DLA WAIT TIMES THREAD 55

[zoeybrooks45]

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

New claims (NC) are taking ‘around’ 20 weeks.
Mandatory Reconsideration (MR) & Change Of Circumstances (COC) between 20-25 weeks approx.
Renewals between 15-20 weeks approx
tribunals: when you disagree with MR and are considered by a court

scan date (SD) date form was scanned on the system and counting weeks for decision

original claim date: date you called up for the forms and you will be backdated

UC : universal credit
DWP: department of work and pensions
DM: decision maker; the person who assesses each claim and awards/decline a case

number for an update (0800) 121-4600

currently we are beginning of July and some last June dates! xx

That’s a big difference. I would chase it up too. I wonder why the discrepancy.

Ugh, it's playing in by mind so much. The not knowing is awful. And then I think there's people with new claims waiting longer than I have been and I really feel for them. Sd 8/7 and going insane over here 🙈

Called again today (as there was slight confusion with my scan dates the other day). Spoke to a man who was very nice, and he told me MR’s are creeping up to a 25 week wait and they are done separately to NC’s, so the timescales are different. Where NC’s are averaging 20 weeks, MR waits are becoming longer. Looks like I may not be hearing back until early in the new year.

As lovely as the people I’ve spoken to are, I wish they would all be aware of the same things!

Hi
Been lurking for a week.
SD 12/7 new claim. My son is 3.
Just called up as I had a letter from the LA to say they have agreed to a EHCP assessment so called to see if it was worth sending in the letter as it was based on the same evidence I sent in to DLA. They said that it's in the que and will be between 20 and 23 weeks to get looked at.

My daughter who is 6 also has an EHCP and her renewal is July 2025 she gets HRC, LRM. But this year i don't have any evidence only her EHCP and I suppose the school will complete that page in the application form. Her situation hasn't changed she goes to a specialist school. I'm worried as I don't have any evidence really. Under paeds for Autism and ADHD and dyspraxia. They are kicking there heels we get one appointment a year with paeds and he only issues one thing at a time like this year it was her genetic testing. He says it shouldn't matter about a diagnosis as all her needs (educational) are being met.

i drive my son to school which is nearly an hour away. So once he’s dropped off I’m driving when the phone lines open and I have the other two kids in the car so not a good time for me to call😂 I always used to call at that time🤦🏽‍♀️

Can I just ask a question. With parents that have other children that don’t recieve extra money? How do you explain to other children that the other child gets a little more, etc.
I haven’t been approved yet but I am concerned about this.
I’m hoping to use back pay for driving lessons to benefit my son but this will benefit all my children.
im just wandering what other mums do?
many thanks

It’s crazy that most of the letters they send out state a decision will be made within 15 weeks to then get to 15 weeks and say claims are taking 20 weeks.
even crazier to be told 20-23 weeks that’s ridiculous they need to update there letter and be honest with everyone. The anxiety and stress it causes is enough to make you go crazy. I’m really hoping it’s not actually taking up to 23 weeks 🥲😅

Wouldn’t it be lovely to add get decisions by Christmas and just enjoy Christmas knowing all our children have financial support which really does make a huge difference sending positive vibes to everyone xx

To be honest I questioned him on why is he saying 23 weeks. He said well by the time it gets to a DM then it takes 3 to 5 days for a decision then letting you know is 23 weeks. I said I don't think so.

Guy was un helpful. I won't be calling again!!!

It really would 🥲 I’m praying next week is our week🤞🤞🤞🤞

😅😅 I wish they all kept to the same script it’s so confusing having them say different things all the time. It’s stressful enough. I’m also put off ringing for now. 18 weeks tomorrow but it’s looking like people are getting decisions at around 19 weeks plus

Oh I know that feeling. I have to move from room to room when my little one isn’t at nursery 😂 someone said wait times are creeping up to 25 weeks but that’s what they’ve been quoting since August

Im definitely thinking about phoning Friday.. if I don’t Friday then very possibly Wednesday next week and see what they say for themselves 🤞🤞

I spend it where it’s needed. That’s what you’re allowed to do whether it benefits the whole family or just the child that is awarded, it’s up to you.

MR decision times have been 25 weeks since at least August so I don’t know why the advisor told you that they are creeping up to, even on the automated line when you select the MR option it says if you’ve been waiting 25 weeks, whereas the new claims one says 20 weeks. x

This is just my thoughts and what you do is what's best for your family but the extra money I get I will be using for the house, my extra expenses with my son seem to be the specific foods I have to buy etc so my other kids won't really notice this. As for anything left over I will be treating my kids fairly as although they don't have a need for extra money from the DLA they're all little carers too as they have to put up with his shit 😭🤣 but that's just me xx

I must also add a lot of the stuff he breaks us theirs too so it will be going on replacing that etc. taxis to school also. X

Despite the 25 week message most people on the phones are assuring people it’s unlikely to take that long… Which is untrue and todays call was the first person to tell me the full truth, which is that the likelihood is 25 weeks. I cannot understand why every single person on those phones says a different thing. They can complain all they like but if they were honest, they wouldn’t get anywhere near as many calls. I suppose they just don’t want to deal with people getting upset which is understandable, but false information just makes it worse x

Love this!! It’s hard isn’t it, because we always judged anyway for even putting in this claim for money for extra, But i definitely get the extra food needs! Thank you for this hun xx

Is this for new claims or MR? X

MR x

Thank you. I’m just an over-thinker lol. I was feeling guilty as I’m 40 in jan and going to do driving lessons with back pay but my son only 10. I was like all the money has to go to him as we are all judged I think. i just wanted to know what others did so thank you xx

Up until Monday, they’ve all said call back on 28th Jan. The man on Monday said allow around 6 weeks which would be end of December. I agree they will say whatever gets people off the phone. Surely they understand the wait and not knowing is hard x

Honestly it’s absolutely your choice. Driving as you’ve said would help everyone and no one can begrudge that. We have always used it for the benefit of the whole family. I liken it to child benefit and such, that goes in to one pot and spent where it’s needed. x

Yes my son breaks things picks wallpaper and paint off wall so yes this makes sense as well he can’t help it he just picks things. Xx