can i get any extra benefits ? advice please

[thriftychic]

ds2 is 13 , we have been seeing camhs for 2 years due to his behaviour , suicidal threats etc. No diagnosis and according to school he is settling down . they dont seem to think there is anything but lack of effort and him being too mouthy , getting himself into trouble.

I am at breaking point with him. i wont leave him on his own because he cant be trusted . for example he might just decide he will do some woodwork with his dads drill and saw or a spot of cooking and leave the hob on etc
i cant leave him with his 16 year old brother because if he doesnt like something he says he is likely to threaten him with the kitchen knives or have a complete meltdown (still picking up the debris from todays )

i cant work because of this . he also has absence epilepsy which is at the moment un medicated , still being debated by the doc and myself.

my question is , am i entitled to any extra tax credits or is it dla or something (sorry bit clueless) or would he need to be much worse ? is this just really considered an unruly teen ?
some people would never believe there is a problem with him.

btw i just posted about the fact that he gets upset that he feels no love for me so if anyone has any insights into that for me i would appreciate it .

thankyou for reading

Yes, you can apply for DLA.

And if he's awarded middle rate DLA you can apply for carers allowance.

(I think)

really , and i have a good chance of getting it ? i told dp not to be so daft when he suggested it

ou have to apply for DLA first. The form is really long winded and it is hard to fill in but you can get help. If he gets middle rate or above than you can apply for Carers Allowance, £58 per week. If you get the DLA and get WTC/CTC then you get a disabled persons premium. DS gets higher rate DLA and we calaculated that he gets roughly 2-3 times the amount in CTC that i get for dd1

If your doc and CAMHS can agree that he is a danger to himself and he needs more care than a 13 year old then yes you may. You probably won't get the higher care unless you are up with him 5 nights a week.
If you have been documentating his behaviour that will help your case. DLA want to know everything and how long each outburst takes and how long it takes to calm him down. Get in touch with CAB for help filling in the form. I have done 3 now, don't have to do another till ds is 16 but I am already dreading it

he has today and many other occasions during a meltdown , hurt himself and tried to climb out the window , held a belt around his neck etc . he has shoved me and thrown things at me and destroyed lots of things in the house .
school havent seen this , camhs have been told this many many times .

as for being up in the night , he constantly sleep walks and can even shove me around in his sleepwalking when i am trying to get him back to bed , but i dont suppose that would count would it!

Thrifty, yes that woukd count. Many charities offer support with filling out the forms.

We got dla with no dx. They wrote to our consultant at camhs to get the evidence. Support is supposed to be based on need and not dx.

i will give it a go then , thanks for the advice. where do i pick up the form from ?

How to get a DLA form

thankyou