DLA wait times 76

[HeartyGuide]

New Thread as previously one nearly full.

So I was advised to inform them straight away... (ds diagnosed epilepsy age 13) was 6 weeks after when requested forms but 8 weeks when I sent forms bk, by the time they look at forms surely that would be 3 months? He is very unlikely to out grow and has myoclonic seizures daily

Does that mean they won't consider? (Coc)

The only reason I'm questioning it is because a child close to the family whose needs are identical to my child they are 2 weeks apart in age was awarded high rate care reasons given is attention with bodily functions multiple times during the day and night those were the only reason given on the award letter so considering the reason it doesn't seem right in my eyes that 2 children with that same problem being awarded differently if there was other reasons on the letter I would understand but that was the only reason given I also provided evidence of this the other child didn't have evidence which I think is interesting.

@Emzi538 definitely send this is, the Dla would want to know if your child has epilepsy, by the time your claim has been looked at it will be 3 months plus anyway.
@OnePearlReader i would send it in, you’ve already told them about your child being seen by the dietician, that they may be put on feeding tubes, by sending this you are just updating them since you’ve had the appointment.
@Kits45 Im sorry for your loss, ND children will naturally find loss hard to deal with so it could be contributing to the anger, I would call this morning and say you plan to do a MR just to get the ball rolling then ask for a statement of reasons to be sent out so you know if there is anything else you need to send in or give them information about

Oh definitely he has found it really challenging he was very close with his grandad bless him the dla coc came at the same time I was doing the ehcp assessment forms then I was doing all the admin after he died. I'm going to wait for the letter I've printed out the Mr as I prefer to do everything in my own hand as I wouldn't feel comfortable with a person there getting it all down correctly over the phone there's clearly inconsistency in there guidelines there supposed to follow whilst assessing as clearly one pearl readers child should also be eligible for hrc under bodily functions reason given to my friends son so it definitely shouldn't be luck of the draw I've just caught them out as I helped my friend fill her form in so I know exactly what was in it and how I realised how similar our children were 👍🏻

I have a theory, I may be wrong but they sent you out the coc for the mobility side because he was coming up to 5, some coc that is just for the mobility because they are coming up to a qualifying age seems to be done earlier, i think maybe your claim was sent to them to look at mobility and they maybe just browsed over the care. Could be possible?

You are 100% right I think. those are my thoughts aswell it hasn't been looked at properly I'll know for sure when the letter arrives as I imagine if it has no reason on the letter about the care needs or no reference to them then it has been overlooked so I'll check the letter then give them a call to see if they can provide reasoning and go from there 👍🏻

Thanks
I have and just send 2nd load of additional evidence....

Are u still.waiting

They r finally in Feb for COC!! YAY

I wonder how they wrote and described the needs, because that will also come into it. You might do this already but if not I recommend numbering all of your additional evidence and highlighting relevant bits, then when you answer the questions say what happens, how long it is, what care is needed, what else is relevant and link to the relevant documentation evidencing it.

I honestly think most of them aren’t looked at properly, my son was awarded the same rates at renewal (mrc lrm) but I knew he should be entitled to hrc (I did previously do a mr years ago but all that changed was the length of his award) so I called up to ask for a statement of reasons and spoke to a lovely lady who said that there was nothing on the system but she would contact the dm and ask for it to be sent out. About a week later I got an unexpected payment and when I called he’d been moved to hrc so for some reason they must have looked at it again. I didn’t have much evidence either apart from him previously being prescribed melatonin (it didn’t work for him) and it stating in his ehcp he needs constant prompts to use the toilet as he soils himself (he’s 11).

Definitely I'm gonna highlight everything this time it's possible my wording might not of been quite correct I was doing the ehcp process at the same time so my mind was pretty battered with going through my son's needs over and over but I'm going to write a full letter and make it very simple to go through for them so there can be no mistake 👍🏻👍🏻

Good luck!

I find DLA and EHCPs always seem to collide in my house as well. It’s just overwhelming for parents sometimes.

Yea I think you are right they seem to be so overwhelmed there with all the claims it does feel like some are rushed through to get rid of the back log when the letter arrives if there's no reasons on there I will do as you did and call and ask for it that seems like a good plan 👍🏻 I'm glad you got that outcome for your boy as he obviously came under the guideline of attention with bodily functions so that's a really positive result ☺️

Haha aye it never rains but it pours as they say :)

I can’t believe how quiet it’s been for decisions just lately, I don’t know if it’s just that there isn’t as many people on this thread or if decisions just aren’t being made as much 😵‍💫

COC SD 23/3 saw payment in my bank so rang to confirm my little man has been award hrc/ hrm until 2032… could cry that I haven’t had to fight for what he deserves only reason didn’t previously apply for mobility was waiting for official diagnosis through NHS. Good Luck everyone still waiting. Not sure if areas make a difference but we are Derbyshire based for anyone still waiting.

I agree with you, another family member has autism hes verbal went to mainstream school now hes in college and cadgets excelling through every area and he was on middle rate care, my daughter has to go to a special needs school has asd and multiple other conditions and shes on a long list of medication and got put on the same rate i cant make it make sense obviously its luck of the straw or the DM are uneducated. Either way, if you think the decision is wrong fight for it. My daughter i dont believe should of been on MRC from the beginning but i didnt know how dla worked 2 years ago. If they dont change the rate on her COC im definitely doing a MR this time

Congratulations that a really good length of award, I bet you are so happy to have got HRC and HRM, can I ask did you just do the COC for the mobility or for care aswell?

What’s your scan date for coc?

Just for mobility already had HRC I really thought we was going to have to fight after seeing some of posts on FB. I just used the flow chart as a guide and wrote underneath each section how my little one fitted SMI criteria. Also referred to award lengths given in decision makers guide online so guessing that’s why we got the length so happy can actually now look for a car that will fit my LO’s sen buggy in the boot. We have to put it in the footwell at the moment as won’t fit in the boot xx

So glad you got the award he deserved. Isnt it made we've to basically do their jobs for them and write it out in black and white

Any Feb MR on here?? My scan date is the 7/02 and still not heard anything 😩😩😩

You’ve got it under smi, well done you, that’s amazing. I know how hard it is to get, you must be buzzing. I have also done all the stuff for hrm under the smi criteria with my COC form, my scan date is 2 weeks after yours so hopefully it won’t be to much longer to find out

Definitely do an mr if she doesn't get it as its clear there's inconsistencies with the way the dms award some cases when my best mate got hers back for her son we both sat there and said that my boy would get the same as there needs are identical so when I went back and told her the situation she was furious because I had so much more evidence than she did she got her letter out and made me take a photo and told me to appeal it straight away. Children who have higher needs should be getting the correct awards I hope you get the award you want if not fight all the way for it 👍🏻👍🏻