Page 23 | DLA wait times 78

HeartyGuide · 2025-09-30T09:07:42+00:00

MR- Mandatory Reconsideration NC- New Claim COC- Change of Circumstances SD- Scan Date LRC- Low Rate Care MRC- Middle Rate Care HRC- High Rate Care LRM- Lower Rate Mobility HRM- Higher Rate Mobility

LinaKarimRayan1993 · 10/10/2025 13:04

Curlycookie5 · 10/10/2025 12:21

@Moolikeyou @Harrysmummy2016 @LinaKarimRayan1993 Have any of you heard anything yet today?

Edited

Hiya.
I rang up this morning and was told it's now with a decision maker. When I asked how long it will take, he said usually 25 weeks 🤣 couldn't be bothered to correct him so thanked him for his help.

Curlycookie5 · 10/10/2025 13:06

Emzi538 · 10/10/2025 12:40

If its in queue for dm ... what does that actually mean

I have no idea I keep being told it’s in the holding queue, they seem to have so many words for the same thing. Is yours for just mobility?

PositivityRipples · 10/10/2025 13:09

Daryl54 · 10/10/2025 11:38

Hi @PositivityRipples and @Mumof1xox just rang they said it’s currently sitting with a decision maker does that mean they are looking at it or waiting on there desk 😂😂 xx

Hiya, i work for HMRC in the bridge between DLA and the secretary of state so i over see some of the DLA... Basically all claims have a case manager that oversees the claim from scan date to payment department they are responsible for gathering evidence, checking identity, checking the claimant getd child Ben's for the child or getting a reference number from HMRC if no child bens, they gather extra evidence if the claim needs it from school or gp or consultants once the claim is ready its allocated to a DM who is called the "owner" and they make a decision or they bounce it back to the case manager and say they have questions for the DWP healthcare professionals and they send an internal medical document for the DWP healthcare professionals to complete then it goes back to the DM " owner"
So if you ring and the call handler says its with a DM what they mean is they can see at the top of the computer screen when they open your file that the claim has an "owner" the call handlers are under the impression that a case manager and DM are the same thing and they arent. The DM makes final decisions but sometimes the DM will say to the case manager if you can get so and so evidence from school then award these rates so the case manager can do that but they cant make independent decisions on a claim they just do what the DM tells them or they ring the claimant with questions or to verify information with a pending decisions thats already made as long as they get the answer they need on the phone.. That's why sometimes case managers ring and sometimes DMs ring.
Also claims don't go from scan date they go from application date.. So if two people have a scan date of 4/4 but one of them has an application date of 10/4 and one has an application date of 18/4 the 10/4 is done first..
My scan date is 4/4 all my letters say "youve asked us to look at your claim again 4/4 but my actual application date on the system queue is 18/4..

None of you will know your application date as its an interval process and the call handlers dont see it they just see scan dates. They also dont give them out as its confusing and for internal use only. An application date is a verified claim meaning the system has been told the claimant is verified to claim uk benefits and the child is verified with HMRC either through child bens system or birth certificate.
That's why some claims don't look like they are in date order.. I mean some of them arent the system is a mess but the application date matters to the queue allocation system the scan date doesn't.
Essayyyyy 💫🎉😂

Hopefully you hear real soon as yours is with a DM now "owner" fingers crossed 🤞🏼

Curlycookie5 · 10/10/2025 13:11

LinaKarimRayan1993 · 10/10/2025 13:04

Hiya.
I rang up this morning and was told it's now with a decision maker. When I asked how long it will take, he said usually 25 weeks 🤣 couldn't be bothered to correct him so thanked him for his help.

Show quote history

😂 they probably say the same thing so many times a day that it’s printed in their minds. Good luck atleast you know the decision will be made shortly

Curlycookie5 · 10/10/2025 13:12

Moolikeyou · 10/10/2025 12:42

Fingers crossed I don’t think my nerves can wait much longer - I did get the local mp call yesterday to say he had contacted them regarding the “obscene” wait times (his words) weather that’s pushed them - I doubt it as I used to work for the DWP I know how they work and how unbothered they will be and the same generic response they reply with 🤣

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A lot of the time decisions are made on the same day but I suppose it’s if it needs to go to the medical team or if the dm is working shorter hours, good luck hopefully not much longer to wait

Emzi538 · 10/10/2025 13:16

Curlycookie5 · 10/10/2025 13:06

I have no idea I keep being told it’s in the holding queue, they seem to have so many words for the same thing. Is yours for just mobility?

