DLA form - how long did it take you?

[inappropriatelyemployed]

Just doing DS's review. Bloody questions have changed. It's taken me days so far! How long were your submissions with the form?

Does the Cerebra guide help? I wish I'd known it existed when I did DS's initial application as the darn thing took me 3 months . Anecdotal remarks from other parents makes me think the timings of help given are being more attention than they used to be.

I have a theory that a thick wad of paper evidence from a variety of sources helps so if your child has a statement, include a copy of that as a minimum. They won't read it, but it helps show that people other than yourself think your child needs more care than the norm, & the statement is a professional gubberment viewpoint iykwim. My gut tells me that with the Camerloons stated intent to reduce DLA payments by 20% that it's more important than ever to make it clear you aren't Waynetta Slob just on the scrounge aka the Daily Mail perception.

Thanks. It seems much more laborious then the previous form and that took long enough.

I posted a DLA renewal last week. It took a couple of weeks to work through it all, even with the Cerebra guide.

I sent in as many recent reports as I could find:

• Paed's report

• Ed Psych report

• Copy of statement

• Copy of all the evidence that had been used for statementing, including the parents' evidence.

Make sure you photocopy the form before you send it off though. I had a phone call to say that they had the reports but couldn't find the form that they were attached to.

Sent my DS renewal off 4 December took me about a week to fill it in. Form has changed and is a nitemare. Why dont they have a box you can tick to say no change from last time, or needs more care than before. It is heartbreaking to fill form out saying what DS cannot do, and having to constantly repeat yourself by saying same thing all the time. I only sent one report in from OT which was done on recent hospital stay. The reply came back before end December HRC HRM. DS is almost 12 usually has end date (around 3 years), this time no end date on award, which i found strange.

It seems much more laborious then the previous form and that took long enough.
oh nooo. our renewal is due very soon. the first application took me 4 montns to complete already

is it longer or just different questions?

Same type of questions but broken down more specifically and slightly different in wording. It takes bloody ages and I had saved the last document.

Mine takes about three months too, doing a bit every day with the odd day off. I type mine all in Word so I can go back and edit it as many times as I need till it's just how I want it, and I have covering lists of all the documents enclosed etc. If you want them to take the application seriously you have to give loads of detail, and duplicate if it applies to more than one section. You can't give too much information, but I do like to try, and keep something in reserve in case it has to go for reconsideration and appeal, as they like 'new evidence' to consider.

Good luck with it. I don't envy you and I'm relieved that ds now has his till 16 (although I'm not looking forward to the 16+ form either ).

two days, literally sitting there most of the day. I second what coppertop says - I sent in everything we had, even physio plans etc, to back up the extra work we have to put in with him.

I sent everything last time and this time we have even more evidence and DS did not even have a statement then.

But these questions are taking ages. As streaky says, lots of info applies to many sections so you are constantly duplicating and altering it.

It tends to take me weeks to plough though it all. I get bogged down and have to take a break for a few days.

Yes, it is very helpful.

I've been working on it all week - 3 hours a day!

Crikey! It was bad enough before. Is it the same form when your child reaches 16?

Just to say (apols if you know this already), CAB book clients in for a double appointment to help clients fill this in. Sometimes it's not finished in that time so another appointment is made - it's accepted that this can happen.

Might be of use to someone...