DLA renewal has been declined.
My daughter's 10 and has diagnosis of autism,OCD, severe anxiety and food avoidance.
She was medicated at 6 (fluoxitine and melatonin) and was seen by a child psychiatrist in 2001 which we paid privately for.
She was in school at the time and was seen by the ep and school nurse (due to weight issues). She was awarded DLA from 2022.
Her renewal was done in April and I filled in the forms like before, sent off her camhs assessment, doctors summary and medications, along with a diary of night and day time care.
I then had a call from the decision maker who asked why I have no upto date evidence. I said the CAMHS assessment was done in 2024 and that's the only 'new evidence' I have she was then demanding I send her an IEP/ehcp or something written from the school. Well due to her anxiety I pulled her from school in 2024 and have no other evidence. She is home educated by me only and all I provide the LA with is evidence over email. They have never met my daughter in person but are happy with the provisions I set out. The lady I spoke with at DWP was so rude after I mentioned her being home educated and basically said if I can't provide any new evidence to back my claim them then will close the case. Well autism is a lifelong diagnosis and her camhs assessment was literally less than 2 years ago. I have provided everything I can think of but unfortunately it wasn't enough. I received a letter today to say it's been declined. Her needs have not changed since the last award in fact now she's 10 they are substantially more. Has anyone else had this happen to them? I'm obviously going to do a MR but I just can't get over the needing new evidence part. I don't need an ehcp or IEP as I'm a home educator. It's my words as her parent along with the diagnosis and medication and an ongoing re referral to CAMHS , that's all I've got.
Just feels the minute I mentioned home education, her attitude towards me changed.