di30

Its so heartbreaking isn't it ? I think my problems are nothing compared to what Amanda and her family have been going through......and still going through.

Hi all. Just wondered if anyone have heard anything from Amanda since her precious son passed away and the funeral ? I know its a silly question really and understand the family is grieving. If anyone does hear from Amanda, please send my love to her and her lovely family thank you and tell her we are all thinking of her. Cheers so much. Di & family. xxxx

Amanda & family. <'> <'> <'> xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I too have wept and still weeping about this very sad news and must say Amanda has been bearing up very well indeed, as heartbroken as she is along with all her beloved family & friends. Amanda love, we are all here for you and will be thinking of you all tomorrow. Wish we were there to give you all a hug, but you know we are with you in your thoughts, and also in our thoughts. We have those Special candles ready for your lovely son's day and will be saying our prayers as always darling. Di & family. xxxx

Amanda Sweetheart, we are all still thinking of you all and the candles are lit everyday with many prayers. Special prayers for Monday with special candles. Thinking of you all my love. Di & family. xxxxxxxxx

Hi JsMum. I agree with you hun, and as difficult as it must be for Amanda and her family, she would want us all to carry on as normal as possible, and have been very brave hasn't she ? Amanda knows we are all thinking of her, before I learnt of this with her son I was moaning and groaning about my own issues where then when hearing this sad news wondering why was I doing this, as my problem is nothing compared to this. Hope all is well hun. Di. xxx

Hi all. 'Aww' some lovely things said and so glad everyone's christmas has gone really well, its exciting for us to watch our kids faces isn't it ? Despite where my hubby worked, the company went into administration receivership last Friday - where all the workers of the steel plant went to work and were sent home after a few hours with no pay or nothing, we managed to get through Xmas, it was difficult but had to keep a brave face on for our kids. Due to poor Amanda losing her lovely son a few days back I think my problems are nothing to what herself and her family are going through - and for Amanda bless her she has been very brave indeed, we are praying for her lovely boy and her family at this sad time. Lets hope 2008 will bring us all a better year ! All the best to you all and Amanda hun we are all thinking of you and your family. xxxxxxx

Watched Dr Who, said a very special prayer for you all and your lovely boy. Another candle lit while we watched and said the prayers. Thinking of you all. Di. xxxx

Amanda..........another candle lit for your special boy. <'> hugs from us all here hun. Take care and god bless. xxxxxxxx

We are all very saddened and shocked to hear of this very sad news. Amanda and family, our hearts and prayers are with you at this very sad time. Its very difficult to find the words. We are all here for you anytime ok sweetheart. Thinking of you. <'> <'> <'> (((hugs))) for you darling. God bless. Di and family. xxxxxx

Hi and thanks. Yes I have checked the bank before I rang Carer's nothing gone in from them, then was told on the phone that they did not receive my form until last Monday and it takes between 4 - 6 weeks, hopefully will hear something on that earlier with a bit of luck. I also decided to ring Child tax credits about that award I wrote in about, although they backdated the dla disability premium from April the dla award was awarded from DEC last year of 2006, but for this one I was told to write in about it to claim it separately. They said to me on the phone because there was overpayments which I was aware of and that they were already deducting the payments every week they decided to take the whole lot from the Dec award as to clear the overpayments. I am a bit annoyed about this because the arrangement was manageable and not to be informed or even asked about this I think is wrong, I'm now waiting for the award notice to come through regarding this then will take a look and see what they had done, but there were nothing wrong with how this was already being deducted. Cheers all I will let you know of further updates when I hear. Di.

Hi everyone and thank you so much for your replies. I did start the application online then my computer kept messing up, so I was sent a form, got it done the same day and posted it on first class recorded delivery about 2/3 weeks back, so fingers crossed I will hear soon, seems to be an easier process than the DLA thankfully. I do not work but my husband works full time so I should hopefully receive the going rate for this, please correct me if I'm wrong, cheers. We do not get Income support. Also still waiting for the Child tax credits to get backdated from all the way when DLA was awarded from last DEC 2006, although they did award it from April 07 as they informed me with a good reason you can write and ask them to backdate this award of the extra tax credits where they will discretly decide this, my reason was because of the delay of waiting for a oral hearing which of course no fault of our own. So anybody else in the same situation go for it, just write a letter and explain why you think the award should be backdated on the child tax credits, you will be surprised how many people's award they backdate. Good luck. Will contact the Carer's allowance section today, maybe because of the Christmas post where there will be delays, but yet nothing has gone in the account from them as yet. I will let you know and thanks again everyone. Di.

Hi all. For those of you who have carer's allowance, please could anyone tell me how long this takes to process when you first claim ? I know its possibly going to be "how long is a piece of string" lol. I applied approx 3 weeks ago but have not yet had the letter to say they have received this yet............so do you get one of these like you do when you apply for dla, a letter to confirm the form has been received ? Cheers all, this is all new to me now lol. Di. xx

OMG !!! , I am so shocked to hear of this !!! That is terrible, your child is still classed as disabled..............the system is so wrong..........if that were me I wouldn't leave it there either ! . Good luck xx

Hi Caroline . Me......rep ??? .......thank you hun.......I really don't mind helping all I can.......it was me asking the questions last year about DLA, and to be honest it was for being on here that I kept on battling the DLA, its so annoying when your child is not awarded to what they really deserve and with me I will not give up that easy, it really works and if you fight......you win . So my opinion still stands.........for everyone who have had to fight, appeal no matter how many times just don't give in, your child deserves this . 'Aww' sorry to hear of the Nintendo Wii.......be nice if they suddenly had a another big order in before xmas, we were just lucky, there were one left by the time we reached the game shop, so really 'more than lucky' lol. Is there another alternative instead of this.....perhaps a nintendo DS or something alike ? Good luck hun, I wil PM you before xmas to wish you well with this and that and xmas. (((hugs))). Di. xxx