Show quote history

No for both :-/
Was told yesterday its in a queue for decision maker :-/ no idea what that means lol

Curlycookie5 · 10/10/2025 13:18

PositivityRipples · 10/10/2025 13:09

Hiya, i work for HMRC in the bridge between DLA and the secretary of state so i over see some of the DLA... Basically all claims have a case manager that oversees the claim from scan date to payment department they are responsible for gathering evidence, checking identity, checking the claimant getd child Ben's for the child or getting a reference number from HMRC if no child bens, they gather extra evidence if the claim needs it from school or gp or consultants once the claim is ready its allocated to a DM who is called the "owner" and they make a decision or they bounce it back to the case manager and say they have questions for the DWP healthcare professionals and they send an internal medical document for the DWP healthcare professionals to complete then it goes back to the DM " owner"
So if you ring and the call handler says its with a DM what they mean is they can see at the top of the computer screen when they open your file that the claim has an "owner" the call handlers are under the impression that a case manager and DM are the same thing and they arent. The DM makes final decisions but sometimes the DM will say to the case manager if you can get so and so evidence from school then award these rates so the case manager can do that but they cant make independent decisions on a claim they just do what the DM tells them or they ring the claimant with questions or to verify information with a pending decisions thats already made as long as they get the answer they need on the phone.. That's why sometimes case managers ring and sometimes DMs ring.
Also claims don't go from scan date they go from application date.. So if two people have a scan date of 4/4 but one of them has an application date of 10/4 and one has an application date of 18/4 the 10/4 is done first..
My scan date is 4/4 all my letters say "youve asked us to look at your claim again 4/4 but my actual application date on the system queue is 18/4..

None of you will know your application date as its an interval process and the call handlers dont see it they just see scan dates. They also dont give them out as its confusing and for internal use only. An application date is a verified claim meaning the system has been told the claimant is verified to claim uk benefits and the child is verified with HMRC either through child bens system or birth certificate.
That's why some claims don't look like they are in date order.. I mean some of them arent the system is a mess but the application date matters to the queue allocation system the scan date doesn't.
Essayyyyy 💫🎉😂

Hopefully you hear real soon as yours is with a DM now "owner" fingers crossed 🤞🏼

Show quote history

Thank you for writing this its really helpful

LoudAquaViper · 10/10/2025 13:20

PositivityRipples · 10/10/2025 13:09

Hiya, i work for HMRC in the bridge between DLA and the secretary of state so i over see some of the DLA... Basically all claims have a case manager that oversees the claim from scan date to payment department they are responsible for gathering evidence, checking identity, checking the claimant getd child Ben's for the child or getting a reference number from HMRC if no child bens, they gather extra evidence if the claim needs it from school or gp or consultants once the claim is ready its allocated to a DM who is called the "owner" and they make a decision or they bounce it back to the case manager and say they have questions for the DWP healthcare professionals and they send an internal medical document for the DWP healthcare professionals to complete then it goes back to the DM " owner"
So if you ring and the call handler says its with a DM what they mean is they can see at the top of the computer screen when they open your file that the claim has an "owner" the call handlers are under the impression that a case manager and DM are the same thing and they arent. The DM makes final decisions but sometimes the DM will say to the case manager if you can get so and so evidence from school then award these rates so the case manager can do that but they cant make independent decisions on a claim they just do what the DM tells them or they ring the claimant with questions or to verify information with a pending decisions thats already made as long as they get the answer they need on the phone.. That's why sometimes case managers ring and sometimes DMs ring.
Also claims don't go from scan date they go from application date.. So if two people have a scan date of 4/4 but one of them has an application date of 10/4 and one has an application date of 18/4 the 10/4 is done first..
My scan date is 4/4 all my letters say "youve asked us to look at your claim again 4/4 but my actual application date on the system queue is 18/4..

