Dla award system

[Suzzie101]

Hi, wondering if anyone you would be able to help, I have submitted a claim for my daughter (3.5) who’s waiting on an ASD diagnosis, she attends nursery 5 days a week , but recently got a diagnosis of learning difficulties, behavioural difficulties, social difficulties along side a couple more, due to this they only allow her to stay 1 hour a day as she requires constant supervision and honestly the nursery don’t have the facilities, we are awaiting a referral to early learning for a 1 on 1. She is very impulsive, would hit out and can be quite unpredictable, while at home she requires the same amount of constant care if not more, she is unaware of any dangers , I,e cars, fire, cooker, climbing that sort of thing so is unable to walk safely, does anyone know how Dla might award if any, thanks

DLA isn’t based on a diagnosis, but on needs.

LRC is for “help for some of the day”.
MRC is for “frequent help or constant supervision during the day, supervision at night or someone to help while they’re on dialysis”.
HRC is for “help or supervision throughout both day and night, or they’re terminally ill”.

From your post, I would hope for at least MRC, possibly high if DD also has night needs.

LRM is for if “they can walk but need help and or supervision when outdoors”.
HRM is for “they cannot walk, can only walk a short distance without severe discomfort, could become very ill if they try to walk or they’re blind or severely sight impaired”.

With ASD and LD there is typically 2 ways of qualifying for HRM - via the virtually unable to walk criteria and the SMI rules. There’s more information here.

Have you applied for an EHCNA? Have nursery applied for early years inclusion funding?

@Imitatingdory i will definitely have a look in to that, my daughter does require significant care during the night, as she doesn't sleep well and would often become distressed resulting in tying to head butt the floor, is all ect. also school have requested early leaning & SENS

You can apply for an EHCP yourself. IPSEA have a model letter you can use on their website.

I found the Cerebra guide to DLA very useful when completing the renewal form for our son following his ASD diagnosis.

I do feel, personally, that DLA awards can depend on the individual assessing the claim. I know it shouldn't be so, but I read so many accounts of people being given the lower rates or short-term awards when their child has obvious needs. In contrast our son was awarded HRC & HRM at age 3 'indefinitely' (i.e. to age 16+) without question. I cannot decide whether we had a sympathetic adviser, or this is a sad indictment of our son's expected capabilities as he gets older ...