did doctors tell you to apply for D.L.A. ?

[logi]

Hi,my son was recently dx with ASD we always knew something was different.I have read on here about doctors,nures and paed. recomending that parents apply for DLA,is this the norm? we havent applied yet.

Our PAed did but I know many do not, there is no need to be told to apply so I would go ahead and call for the form- remembering it is awarded from date of call if you get it, so do it now LOL

our paed never mentioned it, but was supportive and did the statement when I asked her about it.

When my ds was a baby the hospital social worker applied for dla for him and he got it from 3 months at high rate. However ds has other conditions. HTH.

I applied before dd2 got her dx without being advised by doctors, i think i got all the info from MN.

Apply now.

The school paed said we should apply, she was quite suprised no-one had suggested it sooner though.

The doctor and HV did and wrote supporting letters i found the health cisitor more help having dealt with these situations on more occasions

No, but I used his reports from clinic as evidence & a few months later he asked if we got it (he also said we should get mobility but can't be hassled to fight for it right now).

My comm paed told us to apply(dd2 does not walk or talk,no dx as yet),but dd2 is 30 months,thought you couldn't apply until 3 yrs??

eslaymum, that isn't right! You can apply from the moment a child is born, but they can't qualify until they have had the needs for three months. Even so, they can award a rate of care for three-months time, if you see what I mean, so there is nothing to stop you applying.

What is important to know is that it isn't about your DD2 not walking or talking. It is about what extra care she needs. So you need to make it very clear that her not walking means you have to do more for her, and that her not talking means extra work for you both, etc. You have to spell it out, because if it isn't written down, they can't award you the DLA, even if it is obvious that a child that doesn't walk or talk needs extra care.

Thanks lou,the comm paed said to get the hv to help me fill it in,as I would probably underplay it.Are they difficult forms to do??

i think it's jsut certain mobility elements that can't be awarded until 3, but you can def apply now!

I was told by my sons paediatrician to apply when he was 2 and a half and to get in touch with CHAD but I resisted he was nearly 3 and a half when I applied after being badgered by his paediatrician on every visit best thing I did. He also sent a fantastic report in for him.

We applied when dd1 was about 6 months old on the advice of Portage worker, and the adviser from ASBAH, as dd1 already had a dx of hydrocephalus then. We got it within 6 weeks or so, although the lady from ASBAH had warned us we might have a struggle. (Dd's physio signed the form, which must have helped)

It was mentioned in passing by an OT when ds2 was almost 4, everyone had assumed we were already claiming. He would of been eligable from 3 months.

I found the cerebra guide to dla (just google) really useful.

Thankyou for your replies