Advice greatly appreciated re: claiming DLA for ASD

[DLADilemma]

I have been thinking (on and off for about a year!) about filling in a form for 6yo DD with ASD - though awaiting formal diagnosis (very long wait, developmental paediatrician says it's very likely)

However I am unsure she would qualify, as she manages very well at school despite needing a lot of help at home. She keeps in all her frustration all day and explodes when she gets home. My concern is if I put the school details etc down they will contact the school who will say she is fine and doesn't need all the extra support I've put on the form! I am also thinking the school will think I am trying to fraudulently claim as they think she is fine whilst there so it's hard for them to see all the extra support I give out of school. As she has no formal diagnosis as yet I have no reports etc to send either, it's basically my word on a form.

Has anyone any experience? Is it worth trying to claim? I am desperate for things for my DD such as a weighted blanket, that genuinely is a struggle for me to afford. I keep talking myself out of claiming but then she needs so much extra support, I keep going round in circles. Any advice appreciated!

Yes, look at the cerebra guide.

I personally didn't use it. If you phone the dwp up and ask for a form. The will send you a dates one and if you send that one back, you have six weeks and dla will be paid from the date of the form.

I fill mine on on PDF. I keep a copy for doing renewals.

Ds2 is "fine" at school. I had tones of doctor / hospital leters and processed my claim in under a month so I don't think they phoned anyone.

It's a hard form to fill out

I was about to suggest the Cereba guide.

Keep diaries of things that happen, extra ways you have to help her etc.

It's tough going filling it in but worthwhile if it is awarded.

Thanks for that. I'll fill it in and send it and just wait and see. I feel a bit awkward sending it in pre-official diagnosis, especially if they contact school who know the basics of what is happening but not the details of the extra help she needs. I doubt it will be awarded actually without any official reports but feel it's worth trying.

We don't have a diagnosis yet but DS has just had his DLA renewed and increased to higher rate care.

Good luck

Oh that's good news for you Sirzy. I'll crack on with the form then. I've read the cerebra guide and she fits quite a lot of the criteria/points on there so I'll use that as a guide.

We are the same as you - dd2 holds it in at school and explodes at home. We claim dla for her. I didn't out her school details down I just put a note on it saying that she receives no extra help at school and that I'd prefer it if they didn't contact the school. But I sent about 15 doctor/pead letters so they had more than enough info

My DD is also 'fine' at school. I applied for DLA before diagnosis although we did have a few Paed reports and OT report.

I didn't use the guide but to my utter surprise she was awarded high rate care first time.

She has since received a diagnosis and I actually made the decision this morning to apply for carers allowance. I filled the form out online this morning.

Please do fill it out, don't delay. I have found the extra money a godsend and I use a lot of it to buy sensory items for her that have made her life just a little bit easier.

I also put a note on the form to say school don't notice any of her behaviours and that she masks whilst at school, and the explosion every day when we get home is a direct result of keeping it together all day.

Good luck.

I've just seen your message Shady and hope your claim for carers allowance goes through quickly. Good advice to put that she copes well at school by masking. I too could do with the money for sensory items, looking at getting her a tent that she can go in after school away from siblings, noise etc but we're so strapped for cash at the moment.
I'll crack on with the form ASAP. Good lunch to you too