DLA WAITING TIMES THREAD 64

[zoeybrooks45]

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.

Hi we've not got a diagnosis either, my 7year old daughter is on waiting list for, asd, adhd, dcd all forms gone through just waiting for the appointment which might be 2 years+
Your daughter sounds like mine in a lot of ways so keep us posted how you get on as your sd is slightly earlier than mine, mines 1/11.
From what I've been reading on these forums a diagnosis isn't needed but there needs to be evidence of their daily struggles. Was your letter form school senco quite detailed?
I need to contact my daughters senco and let her know dm will probably phone to speak to her because I didn't send a letter from her but I did gave her contact details in my application.

I really don't know how my little boys NC is going to go . He is non verbal and is on the autism pathway. Has support from nursery , portage and speech and language .

As he doesn't have a diagnosis yet all I have as evidence is a letter from months ago saying he's accepted onto the autism pathway .

I gave them Nurserys number and portage & speech and language Incase they wanted to speak to them .

I just hope it's enough . As I don't really have anything else to send them .

I filled in the form quite lengthy regarding his needs etc so hoping it's enough .

Has anyone else been in this situation ?

@Frankadoodle You don't need official diagnosis the acceptance letter on to the asd pathway is totally fine.
You said child has support from nursery, portage and speech and language, any reports or letters or evidence about the child you can get from them would be great supporting evidence.

@PositivityRipples thank you . He was on the waiting list for speech and language for over a year so he's only just recently started having sessions with them so I'm waiting on a report from them . But I don't think il receive it in time before the DLA decision is made . So I'm hoping that the decision maker rings them if they want anything clarifying . It does mention on the Autism pathway acceptance letter that he is seeing speech and language too .

@PositivityRipples I remember you saying your partner is a decision maker . I filled in the bit to apply for mobility also due to his needs . He's 4 in march . After I sent the forms I realised it's unlikely he would be awarded mobility till after 5 years old.

I didn't realise

Mines the 28th April. When I spoke to DLA they said they’re taking around 15 weeks but it has to be done before the end date. So I’m waiting until beginning of April (15 weeks) and if I haven’t heard I’ll starting calling.

Omg I want to cry my son has been awarded higher rate mobility. He was only awarded hrc I did a mr for hrm he was awarded under smi and ill receive a back payment from 29/12/2023. I thought I had to go to tribunal. I’m so happy!!! Congrats to everyone who have been awarded and everyone who’s waiting I hope your babies receive what they deserve.

For context he is 4 years old autistic and non verbal first time round applying they said he wasn’t entitled and that his behaviours appropriate for his age. I’m crying 😭

This worries me now that mine will be a decline and Il need to do a MR . My little boy is 4 next month on the autism pathway and is non verbal.

I'm glad you finally got a result

@Frankadoodle Ahh okay i understand anything you can get whilst awaiting your dla decision you should send them immediately, even written letters from nursery or portage journal ect, who filled in the " someone who knows the child" section on your form? Was it a professional? And don't worry about filling in the mobility part of the form if the child isn't entitled to it they will dismiss it and you can't apply for that when the child is 5.
It's not my partner who's a DM for dla it's my children's father ( we haven't been together for years) but obviously still co-parent.

NC
SD 16/10
Called today and was told still in the queue for decision maker 😟 the wait is loooooong

Keep fighting if they were to decline. I thought I would have to go to tribunal. They look at the whole award so it’s always a risk. Fingers crossed they’ll award your little boy

@UmElise Ahh really pleased your child got the outcome they deserve well done for fighting for it 💫 bet you are so relieved

I’m so happy thank you. I know how difficult it is to receive hrm under smi and many children have been declined even though they were entitled to it but I was ready to take it to tribunal if I had to.

@Frankadoodle sorry I meant you CAN apply for that when the child is 5..my phone autocorrect the word 🤣

@Kidsanchaos
Thank you for your reply.
I can't quite remember but the Senco just put generic stuff from how she is at school, so things like leaves earlier to avoid the school run crowds, that we've had regular meetings, senco checked up on her few times a day.
My daughter has since left that school, it wasnt meeting her emotional needs, she wasn't even attending much anymore, so I took her out and I wish I had done it sooner! She is now in a mainstream 'nurture' school, which means they purposely take children on the spectrum or suspected of being on it.
They are so supportive and looking after her needs brilliantly.
So I've updated dla to tell them the new schools senco details.

If you can, get a letter from the senco and post it off. We've got a few weeks to go so you've got time. And I will definitely keep you updated too.

Oh crap . @PositivityRipples I think I forgot to get someone to fill that in . Will they decline it due to this? Even though I've given them names and numbers to speak to people necessary .

Omds congrats. Super happy for you ❤️ xx

Thank you I cannot believe it. The dm
took weeks she was contacting my sons school and medical professionals. I seriously thought I would have to go to tribunal. He was awarded until December 2027 both hrc and hrm.

@Frankadoodle Im not really sure how that would work if you haven't filled in that whole section and there is no evidence what so ever from nursery, sen, portage or speech and language as that means there's no input from anybody else apart from you on the form..
I would get " someone who knows the child" to write a letter for you and state at the top of the letter " someone who knows the child" then who they are and their relationship or professional involvement with the child.. I would also try and get some kind of input from somebody.. Like sen ( nursery) portage or call speech and language ask if their is anything they could give you and try and send it as supporting evidence ASAP. Just incase they decline on the basis of no supporting evidence from any professional what's so ever.. Because then you would have to gather evidence for MR and then wait a other 20 weeks for decision.
What's your scan date?

You’ll definitely win at tribunal. They are much more fairer I’ve heard. Most dms are clueless.

@UmElise well done!

@PositivityRipples scan date 29/10 .

Il speak to the senco for the nursery and speech and language and see if I can get some evidence sent across to me to send to DLA . Thank you !

Got a feeling mine will be a decline his senco didnt fill out the part where you can ask someone too ask i forgot to ask cos i was trying to fill out the form with as much as i could she has done a letter and thats been sent along with inclusion support letter and ive asked them to add note that my sons doctor has referred him to cahms worried i havnt sent enough tho

Yep I feel the same my little ones school said they weren't allowed to fill it in? ( I did show her the part were it says school but just got the same reply) so I only sent speech & language letter and maat feedback report from doctor. So hopefully that will do nc sd 4/12