Sorry another DLA one!

[Locki]

Hi, just wondering how it works with the DLA application. I sent the forms off earlier this week and am aware that it can take months for a decision. But I’ve seen people talking about case handlers/ decision makers and calling for updates. So for anyone who has been through the process, how does it work? Do they send you an acknowledgment when they receive the form/ contact details to chase up status? Also our DD is having an ados in a few weeks so can I also send that as supporting evidence when I get the report and how do I find out how to link this to her original application? Thanks in advance 😁

Some people get an acknowledgment e.g. via text, but not everyone does. You can ring the general DLA phone number but there’s no point calling any time soon. Some people get a letter after 8 ish weeks apologising for the wait. You can send additional evidence just write her name and child reference number on the top if you know it, if you don’t know it put the child benefit number.

I sent mine off end of February, got a letter saying they’d received it and would be in touch in 8 weeks. Then got another letter saying they had a backlog and it was taking longer than expected. I called last week and was told I wasn’t even on the list yet so it’ll be at least another week before I hear anything, but that any money will be back paid from when they received my application. It took more than 40 minutes to get through when I tried calling though, apparently they’re busy 😁

I'm end of Feb too and my DS claim still hasn't been allocated. I'm hoping the wait isn't much longer now.

I received a letter about a week after telling me it was received and to call after 8 weeks if I hadn't heard. I then received another letter 8 weeks after the first apologising for the delay.

A decision maker I believe is literally the person who is handling your claim. Who checks everything and makes the decision.

When you send additional information I think you're meant to put on the child's name and their D.O.B and claim reference number.

When I initially called just before I received the first letter to get an idea of the process I was asked to get a supporting statement from school. At the time of application I wasn't able to send one due to the SENCO refusing until she made her own observations. The class teacher and pastoral leads observations weren't good enough! To be fair to her, hers were much better but it would have been nice to be allowed statements from all 3 school staff working with my child as all were relevant to his struggles/needs. After she did what she needed and has now made the relevant referalls to OT and drawing/talking therapies she said she wouldn't do a statement but she was happy to give her details to the DLA for them to call her. I much prefer things in writing but ive waited years for her to finally be doing something so I didn't challenge it. So in my situation I just called to update my claim with her details and actions as I had no further written information to offer.

I've recently seen schools don't usually get contacted which is so annoying as since sending my DS claim things with him have got worse but support has started to be put in place so things have started moving.

Good luck. The wait is horrible. Wishing you a successful outcome

Hi, I phoned to see if they received the application about 2 weeks after, they had and confirmed the date it was scanned and said about 8 weeks wait. The letter came on week 3 acknowledging the claim with reference number on it.

I phoned on week 8, to check they had received additional documents I had sent, got told all is well shouldn't be much longer. Week 9 now, going by other threads is 10 weeks+ although very few do hear before hand. I'm eagerly waiting a decision at this point.

I plan to phone on week 11 if I still haven't heard. I think when someone is looking at the claim and you phone up, you can be told that it's with the decision maker (I think the timeline should be two weeks or less then). Though that's based on what I've read.

You can phone them up and ask if they have received your claim, then they will give you a reference number for you to add any additional documents and the scan date. I think the whole process can vary alot though.

Good luck on your application.

Oh and if you recieve any UC to tell them that you have applied - there is a disability element they add to your claim if succesful. Apparently they backdate quicker if you tell them at the beginning.

Again, just what I've read. I left a note in my journal just incase.