DLA use

[SENmama1]

Hi all,

I am currently awaiting an outcome on my DLA application, as I know many others are too

Can I just ask what people use their children's allowance for? Our intention is to open a bank account for our daughter, pay it into there and should she need something specific to her needs (towards private SALT, sensory resources etc) we will use this money to contribute towards the cost. It's important to us to separate it, as it is technically for our daughter and her needs and not just a top up of our income.

With this is mind, and I suppose to reluctantly play devils advocate, I am curious as to what people use the allowance for as all I am seeing on the "wait time" forum are comments of impatience & urgency to get the allowance?

It’s massively more expensive raising a child with the level of need that would attract DLA. Eg swimming lessons £80 a month as a posed to £15 plus limitless swimming near us. Holidays are more expensive because we need more rooms than you would expect or different ways to get to where we need to be (eg taxi or car and parking instead of train/bus). Clothes are more expensive because they need to be of a particular type or are worn out quicker, etc etc. you can use separate accounts or lump it in but it is HIGHLY unlikely you would ever gain from the situation. Track it for a few months if you are worried.

DSs’ benefits go into the family pot. That is perfectly acceptable. It doesn’t have to be kept separate. We spend far more on their needs than we receive for them, anyway. For example, higher gas, electric, water, food, fuel and parking costs, equipment/products for DS1 that aren’t otherwise funded (including all the things we get in the hope they may help but they don’t.), more extra-curricular clubs for DS2&3 (as physio/fitness and to aid emotional regulations/social skills/social interaction), costs associated with hospital stays, independent assessments, private ADHD assessment and ADHD medication titration for DS2, me not being able to work full-time… the costs are never-ending.

Be careful saving in DD’s name if she may not have capacity as an adult, may need social care support as an adult or means-tested benefits, or has an EHCP which may require enforcement via JR with the help of legal aid in DD’s name.

Does DD have an EHCP? If so, SALT can be included in there. You may have to appeal and you could use DLA towards an independent report for SENDIST, but it would be cheaper in the long run than ongoing independent SALT.

Although I’m not sure why a parent of a disabled DC would want to play devil's advocate, reluctantly or otherwise, about DLA other disabled DC have been deemed eligible for, especially given the despicable way some in the media portray disability benefits.

We do a different account in my name (also including Carer's), and it is almost entirely used for home education expenses.
With outgoings for that largely covered we'd usually then just absorb any sundry costs for anything else like extra/special food, surprise taxi if can't deal with bus to get home, extra clothes because others become suddenly unacceptable (etc etc) but if I felt it would help to keep a tally and take those costs out too, I would. As said above, it is fine to mix it into the family pot and I'd be amazed if you actually 'made a profit'.

I think feeling comfortable about it is really important. One of the reasons I find it so upsetting when the arsehole brigade are insinuating that families are exploiting their disabled children is that that would be my nightmare. I also don’t like the explanation I would have to give for them to understand the magnitude of the injustice they are proposing. I don’t want to list the things I do or the things I can’t do. It helps enormously but it doesn’t replace a wage, or a future, or freedom not to be alert 24/7 365 for life.

I pay it into a separate account along with child benefit. I use it to pay for some childcare (DS needs 1:1 after school), some bits of equipment, and some SEN activity groups.

It's not just DLA that some people are so 'urgent and impatient for'. DLA unlocks carer's allowance for many parents which help towards family costs as many are unable to work due to childs extra needs

I think in some ways, receiving DLA can feel validating too as it is a recognition that your child requires additional support. The waiting times are crazy and can add a level
of stress when many are already struggling.

Often, places will accept DLA as proof of disability for things such as carers passes, blue badges, other benefits etc. It can trigger many things.

We are very fortunate that we are both able to work full time despite our sons needs but many aren’t able to and the additional money is essential. It feels unfair to refer to it as impatient or imply the urgency isn’t real.

We've been receiving dla for over 10 years. It's been spent on ot, salt, a specialist bed, multiple communication aids, specialist sensory equipment, renting a private swimming pool, going to the sensory centre, a specialist group for ds, home eduation expenses, additional rent as ds needed the extra space. He gets whatever he needs and frankly dla has been a drop in the ocean in regards to the extra costs we've had due to his needs.

The money has always been in my account. Ds will not have capacity when he turns 18. Any money in his name is a huge issue in that regard.