DLA wait times 2023 Part 10

[JimnJoyce]

hi thought i'd start a new thread as the last one is completely full and won't let me post.

Well I've just spoken to a very understanding man on the phone who confirmed that my daughters application is with the decision making team and I should hear within the next 3 weeks which would take us up to 16 weeks.
I told him I would like to make a formal complaint about the inordinately long wait times and he assured me he would make that known and pass it along as soon as we were off the phone.

@EB82 thank you 😊

I have another question about UC, I’ve had a notification to say the decision maker has reviewed the reason for the delay in notifying and decided that special circumstances apply and my uc will be adjusted to the date of change. So I guess that means it’s being backdated right? I’ve had my monthly statement and it’s showing the disability element there and the carers element, does anyone know, will the backdated payment come separately?

@PicklelilyBobtail they will come as separate back dated payments i think a letter will come on with the amount of each, i’ve been waiting 8 days since decision and still not been calculated they said there’s no time scale on how long for the calculation so not sure how much longer from now x

Thank you, I’ll just wait and see x

I only feel safe writing this here- I suffer anxiety and I've just had a 'wave' of it wash me. He's going to be declined. I'm thinking back to filling in the form, you know the part with how long does it take to complete task a, task b etc- I used an average on each. Sometimes takes 2 minutes to brush teeth, sometimes 10, sometimes teeth just are not brushed.
I've got a to do list longer than my arm, my child to care for, pets, a home, a full time job... I can't do this again.

@CoffeeLover90 Oh really feeling for you, it’s not a nice feeling at all!! I know exactly how you’re feeling!! There has been so many things that I’ve thought “should have included that” on the form since sending it off. Plus so many things have intensified since sending the form off too. I think the bank holiday hasn’t helped because there will be no answers/opportunity to call until
Tuesday. My nerves were through the roof whilst called Thursday and now I’m kinda feeling in limbo about not knowing.

@CoffeeLover90 I felt exactly the same, I saw all this evidence that people had sent off and thought omg I haven't sent anywhere near that. I literally sent his diagnose letter and assessment and his school support plan (not an ehcp). I'm sure you're just over thinking as I did and I know it's easier said than done to stop do it. Fingers crossed you will get your answer very very soon. Thinking of you all 🥰

Hi all, can I join in?

My son had HRC from being 2 years old. In 2021 I sent off a CoC requesting Mobility but it was denied and they actually reduced it to MRC!! Said they had read a letter from Occuptional Therapist who had discharged DS and believed based on this his care needs had changed.

What that letter actually said was that the area we live in were only able to offer OT to children with physical disability following Covid wait times and they would refer to Podiatry instead for tip-toe walking and to continue with paediatrician for his development. I was outraged but never bothered with the MR because I was scared they would lower it again!

He turns 5 in October and I sent off his renewal pack on 14th June (via recorded delivery as didn’t want to take the chance!), scan date 23/06.

I added 45 pages of evidence which was my own diaries, paeds letters with confirmation of his autism diagnosis which DS got in May 2023 after being on the pathway since 2020. SALT documents, school SEN plan, you name it I sent it!

I called last week and after a 1h45m wait they told me they’re now running that behind we wouldn’t be given a decision until the day before the current award ends, which is 6th Oct.

Anybody in the same boat regarding the renewal?! I feel sick whenever I think about it! x

@CoffeeLover90 aww reading that about the anxiety waves and worrying honestly lovely I am the exact same!!

I keep getting random ‘did I write this in there’ ‘did I definitely put enough info about this’ I am furious with myself for not keeping a copy of what I sent because I can’t actually remember exactly what I wrote in that supporting evidence!! I’m keeping everything crossed for us all!

I keep thinking ‘what if they refuse it the day before, it immediately stops!’ So worried! X

Hi @CharleneD and welcome 🥰 oh wow!! That is absolutely shocking that they not only decreased your original award but are now telling you that you need to wait until October to find out about the renewal!! This is my first time dealing with DLA, my scan date is 28/4 so I’ve just passed my 17th week of waiting. The letter had originally stated 15 weeks 🫠🫠 but from being on this thread, it really does seem that DLA pick and choose randomly and there is no real consistency on awarding. I thankfully completely my form online digitally so I have a copy of what I sent (haven’t re-read) but I’m 99% sure there is so much more I could of gone into detail on but the form itself was so daunting, I just wanted it sent off and gone 🤦🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️

Thank you so much @Muva306 ❤️

In 2020 when I first applied it only took from December submitting, to February award with a 6 week backdate, it’s crazy how much it has changed!!