None of you will know your application date as its an interval process and the call handlers dont see it they just see scan dates. They also dont give them out as its confusing and for internal use only. An application date is a verified claim meaning the system has been told the claimant is verified to claim uk benefits and the child is verified with HMRC either through child bens system or birth certificate.
That's why some claims don't look like they are in date order.. I mean some of them arent the system is a mess but the application date matters to the queue allocation system the scan date doesn't.
Essayyyyy 💫🎉😂

Hopefully you hear real soon as yours is with a DM now "owner" fingers crossed 🤞🏼

Show quote history

Does this work with the same as MR’s? I called for my MR on the 22/04 so will that be my SD and application date? Or does it go by NC still? So if I put my NC in 18/12/24 and others MR’s NC was before mine would they get looked at first?

also I got told yesterday my claim is still with the mandatory reconsideration team, no decision yet… does that mean still in a queue?

Lululu818181 · 10/10/2025 13:22

Hi all, there seems to be no order of the new claims. I am still waiting on a new claim scanned 30/7. It's been with a decision maker 2 weeks. I don't understand how people in August are Already having decisions. It's so stressful waiting. I did a new claim for my son a year ago and that was a 20 week wait. It's like slow torture!

PositivityRipples · 10/10/2025 13:45

LoudAquaViper · 10/10/2025 13:20

Does this work with the same as MR’s? I called for my MR on the 22/04 so will that be my SD and application date? Or does it go by NC still? So if I put my NC in 18/12/24 and others MR’s NC was before mine would they get looked at first?

also I got told yesterday my claim is still with the mandatory reconsideration team, no decision yet… does that mean still in a queue?

Show quote history

So your scan date for MR if you done it over the phone is 22/4 that means they inputted and scanned it on to the system on that date.
If your MR is upheld and new rates awarded you will be backdated money to 18/12/24.

You wont know your application date that depends how long the case manager has taken to verify yourself and the child ( they have to verify again even tbough they verified the new claim its just how the system works) and placed your claim into the queue, it's usually done within 3 weeks of the scan date ( some are done in 5 days some are done in 20 days its kind of like how long is a piece of string but let's say they done it in 5 days then your queue position would be 27/4 if that makes sense. So your wait goes from that date and your queue position and allocation goes from that date.

And if they told you your claim is still with the MR team that could mean anything, the call handlers should use correct wording and either tell you its still in the queue or its allocated to a DM but to be honest the call handlers don't even know how the system works they are trained to put your childs ref into the computer in front of them and read from a screen they can access the claim notes and see if the claim has an owner at the top of the screen but most of them if they are new dont even know that the owner at the top of the screen means DM as it doesn't say DM 😂 if you call you could ask " does my claim have an owner" and they may look and have a light bulb moment like of yes it bloody does 🤣 they arent trained to look or know the system just to write notes or read notes, most of them don't even know the difference between a case manager and a decision maker.
Case managers work for the DWP, Decision makers work for the secretary of state and its only a decision maker that can allocate rates to a child they are trained in legislation they follow a guide and a handbook written by the secretary of state, they also have to put their name to a claim as an "owner" incase it goes to tribubal for legal reasons. The case manager just does what they say or allocates the rates they are told to or gather what they are told to, we don't really need all this information as claimants as it is confusing but sometimes it helps people to understand the process and the system especially when we are waiting 6 months for decisions 😳

ellierose99 · 10/10/2025 14:26

Lululu818181 · 10/10/2025 13:22

Hi all, there seems to be no order of the new claims. I am still waiting on a new claim scanned 30/7. It's been with a decision maker 2 weeks. I don't understand how people in August are Already having decisions. It's so stressful waiting. I did a new claim for my son a year ago and that was a 20 week wait. It's like slow torture!

I'm still waiting from the beginning of June and there's someone from may on here too

Daryl54 · 10/10/2025 14:31

@PositivityRipples thankyou that’s really helpfull fingers crossed 🤞 will keep updating xx and thankyou @Mumof1xox xx

LoudAquaViper · 10/10/2025 14:38

PositivityRipples · 10/10/2025 13:45

So your scan date for MR if you done it over the phone is 22/4 that means they inputted and scanned it on to the system on that date.
If your MR is upheld and new rates awarded you will be backdated money to 18/12/24.

You wont know your application date that depends how long the case manager has taken to verify yourself and the child ( they have to verify again even tbough they verified the new claim its just how the system works) and placed your claim into the queue, it's usually done within 3 weeks of the scan date ( some are done in 5 days some are done in 20 days its kind of like how long is a piece of string but let's say they done it in 5 days then your queue position would be 27/4 if that makes sense. So your wait goes from that date and your queue position and allocation goes from that date.

