Living Disability Allowance

[Bumblelion]

Thought I would bring this to your attention, if you are not already aware of it.

My beautiful DD (2 tomorrow) has severe delay development in all skills - gross motor skills, fine motor skills, language, etc.

She is under various specialist hospitals (eye, hearing, development) and has portage once a week (which is wonderful for her).

My portage lady mentioned to me that I could claim LDA for her development delay but I never followed this up. After speaking to the Inland Revenue about getting help for childcare costs - long story - they asked if I claimed LDA and when I said "no", they said they would send the forms through.

They are very long winded but my Portage Worker filled them in for me (took about 2 1/2 hours).

Apparently it is awarded at 3 levels of payment depending on "disability" (I use that word lightly) and doesn't take into account income/savings, etc.

Just for those of you with "special" children, thought you might need to know that perhaps you are entitled to this.

Sorry my machine just crashed - didn't realise it was posting this message over and over again.

Have you got a diagnosis yet Bumblelion? just being nosey!

Not a proper diagnosis as such, they just say global developmental delay.

She is 2 tomorrow, only been walking 4 months (still unsteady), no communicable language (teaching her signing at the moment).

She is still under the eye hospital as she currently has a stye on her right eye and a cyst (turned from a nasty, nasty stye) on her left eye.

She was in hospital having a general anaesthetic last Monday to do hearing tests and possibly fit grommets.

She passed the hearing tests under general anaesthetic and they just cleaned out her ears (very bunged up) and didn't fit grommets (thank goodness, one more thing I would have had to deal with).

She has portage once a week (very good) although she hasn't come on that much.

One more thing - took her to dentist last Thursday and her front left hand tooth and the one next to it are fused together. They won't do anything about this at the moment as they are just her baby teeth (I am worried about decay as it is very difficult to clean between these teeth as they are so close (joined) - although the rest of her teeth are wonky and gappy - she looks like she needs a brace. They won't do anything (orthodentristry) until she gets her adult teeth through although there is a good chance that these might be fused as well.

Saying all the above, she is still beautiful, sociable (although very frustrated because she can't communicate) and loving.

One thing hard to contend with is other people's comments (she is 2 tomorrow - as I keep saying - HAPPY BIRTHDAY SASHA) - she is a VERY big girl - wearing size 9 shoes, age 3 (sometimes a bit tight) clothes, above 98th centile on all growth charts.

Because she is delayed, strangers pass comment on how "surely she shouldn't be in a pushchair at her age), doesn't talk much does she, etc. etc. I just say she has global developmental delay and they just shut up then.

We all get comments like that Bumblelion! My dd has no diagnosis either just classed as moderate global development delay. Your dd sounds like mine did at 2. I would think your dd's problems are moderate too not severe. Severe usually means not sitting or crawling by two, your dd is walking. Sounds like she is doing well. Hope her operation goes well for her grommits

Just wanted to wish Little Miss Bumblelion a very happy 2nd birthday for tomorrow.

Oh yes and also happy birthday to her tommorrow

Bumbelion, good idea to bring this money to the notice of everyone. It' actually called DLA (disability Living allowance), and as you say it is awarded at 3 levels, depending on how much care the person (in this case your daughter) needs.

When your daughter becomes 3, you may also be eligible for the Mobility component of DLA, to help pay for help with getting around as in out and about). I get the highest level, which helps me to buy a car.

Do you have any contact with a social worker? they can often help you to source these benefits.

Oh, and your award letter following your application will probably take weeks to come thru'. If you're successful, they will back-date the money to the day you rang for the forms, so you might get a little lump-sum which is nice. If your application is unsuccessful, or lower than you expected, then you can appeal. Read the conditions in the application pack carefully to check whether you application met the criteria. I believe social workers are helpful in the appeals process too.

Good Luck

My portage worked actually filled in the forms for me as she has filled in them many times before for other applicants and has said that I don't get it then she will appeal on my behalf.

Hi bumblelion, my ds has severe developemental delay. He is 6.
I hope you find a diagnosis soon.
She sounds really lovely
Give her a big birthday hug
hugs
xxx

Happy birthday to little bumblelion
Hope you get a big backpayment (always nice)

Hi Bumblelion, we get comments like that too, although my dd is very small for her age, so it's a bit easier. She has got severe developmental delay, she is 2.5. We had to appeal to get DLA, we probably didn't make the form sound depressing enough when we applied first time Hope you don't have to do this, although the appeal part wasn't that difficult.

Glad you are getting good support from your Portage person, Happy Birthday to your dd for tomorrow!

Sheila, my portage worker, filled in the forms for me and I have just received a letter saying they are awarding me the middle rate (38.04 per week) up until 2006 when I will need to re-apply. I can't get the higher rate for mobility as she is under 3, and the child needs to be aged 3 or over.

I never thought I would have been entitled to this - just goes to show you.

Congrats Bumblelion!

Congratulations bumblelion

well done bumblelion

Brilliant!!!

Brilliant!!!

i have a son with aspergers and an 18 month old son with severe global development delay. wondering if anyone else has special children like mine that would like to get in touch? i would love to hear from mums with older children to see how my younger son might progress.

Hi Dawn, I'd be happy to chat with you. How old is your ds? I have a 5 year old ds who was diagnosed with HFA when he was 3. He attends mainstream school but is soon to be statemented. He's a right handful, I'm actually in the middle of trying to get him into the bath, but like always it's turned into a war zone, so I'm taking a few minutes out just to calm myself down a bit.

By the way, might be a good idea if you start your own thread, that way you should get quite a few replies