Quick question about DLA

[sarah573]

DS is 9 with suspected AS. He does not yet have a DX or a statement, we are presently in the assessment process for both. I was told by his Pead that she is pretty certain we will get a DX, he ticks all the boxes.

My question is would I be likely to get DLA? Im a single Mum, I cannot work as DS is only at school for 3 hours a day and I need to be able to go to the school at short notice if there is a problem. Not to mention all the meetings and appointments that seem to take up most of the week!!

He needs more care at home that a normal 9 year old because of his behaviour. I have to watch him all the time for fear he will hurt one of my other DCs. His self help and indepence stuff is fine. He does sleep well I never have to get up with him.

If he doesn't need extra care at night then I think the most you could qualify for is middle rate care.

I don't think they take into account family status (could be wrong there). It is all about whether the child needs more care than a typical child of the same age. Which you say he does.

I'd say worth applying but make sure you get help filling in the form. If you do a search for DLA you will come across lots of threads with great advice and pointers to websites with step by step information.

the impression I have always got is that with something like AS it can be harder to 'prove' your child needs more help which is why you really need to know the 'inside' tips.

It might mean the form takes you a long time to complete. Be warned - it is horrible!

But go for it.

Hi my ds has AS, and is statemented, but I recieved middle rate care component before he recieved a dx or was statemented.

Oh and my ds is also a great sleeper, no care needed through the night at all.

IIRC, you need to show your child needs 35 hours a week care, among other things.

DLA does not take into account your circumstances at all, it's all about the applicant's 'disability'. As totaleclipse says, they're able to claim middle rate for their child (and I know of two other people claiming the same for their children on the autistic spectrum) so there's every chance you will too (but take heartinthecountry's advice about help with the form from someone in the know) and you would then be able to claim Carer's allowance for yourself to assist you financially because you are unable to work full time due to your care commitments for your son.

You can still get DLA without a dx. Ds2 first got his when he was 2 and still not officially dx'ed.

As others have said, you usually need to have to help during the night to get higher rate care but you can still get medium rate AFAIK and probably lower rate mobility if he needs help when out and about.

My ds gets middle rate care and lower rate mobility and first got the award a year before dx. DLA isn't given on the basis of dx but on the level of care a child needs additional to another child of the same age.

Like Totaleclipse, ds has always been an excellent sleeper, although he does have a lengthy bedtime routine which adds to the 'care' element.

You should definitely apply, use the guide on Cerebra's website www.cerebra.org.uk/ right hand top box, bottom link (sorry, crap at links). Write your application for a worst-case scenario, be realistic and truthful about the amount of support you have to provide your child. Very often DWP will reject a claim at first application but if you request a reconsideration they usually give it. Not many have to go to appeal.

The form is evil and they use psychological tactics to persuade you to give less information than is necessary. Eg there's a box about two inches long to describe social difficulties which is nowhere near long enough. I type mine out in Word using all the headings on the form and attach it, and my social difficulties section came to six and a half pages of A4. If that's how much paper you need to tell about your son's problems then do so. I also bullet-pointed key difficulties and strategies that are neceessary to support them, as well as giving further details and examples in the body of the text. If you do it in Word you'll always have a copy available to refer to for next time.

Also include any reports you might have from professionals, and list three months worth of appointments relating to your son's needs, including time spent on the phone arranging them. It all counts as 'care'.

HTH, and good luck!