Need help with DLA

[staryeyed]

I have spent about 2 hours filling out the damn DLA form. My DS is 3 and has ASD. I have done the care bit but Im not sure how to fill the mobility bit. Has anyone got advice for me?

Just describe what he needs/ does.

My son is terrified of animals or loud noises, so goes into meltdown with those if we're out and about. He will lie down in the road. He's obsessed with buttons so will press doorbells etc. and have to be restrained if he goes into meltdown because I won't let him run across the road to touch one!

He won't hold hands reliably and has no sense of danger so will run off.

I didn't think you could get mobility at lower rate before 5? It's unlikely that you'll get higher rate at 3 either as they seem reluactant to give this to ASD kids. Plus at 3 they'll say that all kids need a lot of supervision outdoors, so might not be worth worrying too much about this section.

Others will probably know more and I might be wrong about the age thing. HTH

Wrong person to ask for the correct thing to put as we have been turned down twice and are currently underway with an appeal but i put the same sort of thing as givemesleeeeep and very important to use the word "frequently" when asked how often and how long.

I put ds walks with his feet inverted and cant walk a great distance without becoming distressed, ie, a ten minute walk. I get low rate mobility, however written reports from specialist backed up my written statement

I didn't apply for mobility side. My special needs health visitor filled DLA in for me by asking me questions. We got the higher rate for personal care, my son is 4 and hasn't been diagnosed yet.

www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=528&a=3330
I found this really useful when sorting DLA

I feel realy strongly about this. There are people about who are "experts" at filing out these forms so that people get the benefits that they are entitled to. I am not suggesting that you are not entitled to the money staryeyed but why can't we have forms that easy to understand and complete and tell the turth instead of having to use some sort of "expert speak"???

Ds2 has Down's Syndrome. I wasn't going to apply for DLA but was advised by Dr to do so. Was turned down. Other members of local support group horrified. Have got "expert" coming to next meeting to help with form filling.

DS1 is only 4 and too young for the basic rate mobility yet (and no way would qualify for the higher rate) but I simply mentioned what he's like when out and about - running to things that catch his eye or to fiddle with things he's obsessed with, like sockets; sit down or roll on the floor tantrums when he doesn't want to walk somewhere, even in the middle of the road; no sense of danger; the need to a safety harness and someone strong enough and sufficiently hands free to handle him when he's not in a compliant frame of mind... I partly included this to back up my assertion that he's bloody hard work, some times but the award letter did say that they'd send forms to apply for the mobility component before his 5th birthday. I don't know if that's standard or not.

PTA: I guess the reason the forms are so complicated is that the range of special needs requiring extra care is so varied. Good luck with your appeal.