DLA WAIT TIMES THREAD 52

[zoeybrooks45]

Hello everybody, I have made a new thread please put in your scan date, hopefully we hear some good news this month 💐

we currently in the early weeks of June for decision, please be kind and feel free to share scan date, entitlement award and what child is diagnosed with as others in similar position can feel uplifted in these stressful time.

wait time are currently between 20-25 weeks. However most likely is between 18-22 weeks.

Let’s just say wine will be my best friend this week! 🤣. Love to you x

I meant 21/06!

SD - 14/06 - New claim.

I called up today to see if it was with a DM yet but apparently it's not. Anyone else get so nervous waiting for a response? my son is 2 years and 6 months old, suspected ASD, non verbal, doesn't recognise his own name or even people, pica, suspected global development delay and whole list of other issues, got it in my head they will reject him and I will have to do a MR.

😂 I might probably do same

From past awards,it looks like 18 weeks plus 2 or 3 days on average.
When I started following this thread,it was 15 weeks roughly.
It seems like its getting more difficult 😕

@Amylou844 amazing I’m so happy for you! Thank you for letting me know I’ve been thinking of you. Xx

Scan date 19/06 - just rang to see if there was an update not with dm yet 😕 don’t understand why they don’t pick cases up in date order as like others I have seen other posters whose dates are later and have been awarded

What was your scan date if you don't mind me asking x

SD 19/06 new claim

i first applied last year for my son when he was 6months old, after 18 weeks he was declined, done MR and still declined due to age so took to tribunal- still awaiting!

I reapplied and received a letter stating that they couldn’t look at the new claim as I took the previous to tribunal. I looked this up and you can indeed reapply if care needs have changed or a new diagnosis- which there is.

my son has oculacuteaneous albinism, global development delay, visual impairment- which will likely be severely sight impaired when older! Severe photophobia, nystagmus, high risk for skin cancer due to no pigmentation and suspected ASD.

sorry for long post, I’m hoping he’ll be awarded then I will cancel tribunal!
i have an older child with the exact same condition and he receives HRM and HRC

Just looking for some advice! I had my sons parents evening on Friday and they said he was working as expected academically however they were wanting some advice on what to do regarding his anxiety/meldowns.

He is waiting to be referred for ASD/adhd but have to do an early help process as they are now declining referrals from the senco at my sons school who havnt done an early years course or something similar (I’ll find out more at a meeting in the 01/11.) 🤦🏻‍♀️ the senco thinks this is ridiculous and has never had this issue before as she is very thorough.

basically they have said he will become extremely upset and distressed in lesson if he can’t do the work or makes a mistake which then stops him from moving on, he won’t just erase it and try again if that makes sense or if they are moving on to quickly for him he will become very overwhelmed and distressed. He has a lot of anxieties anyway around not wanting to be in crowds of people in the school, delaying going in and out of the school if it is to busy and on an evening if he hears me walk across the landing then he has to make sure it is me and not someone else.

really my question is does anyone have any ideas on what the school can do to help support my son during school, they asked for my help and I felt awful not being able to give them a response as I havnt worked out myself how to help him other than reassurance. Thank you! 🙏

Hi I have been a silent watcher andbI just wanted to post my long awaited positive outcome to hopefully be able to give people hope through this awful process.
I first applied in January (Scan date 17th jan) for my 2 year old boy (birthday is christmas eve so just turned 2) he has pica and is also on the waiting list for adhd/Austism assessment, he has very high care needs, 24/7 supervision because no danger awareness, he cannot communicate and at the minute is classed as non verbal, he does not sleep longer than 3/4 hours and when waking in the night needs constant supervision because he will do dangerous stuff and try and hurt himself he also has a lot of sensory issues. I sent in extra evidence such his report from his first pediatric appointment, audiology reports and health visitor reports. It got declined on the 7th of May and I put in a mandatory reconsideration on the 13th of may, I did it over the phone but then also sent a 12 page detailed letter about his care needs, added I had now had to give up work in April to care for him, doctors letter, health visitor letter, nursery letter (he started in April), sleep and eating diary. It got declined again on the 13th of September. I put in a appeal on the 1st of October with the help of my local citizens advice and today 21st of October my son has been awarded high rate care. Honestly cant believe it!! I hope this helps some people

