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SN children

Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

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Original poster

DD2 (3) awarded High Rate Mobility - what does this mean?

18 replies

PurpleLostPrincess · 29/01/2011 16:11

She has had DLA since she was little, but had middle rate care. It was recently review and we got the letter today saying she now gets HRM and LRC. I have mentioned it to a few family members who are always interested to know what is happening with her, and they all seem to have responded with "oh, you'll get a new car!" From what I've read, it's a case of the money or a car - we already have a car and I'm quite happy to continue using it - we got an exemption form with the letter saying she is entitled to free car tax, so I will use that when the next tax is due in April.

Anyway, some people have said she should now get a blue badge and free bus pass etc. Somebody asked about me getting carers allowance (which I got previously but assume I don't now as she is on LRC), and people are spouting off all sorts. So, I thought I'd come to a place where people actually know what they are talking about and see if you would be kind enough to share. Since having DD2 I've had it drummed into me that I should claim everything possible, which is fine if I know what to claim...

Specifically, she will eventually need a bigger buggy as her current mammas and pappas one will only last so long and I'm assuming she will get too big/heavy for it at some point down the line. Where on earth can I get one of those!?!

I'm going to ring rax credits and housing benefit and notify them of the change - is there anybody else I should ring?

Thanks in advance

OP posts:

lisad123isasnuttyasaboxoffrogs · 29/01/2011 16:17

yes you can get a car or money, and yes your right to free car tax. Im pretty sure you still have to apply for your blue badge.
I would ask for reconsideration re LRC, if you feel she needs more help.
I think the buggy you need would come via OT or physio team your DD is under.

intothewest · 29/01/2011 17:25

We got a large buggy from wheelchair services(prob via physio or OT)Yes you can apply for a vehicle if you want in exchenge for the mobility component-sometimes you have to pay extra money up front for a particular make- for free tax you get sent a form to fill in which you take to the p.o when you tax your car-you have to register it as a 'disabled' car!

bigcar · 29/01/2011 18:01

yes, you can apply for a blue badge, just ring your council and they will send the forms out to you or you may be able to do it online. As you get hrm you will definitely get one as you send a copy of your award letter with the applicaiton. Not every area does the free bus pass but again ring the council or check their website. Ask your physio or ot for a referral to wheelchair services about the buggy, think about doing it now as there may be a bit of a wait.

Original poster

PurpleLostPrincess · 29/01/2011 18:32

Thank you, some very helpful advice here! I'll contact the council on Monday then, probably won't bother with the bus pass until she's older and in need of it though (we use the car). She has another orthotics appointment in 3 months as we've just had one, so I'll mention the referral then.

She's had problems with her eyes and we are seeing orthoptics on Monday with a follow up the week after - if she is given glasses I will contact DLA to update them, not sure if it will be relevant but perhaps it's useful to keep them up to date.

As far as the care component, it may be a while before we know for sure if she will be faecally incontinent, so I think we'll wait a few months, then reconsider. We're seeing her consultant for that in the spring...

Thank you again for all your advice, mn is the best place on the whole internet imo!!!

OP posts:

Original poster

PurpleLostPrincess · 29/01/2011 18:57

Actually, I just checked the council website and there's an application form on it for a blue badge, brilliant! Saves me waiting for one in the post...

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baileyandtinks · 29/01/2011 19:10

i have a car on the DLA motability scheme and yes you can have that instead of the money as we do , what happens is you join and look on the motabillity site at what car suits her needs and your best you do have to put on certain cars a downpayment but not on all makes, then go to the dealer who will help you sort all of it out the great thing is this pays for the car,Tax, service, tyres,greenflag,insurance everything basically except the petrol you can then get a new car every 3 years so ive found ( this is my second car from them) it has been pretty much trouble free driving, we also have a blue badge as they said on here the council office will send or online fill out a form hope this helps

Original poster

PurpleLostPrincess · 01/02/2011 20:37

Thanks, have printed off the form and filled it out so will have that sorted soon!

A friend has said that DD2 should get free entrance to places if we go out for the day (not that it happens often!), is there some sort of card we need for that or do I just carry her DLA decision letter around with me?