Will keep everything crossed for us hearing back soon!

What evidence did you send over? I also did mine on word, but I added loads of extra information and then printed it without saving!

I’m also worrying that they may delay mine for waiting for a school report, but my son is starting in reception so they don’t have a clue about him other than a basic SEN plan they sent over to them before he left nursery in July.

My son has autism and on the outside he appears really intelligent and articulate (which of course he is ❤️) but then it’s all of the rigid and repetitive behaviours, obsession and meltdowns to go with it. The holidays have been really up and down!!

How old is your DC? X

Also just to add for anyone, filling out that form is absolutely horrendous and upsetting but it doesn’t mean we have this view of our children!! It’s just so awful sitting there focusing on all of the negatives and things they can’t do. It’ll be worth it for us.

Please can someone with any knowledge of appeals reply, I’m trying to mentally prepare myself for this just incase as I’m constantly worrying they’ll focus on one thing like they did with my coc 2 years ago! 😩

Thanks everyone. I think that's why the wait is an ordeals in itself. Feel like I'm just waiting for the no.
@CharleneD I've no experience myself but hopefully someone more knowledge can answer. So true what you said about the form though. Felt like writing at the end of every paragraph 'but he's lovely!'

@CoffeeLover90 thats more or less what I did!! At the end I wrote a paragraph about how much we love our son and now I’m even worrying about that! I just hope the DM are human and compassionate enough to understand how heartbreaking the form is! So many people I know and work with (I’m a teacher) have started the form and then gave up halfway through because of how daunting and negative it is!! X

@CharleneD I did end up sending the forms so late that they arrived after the due date. Partly because I had to book meetings with nursery and citizens advice, around work, so requesting time off in advance but also because I'd fill in so much, become overwhelmed, and leave it until the next day! Aw thanks for the reassurance. I'm not even week 15 yet! Well 12 I believe. So really need to stop the overthinking.

Does any one happen to know what information I need before I can inform tax credits please

It will be the rates and the date dla is backdated from. Believe there is a higher increase with high rate care.

@Welshmun hi lovely, I got UC all last year and the year before and all I did was update the journal, don’t know if it’s different with Tax credits?

No longer entitled to UC as I went to 5 days a week instead of 3 days a week. Been regretting that decision ever since 🤣🤣

Praying for good news for us all soon. I’ve got a new anxiety now, I remembered today that an appointment DS had in July we didn’t see attend because we were on holiday, but when I rang them after we arrived home to the letter they told me DS didn’t meet their criteria and to wait for the autism team to get in touch after he turns 5 in Oct. I’m now worried they’ll reject my claim because we didn’t go to one appointment (can they see stuff like that?!)

Never missed any of his portage, ophthalmology, Salt, paeds, podiatry.. this was for a service that the SALT referred us for but they don’t work with children if they’re already under the Autism Team so it was a waste of time anyway.

Does anyone have any advice regarding mobility, I submitted quite a lot of info regarding this as he wasn’t entitled beforehand as he isn’t 5 yet!

❤️

@PLJ44 Money has gone in today, not sure how many days to count with it being bank holiday, the decision text was recieved lateish Wednesday afternoon. Hope you get some good news this morning 🤞

@EB82 Thanks so much. Still nothing here 🙄 Will call tomorrow... Won't have time today. 🤞🤞🤞

Morning! Could anyone give me an insight into how long uc take to update ur claim to a disabled child element , I’ve been waiting nearly 6 weeks since I notified them I was getting dla. When I ask for a update on my journal they just say “still waiting for team to verify”

@Jadepac22 my u c has been updated with the disability element, I can now see it on my statement for this month, however I am still waiting for the back pay! I told them about this 2 weeks ago. And they told me
they have 4 weeks to make a decision.

I was also told to put the request in payment option. Did you do this?

@Jt1985 yeah so I reported all the changes (disabled child and care element) care element was verified and already had back payment for that but nothing for disabled child part not even verified

Just checked my bank and I have a pending payment for DLA! Our scan date was 02/05 I’ve had no other communication from them so it’s coming through in all different forms for everyone!