I could of literally written this my self. My son is exactly the same. And I was the same as you. He is my eldest and I was completely new to ASD when the school called me in to discuss it in year 4. I just thought he was a little different and would out grow it. School sat him at the front so he wasn't overwhelmed by lots of kids in front of him. And they also just give him a little prompt during each lesson to make sure he was keeping up. They also found having the TA sit with him on some of the lessons he was struggling with (just for the first 5 minutes) to make sure he had a full understanding and felt supported. You could also talk to the school about maybe bringing him In through the office and picking him up from the office so he's not going in completely overwhelmed by the crowds in the playground. I always found the less stressful it was getting him into school the better a day he had. At the point it sounds like you're at it's just a case of maybe trying and suggesting different things and seeing what works for you and your child as every single kid is different. You got this mama. You will get there I promise. My son is now in high school year 7 and after 7 weeks we're establishing our new routine and the teachers are getting to understand him more and he's thriving in himself!!

🤞 for both our children.

From previous experience, you could get allocated a DM on Wednesday morning and get a text on Wednesday afternoon. I hope you do. Keep us posted

Thankyou so much for your response! Iv always known he has been on the spectrum but it’s becoming more and more challenging for him daily due to sensory difficulties etc. he already wears ear defenders in class as he couldn’t cope with the noise of the classroom and would go into a meltdown. I plan to maybe put together an email to send into the school after the half term on ways that may help him, using some of the suggestions you have given and if anyone else is able to offer any advice. I’m unsure what accommodations they are able to make, he is in year 4 and has started stimming more as well. The senco is lovely and was actually his teacher last year which was incredibly helpful but now he isn’t with the senco and although they are lovely and try help him as much as they can with reassurance and extra explanations he just seems to have these moments in the day where he’s completely distressed and I fear this is something that won’t be able to be helped. They mentioned they have moved him to the front of the class as he was getting distracted easier when he wasn’t. Fingers crossed they are able to use some of the suggestions to help support him.

I know it feels like there's no end insight right now and I can't promise anything to you but consistency in the school helped with my boy. They could tell when he was about to have a melt down and would give him time outside the class to calm down. He then started to notice when he was beginning to feel overwhelmed and was able to discreetly let the teacher know and he was aloud to take 5 mins to himself. I really really hope you and your boy get the help you need and deserve
You're doing a fabulous job!!! Keep going xx
Also ask about a wiggle seat we call it. It helped my son to regulate himself. It's like a cushion that they put on their seat but it allows them to wiggle. Or maybe a band across the legs of his chair that he can kick/play with, with his feet. X

13/06 xx

Thankyou so much for your kind words! I will suggest these and see what they say. He’s short for his age aswell (on a waitlist for paediatrics for growth) and he has been given a normal cushion for now by the senco to help with him being shorter, I mentioned the wobble cushion but don’t think she was massively keen on the idea as a normal cushion is comfier (her words 🤷🏻‍♀️). His teacher has said he has fewer moments where he stands up or climbs around on his chairs now but I will definitely give suggestions. Last year he fell back from swinging and at home he can’t sit still on a chair for extended periods at all (they have given him it for the height issue however the senco is aware that his movements are likely add/adhd related). I really appreciate your suggestions 🙏

Ooo me too. Hopefully this week for me then 🤞🤞🤞🤞

Yes I did, I called about five weeks after they said they hadn’t got it. In fact the lady was very rude. I ordered a new one and then the one they had was returned to me in the post 12 days later 🙄xx

I did not know you can appeal MR I thought it was just tribunal after. Congratulations it sound like it has been such a long wait for you and your child. You also had such a good turnaround for your second appeal. Thank you for your post. Wishing you and your child all the best for your future. X

Sorry I meant the appeal was the tribunal but dwp had until the 29th of October to respond before I could wait to have a hearing. Thankyou so much, its been such a long stressful wait and have spent many hours searching for answers and hope on here so wanted to give people a time frame that I waited. Good luck to everyone who is waiting and never give up x

S/D 5 of july
Told today 22nd November I will get my decison it's been nearly 16 weeks

SD 15/07
New claim

I can't believe how long it's taking these days, when I applied for my eldest and then did her renewal it took 6 weeks.