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SN children

Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

Original poster

blinkin family fund.

24 replies

misdee · 27/09/2004 09:30

i put in an online application over the summer. have just phpned them to find out whats happening about it, and they havew no record of it. so now they are sending out a postal one for me to fill in. and i just bought the tumble dryer we needed. arrrrrgh!!

OP posts:
coppertop · 27/09/2004 09:34

We applied back in April and haven't heard anything yet. Our portage worker told us that there's a backlog of applications and that the average wait is about 6 months or so. Not a lot of help to uou though.

fio2 · 27/09/2004 09:35

I havent applied how do you? and what do you do exactly?

onlyjoking9329 · 27/09/2004 09:42

yes there is a backlog but if it's a renewal then they can do it over the phone, having said that someone i know phoned up about a first claim they said they were so busy they didn't even do a vist and she got a cheque the following week.

coppertop · 27/09/2004 09:42

You can phone them on:

0845 130 45 42

If you earn less than £23,000 you fill in a short application form with your name, address, details of your child's SN and put down what you would like help with. They can help with things like holidays, tumble-dryers, fridge freezers, clothing etc. You can apply once a year.

onlyjoking9329 · 27/09/2004 09:47

they gave my hubby 36 driving lessons, you can claim for new bed, bedding flooring, toys, outdoor play equipment they are flexible about youe income too, if you have had a big expense they will take that into account, you can also ask for transport money but only if you dont get top rate mobility.

lou33 · 27/09/2004 10:27

Misdee, be careful about that. I contacted them asking if they would fund a sn cars eat, and they said yes with supporting evidence that he needed it, but that there was a 3m wait for decisions to be made. I couldn't wait that long, as the car seat we had was affecting ds's posture, so I bought it, and told them I had the receipts. Got a letter back a couple of months later saying htey do not reimburse for things already bought. I called them, and got them to change their minds, but during the conversation she said she was only doing it because it was physically affecting him, and would not do it if we had bought a dryer or washing machine. So be prepared to battle.

Original poster
misdee · 27/09/2004 10:28

i was thinking about asking for driving lessons, as dh is getting worse and i feel bad for him having to do all the driving to hospital appts for the girls, when i could be doing it.
dd1 has also had a growth spurt and is fast outgrowing her eczema sleepsuits and knickers. she stayed small for ages, now seems to have shot up about 10cm in a matter of weeks.

coppertop, give them a call and make sure they have record of your application. i think i applied back in may and we are not even on the system yet.

OP posts:
Original poster
misdee · 27/09/2004 10:29

i'm not worried about getting the money back for the dryer, as the one old had become a fire hazard (it stayed on for 4hrs the other day) and was making a horrible grating noise.

OP posts:
dottee · 27/09/2004 10:41

If it's any help, a rep from the FF is coming into dd's school on Wednesday to give a talk to our Parents Group.

If anyone wants to CAT me, I can print it/them out and pass it onto s/he.

lou33 · 27/09/2004 10:43

Ikwym misdee, but the woman told me that the ff wouldnt fork out for stuff like that after it had been paid for. Just thought I should warn you that's all.

Original poster
misdee · 27/09/2004 10:47

i wonder if they will fund the new allergy approved dyson washing machine

OP posts:
Loobie · 27/09/2004 13:41

I aplied way back in march and just last week got a cheque for £380 for liesure activities and outings and a form to fill in for them to fund my driving lessons.

CleanKittyCat · 12/10/2004 14:14

The FF paid me £300 that we had just forked out for ds's new bunk beds. No problem, maybe they like me

Loobie · 12/10/2004 15:22

I got more!!!£a cheque for £180 for first 6 lessons and theory test,once i pass that they will release the money for the rest of my lessons and my practical testmaybe they like me too!!!

coppertop · 18/10/2004 10:11

I got a letter this morning to say that a local FF adviser will be getting in touch soon to arrange a time to visit us. Yippeeee! I just have to fill in an income form and dig out ds1's reports/assessments. It says in the letter that they also want to meet ds1. Presumably they carry out the visits out of school hours?

Davros · 18/10/2004 14:14

Coppertop, what are you going to spend it on (provided you get it)?

coppertop · 18/10/2004 14:20

I'm still not sure. A tumbledrier would be really useful and we might just have enough room to fit one in. A short holiday would be nice as we haven't been anywhere since ds1 was born. I'm hoping the FF adviser will have a few ideas as I'm pretty useless wt these things.

Original poster
misdee · 18/10/2004 14:40

they gave mieow loads of ideas. ad thanks for bringing this back up to the top, have now got 2 lots of forms for fill in.

OP posts:
mieow · 18/10/2004 17:04

I got a cheque for £950 from FF, That was £120 for DS' computer games, £200 for clothes for DS and DD1, £380 for a family holiday, £250 for garden equiment and a form for a tumble dryer. I just had to to tick the one I wanted, out of three, and send it back, and two weeks later got a shiny new tumble dryer delivered from Comet. I have seen my TD and it costs £279!!! Its worth remembering that you can ask for more than one item at a time.

dottee · 18/10/2004 19:04

I had a good chat with the FF advisor when she came to dd's school. Just to bear in mind for next year - there are more ff applicants this year than before and the word is getting round so the number will increase. That means awards may reduce. In other words, she told me I'll still get an award but it won't be as much as this year.

Unless, that is, the Government recognise the how many applicants there are and increase the funding. Oh look - flying bacon!!!

lou33 · 18/10/2004 19:07

Blimey mieow, and we had to argue for £150 for a sn car seat!

onlyjoking9329 · 18/10/2004 19:30

i am sure i read somewhere that the goverment gives more cash if more people apply, i think it's true to say that you get the most when you first apply but we have had considerable cheques from them each year, it maybe down to us having three with asd thou.

Davros · 18/10/2004 20:09

Do you think they'd fund an MN-SN dinner? Inc overnight in posh hotel.

mieow · 18/10/2004 20:37

I think I got so much as the FF advisor had to assess both children. And they both needed different things.

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