DLA WAITING TIMES THREAD 65

[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.

To be honest eczema is actually listed as a disability on the government website. It can vary, of course, but as a previous poster said it can massively differ in care needs sufferer to sufferer. Besides all of that, DLA is awarded based on care needs, not diagnosis so if the child suffers a (presume listed?) disability they then qualify only based on care needs?

It should never be a case of one child more deserving than another, no child with any additional needs should be left behind. God, these days kids with no additional needs are being left behind! This is a great, positive place to keep us going while we slowly lose our minds waiting for an answer. None of us truly know what the other has to handle on a daily basis.

Good afternoon all
Wondering if it's worth calling DLA & letting them know we are now in talks with DD's mobility centre to get connected with a wheelchair service?she is 3 & is able to walk (not the same distance as a child her age with no limb differences) so she will have this in replacement of a stroller
I remember reading something about a wheelchair in DLA's view would mean she is mobile with aid so it's almost viewed as a positive??
Any advice is appreciated x
Good luck everyone ✨
NC SD 30/10

Week 23 today of MR called and is now with a case manager 😩 I asked if it goes to a decision maker next and was told case manager is a decision maker

Apologies to all - I think it’s come across in the wrong way and that absolutely not my intention.

I myself have a severe skin condition and absolutely understand how serious it can be. The frustration is not at children who are being awarded!

Hiya just wondering if anyone could help,

I’ve updated my UC yesterday (change of circumstances) to say both my children are now in recipe of DLA - and then left the note on my journal about back payment and carers.
they have today verified the children but no message or update about the message just the verification. Do I need to message again or just leave it a few days.
many thanks

@Mumoffourlovelies I actually didn't know that it was listed as a disability! Learn something new everyday! But yes! I completely get where your coming from!
My son (8) is on pathways for both asd and adhd non diagnosis and he has speech delay and asthma we claim dla for him we have recently sent of his renewal forms so have a long wait ahead of us, the nc wait was dreadful now going through it again is bringing it all back and we're still in the same position as we was when we made nc as waiting times for the pediatrician in our area is 2.5 years so feeling a bit meh about it at the minute but hopefully still!

Hiya I’ve just been through this process. It took just under 2 weeks for UC to sort and pay back dated payment

I think it's listed as a disability under the equalites act 2010 from what I understand, if it significantly alters the quality of a person's life, sure that was along the lines of what I read. My partner has psoriasis and his daily life is really affected by it.
You're exactly right, my eldest was awarded and we have to renew in early 2026. He was awarded two years, I feel as though that will come round very quickly. He's also going through assessments, only really at the start of it all so I wonder if he will be officially diagnosed before renewal comes around. He is ASD, ADD and severely dyslexic with night time panic attacks/terrors. I will say it's crazy how some kids who clearly are deserving are told no, maybe it's more the forms and how they're answered than anything?
I also think the extremely long wait times contribute to people feeling so much more stress than if it took, say 8 weeks for example, instead!

@Mumoffourlovelies ah right I didn't know! And yeah my son started pathway in dec 2023 and he's not going to get seen till January 26! I didn't know what dla was until his senco asked if I get it so she recommended me to get it so I applied in June 23 and got awarded November 23 for 2 years like youself so renewal is June this year but got renewal pack January which felt very soon! But I've sent off virtually the same as last time but obviously updated ones since last evidence sent and more speech language reports doctors reports and sleep diaries as he also suffers bad in the night he's a sleep walker but literally filled the form in to every single page was full to the brim and I couldn't write any more so hopefully a positive outcome this time also. It's crazy when they send the letter stating they've received your application letter states 15 weeks wait but they'll allow it to go 4/5 weeks over with no explanation! Crazy!

Any positivity posts for claims being awarded today ? 😊 🎉

Positive post 🌈
SD NC 6/11
recieved message this morning that child awarded
I rang up at lunchtime & told that hrc award backdated to end of September when asked for forms and awarded until September next year 😊
thankyou for all support in this group and I hope everyone recieves decision soon xx

Evidence sent so far

2 Letters of inclusion support
Letter from senco
Cahms referral letter from sons gp

Would this be enough? Or do i need more

At the end of the day you can only sent what you have available to you .

All I sent was ASD pathway acceptance letter
Letter from the nursery
Confirmation of speech and language therapy
And various phone numbers for people involved such as nursery , speech and language , portage & senis

Congrats ! Hopefully I hear soon . I can't take the wait any longer . NC 29/10

My little boy has been getting the care element from the age of 1 and he's nearly 3.5. We got an official CP diagnosis last May and at renewal he was put onto MRC instead of LRC. There's no reason they shouldn't be awarded so young so just hang in there.

Congratulations! I think yours might be the first November date I've seen on here, I might be mistaken though. So happy that your child has been awarded and this horrible wait is over for you.

My sd is 1/11 so I'm hopeful to hear something soon 🤞
I wasn't going to call but I think I'm going to have to before they close today, if it's not even with DM yet I'd rather know so I'm not so anxious over the weekend 🙃

Can I ask what evidence did you send in with your application?

Don’t know why I googled it but online it’s saying only 14% of mandatory reconsiderations are overturned 😩😩 I really hope this isn’t true!

Renewal -

DLA runs out 28th March (4 weeks today)
Called yesterday and not looked at yet.

Does anyone know how long they are taking to make decisions on renewals and if they are still leaving them to the last minute?

Ive sent what i thought was best but ive literally got nothing else to send now i had to fight with the doctors to get a copy if his cahms referral 🙄

Renewal -
Can anyone help me, filling the renewal form out and it’s asking for Child benefit number but I’ve no idea what it is, can I just leave it blank?

@Danielle822 congrats! I've seen a few from 15-20 November awarded so far. My sd is 1/11 and I'm getting so anxious now that loads after have been awarded🤞🏻🤞🏻

@Glitzxx
Evidence I sent

ASD pathway acceptance report from june 2024 from his paediatrician
3 speech and language appointment letters
Letter occupational therapist sent me after I had a phone call appointment with her
Social worker and Health visitor numbers as health visitor referred him.

He wasn't attending nursery when I first put the claim in but he started in November and only manages 3 hours so I haven't sent anything from nursery.
I just got a date today for his follow up appointment for his diagnosis and it's in April so hoping what I've sent is enough until I can send his report through in April😬

Im hoping mine is enough as well guess ill find out lol

I just phoned, didnt think I'd get through before lines closed at 5 but I did an was told application still not with dm yet and could still be up to 8 weeks to go. Well I can stop worrying over the weekend anyway 😅

I left mine blank because I didn't know it . Mines an NC but they haven't questioned me about it . They did request my sons birth certificate thought . That might be because I left it blank .