SD 10th Feb, money landed in my account two days ago! From working it out, looks like we have middle rate care, high mobility. My daughter is a full time wheelchair user due to neurological issues. Some people have asked about evidence to see if there is a correlation with quicker turnarounds.
I filled in the forms without help - I know that there are sites which can help but I wanted it all in my own words so it was transparently correct (I’m autistic). I wasn’t sure if I was putting in enough minutes wise for the care elements as she is a teenager and tries her best, but she needs supervision when she is awake due to seizures, so wrote about that in my statement. In terms of evidence, we were awaiting diagnosis but sent a sensory processing report and her clinic letters which we get once a month detailing anxiety and made brief mention of tics and seizures. I then included my 2 page statement, and a letter from GP asking school to allow her to use a wheelchair when she first found she was struggling to walk (so not like now where she absolutely cannot) and contact details of the OT who supplied the wheelchair and mobility aids. We have no paperwork from the OT as ‘proof’.
I was actually in the process of sending a new bundle as we now have some diagnoses and better evidence - since filling in the paperwork they won’t have her in school due to daily seizures. I did ask them to call me when they were considering the award as her deterioration at the time of filling in the forms was so steep; I originally asked for the forms in October but ended up getting new ones as by the time they were completed, she’d declined so much. Of course they may have called her clinician for an up to date picture. The awards accurately reflect her needs.
It’s bittersweet really. The money is needed; we have had to reduce work hours, spend on school stuff as she can’t go in, spends on moving her bedroom downstairs, spends massively on things she needs, and will be putting in a shower room downstairs as she can’t manage the stairs. We have been getting into debt so the sum literally went straight onto my credit card which was a big relief, and I will now take her to choose her carpet and paint as the monthly money starts to come in, not to mention the shower room. So really needed, will be used entirely for her needs, feeling really fortunate to have been awarded it.
But at the same time it’s pretty heartbreaking that it’s official acknowledgement that my child is so disabled. Was in a terrible mood all yesterday and I’m guessing this was why (I don’t identify my emotions well). Anyone else feel like this?