Disability Assessment

[Kanga59]

I requested a disability assessment for my son who is disabled by definition (Eq Act 2010). My local MASH team agreed to do the assessment and I chased it up last week, we still haven't been allocated to someone for the assessment.

I'm wondering if there's any merit in having it done now. What's the benefit/disadvantage of having an assessment and your child is then presumably labelled as officially disabled?

I initially applied for the assessment with the hope of getting some £ for direct payments so I could afford to pay for someone to help me with the care. As it happens, I'm coping much better now. Although of course I wouldn't say no to paid help.

mad I'm in Hants. I asked for assessment by disabilities SS team when DS was sleeping up to 5 hours a night and broken. But I couldn't get it (despite being a LP!) because I went to work so must be coping. I was pretty much advised to stop working and sleep during day and claim carers!

OP do what you think is best. Your son is disabled assessment or not. Only you know whether you'd get anything out of it as only you know the details of your child's health and how well you are managing. Just remember that your child will get bigger and it's best to get things in place whilst managing than waiting til you aren't coping.

Ok - so if you want DPs and are guaranteed to get them, do keep pushing. If what you are looking for is official acknowledgement that your DC is disabled, then the assessment not relevant. These assessments are not to acknowledge disability, just to rule as to whether your LA believes you need support to cope with your child's disability. The disability itself is not in question, hence our 'not disabled enough' ruling whilst in receipt of HR DLA and mobility component.

There are special rules for children with life limiting conditions which the hospice can help you with. Do use them as an information resource if you are not comfortable with accessing physical support from them - they may also be able to contact ss and bump you up the wait list for assessment.

Good luck - and be kind to yourself. Working through the bureaucracy is what breaks people xxx

Thank you. So it seems the DA is for direct payments purposes only. I'll let it run its course as its one more thing to get sorted out while the sun is shining.

I agree that the bureaucracy is definitely the worst part! What are the special rules for LL children?

Mostly just to do with faster processing times for everything I think - which is a bit morbid, I know, but sometimes you have to deal with the practicalities. If this applies, then it should have been made clear when you were applying for DLA - there are definitely special rules for DLA for these applications. We are lucky in that dd2's condition doesn't fall into the life limiting category, so I don't know the full ins and outs. I know that friends who are in this position find being in touch with a hospice useful for signposting, but generally have to reach their own particular stage of acceptance before accessing the full range of hospice support - respite etc. And I guess as ever that there is an element of postcode lottery about every system...

Enjoy the sunshine x