DLA quick question - minutes...?

[thederkinsdame]

Sorry, i know this has been done to death, but I need some MN wisdom. Just doing our DLA renewal and I'm not sure what to put on 'how many minutes a day' etc as for most of the categories, if DS is awake, he needs constant supervision and truly can't be left alone. It makes it really hard to fill the form in. Last time, it was all very new to us and I found the form really upsetting and difficult to fill in so I crossed it out and put constant/all the time etc but I don't know if that's the right thing to do? Also, did you provide extra evidence on separate sheets and reports etc? To put it in context, DS, 4 has ASD, is very physical/verbally aggressive. He has a statement and attends unit for kids with ASD. Any advice appreciated!

For sections where something was needed all the time I just wrote "throughout" next to the word "minutes".

For ds2 (ASD in m/s school) I included a report from his Paed, a recent IEP, and a copy of a recent prescription (to show he's prescribed melatonin).

In your case I would add a copy of the statement and any recentish reports that went with it. Usually they like them to be from the past 12mths or so.

I also continued most answers on to separate sheets. In the end it was more like a small novel. Ds2 was awarded higher rate care/lower rate mobility a couple of weeks ago.

I put 'all day' on mine. Sent loads of recent reports and additional sheets where necessary. This was the third time I've done them and the all day bit has never been challenged.

That's brilliant, coppertop, well done!

I found it soooo hard to fill in last time as it was a few weeks post-dx and I cried the whole way through. I think I'm tougher now, especially having gone through statementing, so will defo include EP report/SALT etc.

Seem to remember rather than writing minutes, putting x number of times a day or night. They didn't question it, I think they just want to know how much extra you are doing than a parent of an NT child.

Good luck!

Thx bigcar. I thought it was the right thing to do, but always get myself tied up in knots with any official forms!

Herecomes, I think that's why I found it so hard last time, cos it makes you realise how different your life is to those with NT kids. I am trying to give examples of the way he differs this time, and in a way it's easier now he's older, as the differences are more apparent IYSWIM

I know the feeling, I had a lot of help with the first set so I've tried to write the same way again. They seem to be making decisions quite fast at the moment, I rang yesterday to make sure they'd got the forms after a week and was told they'd already made a decision and I should get the letter in a couple of days. Of course she wouldn't tell me what it was but she said I didn't have to worry about anything, so I'm presuming the same as we already get which is good. Now I just have to wait for the letter before I can totally relax.

Where there were instances of DS needing almost constant care or supervision I put 20+ times a day for 2 minutes each time. HTH

I write constant!

I put varies, constant, all day, stuff like that.

Then I bombard them with additional info

funnily enough, I have my eldest's DLA renewal form in front of me.

I am sending it back with -

a 3 page report from me
a transition report from his old TAs
his latest IEP
letter from GP
His last SSSEN report
His statement
A SALT report
Letter from his physiotherapist
letter from the senco

I leave nothing to chance!

This is the part I need to finish tonight, putting all the minutes in, as I wasn't quite sure how to do it on our forms. Thanks for posting that. They are definitely being bombarded with paperwork from me!

43 page typewritten report from me
SALT report
last 3 IEPs
letter from paed
paed report
OT report
CAMHS report
reports from SALT at school
reports from early years person
copies of letters from paed to OT, ASD specialist, and to school in support of statement
copies of paperwork put together for statement

Since I went through a few bottles of wine whilst putting it all together (not all at once! ) I suppose it's only right that the person who goes over it all to (hopefully) approve the DLA will have to have one when they're all done!

FORTY THREE PAGES!!

bloody hell.

You're good. [impressed]

Can I refer to this thread the next time some numpty tells me that DLA is so easy to get, and you just have to fill out a form?

Oh yes. please do.

so easy to get. I think a little bit of wee just came out.

It's taken me two weeks to put this form and supporting evidence together.

And I have a plan B if they fuck with me which is to post them a week's worth of my son's soiled pants.

Hecate - I'm slightly worried I'll get a letter back saying I'm nuts when they get that report I typed up. But I was told by a number of people "put EVERYTHING in!" So I did. And someone here on MN kindly sent me a copy of part of the report she sent for DLA for her son, which helped me immensely, as well.

I like the plan B though. I had considered that maybe inviting them to spend the day with DS2 might sway them... or scare them senseless....

And I'm now worried that I have not included enough detail!

Nah, I'm sure you have, it's just that I am severely insane, as I'm sure the office that receives these papers will confirm. LOL

Oh to be a fly on the wall...

Can you imagine?

..opens package...

" oh dear lord, another one of those anal ones that thinks every sneeze is caused by SNs.... "

sigh

Oh well, I can't imagine I'll get a letter saying "well, we need more info...."

LOL :o

My application was a bit like that. The word count for the typed stuff was over 10,000 words. I think they awarded higher rate just in case I went to appeal and they really had to read it all...

Thanks, guys. This is really helping. I did the same when we went through SA, but DS was only just dx last time, do we didn't really have any reports to send, or know what we were doing. I'll send them a box big envelope full of reports etc as I guess like SA the more evidence you give the better.

As for anyone who dares to say DLA is easy to get, let's bury them under the paper mountain we all have to send in.

Hecate, if you do choose to put plan B into action, I want to come with you and see what their reaction is!

Wow... some of these sounds impressive!! You're all pro's.
I, however, am a first-timer! Wish me luck!!

Glad you asked that though thederkinsdame... I was wondering the exact same thing!

"All day" it is then!