DLA Wait Times 80

[Kirstygingee]

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

I waited 6months last year for my daughters NC but she has had loads of diagnosis since then so doing a COC for her.
Thank you, it would be nice as im at constant appointments with them and they are clung to me 24/7. They are a lot worse then my oldest daughter at their age and its 100% harder.
I have been ringing every week with extra evidence etc i do need to call as i have extra information to add on and they have had developmental tests which show they are only at 12 months developmentally. They also have to have genetic testing for a number or conditions. But im just too scared to call as if they are declined i think il break haha. I also cant be doing with horrible call handlers xx

Totally understand where your coming from my youngest is completely different to my oldest they are on complete opposite ends of the spectrum as my youngest is non verbal will point blank refuse scream as she does not like to leave the house I’m honestly dredding the day she finally gets a place in a Sen school it’s going to be so hard for her as she jisy likes her own little bubble she’s with me 24/7 I don’t know how you manage to do it especially with twins you deserve a medal, that’s why a hate calling beause they can be so rude there jisy no need especially when people are waiting so long then getting told 2 different thing wishing you all the luck hun got my fingers crossed for you x

Your youngest sound exactly like my twins. One is non verbal and the other says the odd word but just copied of us. It is very hard with the twins and all my children are completely different with their autism/adhd. Its just learning to understand what they need just by the way they scream. My oldest can talk but cant express her wants and needs she does cat cries for different emotions and things she wants.
It is awful and thats a fight in itself trying to get them into a sen school as theyre so hard to get into. My oldest is going to a sen school for high school and im trying to get my twins in the same one. As it goes from age 3 to 19.
Thank you i will let you know if i hear anything tomorrow. As i think i will call, but i get what you mean i dont understand why they have to be so rude and dismissive x

Mines been with a DM for 2 weeks nearly it was a cic for mobility as he's almost 7 xx

Think it’s with a DM for a bit longer if it’s for mobility as they send it to their medical team. I didn’t do an Mr for mobility, only care but when they’ve asked me to fill out the COC form out last week they said to add the mobility stuff on that is on his report from the paediatrician but I’m not expecting anything for mobility as he’s only just turned 4, when he’s 5 I’m hoping to have diagnoses and started physio to see if it’s worth it then to fight for mobility. Hopefully you hear this week, good luck X

Yes totally understand about the cat cry my youngest has never spoke a single word so that’s how she communicates with us either that or grabbing my face it’s having to fight tooth and nail to get them into a school when you have all the proof from diagnosis docs hospital health vistor ect and they can still turn around and say they carnt accept so glad you have a place for your daughter in one my youngest has a couple of refusal for Sen school i took it to tribunal and she got accepted let me know hun have the toes and fingers crossed for you ☺️x

Its very hard when they cant communicate with you. A lot of it is just a guessing game! It is awful having to fight everything, i have had to do the same. I am so glad your daughter finally got a place thats amazing!
And thank you, i definitely will do! Xx

Definatly it really is a guessing game half the time thanks hun it was a big old fight but we got there in the end x

I've rang them today and they are just waiting on school getting back to them and decision will be made apparently so hopefully by the end of this week I'll find out. Jesse got LRm when he turned 5 but I've gone for a coc on smi grounds so we shall see what happens. Hes at a specialist school and development age of 3 has to be use a disability pushchair when out and has hyper mobility which causes pain so we shall see x

To anyone asking about how quickly UC can adjust and arrange back dated pay.
I went into the job center today to discuss with them this exact thing as just before Christmas i want it resolved not hanging over my head.
A few glitches during our talk where the lady kept asking me to do the changes there in front of her and I'm having to explain repeatedly I've done that already on this date and then she's finding it on my journal at her end.
She left a message for someone from payments to call me as she couldn't tell me when it would be sorted and I literally got a call 15 minutes later.
Lady on the phone was very understanding when I explained I have applied for carers allowance and that I am due a decent back payment in the next week as they got their turnaround for the claim done in less than 2 weeks.
Stated the backpay from all the elements I should have gotten over the last 3 months should cover for the amount they would have taken off for carers so I shouldn't owe them when all said and done.
Within the time of the call she calculated and said they would still owe me extra of xx amount and she would action it that day. However in the time it took for me to get off the phone gather my things from the table I was sat at and start walking to the carpark I had a new message in my journal. Her calculation over the phone was a little off but she had sorted it and actioned the payment for what they owed me fot the past 3 months so it should be with me in 2 days. Not a xx amount like she had said but xxx.
I now have new statements for the last 3 months with all the correct elements etc a triple digit payment coming from them and I have all the backpay from carers allowance coming and its all there in my UC account authorised.
From 1st contact about backpay to note in journal saying this is what we owe was about 1 hour.
I know going to the office can feel stressful but I think by going and just asking to speak to someone about it but not specifying who meant the person I spoke to sent the message to the right department to get me that call and had it all sorted do quickly.
I had worried for days thinking it would take a month or 2, that I might owe them due to carers allowance but 1 hour and its all sorted with 2 conversations.
I feel a bit like a plum for all my worry now. 😅

Im so glad you managed to get it all sorted. I think your very justified in worrying because it can be very daunting owing money out.
But thank god yours is sorted very quickly and you dont have to it stressing you out over christmas x

Im very happy for you that all your fighting paid off for you and your child 😁x

Exactly the backpay from carers is due to arrive in my account on my birthday so I was already twitchy. Things normally go wonky on my birthday but this time it looks like its actually going to work out.
I've purchased my laptop ready and I'm going to start saving to pay for my SEN TA course.
Use my knowledge and experience with my SEN kids to help get my qualification to help others in their educational path.

