How do you fill in the DLA form?

[skewiff]

Sorry -

I have actually filled one in before - but totally flukely was awarded middle rate - as looking back at the form now it was terribly filled in. We just kept appealing and eventually went to tribunal (although did not have to attend as they awarded it to me over the phone on the same day).

However this time I want to do it properly and hopefully avoid all the appealing.

I have spent 2 hours today filling it in the best that I can and am quite pleased with what I have done.

BUT I have not done it in the way the Cerebra guide says - not in any properly researched way - just my best descriptions etc

Do you have to do it in a particular format/style?

Or will best descriptions/explanations do?

With a large bottle of wine next to you :)

Honestly, skewiff? For DD1 the DLA form took me around 15-20 hours.

I can't imagine, unless your child has a very straightforward dx with very obvious disability (ie. not able to do anything independently whatsoever), 2 hours being long enough to give each question proper attention.

The Cerebra guide is fantastic and it encourages you to write the information the Decision Makers need.

Lots of people do not get the rate of DLA their child is entitled to, because they do not give the information which would enable the decision maker to award the DLA.

Classic mistakes are focussing on diagnoses, or symptoms, when in fact, all the criteria are based on 'care needs'. Unless the relationship between the diagnosis or symptom and care need is clearly demonstrated, the claim will fail.

I am quite baffled to be honest. The Cerebra guide is there because it takes the guess work out of the DLA form.

My advice would be 'follow the cerebra guide'.

Or don't, but make sure you write for each question

What your child finds difficult
What help they need
What a typical child of their age would need
How what your child needs is different to that of a typical child their age
What would happen if they didn't get the additional help.

Trouble is, that is all the Cerebra guide is telling you to do anyway

OK. Thank you Lougle. I will do that.

I hate filling in forms, but like creative writing. So I suppose I just filled it in really enthusiastically and creatively (I don't mean making things up).

But its obviously not what needs to be done.

I'll go back and get a new form and start a again.

No, creative is not the way to go.

Imagine a DLA assessor. They get hundreds of forms, varying from just the claim form with no additional evidence (probably fine if a child is so clearly affected that they couldn't possibly get it wrong) to 2-inch thick bundles with every report going.

Their time is very pressurised. They have to get through the cases because they are being monitored.

They have very strict criteria, legally, that they assess claims against. Rough rule of thumb:

-Care needs of an hour per day (in excess of what would be reasonable for a typical child their age). Low Rate Care.

-Care needs frequently throughout the day (in excess), OR care needs only at night. Mid rate care.

-Care needs frequently throughout the day and at night, once for over 20 minutes or several shorter episodes. High rate care.

Now, detail is GOOD.

A 'story' with lots of unnecessary detail - NOT GOOD.

-You need clear, concise statements that show the level of care needed.
-You need to use appropriate words, preferably ones that are used in the Decision Makers' guide. Words such as 'guidance' 'supervision' 'requires' 'support' 'assistance', that the DM can mentally 'tick a box' against.
-You need to be explicit and unequivocal. Don't say 'tommy sometimes finds x difficult and wants me to help him'. Say 'tommy has difficulty doing x and cannot do it independently. He requires encouragement to do x, several explanations of the steps involved and support throughout the activity. If he doesn't get that support he will simply not do it. If he doesn't do it he will get sore skin....A typical child of Tommy's age would do x independently. They would not need supervision, support or assistance.'

It really isn't a 'game' of wits. It is just being able to write the truth, but write it so that it is crystal clear and cannot leave the DM confused.

CAB advise on filling out these forms; you could drop in to discuss it and they'd make you an appointment to come back if you felt you'd like someone to help you fill it in.

Ok I'll contact CAB - ds's nursery has an officer from CAB there once a week.

Yes, I do see Lougle that being creative is not the way forward.

Actually I don't think I was being fair to myself. Reading your list - I think I've done most of what you said.

The bit that I just feel so frustrated with is when you have to say 'a typical child of Tommy's age would do x independently. They would not need supervision, support or assistance.'

Surely this bit is obvious! Otherwise you wouldn't be filling in the form - and shouldn't they just know this? It seems to be such a waste of writing space having to write this sentence in every box.

I know it seems it, but you have to remember that these people come from all walks of life. They may not have regular access to any children, so have no benchmark.

Even having 3 children myself (5, 3.4, 20mths) and being part of a large church with children from all age ranges, I couldn't clearly judge what is 'normal' for a child of say, 8 years....I don't have one.

By writing that sentence, you are making it clear that other children wouldn't need that help, so it 'ticks' the box.

Thank you Lougle.

When I feel something is ridiculous and a waste of time I get very resentful about it and find it almost impossible to follow the rule.

So you've helped me get over this hurdle. I see your point. I'll make space for writing that sentence they want.

Hi Skewiff - Depending on how old your dc is, could you perhaps ask your health visitor to help or maybe your SENCO?

We've just been through the process (we were awarded the middle rate, thankfully straight away without the need to appeal) and having an independant pair of eyes who can judge what is 'normal' was really helpful.

I spent about 4 hours with my dh drafting responses & pulling together the relevant medical reports. I then spent a furter 3 hours with the HV going through each question & assessing the extra help my dd needed before spending about another 2 hours filling in the forms. I also sent latest copies of:

1. consultants reports
2. Portage review
3. Salt, OT & PT reports
4. Any other medical reports (e.g. hearing, visual etc.)

HTH & good luck!

LeonieDelt -

When you say you wrote on every crack and crevasse - did you write outside the blank space boxes?

Do they accept it/ read it if you write outside of those boxes?

skewiff, if you think this will take a little while, call the helpline and have them post you a date-stamped form. You then have a month or so to send it to them, but the payments get back dated to when you phoned up for the form.

I can normally do them in about three hours but in my previous life I was a civil servant so know what they want on them anyway Had HR care from very first claim and HR mobility once entitled.At least I learnt something from what was a truly appalling and thankless job.