Dla advice

[Shazzanat]

Hello, I'm after a bit of Dla advice please.

DD is two and gets high rate care Dla. This has two years left on it to go before it is due to be renewed. We've recently received a form through to apply for the mobility bit when DD turns 3. Dd cannot walk so expect she will get the high rate for this..

Now the bit I'm wondering about. It asks if DD's care needs have changed since we first applied. Now DD"s care needs have changed but she still very much requires day and night care but for different/evolving reasons to last time.

Should I be filling out the care bit again or not considering needs have changed but she still needs night care? I'd imagine all children's care needs change as their disabilities progress and she still requires care at night... Not sure what to do? Thank you!

Unfortunately you have to fill the whole form in again and they look at it as a whole, as a new claim even if you are already receiving dla. The whole award could go up, down or change in length.

There is a way to only fill out the mobility bit. There's a question you can tick to say you are happy with the care provision. I can't remember which one it is. If you call them they they will tell you how to do it.

When we did ours they awarded us middle rate mobility and extended the care for another 5 years.

I have just done this and there is a box to tick to say which part of the award you want them to look at again.

Just to say my friends little boy with downs can’t walk at age 6 and she gets low rate care and low rate mobility. So until you know don’t assume you’ll get high rate

Ravingstarfish has your friend tried to appeal? I have a son with severe autism and we were initially turned down but it was granted on appeal. Getting low rate mobility for someone who can't walk seems outrageous and simply wrong.

She had to appeal 3 times to get what she has. I got high rate for 5 years for my son before he even had a diagnosis, it seems a complete lottery