And if they told you your claim is still with the MR team that could mean anything, the call handlers should use correct wording and either tell you its still in the queue or its allocated to a DM but to be honest the call handlers don't even know how the system works they are trained to put your childs ref into the computer in front of them and read from a screen they can access the claim notes and see if the claim has an owner at the top of the screen but most of them if they are new dont even know that the owner at the top of the screen means DM as it doesn't say DM 😂 if you call you could ask " does my claim have an owner" and they may look and have a light bulb moment like of yes it bloody does 🤣 they arent trained to look or know the system just to write notes or read notes, most of them don't even know the difference between a case manager and a decision maker.
Case managers work for the DWP, Decision makers work for the secretary of state and its only a decision maker that can allocate rates to a child they are trained in legislation they follow a guide and a handbook written by the secretary of state, they also have to put their name to a claim as an "owner" incase it goes to tribubal for legal reasons. The case manager just does what they say or allocates the rates they are told to or gather what they are told to, we don't really need all this information as claimants as it is confusing but sometimes it helps people to understand the process and the system especially when we are waiting 6 months for decisions 😳

Show quote history

Ahh I see thank you so much, I may give them a call again Tuesday as I’m 25 weeks then and ask the question if it has an owner. That’s really helpful, thank you for explaining that!

the owner must not have even looked at my evidence last time round because on the decline letter it said they made their decision using the evidence on the claim form, said nothing about any evidence sent it. I have now however had a lot more evidence that I’ve sent in, so fingers crossed we get the correct decision this time round and I don’t need to fight to tribunal.

brc13 · 10/10/2025 14:55

LoudAquaViper · 10/10/2025 14:38

Ahh I see thank you so much, I may give them a call again Tuesday as I’m 25 weeks then and ask the question if it has an owner. That’s really helpful, thank you for explaining that!

the owner must not have even looked at my evidence last time round because on the decline letter it said they made their decision using the evidence on the claim form, said nothing about any evidence sent it. I have now however had a lot more evidence that I’ve sent in, so fingers crossed we get the correct decision this time round and I don’t need to fight to tribunal.

Show quote history

COC 06/05
I braved it and called today😂 they said it’s still not dealt with so the waiting game continues🙈 really nice women though and she said call whenever as we are entitled to know what’s happening especially with the backlog and post taking longer to be delivered😬X

Princessmom222 · 10/10/2025 15:06

BananaPudding12 · 10/10/2025 12:38

I phoned today for confirmation that they had received my second lot of evidence. Told awarded lrm and mrc. My scan date was 26/8 for NC, which means it was 6 weeks for decision from scan date. I am not sure when ill get the back payment but just pleased he has been awarded. Good luck to anyone else hoping for an answer soon. This forum has been so incredibly helpful x

Congratulations on your award! Your a day before me. So hopefully i will hear something soon!

Harrysmummy2016 · 10/10/2025 15:12

PositivityRipples · 10/10/2025 13:09

Hiya, i work for HMRC in the bridge between DLA and the secretary of state so i over see some of the DLA... Basically all claims have a case manager that oversees the claim from scan date to payment department they are responsible for gathering evidence, checking identity, checking the claimant getd child Ben's for the child or getting a reference number from HMRC if no child bens, they gather extra evidence if the claim needs it from school or gp or consultants once the claim is ready its allocated to a DM who is called the "owner" and they make a decision or they bounce it back to the case manager and say they have questions for the DWP healthcare professionals and they send an internal medical document for the DWP healthcare professionals to complete then it goes back to the DM " owner"
So if you ring and the call handler says its with a DM what they mean is they can see at the top of the computer screen when they open your file that the claim has an "owner" the call handlers are under the impression that a case manager and DM are the same thing and they arent. The DM makes final decisions but sometimes the DM will say to the case manager if you can get so and so evidence from school then award these rates so the case manager can do that but they cant make independent decisions on a claim they just do what the DM tells them or they ring the claimant with questions or to verify information with a pending decisions thats already made as long as they get the answer they need on the phone.. That's why sometimes case managers ring and sometimes DMs ring.
Also claims don't go from scan date they go from application date.. So if two people have a scan date of 4/4 but one of them has an application date of 10/4 and one has an application date of 18/4 the 10/4 is done first..
My scan date is 4/4 all my letters say "youve asked us to look at your claim again 4/4 but my actual application date on the system queue is 18/4..

