Should I claim DLA for HFA?

[MamaMaiasaura]

Ds2 (4) has been dx with HFA. We doesn't consider him disabled but we do and have make adjustments for him.

These are some of the areas that spring to mind:

He manages 3x preschool a week but can't manage more.
Cannot manage other childcare/settings.
Has individual swimming lessons as couldn't cope with group
We avoid Going places when busy as he can't wait in queues
Needs supervision when out as impulsive and unaware of danger. He will hold adults hand tho.
Dressing/undressing still can't manage this and needs help. Gets very distressed without help.
Will not go out in garden as scared of airplanes
With eating food has to be prepared and presented in certain way. Most days he needs help.
Sleeping - he co-sleeps
Toilet - is clean and dry but often "needs" adult with him or becomes distressed
Will have meltdowns where he is inconsolable
Needs extra time and help to familiarise to changes
Unlikely for me to be able to return to work and have childcare off him as per preschool, they don't think he'd cope with more than 2 main care settings eg home and school

I don't know wether to claim or of eligible. I don't see him as disabled just quirky and needing extra time. Any thoughts?

Bump

The test is whether a child needs more help than a typical child of their age. From looking at your list, I would say that your ds would be in that category.

DLA is to help cover some of the extra costs involved. In your case you are probably paying more for individual swimming lessons than you would have done for group lessons. Your income will also have been reduced through not being able to go back to work.

I think that sometimes we are so used to doing everything in a particular way that we don't always realise just how much extra work is involved. It was a revelation when my third child was born as she was my first child not to have ASD. It was only when I had her that I realised just how much I'd had to do for my other two children. Dd could be taken anywhere, would eat most things, could be left at school/pre-school without a second thought, and didn't have to be prepared for every little change to our usual routine.

I would claim.

Thanks coppertop I will call for the massive forms

I heard back and he has been awarded middle rate. I'm a little taken aback as hadn't really appreciated the level of needs he has or care we give. Things have actually got more difficult in terms of sensory issues so I am glad we claimed.