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.

Thank you for response everyone who has posted
hopefully a lot more will recieve response over weekend 🤞 xx

@VK1990 I also left mine blank as I didn't know it, I sent forms back last week!

What day are you gonna call? I think I'm gonna try leave it til Thursday as it will be 19 weeks then. Really hope we aren't waiting the full 25 weeks as I've already seen a few November dates being awarded on the Facebook groups

I'm going to wait till atleast Thursday too. Don't wanna ring to much 😕

Does anyone know what MR dates they are up to please? Original scan date May 2024, MR submitted 4/10

My MR 16/09/24 (after decline for anything for my son with ASD aged 6 from original application SD 07/05/24) was with a DM today as they called the school. Even though they have loads of written evidence and a statement from the school already sent to them with MR and original application which answered the questions they have asked the school. The questions according to the senco included

• does he have EHCP
• does he have communication issues
• does he communicate with his peers
• does he have meltdowns
• does he have behaviour issues
• does he refuse to walk
• what is his educational attainment are there barriers to learning
• does he have any intimate care needs

(yes to all of these and examples of the things they have in place was apparently reported by the school on the call but they didn’t give me details)

I am hoping that I will get to know either way on Monday when I call the DWP. Then if needed I can prepare for tribunal.

I have seen some MR results from 18/09 get decisions. Good luck lovely the wait for what our children deserve is painful and cruel. If they think I would be doing this if he didn’t need it they are crazy.

😂 I am doing the same right now! I wouldn’t have a clue what his child benefits number is, did you manage to find out the answer?

NC SD: 11/10/24

hello all.
I contacted DWP on Thursday 20th of Feb. I was told my son was awarded mrc and lm, which we are so happy about.

The lady stated on the website phone that a payment had not yet been processed. It has not been over a week, and I have had 2 letter from dwp, but still no back pay.

I gave my bank details over the phone as they reported that section was not filled in..I’m now panicking there’s been an issue!

anyone had a delay in the back pay?

thank you and good luck to all ❤️

I'd give them a ring and ask. It could just be taking longer to process the payment due to the bank details not originally being there maybe .

Don't worry . You have been awarded , so don't panic . Ring them 😊

Are decision makers still working weekends? I feel so close yet so far away from a decision.

I know some people have been waiting longer but it's crazy thinking I've waited 4 and a half months so far .

Such a long time .

Fingers crossed for more decisions incoming for us all

NC for both son and daughter both scanned 30/10/24
received letter for my daughter today which was declined
heard nothing for my son
is it still possible his could also be declined?
also called in 20/2/25 for an update for both which was told neither was still with a DM, yet the letter is dates 20/2/25 🙈

Just to let others know. Ive just received this txt -

We've decided your child qualifies for Disability Living Allowance. You don't need to contact us about this. We'll send you a letter with all you need to know. If you don't get this within 2 weeks please contact us.

My renewal was due to run out 28th March so some hope for people waiting on renewals. I sent forms back 31st December

It's two separate claims . Just because one has been declined doesn't mean the other one will .

The one that was declined . What's the disability ? What evidence did you send etc? 😊

Thanks for your reply.
i did not send evidence as i did my sisters pip few years ago with no evidence and she was awarded hrc hrm.

daughter 3 is suspected asd and ADHD

son 11 was suspected asd when i applied but 2 weeks ago got his diagnosis. Im still awaiting report to send in for evidence but now worried he will have his decision already now. He also has severe allergies (ana) and carrys epipens

i just assumed that they investigate by gaining medical records as i consented for them to do this in the application

@Bexxxxxxxx I think due to high volumes of applications and various other things, things have changed from a few years ago .

My older son was diagnosed 7 years ago nearly and he's been in receipt of DLA since shortly after and has now been awarded till he's 16.

I never originally sent any evidence and I never have done in renewals like you I'm presuming they looked into his medical records .

But with my New claim for my little boy I've sent as much evidence as possible as I've heard the decision is quite based on evidence sent .

@Bexxxxxxxx Pip and dla are totally different.. Pip goes on a point score system and they add up and award points for different describors.
DLA don't use that system they use a DM guide describors usually backed by supporting evidence.
Unfortunately dla do not have and can not gain access to individual child's medical records.
They are allowed to contact professionals you've listed to ask futher questions or send them a tick form to answer specific questions but they only usually do this if that professional has already gave input on the form or you've sent evidence from that professional.
For instance if you list the family doctor but you've gave no evidence from the family doctor and the doctor hasn't filled in the " someone who knows the child section" they don't usually contact the doctor.
If you've listed a sen worker and sent a report from them or report from the school they may contact them to get them to expand on the information they have already given.
Unfortunately it's your child's claim it's a self assessment from the parent on the child's daily needs and mobility issues and you have to back things up with your own evidence to a certain degree, the DM won't start from scratch and contact professionals on your behalf.

If your child's decline states it was declined because of no supporting evidence you can start a MR and include supporting evidence with diagnosis letter or evidence of child on pathway, sen reports, salt reports, pead reports, EP reports, health visitor reports, family doctor reports ect ect you can only include what you have or what you can get hold of so don't worry if you don't have or can't get lots of supporting evidence but diagnosis letter or evidence of pathway and school or nursery reports would be a great start.
Hope that makes sense and helps 💫

SD 24.10 NC no decision yet but my 13yo sons full SALT report for his ASD assessment has just been delivered which outlines things about his routine and the areas he needs physical help with (like doing shoe laces, buttons, brushing teeth, washing hair and bathing) and his emotional regulation struggles and how the language we use needs to be concise, needs visual aids such as now and next board, has problems in school and does some days in the SEN centre attached to the school, and also talks about still needing help going to sleep, his bed wetting and anxiety (though he is only occasionally bed wetting - mostly when a routine change is happening)

I am thinking this will be really good evidence as well so do you think if I post it special guaranteed 1pm delivery on Monday to arrive on Tuesday it will be done in time?

Other evidence has been sent including CAMHS report, IEP, EHC Needs Assessment acceptance, ASD pathway acceptance, sleep diaries, sensory diet, statement from school SENCO

That sounds like it would be great evidence. Send it first thing Monday, hopefully they've not looked at his claim yet.

It doesn't seem like they are this weekend, I was just thinking this I have seen no posts about new claims being awarded today on here or Facebook, fingers crossed not that far off for us now x

Think it’s around the 18/09 ish

Phoned child benefit and they don’t even give numbers anymore, they told me to leave it blank so fingers crossed.

Thank you for letting me know, I think I will just put I don’t know it in the box, it seems strange they even ask for it when they have our national insurance number and our child’s claim number ( which is also there national insurance number ) are you renewing a 2 year award, I’m sure I recognise your using name from when i first applied.

It's such a long wait I hope you hear something soon we first applied last May,turned down in September went straight to a MR over the phone and sent a letter and was finally awarded this week our MR startted on 18/9 can't believe we got it but we did just keep going my grandson has alot of health problems and is registered visually impaired that's why we never gave up good luck to you and everyone else waiting to.

Hi have you heard anything yet we were finally awarded after nearly a year now I hope you have some good news

I’ve done the same so glad to see it doesn’t take that long to sort out