Thank you hun. I now feel Daniel is having what he really should of been having the first time round. Never mind.......got there finally lol . Good luck to everyone else in the process of doing this too. As I said before, don't give in.......its what your child is entitled to. Di. xx

Lol, thank you all for your kind replies. It was originally awarded from this year until 2011 now to 2013, he will be 13 in January, so quite a long award really, but I do know they tend to review when they want to too. Never mind we got there at last and now lots can be done for his bedroom, the electrics in his room have had to be put in to safety as he done some damage he can only use the light switch for now and he is on and off with that all the time, but we are due to get the electrical works done and all new switches etc will be built in out of harms way , He is just fasincated with electrcal things and best be safe than sorry, we must have eyes on our bums here lol with him, I know he's growing up into a teenager shortly but at least we can relax a bit now knowing things can be done. We are opening a new account for him too. Anyone else waiting to hear.........the very best of luck..........you will get there. Thank you all.

Michelle..........forgot to say, is there someone that can help you fill the form ? Such as the CAB or similar, they are experienced at this and will take this burden from you, I had help with the review form and glad I did. I would definately check this out with your local CAB. Again good luck. xxx

Hi Michelle. Good luck with the DLA . Don't give up like I almost did when I first claimed and was turned down, we got there in the end. My son will be 13 in January and I'm still doing things for him and he still cannot go out alone, I can go on and on. When he was first awarded in Sept this year they were both low rate components originally awarded until 2011, now that they have changed his award due to a review they have now also extended it to 2013. Fingers crossed to you hun. Keep us posted. Di. xx

Just to let you know after a review request my son has been finally awarded 'high rate care' and still keeps his low mobility rate of DLA Its been a battle for almost the last yr where they awarded him in September after an appeal both low rates from the claim made last DEC 2006, but requested for a review a month on or more to review/suppersession on the grounds of detoriation. Anyone let down.......don't give up and keep fighting, its what your kids are entitled to. So go for it. Di. xx

I also have some good news for a change regarding a review/supersession of my son's DLA This was for personal care. He is now moved up to 'High rate care' and kept the low rate mobility, as most of you know he was originally awarded low rates for both in Sept for this claim made last DEC 06 now he will have a lovely xmas and a lovely new bedroom throughout when the electrics have been sorted out ! So my advice is please don't give in to anyone who have been turned down...........if you have been turned down........appeal, if awarded but feel the wrong rate was given, wait a month or so while they still get paid their given rate and ask for a review....especially if you feel things are worse than they were when you first applied. I'm sure you will get there in the end............go for it, it your child's rights ! Di. xx

Hooray !!!!!!!!!!!! Brilliant news and well done ! Bet you feel soooo relieved. Now don't forget to tell Child tax credits where you will also be entitled to an extra premium for disability, this should be backdated from when DLA was awarded. Oh and Carer's allowance, this will depend on your circumstances, if your other half works this does not affect the claim for this but I am aware there is an amount if you work they will work it by, others on here can advise you on that. Anyway I am so happy for you. All the best. Di. xxx

Hi Anne It was down to the school why Daniel's was originally let down ! And for that woman you spoke to on the phone that was not on !!! I'm not surprised you feel the way you do, they make us feel like we're begging and its disgusting ! I have noticed a lot of claims are let down due to the school and I seem to think they use that more so in evidence than any medical evidence given........its very naughty I think. Don't forget your key worker should be able to help you out here, think you said you have the same one as me and as he deals with a lot of issues to do with the school he has written a great report regarding a review on Daniel's dla award. Daniel has now been moved full time to a special educational need class and to be honest between the key worker and mencap they helped with this, as this have been a right battle for the last year sorting out his school issues where they now realise they should have done this ages ago ! But its only since we have had the key worker etc everything is getting done and resolved. Go for it hun, and get all the help and support from these people, you will find they will help all the way, good luck. Fingers crossed for you. Let me know how it goes, cheers. Di.

Anne. Sorry to hear about this. I have just sent you a PM regarding what happened with our claim, email me if you want to. All the very best hun, look forward to hearing from you. Take care. Di. xxx

OMG !! I am so very sorry to hear this................like action replay with ours, the school done exactly the same thing !! They did not even add in the form that he is on any medication, everything was opposite to what it should have been. I would defo ask them to reconsider this hun, and ask the DLA to send you copies of any reports, you have them all to work by on. Maybe also worth you getting in touch with your local MP, even if they do not know your child, they should write out a support letter for you. It maybe also worth you requesting copies of the school records from the school, which you have the right to do this and photo copy the essential ones you should send to the dla to back up the review. If your going to do this, do this for as soon as possible. Okay it had taken a while with ours because ours did go as far as appealing, but I have learnt more from this since and am aware what routes to take now hun, and I know you will win in the end. When this is finally awarded it will be backdated from when you first applied. Your doing the right thing by asking them to look into this again, but if possible try to send in more evidence to back this up. If there is anything else you want to know, please get back to me, okay I'm no expert but have been in the same situation as yourself and try to help as much as possible. Look forward to hearing from you hun soon, don't worry at this stage okay. Luv Di. xxx