DLA - Higher Rate Mobility for teens?

[EmmatheStageRat]

So, I’ve slowly been withering away to a skeleton while on hold for days/weeks/months to the DLA helpline (now, that’s a euphemism if ever there was one). It struck me that the experts here would probably know more. My six-million-dollar question is: does anyone get high rate mobility for their teens? My DD1(15) is registered blind and is diagnosed with autism and ADHD, among other developmental disabilities. I only started claiming DLA for her when she was 11.5, six months after she had lost her sight, suddenly and unexpectedly.

After a mandatory reconsideration, or whatever they’re called, DD was awarded higher rate care and low rate mobility. That was fine then when she was 11/12 and I took her everywhere, but now she is 15 and it has struck me that she has never been on a public bus or train solo. She travels to her mainstream school on a private coach and has a designated disability seat. She has to walk about 300m on a safe route from our home to the bus stop every morning and I met her from the bus for the whole of Y7 (further to walk and busy main road).

I would love to know if anyone else’s teen gets a higher rate of mobility allowance (DD will never be able to drive) and how you went about it.

The rules and flowcharts used are in this document.
Be aware if you go down the change of circumstances route the award can go down as well as up. However unlikely you think that is, it is a possibility you need to be aware of.

For DD there’s 3 possible ways she could qualify for HRM:
a) SMI - I don’t think this applies to you (I am the person you have spoken to recently about DD’s EHCP but I’ve NC’ed, and the type of school DD attends would rule this out.)
b) virtually unable to walk
c) Blind or severely sight impaired - certified as severely sight impaired and, with appropriate corrective lenses if necessary, either has:

• visual acuity of less than 3/60; or
• visual acuity more than 3/60, but less than 6/60 and a complete loss of peripheral vision and central vision of no more than 10 degrees.

For a and b this contact booklet explains more.

Teen DS1 gets HRC/HRM. He has had it since 5. I didn’t think he would qualify (and in many ways I’m still not sure he exactly meets the criteria, perhaps that’s denial?) but I believe it was a letter written by a specialist nurse that ‘won’ it us.

Seperately to DLA have you looked at school transport and a blue badge?

If you’re certain you can document proof of all her high needs (both care & mobility) then go for it. Fwiw, she’ll be moving to PIP soon and that’s much easier to apply and be awarded than DLA.

Hey congrats to you I would love to know your child's disability as it would give me some hope for my claim thanks

DS1 has complex medical and mental health needs.