New DLA wait times 2022

[Momof2soonmomto3]

Iv made this new one as the thread I was following along with others has now been closed mine was scanned on the 18th Feb and still awaiting decision, I'm currently been waiting 40 mins on phone to DLA trying to get a update

We're 5 minutes from the sorting office I could have hand delivered and still had no answer scanned 17th Feb x

@NoWordForFluffy I feel similarly to you. I don't expect to be declined but believe my child should be entitled to hrc and hrm but from what I've seen they tend to give mrc and it takes a mandatory reconsideration to get a higher award. He's only 4 so no mobility unless they grant hrm

My application was received on 16 Feb, Ive not had a response but checked my bank account today and saw DLA has been paid in!

@CanYouHearMeAtTheBack my boy got awarded hrm first try with no evidence at all

Personally I don’t think it’s based on area but diagnosis and amount of evidence provided that receives the results. I don’t think I’d have received low rate mobility for my youngest without the blue badge awarded recently with a 121 assessment from a medical professional. My youngest has a diagnosis of non-verbal autism attending a special school. So hrc and lrm as she can physically move but needs care outdoors and lots of 121 help in care.

My eldest daughter on the other hand attends a mainstream school with diagnosis of cerebral palsy and autism so she receives hrc and hrm as it should be as she has physical difficulties in moving around and also requires a lot of 121 care.

The area discussion is about how long it's taking to get the award, not whether you get one / what level you get.

@NoWordForFluffy i completely understand that. Looking through the comments, most refer to lack of evidence and a long wait. I believe the assessor needs to go through and contact resources on the application which can result in a long wait for these reasons.

in the reward letters received it states that reports were requested for both my children to still substantiate what I was writing.

as I’ve also said, it’s my personal experience I’m basing my opinion. Not to offend

I just don’t think the wait is due to areas but professional reports etc and how long they take to reply

@GemJamz no it’s just due to staffing levels. DM’s very rarely write to anyone it’s guidance not to unless absolutely necessary. There are not airways done in exact date order because it depends who they get allocated to and how busy that team is.

*they are not always

My neighbour doesn’t have a response yet and she posted the same day I did. She doesn’t have a diagnosis or an EHCP. I think these additional documents help a decision along.

Well it’s obviously a mute point. You receive a reward when you receive one. He’ll to opinions or personal experiences

“Hell”

I incorrectly assumed this thread was for times, dates, personal experience and opinions. My mistake. Wish you all luck in your area.

I rang on wed and the lady was very helpful she said it is very close to going to the dm and they was working on coc up to the 10th dec! I rang Friday for update and this lady wasn’t very helpful and said there working on claims from sep last year and be another 4-6 weeks really confused me I don’t think she knew her self tbh x

@GemJamz wow you are rude I was just letting you know why the wait times are what they are. My brother is a DM I thought you/others would find it helpful to know.

@Mum2Two91 I’m north east lincs! The lady really confused me on Friday as when I rang on wed she said it was very close going to dm and call back Friday so I did to be told there still on coc from sep last year 🤦‍♀️ They all say different don’t they it’s frustrating! X

It is interesting, @LilacPoppy. Thank you for sharing.

How are the teams split (as in what determines the claims that team gets to review)?

@NoWordForFluffy it’s just random no specific team will do certain areas. The forms are scanned on to a DM’s pc automatically and they work through them. Before pip was introduced dla claims were dealt with in regional offices, but then those DM’s gradually got moved over to pip and all dla claims were dealt with in the one office. It’s better for claimants though as the training is specific to child claims, where as DM’s previously were dealing with adults and children.

Pot luck then! It's good that they're more specialised though. 🙂

@LilacPoppy thank you, interesting to know how they do it. Can see why they separated children and adults.

@GemJamz DLA is awarded based on needs, not diagnosis. You can be awarded HRM without physical mobility difficulties.

lilacpoppy I agree, DWP rarely contact professionals and parents certainly shouldn’t rely on it.

I hope everyone is holding out well in the waiting,

I'm feeling less anxious this weekend, I've still got roughly 4 to 6 weeks waiting time going by this thread and it was taking up far too much headroom so I've chilled (for now).

This thread has been really useful, reading peoples opinions and experiences makes you feel less alone in the process and you're not the only one going through it all.

@LilacPoppy Thank you for sharing, it is good to know they have split children's and adults.

All we had first time round was a couple of reports from school and a letter to say he was on the waiting list for an assessment and they didn't contact anyone, this time round we have a lot more, I even included exclusion letters from school, so it will be interesting to see if there is any changes in the process and award.

@AReallyUsefulEngine Professionals tried to tell me not to bother applying without a diagnosis, fortunately I was told by someone else it was needs based so I did go for it and he was awarded.

As for HRM, I can think of a handful of autistic children who have been awarded HRM without physical difficulties. My lad was awarded LRM first time round with very little evidence, just by what I said on the form. Even though he has no physical difficulties, other than refusing to walk or sensory overload from noises on the roads causing him to just shut down but he is a huge danger to himself and others and this is something that has got 100% worse over the last year and as he gets bigger and bolder it will probably continue to, it will change everything if he did get awarded HRM (I think knowing this adds to the pain of waiting) but if we don't get it then we don't get it it's one of those things.

@whitwoochantelle hope you get a decision this week!! 🤞🏻🤞🏻
I should hopefully too. I'm gonna call tomorrow as I was assured it would be with decision maker this week! 😭🤞🏻 xx

Bizzlemizzle LRM isn’t about mobility but about supervision. If you think DC should get HRM but don’t have a look at this Contact booklet.