DLA wait times 76

[HeartyGuide]

New Thread as previously one nearly full.

My MR scan date was on 22/01/2025 had a call on Monday from the decision maker asking a few questions about refusals to walk and was told she would make a decision in 1-2 days I rang today a decision was made yesterday and that a letter will be sent out she couldn’t tell me on the phone. I rang again pressed option 4 and spoke to a lady and she told I have been awarded high rate mobility x

I have contacted my local MP today about the wait times for change of circumstances as the time they’re expecting people to wait is so long and gruelling!

That’s amazing congratulations
exactly the same happened to me current on hold to option 4 hope they tell me can’t wait 7-10 day

Hey may I ask what evidence you sent in for mobility? xx

COC 06/05
called today to make sure they received new evidence and medication I sent and they said it’s with the reviewing team🙈 whatever that means as I’ve never been told this before, only ever been told if its with a decision maker or not, expecting a long wait as he couldn’t tell me a time line because of the back log. Fingers crossed they start dealing with COC as I’ve seen a lot more of us on this new thread waiting on COC X

I sent EHCP, paediatrician report school report and reduced time table for school and the only extra evidence I sent with the MR was a personal statement going into detail about refusals to walk and not having any awareness x

Good luck!! X

Hi, congratulations that’s brilliant news. can I ask when the dm called did you use the words refusal to walk? I’ve heard some people say that word means they know what they are doing and refuses to walk and then they will say you can’t get HRM. I’m claiming under the smi rule and I don’t want to mess it up, but it is a refusal to walk, but I’m not really sure what other word describes it, she is in a state of arrest that she is unable to carry on walk? She isn’t aware of words spoken to her or anything around her? She can’t carry on? How does everyone word it so it’s showing they have no intention of walking any further because they simply can’t walk any further? This has been one things that keeps going through my mind if the dm calls me if I say the wrong word.

That’s amazing, I hope they will do something about it. I’m currently 18 weeks into a COC and it still seems like I have forever before I get a decision. What’s your scan date for COC?

My scan date is 12th may hun. Also had to send her renewal forms last week too as her claim ends 19th December. At this rate they’ll be doing them both together! It’s madness how long they’re taking!

Hi, she rang me and asked if he’ has refusals to walk and I said well it’s struggle to get him to walk as he tends to take his shoes and socks off along the way throws himself on the floor and will not get up and stare at me blankly in the face due to the fact he cannot express himself and regulate his emotions, he has not road awareness and it is impossible to take out to public setting as he is 7 years old now and makes it harder for me to handle on my own I need another adult with me. I did also say all this behaviour is out of his control.
X

14/2 COC told me it could be another several months for a decision, actually give up now, they’ve deffo put COCs onto the back burner they’re catching up with the MRs and NC

The tests for SMI are different to those for VUW. You can see the flowcharts in this document. Also look at Contact’s leaflet and Contact’s webpage. While ‘refusing’ to move can help to meet part of the SMI criteria in some cases, ‘refusals’ can be more relevant to VUW. Using ‘refusals’ shouldn’t prevent an award of HRM. However, some decision makers do use it as a reason not to award, so some use ‘interruptions’ instead, especially for claims under the VUW criteria.

Absolutely brilliant news. So happy for you. Such a relieve.

We have been declined Mr for HRM. I proved all 6 points with evidence for smi and every point needed for Vuw. And still declined.
Have taken it to Tribunal. They had until 9th August to respond, they did not.. so upset for My boy esp had soooo much eveidence and evidence for each point.. 😞😓 xx

Oh, I chose to go to appeal too, they had until 20th August to respond and I received a message a few days ago saying they have responded and I will get a letter through the door soon! I wonder why some respond and some don’t, this makes me so nervous

I think I may have covered both VUW and SMI in the evidence I have sent in and not even realised 🤦‍♀️ I’ve sent in the smi tests referring it back to the evidence and I’ve also done a walking diary to show what she is like outside, it shows she walked 88 meters in 54 minutes but she did make a run for it in the walking diary too so I’m not sure if they would class her as VUW. I never even thought to look at VUW for her because she can walk and will run off a lot but has a lot of refusal to walk episodes because she simply can’t cope.

My daughters renewal forms should come just after i receive a decision for COC so I'm hoping they change the award and lengthen so i don't need to wait any longer.

Fingers crossed! They have both the COC form and renewal form now

Do you know if you was awarded under smi or vuw?

If you explain why its a refusal to walk, for example for my son although it is a refusal to walk, he is not consciously making that choice, he cannot help getting so overwhelmed that the only thing his body can do is freeze. Although his HRM is under VUW not smi. I was told that 90% of autistic kids thats on HRM get it under vuw not smi because to prove the things like severe mental impairment is incredibly hard because thry dont do IQ tests on kids

It is still possible to meet the VUW criteria if DC sometimes run.

Case law shows it is possible meet the SMI criteria even if DC have a normal or above average IQ if DC have difficulty applying their intelligence in the real world or have no sense of danger. Same would apply if you don’t know DC’s IQ.

Do you think the SOGs developmental assessment would show similar to an IQ test? I have that in her diagnosis report which shows she is half her age of below on everything.

I was told on phone, by the courts on monday. thats normally, when they respond its because they have changed the decision in your favour.When they dont its because its going to hearing. So fingers crossed it should be good news.and 3working days you will get nice back pay for your Lo.. x

How old was your son when he received HRM? I’m hoping I’ve sent in enough evidence and wrote enough that they don’t need to call me, I’ve even wrote down about the pda side of her autism in simple words incase they don’t know what it is 😂 you would not believe how many times I have to explain what it is to everyone, but it’s a big part of her.

He was just over 3.5 years. I went into every single tiny detail about him and what hes like outside ect. I stupidly didnt go into so much detail about my daughter cause I thought the fact she cant walk wouldnt need much explaining 😂 but obviously the people dealing with the claims must be a bit dopey