DLA Mobility

[sonicthehedgehogismyname]

My DS (ASD) has been in receipt of HRC since he was 3.5, when we received his dx.

He will be 5 in a couple of months... do you automatically receive forms to apply for mobility or do you have to request them. I believe he would qualify for LRM.

Also if I apply, do you have to complete the forms for care as well, meaning care will be reassessed again too, we are actually a number of years away from his renewal date for that.

bump (minichoc will be 5 soon as well so we are in the same situation)

Friends received thier forms automatically but I didn't and had to phone up.
In the process of filling them in now - it's so hard!!!

Thanks... yes, they are hard, even though it was a coupe of years ago, I remember the stress!

chocjunkie - it's difficult knowing what to do isn't it.

CW - can you just claim mobility or are you having to complete care parts to be assessed again too?

The form asks if care needs during the day have changed - if they haven't you tick no and move on the the next section. Same for care needs during the night.

Hope that helps, when I first looked at the form I thought I needed to do it all again!!!

We didn't get any mobility rate for ASD son until he was 10. We only got it then as he can't go out unattended as he can't judge traffic to cross the road. At the age of 5 the DWP will still expect a child to be supervised when outside,even though an ASD child needs closer supervision than most, whereas a 10 year old could be expected to go out on his own. I don't know your situation, but if your child is capable of walking it will be highly unlikely that you will get any mobility DLA - sorry

CW - Thanks that's great, will wait and see if forms arrive.

Sunny - strange you should say that, in our local ASD support group, all the children's mum say they were awarded Lower rate mobility for their children from 5 years of age. Granted this is my only experience, so you may be right.

My ds is a twin (his brother is NT) and still has to wear a crelling harness if we go out as he would run off if something should spook him. He doesn't cope well with noise and he hates roads as cars scare him, so even walking along the pavement is very difficult, in contrast his NT twin brother is very responsible and has a good degree of safety awareness. I very rarely take both my sons out alone, as it's just not safe. For those reasons I believe he meets the criteria for LRM. As you say the DWP may disagree.

Let-s hope you are right and I-m wrong. Good luck!

I have many friends who have children aged 5 who have been awarded LRM. A classmate of ds (aged 6) was awared HRC and HRM on appeal.

There are a number of children at my sons special school who get HRM but all of them have severe learning dificulties and can evidence "severe mental impairement" to meet the criteria for HRM.

Hiya, just wanted to say that I have a 5 year old son with Autism. He is non verbal and will not walk 90% of the time. When he does walk its either very slow and he hides/holds on tight to your leg or he'll run off if he can see his latest fascination around. ie washing up liquids, car number plates etc. He doesnt understand dangers and will go up to strangers. We put all this down on the Dla form and also used the Cafamily guide to filling in the form. They also have an extra guide to the high mobility to help you explain your childs difficulties if they meet the criteria. I also got a lot of help by reading previous posts on Mumsnet. Liam got awarded HRC and HRM for 3 years. I hope this helps xxx

Sorry, also meant to say, awarded HRM due to virtually unable to walk. I put down Autism physical disorder of the brain and not him being naughty and couldnt be bribed out of the not walking. For the questions I didnt tick anything but put down regularly + unpredictably refuses to walk. We also have a Blue Badge which we had with support from Liams GPs, so I mentioned that too.