DLA and Aspergers/ASD

[Pawan]

We have just reached the end of the assessment process for our son, and on Wednesday this week he finally got a diagnosis of Aspergers Syndrome.

The whole diagnosis process has taken 18 months (he was first referred in Autumn 2012 when he was 4; he is now 6).

He is already receiving DLA (lower rate mobility and lower rate care), which we had applied for in July of last year (2013).

My question is, do I need to inform DWP that he now has a formal diagnosis? Will that change anything with his DLA? (increase? decrease?)

Another parent told me that I should apply for carer's allowance, but I think that would only be relevant if he was on middle level DLA for the care element?

I'd be grateful for any advice. Thanks.

Many thanks, that is very helpful. I shall look back at my original DLA application.

I agree with polter my DS doesn't have AS dx (yet!) but we get DLA now because compared to his peers his needs are continuos. His needs may decrease a little as he gets older - eg he may not need me up with him at night (or he'll just sleep through!)

We got the dla renewal letter through the post last week, they ask for letters of diagnosis or stating care or medical needs to be included where possible but you don't need them they just support the application.

He may move to middle rate soon anyway, dsd hasn't changed much in terms of what we'd put as answers to the questions in years but that means that she needs much more care in comparison to kids her age than she used to as the other kids are now able to do a lot more for themselves than she can (sometimes id add safely or within a reasonable time scale to that sentence.)