level of support" even though he requires more than a NT child.

mine has just got dx AS,and we have claimrd twice before they usually award you so long as you are getting mr its a different matter if you are getting LR they do tend to refuse you.You can claim every year,unless you are awarded somethiing big,such has driving lessons,then they ask that you leave it two years.

im just waiting on forms i had few years ago then my hb took us over as private rented am applying for driving lessons if get that be more than happy to wait a few years