None of you will know your application date as its an interval process and the call handlers dont see it they just see scan dates. They also dont give them out as its confusing and for internal use only. An application date is a verified claim meaning the system has been told the claimant is verified to claim uk benefits and the child is verified with HMRC either through child bens system or birth certificate.
That's why some claims don't look like they are in date order.. I mean some of them arent the system is a mess but the application date matters to the queue allocation system the scan date doesn't.
Essayyyyy 💫🎉😂

Hopefully you hear real soon as yours is with a DM now "owner" fingers crossed 🤞🏼

Show quote history

Thank you for explaining this. I'm nearly at 30 weeks next week, would that mean its because they are most likely waiting on additional evidence from the school, paediatrician?

Marissa90 · 10/10/2025 15:53

I’ve just called for my mr and a decision was made today but said they can’t tel me over the phone 🤦‍♀️ how do I get them to tell me?

LoudAquaViper · 10/10/2025 15:54

Marissa90 · 10/10/2025 15:53

I’ve just called for my mr and a decision was made today but said they can’t tel me over the phone 🤦‍♀️ how do I get them to tell me?

Normally when you choose option 1,5,1,4 they will tell you.

whats your MR SD?

Marissa90 · 10/10/2025 15:56

LoudAquaViper · 10/10/2025 15:54

Normally when you choose option 1,5,1,4 they will tell you.

whats your MR SD?

Show quote history

My mr was 31/03 just calling and going through option 4 thank you

LoudAquaViper · 10/10/2025 15:56

Marissa90 · 10/10/2025 15:56

My mr was 31/03 just calling and going through option 4 thank you

Show quote history

Good luck!

Emzi538 · 10/10/2025 15:59

brc13 · 10/10/2025 14:55

COC 06/05
I braved it and called today😂 they said it’s still not dealt with so the waiting game continues🙈 really nice women though and she said call whenever as we are entitled to know what’s happening especially with the backlog and post taking longer to be delivered😬X

Show quote history

Your just ahead of us, did they say it was in the queue for dm?

PositivityRipples · 10/10/2025 16:04

Harrysmummy2016 · 10/10/2025 15:12

Thank you for explaining this. I'm nearly at 30 weeks next week, would that mean its because they are most likely waiting on additional evidence from the school, paediatrician?

Show quote history

Are you a MR or COC.. I know they are prioritising new claims and MR and then COC last to clear the backlog, they seem to have got new claims down considerably, MR seem to have got longer so 25 to 29 weeks and COC are 30+ weeks and then some 25 weeks just recent..
The DLA only have timescales and they have to meet deadlines for decisions on new claims and renewals so they seem on track

MR and COC they are actually taking the p#*s on them.. Its seriously atrocious that any disabled child should have to wait over 6 months for decisions 😑🥺🥹

brc13 · 10/10/2025 16:38

Emzi538 · 10/10/2025 15:59

Your just ahead of us, did they say it was in the queue for dm?

Show quote history

I called a month ago to see if they received evidence I sent but I didn’t ask for an update and they said it was with the reviewing team, don’t know what that means but I’m guessing they maybe would have said if it was in a queue today or some sort of proper update if it was so honestly thinks I won’t get a decision until 30 weeks. I have seen a few on Facebook from May that have had decisions or payments today 😬. I’m going to just start calling on Mondays and Fridays and see what they say X

Emzi538 · 10/10/2025 17:42

I will wait til 25 weeks, unless I get further evidence... have a feeling his rates will stay same :-/

Harrysmummy2016 · 10/10/2025 18:08

PositivityRipples · 10/10/2025 16:04

Are you a MR or COC.. I know they are prioritising new claims and MR and then COC last to clear the backlog, they seem to have got new claims down considerably, MR seem to have got longer so 25 to 29 weeks and COC are 30+ weeks and then some 25 weeks just recent..
The DLA only have timescales and they have to meet deadlines for decisions on new claims and renewals so they seem on track

MR and COC they are actually taking the p#*s on them.. Its seriously atrocious that any disabled child should have to wait over 6 months for decisions 😑🥺🥹

Show quote history

Hey, I'm COC, just for the mobility part, we get HRC. It is honestly disgusting how long people have to wait, nearly 7 months and I've convinced myself that we are going to be denied, so I'll have to do an MR and then wait another 30 weeks. Everyone around my date seems to be getting a decision and mine is still in a queue