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

Hope nobody here gets my DM. Scanned 3rd March, so 11 weeks, still no decision, being told I might have to wait until next week. It's been with the DM nearly 2 weeks already.

@Emmeymumofthree how frustrating for you, what are they saying when you phone up? Hope you have an answer soon.

Monday I was told DM wasn't in, but they would flag it as urgent as it was already so far behind, and I should phone back this morning if I hadn't heard anything. This morning was told it could be end of next week as decisions were taking 9 weeks. Trying to explain I've waited 11 weeks already is painful. Apparently my DM must have a larger case load than everyone else.

hi, I just called up about my chnage of circumstances, to be told the 18/19 week wait isn’t actually right for a decision that’s when they aim to send too decision maker, then add 10/14 days into that

We’ve had a decision (scanned 10th Mar)
Had the text and called to ask.

DD has asd/spd and dyspraxia and she was awarded middle rate care and low rate mobility.

Back payment has been sent and will hit my account in the next few days.

I feel so relieved as I can now get some things she needs.

I had another text and a letter today, I rang and they’ve said nothing has even been looked at yet? I’ve asked for someoen to call me today as I’m not happy, they’ve said a case manager will give me a call?

@Ltb17

I wish they knew the reason why we apply for the help.
for myself I have a severely disabled daughter. She will need care for life. I’m also a single mother. Because of the delay in her claim it means I have now had to find a job and because I can’t work 25 hours I have to attend the job centre once a week as well. I’ve also got into arrears and debt. My 16 year old daughter will have to care for her sister whilst doing her GCSEs. This includes not just general care but medical care too. On top of this the job centre has said if a job with 25+ hours comes up I’ll have to take it. So what is my daughter supposed to do if it involves evenings or weekends?..die? Will she have to go into care?.
there needs to be some sort of provision put in place that doesn’t force mothers of severely disabled children to be obligated to work if the claim is delayed or refused.
I have my first shift tonight and my daughter has had 2 exams and a full day at school and I feel terrible that she’ll have to be Her sisters carer this evening as well.

@Naomis121 did you mention me in something? Can't see the comment?

Received another text today and a letter to state my daughters claim had changed, rang up and once again they said it’s not even been looked at yet? They now have the case manger ringing me today.

just sounded so much like the issue you had x

Sarah it is possible for the job centre to alter your claimant commitment to take into consideration your caring responsibilities while you wait for a decision. As well as applying for DLA have you asked for social care assessments, and depending on the medical needs potentially continuing care funding. Have you told DC1’s school?

@Naomis121 yeah how weird is that. I never had any letter or anything though. They must have an issue with their system or something. Mines been sorted now but I still never had any explanation to any of it!

I’m hoping once they call me today it gets sorted xx

@Naomis121 when they sorted mine I asked if they could do same day payment as I was told before it was done and I wasn't very reassured that it was actually done, they didn't want to but the woman I spoke to went off and spoke to someone and they agreed to do it, I wouldn't have believed it unless I saw the money in my account. I don't understand what's going on with them to be honest. I'm waiting on my other sons decision at the moment, his scan date is 23rd march but I'm not calling about it I've learnt my lesson now haha

@AReallyUsefulEngine

i have asked the job centre and Dla on advice about what can be put in place whilst we wait but they said the only option is to wait.
my daughter doesn’t currently attend school as her needs are very complex and high and there isn’t availability for her in the only school that could take her. She will hopefully be in school by September maybe July at a push.

@Ltb17

Mine was scanned 23rd march and I called today and they said another 3-4 weeks before it will be looked at.

sarah you need to push for your commitments to be altered, they don’t need to wait for an award, they can take individual circumstances in to account.

Even though DD doesn’t attend school the LA have a statutory duty to provide education. If there isn’t a suitable school they should be providing alternative arrangements. Does DD have an EHCP? With an EHCP a lack of places/being full cannot be used as a reason on its own to refuse to admit DC.

Although when I said tell school I meant DC1’s school.

just been told it’s 3/5 working days for a case manager to call me?

Hi mine was scanned in on 18 th of march has any one heard on that date yet thanks

@Daz111 mines the 18th march heard nothing yet x

@AReallyUsefulEngine

Believe me I have pushed and pushed for it to be changed. My daughter does have an ehcp. They found her a place 40 miles away and I turned it down due to the distance. Have had to fight for them to get her into the closer school. She cannot go to just any special needs school due to certain medical needs she has. If she had behavioural/learning needs only it would be simpler but the school has to adapt for her needs and it taking time for them to do that. She has people come in and she does have therapy but none of this involves me being able to drop her off or leave her.
I haven’t informed my dd1 daughters school yet as this is a new set of circumstances and I’m hoping it won’t last long or I’ll figure something else out.

You can make a formal complaint if they refuse to alter your claimant commitment. If you are sanctioned because of it you can ask for a MR and appeal if necessary.

She has people come in and she does have therapy but none of this involves me being able to drop her off or leave her.

The LA should be providing someone, you cannot be compelled to organise/deliver/supervise DD’s provision via the EHCP. Even if that means the LA have to fund someone else to do it.

Have you also looked at continuing care funding?

You should tell DD1’s school because they might be able to apply for special consideration for her exams.

@Sarah3587 I had to leave work due to care commitments to my son and UC made note of a pending DLA claim and circumstances when I applied for UC. I showed them evidence of his needs and no more questions asked, just told me to let them know the outcome of the claim.

If you haven't already, ask via your journal about it, make sure it's in writing so they can't skim over it and fob you off in anyway. If they do, you have it there then that you have made them aware if you have to make any appeals.

If you have evidence of social care assessments I would use them too - if you haven't got those then request them.

Hope things get resolved for you!

Hi All,

Been following this thread for a few weeks.

Applied for DLA on 21st March got told they received application 23rd March and received a holding letter apologises for the delay dated 11th May today.

Haven't chased them yet because of you guys (your amazing keeping each other updated!)

Has anyone got any experience though with no official diagnosis for ADHD?

My daughter [3] has speech and language delay, referred for additional speech support due to "poor speech sounds and not using her tongue correctly" and she sees a social and communication specialist who has stated " her concentration and listening are poor and she needs 121 adult support to learn and development and keep her on task" and "she likes playing on her own too much, has no sharing skills and will have a meltdown if asked to share or turn take".

I sent both reports as evidence and also mentioned she is asthmatic and coughs so much some nights she makes herself sick but doesn't always wake up if she is being sick so she shares a bed with me as she cannot be in her own room.

I'm not holding out much hope for the claim being accepted but wanted some more experienced mums thoughts?

She is my 1 and only child and I've had to fight so hard due to the pandemic to get this far but dunno what other avenues to explore as I do agree with the potential adhd side but no one seems to be telling me next steps :(

The wait for DLA is agonising too... dread the posy arriving some days and I have a feeling they are going to say its not enough information.

Hats off to you all Ladies xx

@NovaaStormx

you don’t necessarily need a diagnosis to qualify for Dla it’s all down to your child’s care needs in comparison to the average care needs of other children their age.
at 3 a child without any conditions will still need a high level of care and speech isn’t yet fully developed so it depends on the case manager it lands with. It also depends on what supporting evidence you have. The more the better usually.
have you got support from nursery? Any hospital letters or referrals?
my daughter was born with a genetic condition that’s life threatening, she wasn’t able to make any sounds until she was about 7 and still can’t talk at 9. She has arrested development and cerebral palsy that means she cannot walk on some days. . We received middle rate care and no mobility at 5 years old and high rate care low rate mobility at 7.

however I know a few people who get hrc and hrm just for behavioural issues. It’s really down to the decision maker, Good luck