DLA WAIT TIMES THREAD 61

[macap]

Hey! Thought I'd make a new thread as previous one very close to being full!

These threads have been a big help whilst waiting for the outcome of our application. Sure they help everyone else too! It's stressful!

Please feel free to add your scan date and whether it's a new claim/mandatory reconsideration/change of circumstances or renewal.

New claims (NC) - people are being told the wait time has increased to 25 weeks! I would say most are done before this though around the 20 week mark?

Mandatory reconsideration (MC) and Change of circumstances (COC) is around 20-25 weeks.

Renewals tend to be between 15-20 weeks.

If you disagree with the outcome of an MR you can appeal and go to court (tribunal)

Scan date is the date DLA scan your application forms on to their system, if you downloaded your application forms then this will be from when your award will be backdated from. If you called up for forms then the date on those is the date yours will be backdated from.

If successful and claiming universal credit (UC) please update them as this will entitle you to disabled child element adding extra to your award.

DLA contact number is 0800 121 4600

Unfortunately anything inside UC is income dependent it all gets deducted depending on income. The only non means tested is DLA which you will get regardless of savings and income. She will probably still be owed something though. I work and it all gets deducted from my wage.

They usually have a few days to respond once escalated via telephone anywhere between 2 weeks to a month I would chase via telephone if you haven’t heard anything by next week.

The disabled premium is still subject to deductions per assessment period. So if you earn too much that entitlement still goes down as well.

I already get carers element for my oldest son and I get the severe disabled element for him too x

I was awarded on 24/12 Dla back pay was made on 31st Dec still no letter text received was told of award over the phone informed UC on 24.12 they replied 6.1.25 with a letter stating the accept reason for delay in informing them still no back pay from them as yet..

But as they was entitled to them amounts during those assessment periods and had not received it, it will be backdated, unless money owed to them they can make deductions from the back pay otherwise entitled to the full amount of the disability element and carers element. It will all be backdated

If you noticed though all deductions for wages have been made and they are still entitled to £150 month, having the extra elements isn’t going to affect the amount of wages from the previous assessment periods. They will get full back pay unless money is owed to UC which it wouldn’t be as they still receive the £150 a month

Some months I’ve had a zero entitlement so I won’t get all the back pay, only the months I’ve been entitled you UC.

UC can not take backpay for arrears by the way unless your failing to pay without disclosing financial hardship so if this ever happens it needs to be disputed

SD 7/8 NC
Just rang up 22 weeks today. the advisor was so rude. Basically said don’t bother phoning back up, you will receive a letter to tell you the outcome. I ask how dates weeks after ours had outcomes and she said she could not comment on that.
I also asked how it’s been with a DM for nearly four weeks now and absolutely no change at all. But again was given a load of scripted BS…

I would phone back and ask to speak directly to a DM, they should not be being rude at all, and if it's with a dm for 4 weeks you need to be advised as to why it's taken so long

Do you think it matters what area you live in. Are some areas ie Midlands getting decisions quicker. I can’t be dealing with phoning to hear that script or rudeness. 😩

Supposedly they can’t put you through to a DM. I asked to speak to one and she said it’s not possible I can put you through to someone else higher than her. And tbh that was a waste of time as everything I asked her she just said exactly the same as the rude adviser. She said there could be numerous reason why there is no update for example the DM could be on annual leave/sick… just not getting to ours yet. It’s absolutely outrageous.
she said hold it out and wait the 25 weeks then if nothing has happened they will escalate it. But knowing what we all have been through on here. Just as I hit the 25 weeks mark it will be 30 weeks wait.
im just bloody fed up.

That's rubbish, I've been put through to DM before 🙄 it depends who you speak to, they just don't get how awful the wait is, they say to have patience but after nearly 5 months to a year of waiting we don't have any left and all on top of dealing with life and looking after outlr kids 😫🤬

Actually…
i think if they didn’t stop changing the wait times it wouldn’t be so bad. I just want to know a answer now either way.

Exactly *
🤣🤣

I’ve just had a very rude message of uc asking me why it took me so long to report a change to them and they are not willing to review back payment untill I respond 😂😂 safe to say they got a lovely response back how can we help dla wait times! It took them 23 weeks to sort my claim that’s not my issue so I shouldn’t see why I’m punished for that x

Scan date 9/10/24 still few weeks or may be months Togo 🤣🤣 I hope everyone on ere gets a good outcome for there little ones xx

Scan date 23/10

Just rang up and told up to 25 week wait ots not with a DM yet long wait ahead

1 had letter stating 11 weeks, then one stating 15, calls saying 20 and a text saying 25. Always wondered where I stood legally on the official paper work stating 15 but I'm not a solicitor so I've never argued it 🤣

17 weeks tomorrow. Scan date 12/09. Slowly getting there 😂

COC SD 29/07/24

Rang on 20/12/24 and they sent an email to get it allocated, rang on 2/1/25 not allocated so sent more evidence. Rang today, still not allocated, all claims are taking longer than 20 weeks. Told I would hear by the end of January.

I asked if it was a COC and if it was why it was taking longer he said no. He then told me no one after 29/07 had been awarded 😱 which I said people with SD in August and now September have been!

Love how they lie to get you off the phone.

I asked about renewals as my forms are due to be sent at the end of Jan, on there system it is the 17/01 and was told to wait to hear about my COC before sending them back! 😳

It is such a mess! 🥺

@Ash900 fills like forever don’t it my scan date 4/09

Wow I can't believe there are still July claims outstanding when some DMs have been doing September 😳🤬 I would be furious. Really hope they sort it soon soon, the call handlers seem to be very rude this month and definitely not bloody helpful

Update
Rang for forms 8/08/24
SD 30/08/2024
Rang Monday 6/01/2025 said im in Financial hardship
Decision made 7/01/2025
Awarded MRC as she is 2,5 years old
Evidence send
*SENCO report
*Report from nursery
Backpay awarded from 8/08/2024

Doesn’t it just, it’s ridiculous. They originally told me I’d hear by middle of Jan when I’m 18 weeks but I know that’s not going to happen 😂 I’m hoping it doesn’t go over 20 weeks and I actually hear this month (I’ll be 20 weeks on the 30th) . I can’t be dealing with going into another month 😂

I left a uc journal to be backdated on the 11th Dec 2024 and have been chasing it since and got a msg on the 3rd saying it has been sent to a dm for a decision and will be notified on account when it's done so still waiting