What happens when DS turns 18?

[elliejjtiny]

I've got a while to go yet as ds2 is only 16.5 but these things do creep up on you.

Ds2 has hypermobility syndrome and being assessed for autism. He is selectively mute but he doesn't have an official diagnosis. He also doesn't tell anyone if he is ill or injured which means I have to be quite vigilant with him and keep a close eye on if there is blood on his clothes or he is limping etc. He used to get DLA from when he was 5 months until he was 10 but then he was turned down at renewal and then at tribunal as well.

We don't get support from social care or camhs and that's fine but I need to be able to still do "Mum things" if that makes sense like making gp appointments for him or speak on his behalf. I took him to a hospital appointment this week and I just thought to myself thank goodness he is still a child because he wouldn't communicate with any of the staff or sign the consent form for the operation that he needs, I had to do it for him. Which is fine now but what happens when he is 18 and he is expected to do this himself?

You will still be able to speak on DS’s behalf e.g. calling the GPs to book an appointment/order medication. If DS has the capacity to give consent, the GP may require DS to complete a form giving you permission if he hasn’t already (most GPs need this before 18). If DS doesn’t have capacity to sign consent forms himself, someone else can still for him.

You may want to look at formalising things, not just for healthcare but things like banks, by either looking into LPA or Deputyship (which depends on DS’s capacity).

He talks at home to me, dh and his brothers but not much, mainly one word answers. He is part of a group of friends and he will talk to them, but he talks to them more online than in person.

He can sign a form and he would at home but he wouldn't do it in front of someone like a gp. If anyone he doesn't know tried to talk to him he shuts down and kind of shrinks so most of his neck is hidden by his coat and his baseball cap is covering his face.

I hadn't thought of banks, thankyou.

Ds1 is 18 and has autism but it's a lot easier with him because he is officially diagnosed, gets PIP and communicates so can give consent for me to fill in his PIP form, go to the job centre with him etc. He also doesn't have any health problems and has only seen the gp for his six week check and 1 ear infection.

Ds2 has no learning disabilities. He got mainly 4's and 5's for his gcse's and 1 6. Although he refused to do any presentations or oral exams so that brought his mark down in a couple of subjects. Would he be considered to be lacking in capacity if he is academically able but can't communicate? I know quite a few non verbal children who can't talk but use signing, pointing, a tablet where you press a button and it says the word etc but ds2 won't use any of these things.

Consent forms for things like enabling you to speak to the GP are usually something you either pick up, complete and return or done via email rather than completing it in the surgery.

For financial matters, it sounds like DS would have the capacity to make a LPA at 18 if it was needed. If benefits is/will be DS’s only income/capital, an LPA wouldn’t be needed, being appointee will suffice.

Impossible to say whether DS would be seen as having capacity or not based just on the small amount of information here. Capacity is also decision specific.

If DS isn’t in receipt of PIP, think about applying.