Thank you so much 😊x

Once mine are all in school I would like to train has a portage worker. I've worked on and off with them with 3 of my kids over the last 16 years they have been amazing. Helped me with Echp for 2 of mine before they started nursery. I feel it would be a great way for me to help people with sen children in my area and I also have experience of other service they would be using.

I have looked into mine and I can do an online course with placement hours at my sons current school.
My plan is get a lot of the online hours done over the first 3/4 months while my son is getting his diagnosis finalised and my daughter is getting some sorted too. Then when I've completed most of the online hours reduce my online down from 15 per week to 2 so I can do 2 days a week at about 7 hours per day placement.

This way keeps me under the 21 per week I can do max while on carers but can all be done while my son who I care for is at school.
I can care for him while training to build a stronger future that helps lots of other children as well as my own.
If you are passionate and can find the course that works for the hours you can do I would say do it if you can.
When I told my sons school I wanted to do this they were happy and supportive especially when I asked about placement hours with them. It helps them to not only get me qualified but to have more staff options available that are doing it not for the pay but for the families.

Thats amazing! You will love it, its such a rewarding job. Unfortunately i had to give up my job as a SEN TA as my childrens needs are too much at the moment but will definitely be getting back into it when they are older.

Has anyone been through a tribunal please? I had my childs and won! I just wondered if anyone how long it takes to process and for payment etc.. thank you! X

I havent been through a tribunal, but want to say congratulations that is absolutely fantastic! Well done, and i hope the money comes in soon!!!

Just out of curiosity how long did the whole process take, as im currently going through a MR so will definitely go to tribunal if rejected again!

I'm waiting to hear if I get can help with the course cost as the online course I found is just under 500. There were cheaper options however the hours involved were a lot less. I would rather it be more expensive but give a deeper understanding than cheaper and rushed.
It also offers a job guarantee so even if my sons current school has no paid jobs available once I'm qualified I can get help finding a job close by.
If I can't get help with the cost I've already got 3 different savings trackers ready so I can save and pay for it myself. Granted I will still save the money regardless but UC said there's help to get qualifications so if I can get it why not.
I've looked at in person vs online course and it's more than 4 times more expensive to do an in person version just on course fees alone. Add on travel expenses and food expenses for the year its probably over 7 times the cost of the online version.
I've explained the only help I need is course fees. I've purchased my own equipment, secured my own placement and due to proximity of said placement there's no travel expenses or food expenses as its close enough to bring my own each day I'm on placement.
Hopefully I will hear either on the 16th or after new year.
Are you still planning on calling this week with your new evidence and to see about any updates?

If you can get help, definitely take the help. By all means it helps you and your children and your using it to better yourself and other SEN children.
You definitely seem like you have everything figured out and have got a backup plan. Id say go for the one thats best suited for you and it works around you and your children.
Let me know how you get on!

I might call in morning, but my nerves are telling me to wait. I have serious anxiety about it, as if they tell me that its not with a dm il be so disheartened. Just purely because everyone ive seen on here waiting now is from september onwards i believe. And i feel like the longer i wait its going to be a decline. Also the last couple of call handlers i have had have not been the nicest people to ask questions.
I need to buy some new cots for the twins as one keeps sticking her legs threw the bars and nutting the bars. The other one keeps eating it, like taking chunks of it and eating the wood. She occassionally nuts it too! So was looking into some specialist cots for them.

Thank you. I'm so relieved. It's been a long process. I did a change of circumstances 19 months to see if could have lrm changed to hrm. He already has hrc. We were declined, and then again at MR, applied for tribunal and was successful today. Just over 19 months I'm all. I'm so extremely grateful, even tho I have only passed until renewal (back dated the 19 months)..which is in April 2026... so have to go through it all again once the renewal forms come. It's never ending unless you get a reasonable length award, to be honest I'm my heart of hearts I had given up hope, the fight has been so long, and even tho I'm unlucky with timing, he is now going to be getting what he has been entitled to all along. If you get refused and you believe it's what your child should get, then fight it all thr way. It's worth it at the end x

Omg, that is one hell of a long process, i honestly didnt realise it took so long. I am over the moon for you though that you was able to win your fight and you child is getting what he deserves. I bet you feel so validated.

I definitely believe she should be getting MRC and LRM at the least not a total decline. I am also doing a COC for HRC for my oldest daughter. As she gets MRC and LRM atm. I do believe she could get HRM under SMI but im not getting my hopes up on that. Il be happy with the HRC for her and sent of all the proof to argue my point.

It's true you should definitely listen to your gut but at the same time calling with additional evidence only is something that logic says will help which is worth it.
Even if all you do is tell them the information for your additional evidence it could be the final part the final cog needed to get this vehicle moving in a positive direction for you and your babies.

I need to do a portage course and then 6 months work under supervision to become a portage worker for my council. Already have a diploma in child education and development.
I did speak to my portage worker about it and she said that when I'm ready to contact her and she will get me in the course.