OP posts:

annie987 · 01/02/2011 22:50

Great news PLP.
Would you mind me asking if your daughter cannot walk at all?
My son's paadiatrican has suggested we apply for the mobility component (he is 3 now) but I am put off as it says 'unable to or virtually unable to walk' and my son can potter around but cannot walk any distance so goes in his Mclaren major. Thanks
I am also put off as I dread them changing his high rate care to lower.

kensworth · 01/02/2011 22:58

Yes you can have money or car .free tax disc for your existing car. Need to apply to local council for blue badge

Original poster

PurpleLostPrincess · 01/02/2011 23:51

Annie, she does potter about, but can only go about 50yards before she conks out - she literally sits on the floor bless her! When she walks, she is slow and clumsy and can't manage stairs without either holding a hand or crawling up/down them. She has scoliosis, severe hypermobility and also calcaneouvalgus (sp!?) in both feet. It didn't cross my mind that she'd get the higher rate, but now she has it I'm beginning to notice how difficult it is for her! I also didn't realise how much we used the buggy out of necessity.

Being 3, she wants to be independent like the other kids but she tires out so easily and can't keep up at the best of times, bless her! DS(16) and DD1 (12) have commented lots of times on how slow she is in comparison to other kids her age but I've ignored it up until recently as we have always treated her as 'normal'.

As far as the care element goes, I was surprised that DD2's went down, but I would feel ungrateful to complain! It means I lose my carers allowance, we're going to apply for income support - DH is also on low rate care and mobility so I'm running around 'caring' for the pair of them lol!

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Original poster

PurpleLostPrincess · 02/02/2011 00:10

Meant to say, I rang tax credits, but apparently there will be no change to our award because mobility isn't taken into account and lower and middle rate care are classed as the same thing. I'm slightly confused on that one as my income has obviously dropped but at least I know I've kept them up to date.

OP posts:

goingroundthebend4 · 02/02/2011 04:41

Purple tax credids go up for hrc and yes the Motorablity does not have to go towards a car .ds3 got at 3 and then renewed at 5 and it's only now have I exchanged for a car which arrives next week

blurs badge is very usefull to especially for getting them out of the car etc and any equipment you need

as for the buggy ask for referal to wheelchair services now as can take some time chances are you may get mackaren major .Was what we had first but as he got older and made it clear he felt buggys were for babys we moved on yo a wheelchair

starfishmummy · 02/02/2011 08:31

I dont think your friend is quite right about free entrance to places. It all depends on the place and whether they offer concessions. It's normally a concession for people with disabilities so the rate/type of DLA doesn't matter at all.

Some places may ask for proof - but we find having a child in a wheelchair is usually proof enough, and have never been asked for anything

bigcar · 02/02/2011 09:26

it depends on where you are going, check websites before you go to see what concessions are on offer, you can often get a carer in free or half price. I have a copy of dd3s dla award letter kept in my bag that I've been asked for.

Original poster

PurpleLostPrincess · 02/02/2011 10:12

Thank you, right I'll keep her letter with me then. We don't often go on days out, but then the spring is approaching so we might venture out in a few months time.

She looks 'normal' to everybody else - even we have underestimated her abilities or lack of. Although it has just hit me that she may need a proper wheelchair when she gets bigger - am I silly to have a moment of sadness about that? I'd not really thought about the effect this will have on her when she's older, school etc. I'm so used to taking things a day/week/month at a time, I rarely look too far into the future! At the end of the day she is so happy and funny, we'll love her the same, if not more because she is so special...

OP posts:

meltedmarsbars · 02/02/2011 10:14

Purple, if your dd has a scoliosis, you might need a more supportive chair than a Maclaren Major - that's why you need to get on the wheelchair services waiting list early.

We took the Motability car because its maintained by them, they do the tyres, servicing, tax, insurance, breakdown, and its always new (not a 10 year old banger like we used to have!).

baileyandtinks · 02/02/2011 10:31

we usually just take our blue badge and show them that if they do ask no need to take the dla letter as proof but like the others are saying most places are not free but often do have concessions , one thing on the dla form to ensure is that you give all the info asked for as the worst case scienario day IYSWIM ie DS can only walk 30 yards not some days DS can walk up to 100 yards but some days he can only make 50 without stopping / or pain , because they will take the further distance as the norm not the lesser hope that helps good luck

madlet · 02/02/2011 12:05

Hi Purple

I know what you mean. We have just been awarded high rate DLa & low rate Personal care. My daughter is 3 and cannot walk unaided at all, however we are hopeful that this will happen soon! We do not have a diagnosis yet apart from low muscle tone and calcaneouvalgus!

We are waiting to get a McClaren Major and have have just realised that we will need a wheelchair at some point. It made me sad too. She is just our little girl, feisty and funny like any other three year old!

Good luck purple, we will get there!

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