HELP with the dla form please!

[ChopsTheDuck]

I'm sorry, I know this has been done so many times but I am totally stuck on part 24, - 'help the child needs when they go out during the day or the evening'.

it says what they would do if they had the help they need?? I don't understand it. If J had the help he needs he would walk properly and not dive into the road or throw things at cars/ Do I write that?

I hate this bloody form!!

I couldn't understand this either! The lady who helped me fill mine in said it meant things like going out socially. Ie an nt child would go to cubs/ clubs/football/ friends without an escort. My son could only do these things with a helper/supporter. Some things would need 2. He also needs help to prepare for going out and escorting to/from the location. I think that is what it means! So 1.5 hours support at cubs, plus time before dressing in correct uniform and getting him there and back is 2 hours or so that sort of thing. Do include what ds would like to do if money was no object - ie individual swimming lessons if cannot cope with group lessons.

blimey it doesn't really make that very clear!

Thanks very much.

I'd like to thank you magso too, I too am stuck on this form, it's driving me mad! I wouldn't have thought about clubs and activities - this form is hard on the emotions.

I took exactly 1 year to complete it!! (I'm sure no one else can beat that!!)Eventually got help from a lady at the 'money advice unit' ( part of the disability team in our county). Still waiting on result though!! Actually ds has changed a lot in that year so at least I can see progress to balance out the negativity of the form!
The other useful advise she gave me was to point out that my son has a statement and is in a class of max 8 with never less than 3 staff. Never occured to me to write this. To me it is part of life.
She also thought that if you as an adult escort cannot walk where you need to walk because your child prevents it(ie with sev ASD) because child refuses to walk at all/ only goes one way/ wont go near the doctors) you should write that in part 6! It does not mean you will get higher mob but it gives a clearer picture. Also include anectdoctal evidence such as ds running in the road, near misses etc.
My biggest problem is that I no longer have contact with nt kids of ds age and forget how many light years ahead they are.

I find it rather strange that they don't really ask about education at all, because it DOES give a bit more of a clearer picture. I've also added in about the support he does get at school.

It has taken me 10 days, which I'm quite pleased about...but this is about my 4th attempt!! I keep starting it and then think nope, can't do this! This time though I chatted about it with the paed and so I'm feelign hopeful that with her backing I might get somewhere.

There's a step by step guide to filling in the form, which is useful. You can download it from this site www.cerebra.org.uk/parent_support/DLA_guide.htm or they will post a copy if you request one. Well worth a look!

Take it to your CAB for help. I read somewhere that 75% of their claims are successful while 75% of claims done by individuals are unsuccessful.

Hi,

I am also finishing filling up the form. This discussion is helpfull, I also, always struggle with the part 24. Thanks, Reiver for that link, it is very good, am nearly finished with the form, but will try and check a few things. Any of you send letters from "professionals" (specialist paed, speech-therapist...) with form?

another quick question - where do I send it to now I've finsihed it?!
I collected it fromt he jobcenter (only over the road from the paed office!), so I send it back there?
I'd go in there personally but I have to give it to the paed to fill in her section then she will post it on.

N170698, I've included the OT report and the TASS report. I don't have the current paed report yet or I would include that too. His paed is goign to fill in part 36 though, the statement from someone else who knows the child.

oh this form is a nightmare, I'm actually seeing a social worker today to help me fill it in aaarrrggghhh

There should be an address on the form. The Cerebra guides are great - very long and detailed but really good and helping answer those sort of questions.

I sent a copy of the latest letter from the paed with ds dx on it plus the SENCO wrote a report for me to explain the amount of support he needs at school. I also include a copy of his statement.

Yes I sent a copy of the statement, and all medical reports that did not have an exclusive confidentiality warning at the top - like the EP report. (The lady that checked my form pointed out that I could not send these as the warning forbids it). You can down load the dla form and fill it in on the computor to print off, The address (for each area) is on the download.

Thought you would like to know we heard today -Ds got higher care/ low mobility! (So now I feel even worse about that wasted year - and the years before I found out about dla!!

lol magso, its awful when you actually realise that what you see as 'the norm' they see as so different, plz dont jump on my back for the norm guys, i just mean its our norm. i get the same for my ds3 magso, helps a lot, means we can afford to get out of the house when its hols and weekends etc when its cold, defo easier than them being in fighting. pity you wasted all those yrs, but look how much easier the ones to come can be hun. well done.

Definitely include copies of all reports from professionals (speech therapists, occupational therapists, educational psychologists, medical reports and diagnosis etc) as it will speed up the processing. And keep copies of your completed form, so that when you have to reapply in 3 years, you can refer back to your previous answers. Good luck.

great news magso. Really glad you got a result,

How long did it take for them to get back to you?

That's excellent news Magso.

Fab news

Make sure you claim for carers allowance now.