If you have applied to the family fund did you have help with the application?

[used2bthin]

Is it like the DLA form in that it is more likely to be sucessful if someone from the carers centre or similar helps or is it just parents usually?

I filled ours in, it's nowhere near the detail level you need for dla, nowhere near!

I applied to them a few years back for driving lessons and didn't have any help with the form and was awarded it. I can't remember what I had to add to the form though as it's a while back. Perhaps someone who has completed it more recently may be of more help. Quite interested too as I will be able to apply for a grant again soon.

Thanks I will have a go at it myself in that case! Got DLA renewal coming up so will get this done first! Couldn't do it online from my computer so emailed asking for a form but may stay late at work and do it there instead as form still hasnt come.

Do you need any evidence?

I applied this year. DS doesn't even really have a dx yet apart from dyspraxia and SPD but is suspected of AS/HFA. There are very small boxes for the answers and I didn't really put too much in. I had a visit about 12 weeks later from a lovely advisor who asked loads of questions about how his issues affect the family, things I hadn't even thought of. I had asked for a mattress and holiday vouchers. She said that as it was my first application we could have up to £900. Therefore she encouraged me to think of more things that could help him so in all we got holiday vouchers, mattress, bedding and lego.

They want to help rather than turn down unlike DLA

Boredandrestless you can apply online on subsequent occasions and apparently they often grant within a few days subsequently.

When the advisor visits, they just want to see evidence of the disability. She looked through my file and just wrote down some info, You need to send a copy of the DLA award and income verification such as tax credits award letter.

you can download the application form from the website if that's easier than waiting. You need a copy of dla letter, payslips and proof of address, there's a list on the form, I don't think there was anything else. I think it took about 6/8 weeks to hear anything and then just got a letter in the post with the voucher they sent.

thanks I tried ringing them and they said 44 min wait! So will download the form at work I think and print off. Long ish wait then I need to get going with it as am applying for help securing our garden so she can play in it. Ahhh at holiday vouchers! I am so desperate for a break with DD and not sure it will happen this year. They sound like they are nice!

they are very difficult to get hold of on the phone, easier to e-mail. i was told we couldn't get holiday vouchers with first application, but this may have been because we were primarily applying for money for a rear facing carseat which ds's physio recommended. They also turned down my application for vouchers for driving lessons. The form was easy to fill in, the advisor who came round was lovely and said we should think about some other things that could benefit the family as a whole, as well as ds. We applied for carseat, tumble dryer and a sandpit for ds. We did have to supply evidence in the form of a letter from the physio.

Thanks hazeyjane, have emailed them but nothing back as yet and it was before christmas. Was hoping for help with making the garden safe and maybe a trampoline for dd's OT exercises.

do you have an early years support worker or similar? We had to do a bit of chasing up at first, but our EYSW did all the phone calls for me as I had a nightmare trying to get through to them, they should definitely have got back to you by now, I would have thought.

No we used to but now DD is 5 and in school she has taken a step back. Will have to do the form at work I think or could be waiting ages.