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SN children

Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

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Original poster

family fund advisor coming tomorrow

23 replies

misdee · 29/03/2005 20:20

and dd1 is having an eczema free week , so they wont see how bad she usually is. dd2 skin is a mess.

what sort of things do they ask? i feel a bit odd about asking for things, but need protective bedding, sheets, specialist pj's, knickers and driving lessons for me as dh cant drive now for 6months and i have to learn quickly.

OP posts:

Loobie · 29/03/2005 20:50

what about a new washing machine and dryer cause you must be having to wash the bedding so often that it must be getting a lot of wear.

Original poster

misdee · 29/03/2005 21:00

i bought a new dryer end of last year, but my washing machine is on its last legs again (it has already been repaired).

do they just look at our income, medicatiosn etc/ and put i na request?

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Jayzmummy · 29/03/2005 22:18

Family fund guy came out to see us a couple of months ago.....really nice guy....he asked us a few questions...we gave him copies of J's medical reports...and he went away and filled out his forms.

We were awarded money for extra bedding and a new mattress, clothing allowance and a new washing machine and tumble dryer.

charlie95 · 29/03/2005 22:41

we had some £ off them just over a year ago. asked for bedding and clothes allowance as ds not toilet trained then, or now, 4yo, and specifically asked for £ for a special listening program cd set for him which was £250 on its own - that was all i really wanted but the advisor suggested clothes,bedidng and holiday and we got more than we hoped for. in middle of applying again for some special equipment for him as part of OT program that i can do at home with him and just new experinces eg trampoline, special hammock swing or swing seat, farm holiday where other children will be in attendance.

they are really good. i applied online this time and within 2 wks they sent me a form to fill in extra details of expenditure, income etc...

Original poster

misdee · 30/03/2005 10:01

oops got the day wrong, its tomorrow!

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Chocol8 · 30/03/2005 10:31

Hi Misdee - I had a visit from an advisor last year and although I was nervous, it went really well. Of course my ds behaved beautifully in front of her - typical! But I told her about the things he does during a meltdown and she suggested the things I should ask for:

a holiday as I was obviously stressed (does it show???!!!), money towards getting the garden cleared and some play equipment, and a washing machine - but at that time, mine was working (it's not now).

She was very helpful and even filled in my DLA forms too! We got a cheque about a fortnight later and it went towards a weeks holiday in Spain for ds and me and getting the garden cleared. Good luck, let us know how it goes.

Original poster

misdee · 30/03/2005 10:33

how do i know if they turn me down tho?

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QueenEagle · 30/03/2005 10:35

Hi misdee, I'm assuming you have claimed DLA? My dd was 8 or 9 before someone told me I could claim it - I'd never heard of it before. Apparently she would have been entitled to receive it from the age of 3 when she had major kidney surgery but I just never knew about it.

Keane · 30/03/2005 10:35

hope it goes welll

i am still waiting for them to get back to me, they said march and I still havent heard anything :9

coppertop · 30/03/2005 10:35

Our application took ages to be processed (6 or 7 months) but we saw the adviser in November. They have a form to fill in where they have to make notes of the day-to-day kinds of problems you have. They also ask to see financial records (bank statements, tax credits awards, pay slips etc) and medical reports.

We were given a washing machine, a tumbledrier, and £200 to help with travel costs as we have no car.

QueenEagle · 30/03/2005 10:40

I also didn't know about applying for extra money either, but as I was by then receiving DLA at the highest rate for dd I didn't apply for any. Someone told me the Rowntree Foundation give handouts for things like beds/bedding/washing machines/holidays too.

My dd was also nominated by her Community Nurse to go to Florida with DreamFlight who arrange holidays for terminally ill kids and those who have put up with loads of surgery etc as my dd had. Don't know if there is a minimum age limit though.

Chocol8 · 30/03/2005 10:40

I think I only found out quite soon after as I had submitted a form 6 months prior but heard nothing, so chased them up. They fast-tracked me through as I had waited so long.

