DLA frustration

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MR scan date 28/05 received a call from the decision maker around an hour ago. She was extremely blunt and dismissive of my daughter’s age and I felt like she really didn’t give me much room to speak. Why an earth would you feel the need to repeats 100 times all 2 year olds need help with changing/ bathing ect (she’s nearly 3) when you can clearly see she has been awarded equipment from OT and OT has make decision that our home is unsafe for our child’s needs. Nursery struggling with funding and only have her one hour a week due to lack of staff for 1-1 (EHCP in process) sleep specialist reports, support letters from portage, paediatricians. Asked me if she’s been diagnosed with. Language delay and GDD when there’s clear evidence right in front of her. I’m so upset I feel so dismissed. I’ve been fighting this for a year advocating for my child for the sake to be over spoken and shut down for 20 minutes straight and they more than likely another decline. I’m so tired of this.

Because all 2 year olds no matter if theyre disabled do need complete support with bathing and most daily loving things, you have to show how the disability effects them and hos they have more care needs than typical children.

If they were asking about GDD im assuming they maybe looking at mobility as you have to have a diagnosis to qualify and GDD can be one of those diagnoses, she may of also been looking to see how the language delay and the GDD effect her everyday and how you provide extra care.

Although I completely sympathise with you as DLA process is awful and they very often overlook alot of things, but my experience with a recent MR is that they tend to look at the evidence more indepth than when it was first looked at

of course I’m aware of that, however DLA is not diagnosed based it is all to do with how much car they actually need. My child’s care needs go way way beyond what a typical developing 2 year olds is. Her nursery decided she needed an EHCP within 2 weeks of her started and now only have her in one day a week for 1 hours because they cannot keep her safe. It’s just frustrating as a fighting parent advocating for there child to feel sooo dismissed.

Our area is rubbish with diagnosing GDD now, but my son is non verbal autistic and should have had GDD diagnosed too really, got DLA since 2.5 so keep fighting if the MR isn't successful.
You can choose to go to tribunal and have another go with a new claim form at the same time if the MR isn't successful.
I m sorry that people can be so dismissive when it's toddlers and imply that being non verbal and having such a high level of supervision is normal when it's above and beyond other toddlers who have some basic communication and understanding of language. I will say once we got past 3/3.5 the comments of catching up and any of his delays being normal did completely stop.

If your claim isn’t successful, you can request a mandatory reconsideration then appeal.

While DLA on the whole is based on needs rather than diagnosis, because DD is nearly 3, they will be looking at if they can award HRM from 3. For GDD, there are two ways a child with GDD can qualify for HRM - severe mental impairment (SMI) and virtually unable to walk (VUW). For the former, one element of the test is you have to evidence DC has a state of arrested development or incomplete physical development of the brain and as a result they must have a severe impairment of intelligence and social functioning. One way of doing that is via a GDD diagnosis. For the latter, one element of the test is the difficulties have to arise from a physical condition and one way of proving that is via a GDD diagnosis.

Decision was made however they won’t tell me over the phone

Call back and it's option 1,5,4 I think to get someone that is allowed to tell you

Thankyou! HRC awarded I’m thrilled my child deserves this, makes the past year of fighting feel finally worth it!

Oh that's wonderful news, you should get the back pay by the end of next week. If you haven't already look to see if your eligible for universal credit or if you do already get it make sure to add on carers element and severe disability element.

It's not a lot but nursery might be able to get the disability access fund now she has DLA whilst you wait for the EHCP to be sorted.