DLA WAIT TIMES THREAD 69

[zoeybrooks45]

NC - new claim
COC - change of circumstances
MR - mandatory reconsideration
SD - scan date

I haven't posted in here since we submitted our change of circumstances 9 weeks ago.
Whilst we haven't been waiting as long as most, in our desperation I sent a rather large complaint to a number of DWP emails this week, demanding answers to the below questions, for which I did receive an initial response, asking for my sons claim details.

1. Why is the wait so long?
2. Why is a change of circumstances taking longer or the same amount of time as a whole new claim?
3. What processes are in place?
4. Why is the whole of the DLA service completed on paper?
5. Why is there no triage system for those most in need?
6. Why is there no formal escalation process?
7. Why is the only method of contact via phone?

We are pretty desperate for our son's high rate mobility claim, to access motability. We have a wheelchair and no car that it will fit in, and with his ever changing needs (progressive disease), the car will need to be changed more frequently (expected full power wheelchair in the next 36 months). It feels so pointless buying a new car for it to not be suitable. We are also travelling to Evelina regularly in our old banger (we broke down last time). We are so desperate to be able to make memories with him this summer 😔

Ah thank you, I will wait til dec then, did you find the form was almost the same as a new claim form?

pretty much the same; but some differences x

I would take this with a pinch of salt as I am waiting on coc too sd 8/11/24 I have been told 6 times that it was with a DM over the past 6 months but it's actually still in a waiting queue xx

I was expecting a much shorter form (silly me) and then was additional form/reply to ask what I wanted them to look at again :-/

i got told exactly one week apart, it’s with a dm to then its waiting to be assigned, they tell you stuff to get you off the phone x

Oh no! That's awful... have they given you any indication on how much longer ? X

I've been told l....
it will take 8 weeks then
it went to 11 weeks
Then 15
Then 20
Then 25
Then how longs a piece of string basically was my last response so I'm expecting at least 30 weeks now tbh I'm on 27 weeks so far xx

I know I'm at the point of telling them to leave it. Keep having a feeling like they've actually lost his coc form but arnt telling me either because everytime they check where it's upto they seem to pause for a good 2-3minutes before telling me x

fingers crossed this isn’t the case! i’d definitely be putting a complaint in, what were you doing a coc for?x

I was awarded in November for my 4 year old and now 5 I’m reapplying for mobility, during the forms I have ticked no change for day time care I have written mobility problems and I will print off the same evidence I sent the first time but I have added this time night time on it at question 72, I can’t remember if I did last time I feel like I did and they ignored it but obviously stupid me didn’t take copies of what I sent I struggle with forms and today I realised if asked how many nights then how many “times” a night I think I’d put how many times twice on the last time then it’s 7 nights a week 😞 But with it being within a year I don’t wanna have to write Loads like the first time so I haven’t before I send tomorrow do you think I should write lots again like the first time or will they just be looking mainly at mobility cause of age ? Sorry for the paragraph.

hello, i’ve not heard back from my coc yet but from what i’ve seen they read through the whole form and don’t take the original form into account so you’re best off treating it like a full claim rather than just the mobility side x

@ByChirpyare you planning on ringing tomorrow or just waiting now?x

Just so you know when you claim carers allowance it gets deducted from your uc as they see that as a job so make sure u her child element and all that other stuff

thankyou, I’ve ticked nothing changed cause it was less than a year ago so should I change that and just refill it all again it’s due back in 3 days 🥲 how long have you been waiting? Is yours coc die to age change also?

Hi all, I wondered if anyone can help me. I received my forms for renewal, but can it be done online? Thanks

Good luck to all this week hopefully we see a lot of positive outcomes 🙏

When your child is coming up to 5 and your applying for mobility you only need to do the mobility side of the form, it’s only if the care has changed aswell you would need to do the care side of it. But they would have only sent you that form based on applying for mobility. I’m sure it’s the same form as a COC form that’s why it has care and mobility on it.

It’s all paper I’m afraid, it would be so much easier if it was online. I’ve printed my answers out and attached it to the correct page because those boxes are so small.

Ah so you can print answers out? That helps me! Thank you!

Thankyou, I’ve filled that mobility and ticked on the form I want mobility reviewing. And just ticked nothing changed since the last form so fingers crossed she’s been rewarded till summer 2026 on her care one hopefully this doesn’t affect it. Thankyou for helping I’m just going to send it, do you know how long the wait is for adding the mobility is it still 20 weeks ? X

Yes I'm going to claim all becasue I'm going to be her full time carer. She's cant attend school atm with her disease. They wouldn't be able to cope with it. And I don't want want to put pressure on them as they are a really lovely infant school. When she does start Year r I'm going to home school anyways as I did with my child who's currently in primary and thriving.
I'm week 7 tomorrow. Still a long way to go. But from what I'm seeing new claims are going through quite swiftly from what I see on here and the Facebook group. I'm checking in frequently throughout the day to see how everyone's getting on with all their claims coc or nc etc. Love and best wishes to all ♥ I just can't wait for his money to come through. This little angel is going to get spoilt. She's been through so much, bless her.

Wouldn't it be so awesome if there was an online portal??? So we don't have to keep ringing.
We could just log in and see:

Your dla claim ■
In queue □
With case worker □
With decision maker □ ✔️ since 2nd May 2025
Approved // not approved □
With payment team □

got through after 20 minutes this morning, they’ve said they’re going to add a note that we’ve called and hopefully escalate the form but at the moment its still waiting to be assigned to a decision maker, coc 29/11 x

COC forms are taking 25 weeks plus but I’m not sure if applying for mobility would be the same wait times? I haven’t seen anyone on here waiting for just mobility for a while to see how long they’ve waited.