I vaguely remember showing paperwork to her, but she seemed efficient, yet human, which was a relief!

Like QueenEagle - I wish i'd heard about FF before last year.

APPLE68 · 30/03/2005 11:10

You used to have to send a letter to re-apply but now it can be done online. You can apply every year. We have a holiday because it is one of the things that keeps us going through the rest of the year.

Apparently you can apply for more than one child, but the applications have to be submitted together.

Original poster

misdee · 30/03/2005 11:27

The girls both get DLA high rate care. which does pay for a lot, but doesnt cover everything. I have apllied for them both, so she will fill in forms for both i guess.

Keane, chase them up by phone. I was told march and the advisor contacted me 2 weeks ago. my original application was lost online last summer, so it has taken since june to get this far.

Queen eagle, its quite possible that my dd1 would've been given DLA at 3months old, as she has had moderate-severe eczema since she was born, but i didnt think they'd give it to us so didnt apply till she was 2years old. dd2 problem skin didnt start till last year when she was 18months old, and i applied as soon as it becaem apparent it wasnt mild ezcema, and she got awarded it in May last year. they dont jusat have eczema, dd1 has a magnitude of allergies, from mild skin reactions to ones that bring on her asthma. dd2 vomits a lot, and also has problems with her co-ordination, and have been told to get her checked/assessed for possible ASD (i think thats right??).

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QueenEagle · 30/03/2005 11:34

If you receive Tax Credits, you get paid quite a bit more. If you have a child in receipt of the higher rate then you qualify for the severe disability element of it. We received this until November last year; up til then my dd received the higher rate care and lower rate mobility component of DLA. She's now so much improved she's on only the lower rate care.

Original poster

misdee · 30/03/2005 11:36

we have got all our benefits sorted. well apart from dh's DLA, its still being reviewed, could take upto 11 weeks.

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butty · 30/03/2005 22:21

hi all,
This sounds really stupid, but is the family fund different from the social fund?
I have a 2.3 year old son with severe global development delay and low tone CP. He cant walk, talk and is only just grasping the concept of giving me things or pointing when he wants something.
As the summer is coming up our daughter is already in and out of the garden, but my son finds this extremely frustrating and is having major tantrums as we are unable to let him out as it is a full concrete yard and due to him having major lack of balence when sitting up and crawling we cant let him out for his own safety.

I have seen some fab rubber garden tiles but they are £7.50 each for 0.5 x 0.5 Meter and we would need around 80 to cover our yard space.
Do you think they would help me?
I get CA and DLA and only work 10 hrs a week just to get me away from it all.

If so how do i contact them for further info???

sparklymieow · 30/03/2005 22:42

Butty. search for the FF online they have an online application form. I applied last year as I have 2 children with CP and they funded clothes for the kids, computer games for DS, garden toys (brought a trampoline!!) a tumble dryer and a holiday. You have to have an income of less than £24,000 so I think you will be ok there. I would go for it.....
HTH

Original poster

misdee · 30/03/2005 23:08

its nothing to do with the DWP so isnt the social fund. you may not get an appointment through in time for this summer, but you may get someone out at the end of the summer to assess you. think its taken a 6month wait for us.

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Original poster

misdee · 31/03/2005 10:49

she has been and gone. its amazing how much the dd's conditions affect us, its when its all written down that i relaise how much i do 'extra' compared to parents of non-allergic kids.

have asked for bedding (quilts, pillows, mattress protectors etc), new pj's couple of pairs each (40quid a pair), washing machine and maybe a some driving lessons.

OP posts:

lou33 · 31/03/2005 14:19

when will you know misdee?

Original poster

misdee · 31/03/2005 17:22

no idea. hopefully not too long as th washing machine is playing up again.

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coppertop · 31/03/2005 18:07

I think our cheque and vouchers arrived within a couple of weeks of the adviser's visit. They seem to make a decision pretty quickly IIRC.

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