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SN children

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Original poster

Current DLA waiting times?

14 replies

Sahkoora · 31/03/2015 07:55

Just sent off DS1's DLA renewal. His award runs out in June, so really hoping there's not a gap between payments.

Anyone know what the wait is like at the moment? Is it usually any quicker for a renewal? Thanks!

OP posts:

NinePeedles · 31/03/2015 13:04

Our's came back in 10 days!
In fact, the award came the same day ( in a different envelope) as acknowledgement of receipt of forms.
And to top it all, it was awarded till ds is 16.
All that angst for nothing!

LadySybilLikesSloeGin · 31/03/2015 13:28

It took ds's 3 weeks, they sent the acknowledgement on the same day as the letter. They did turn him down though (it was a renewal), I've has to ask for it to be reconsidered. Lord knows how long that will take

NinePeedles · 31/03/2015 13:36

LadySybil, hope your appeal is sucessful and you hear back quickly.

LadySybilLikesSloeGin · 31/03/2015 13:39

Thank you, it's really confusing as nothing's changed [confusing]

Original poster

Sahkoora · 31/03/2015 15:31

Oh, LadySybil that's awful. Dreading that happening too, will keep fingers crossed for you.

May I ask how old your DS is, Nine? We got a two year award the first time, but DS was only 4 at the time so perhaps they expected things would improve.

OP posts:

coppertop · 31/03/2015 15:39

They received mine on Feb 22nd (ish) and their decision arrived about a week ago, so a month or so.

It was a renewal and the award stayed the same.

NinePeedles · 31/03/2015 15:59

Sahkoora, ds is 4; that was his 3rd claim.
Hope you have good news soon; it is so stressful.

LadySybilLikesSloeGin · 31/03/2015 17:07

Thank you. The lady on the phone said someone else will look at it, I don't think the first person read what I'd written. Ds is 15 and is dyspraxic, hypermobile and has a social skills delay. I escort him to school because he falls into the road/gets foot pain because his feet are floppy. He can't cut up food, he can't write, he can't make himself anything to eat that involves a knife because his hands are too floppy. I almost cried when I read the letter and it said he didn't need care for more than an hour a day. I'm either working, sleeping (6 hours) or caring for him. I must spend 6 hours a day doing things for him that he can't do

I'm so pleased that they have awarded some of these, it makes a massive difference Good luck to those who are waiting. If they do say no please do appeal.

Original poster

Sahkoora · 31/03/2015 17:56

LadySybil that is horrendous. There should be some sort of compensation scheme for situations like yours. As if parents of disabled kids don't have enough stress and worry!

Starting to wish I'd sent in even more paperwork now; it was a parcel as it was! At least if they are turning them around in 3 weeks ish I will hopefully have time to appeal before his current award runs out.

Our family budget would be unmanageable without DLA at the moment. We've been whacked with some pretty big surprise bills lately and DH's work can be very up and down. We already live on a shoestring in a small flat. Really don't need the stress of figuring out what else we can live without!

OP posts:

Indantherene · 31/03/2015 18:09

I posted our initial claim for DD on 14 March. They rang me on 17th with some queries and I was convinced they were going to turn it down. I got a letter on 23rd to say we would get mrc /lrm from 17th.

I was amazed.

We got the acknowledgement about 4 days later.

LadySybilLikesSloeGin · 31/03/2015 18:30

Well, they backdate it Things are OK, just. It costs me a fortune to get him to school though so I'm rather pleased he breaks up for a few weeks on Thursday, though he'll probably eat the bus fare's worth of food. He needs to see a speech and language therapist and the NHS here is crap. I've found a private one but she's not cheap. The DLA arrears will cover it but it depends on whether they award it this time. I sent them a small pile of paediatricians reports/OT reports (most of which I sent the last time too). They only looked at the OT by the sounds of it, and OT's don't look at feet problems, only hands and he was only assessed for the use of a laptop in school. I don't think they read the form either as I was very clear on the form when I said he can't wipe his bum/chop up food/open bottles etc but all of it was ignored. Makes you want to scream!

Well done, Indantherene

streakybacon · 01/04/2015 10:05

6-8 weeks is the timescale I've been given for adult claims (PIP) so I expect it's the same for children's too.

A lot depends on how clear the claim is. If the needs are very obvious and there's evidence provided to prove it, it'll be easier for assessors to come to a quick decision. If they have to wade through a form that's not very well written or unclear it will take longer.

My (adult) friend's claim was submitted in November, and he had his medical mid-March. We were told eight weeks from that point but he got his decision in under two but it was very clearly written and loads of evidence included.

It's very variable, as you can often see on here with people reporting a wide range of times. Good luck .

bitbap18 · 01/04/2015 14:43

We sent off form and it was received on 20th Feb and decision made 5th March, first time claim and very little evidence supplied. Very impressed! If only claiming PIP was so simple!

LadySybilLikesSloeGin · 08/04/2015 23:42

Took them just over a week to look at it again, and they've awarded lower rate mobility and lower rate care, so 20th Feb to 8th April

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