Just got DLA through

[alfiemama]

Well I can understand how you all feel now when you get this, bit like a bitter sweet pill. Pleased but sad.

Got middle care for Alf, but says we can claim for higher or lower when he turns five.

And that I can claim for carers now, How do I do this?

Anyone else I need to inform?

any help appreciated, as usual head in a whirl bit lost.

Hi Electra

Thanks, not sure if we would get the higher one though, as says you have to have lost limbs ect. Its just I thought there was another element to it, is it mobility?

I am doing the form online now, lol. Just stuck (I must be dim but got a banging head and the kids are not helping). Anyway it says when did I start to care for this person, well I have always cared for this person, do I put when he was born?

Ooh just read it again, maybe I should appeal, as he has severe behavioural problems, he also isnt getting the one for getting around, which he struggles with walking and keeps falling, which I stressed in the forms. nI was very in depth with them.

I onlt get child benefit and child tax, I dont get working tax.

What does qualify you for high rate personal care? I currently get Middle rate care and lower rate mobility for DD who has SLD.

i think its care during the night, sadnog. Not sure why we didn't get that, as ds1 does require care at night.

I'd def appeal, alfiemama. I remember your ds1 is very similar to mine in terms of needs and we got higher rate mobility.

Thanks Chops, I thought so, to be honest I was just pleased to get something as he hasnt had a firm dx yet. Would you ring or write in?

I really don't know how appealing works, maybe it'd be an idea to start a new thread asking for specific advice with appealing. There are bound to be people who can help here.

Just looked into appeals on google and looks like you have to go to court, or crikey, I just dont think I have got the energy for this. Also do they stop your money until the appeal?

to get high rate care you have to be up so many times a night for a set amount of time each time my ds has ASD and sometimes doesn't sleep at night or is up and down and can take an hr to settle each time also in nappies still so needs help with hygiene and personal care as well as danger awareness

if a child is mobile they sometimes check in again at 5 to see how mobility has changed but you can phone them and tell them it needs to be done now, i think if you go on dla website it has the appeal information there , carers allowance i done on line cared from birth all care ongoing etc

I'm not sure about stopping the money.

There is a usualy pdf here which goes through the whole range of options in some detail. It was published for adults with crohns but the actaul dla information I think applies to anyone.

the childs need also has to different to another child of that age so normal children can be up few times a night but there has to be the added part of length of time not understanding its night time , having to sit with them due to danger awareness' convulsions etc

Hi Bubla I did stress this at the time of filling in the forms. That up at least 3 times a night, sometimes incontinent, up resheeting, calming, soothing, re dressing.

I also put that he has leg cramps due to suspected dsypraxia and wakes in a confused state again having to be calmed and soothed.

I said it was at least 20-40 mins about 3 times a night.

Its not really the rate Im confused about but the mobility side, they said I can claim this when he is 5, but going to see if I can claim this sooner.

dont some of you get higher or lower mobility for little ones under 5.

Alfie has suspected asd and Dyspraxia, falls constantly, has to wear a helmet, struggles to walk anywhere let alone distances. Gets constant leg cramps. Needs to be bodily lifted in bath and car etc.

you should get it my ds wont qualify until 5 this would be for his lack of wanting to walk etc no real medical reason just the autism

you should get mobility so get back onto them and query it at least they awarded it mind you but if your entitled to more than always worth pursuing, saying that middle rate is good too as most get low rate care at least carers can be awarded with middle rate

Oh god absolutely, and I dont want to seem like Im not grateful, like I said Im just please to get anything, and can now finally stop work and concentrate attention on Alfie.

But just bemused why I dont get the mobility when I hear others talk about it.

well i just looked on dla website and middle rate is also for help at night guess it goes in severity of the care need

also age 3 you can claim for mobility age 5 for my ds who needs the supervision due to danger awareness etc

so contact them and say you haven't been awarded mobility but your dc should qualify for this they may do it as separate claim

I think the thing that helped us with mobility is emphasising the pain and I think for higher rate they have to actually be unnable to move at some times. If ds1 gets to a certain point he jsut starts sitting and won't be moved.

ds1 is a bit older than your ds, sot hat probably helped us, but I do think your ds should be entitled to something.

Is he seeing a therapist at all yet? Eveidence really helps, such as occupational/physio reports.

Thanks you two, he has a meeting with the community paed on the 12th Feb, so may wait and see what they say. I sent in a copy of a school report they did for us, and it was very thorough and advised that they needed urgent help with ds.

Ds also has now been referred to Nuerologist for suspected epilepsy. Still waiting for this SALT appointment (must chase that, because I think they have forgotten us).

I have applied myself at the request of SENCO to have him assessed for a statement, they said he needs 1 to 1 care throughout the day if not a sn school.

Leis came to school the other day and they are coming back in next week to see him.

With his mobility I would have thought the fact that I have highlighted that he has suspected Dypraxia along with Aspergers or ASD and has been to a and e 4 times, and cannot walk anywhere on his own, is a danger to himself and others, runs into the road, etc. That he would have got the low rate mobility aswell.

you would have thought so thats why its worth just checking up on this with them

You can claim mobility from 3, but only at high rate. You cannot get low rate until 5. I think this is what your form is telling you - re-apply for mobility at 5 and you will probably get low rate as we did.

We also get middle rate care, even though my DS has epilepsy, and often needs settling at night.

Thanks widemouth, but its says high rate is for severe behavioural problems, wouldnt asd fall under this catergory? Just tried to ring them, just to ask, you never know.

Like I said and feel I must reitterate, I am very grateful as I know sadly that some people dont get anything. Its just like chops pointed out and I think Alfie and her little one are similar.

it depends on age as toddlers can be hard work anyway and middle and high rate have same needs i guess they have to take the people with worst night time or worst scenarios over others

also a firm dx and letters from pediatricians may help with the high rate also as its only speculation otherwise until in writing form them

my ds pediatricians wrote letters etc regarding his unsettled nights not being able to calm or to explain situations to him in regards of telling him its not time to get up etc but he had his letters stating his dx which could have made a difference in regards with your ds maybe once dx you can inform them and they may change to high rate care for you

i get the lower rate mobility for ds2 who will be 8 in june. it was awarded becasue i have to hold his hand when out as he has no sense of danger and will (and has) dart out into the road without paying any attention to whether there is traffic coming or not. he was hit by a car outside our home last may and received hospital treatment so there were records of him being dangerous around roads. i think this was part of the deciding factor for them to award the lower rate mobilty as well as middle rate care. if he hasnt improved by the time his review comes in just under two years, i suspect they will award the higher rate mobility which will be very helpful as i will be able to get a car. i know that sounds greedy but i have an older ds, and two younger dd's who are nearly 4 and nearly 3. i cant take ds2 and the girls out on my own, i have to have at least one other adult with me which makes things very difficult.

Hi Cherrymonster, its not about being greedy if it makes life a little more bearable, so dont feel bad for it.