What does it mean for a child to be 'Registered Disabled'?

[Jinglywoo]

My dd is 22 months with CP and we get high rate DLA for care. I've ordered some special equipment today for her and I was told that if she's registered disabled I don't have to pay the VAT and there is a form to fill in. Is there some register I should have informed? I hope I can get the vAT off as the equipment is expensive (unsurprisingly).

well yonks ago dd was registered. i think the ss ot did it. tbh i would say she is registered anyway as she gets DLA.

We get a white form thingy sent out yearly I think.. don't you get one Fio? Asks all kinds of tedious questions about what groups you would like your child to be able to attend.. cloud cuckoo land type stuff! That's how being "registered" works in our area... I think local groups can then have access to that list to send you info that might be usefull etc

But you (your dd) will also be nationally registered if getting DLA

dd got a card from social services but we've got equipment and just filled in the VAT exemption thingy and no-one's asked for the card.
They might ask for a paed letter or something.

I never remember to claim that vat exemption thing when buying stuff for DS

oh we get something like that shiney. maybe that is the new way of doing it.

Before DLA there used to be a thing called the "disability register". I think it was assessed and managed locally, I dimly remember my grandmother being on it. Then they centralised things with the DLA office, but local councils still kept their own lists of disabled persons though the criteria are no longer consistent from place to place or with DLA. In some areas it "means" something and you are entitled to stuff. In others, it's just a list for the local Social Services to use to store your details.

A lot of old forms still talk about being "registered disabled" but though we don't really have such a thing locally I find photocopying the DLA award letter does the same job.

Our Soc Svs dept has a register of disabled children and we have an ID card and we get a newsletter as well as being "invited to participate" in surveys, consultations etc. I also think that they would prob want proof of eligibility for DLA or something like that. Well done for doing it though, I did it once and have never remebered since.

The VAT thing for equipment is DLA based, the SS dept in your area also holds a register but it's not as formal today as it once was. It's the DLA they all care about as that is closely (!!!!) assessed, and that is what the IR / VAT use to identify eligibility.

Usually you just have to sign a form for the VAT thing. I do it (ds1 gets higher rate DLA) although he isn't registered locally.

My DD is on the disability register and also receives DLA.

It is issued by our local Council and is called the 'I Count' card.

The only time I have found it has actually helped us in the past is that it gives us reduced rates for theme parks, cinemas, swimming, etc.

I think the web site is

www.i-count.org
www.registerservices.nhs.uk