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liamsmum

DLA Continued,..

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Hi Sarah,

 

Not much to add to mbrown's brilliant posting!!

 

Just to say that when my son was little, I even included things like the fact that he stumbled up and down kirbs because of Dyspraxia, so needed more care and supervision than an NT child of the same age.

 

I even included that he used to fall over so often and so badly that I had to carry dressings rather than plasters with me.

 

I think it is important to put down even the smallest thing you have to do, always comparing that to a NT child of the same age because you need to stress how much more care and attention they need.

 

Good Luck!!

 

Bid :wacko:

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O.K. "Mike" :D

 

I hope you won't mind, but I cut and pasted the info you provided, into my personal folder, so that if anything was relevant to Daniel, it would be there for a later date, should it need to be used.

 

I'm fortunate in that I won't have to re-apply for DLA until the day before Daniel's 16th Birthday, when he'll then have to apply for it himself. He began to receive DLA last year, when he was 11 years old.

 

Thanks again Mike, Helen :)

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Hello, this is my first posting. so please bear with me. On our first time applying we were refused. We then enlisted a neighbour who read our original application, her answer was she would have refused it aswell.! When we submitted another application filled out by our neighbour it was accepted!!!! :D It seemed to be all in the wording of the application. Our neighbour has 3 autistic boys of her own, and has been through the process on previous occasions. One tip she did give us was ..make a copy and keep it for next time.

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Thats it I am totally fed up ... Today has been a totally ###### day. what's new.

 

We had to fill in a renewal DLA form which runs out September and today we got the answer back that they won't renew it... I can't believe it, I wrote down exactly the same as the last time except this time I had added more ie his statement, his aspergers dx how the older he gets the worse it is getting in frustration levels etc and yet they say he doesn't fill the criteria... I am at a loss to go from middle rate to nothing not even the lower rate. The letter said enclosed was a leaflet on what to do next only to find there wa no leaflet and now I have to go through a review..

 

The knock on effects are really taking their toll not only on a financial level but an emotional level. I m freaking out as now the finances will be less not just because the DLA will stop but the child tax disabled part will be cut too which then has a knock on effect that all his clubs they will have to be re-assessed as to which ones we can now continue and with AS children we all know how important it is not only for them but for the whole family when they are away doing them all..

 

I can't believe it this silent disability seems to be more dibilitating than having a disability you can see.

 

Can anything be done... appeals, petitions, EU intervention I know I am not alone in this frustrating procedure going by all these other posts.

 

I had to take Nick out of his last school because of their total lack of understanding the battle got too much so I have been home edding him whilst I find another school which is proving harder than I thought, it seems to be as soon as I mention that he has a provisional statement of special needs suddenly they might not have a space for him and they will phone me back when the headteacher comes back in except there have been no phonecalls yet... I have 8 weeks to accept the statement and so far 2 have gone and now there is a 2 week holiday coming....

 

All this on top of the refusal to renew his DLA..

 

Oh yes and he has just lashed out at his sister with a rolling pin (how he reached it I will never know) He hit her on her knees which already cause her problems from another condition. I want to cry, I don't know where to turn I feel as if I can't cope. And now I have the dawning realisation that he has got more behavioural problems than first thought.

 

What did other people do after the DLA rejection letter ? Appeal etc how and if so what clinched it, the forms are so unhelpful I must admit I focussed more on his care than mobility even though that is causing more of a problem as of late. The letter told me that because he didn't meet 2 parts to his care (funnily enough he did meet them with what I put down !!) and 7 parts of mobility you know the you have no legs or are blind etc which my boy doesn't suffer from thankfully. he won't get it.

 

I am now writing everything that he has trouble with, that he can't do or that he does and the fallout experienced when he does etc to put in the GL24 ? form they are going to send me.. couldn't they have automatically enclosed it in the first place ???

 

And if anyone knows of the Benefits Enquiry Line no please let me know or DIAL I need some top advice here.

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ksasnic

 

You must be totally gutted. Talk about kicking you when you are down :wallbash: .

 

I hope someone with experience on this can give you some advice.

 

If you look on the Jargon Buster under DLA you will find the Tele. No. of the benefits enquiry line. I will see if I can find a useful website for you.

 

DIAL website is unavailable until the 7th June due to reconstruction.

 

If you read the previous postings on this topic you might find something useful.

 

I'm really sorry, it's so unfair.

 

Nellie. >:D<<'>

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Hope the following helps.

 

I could be wrong but this might be the leaflet they omitted to give you.

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/dwp/2003/gl24_apr.pdf

 

You could try

Rights Advice Line (run by the Disability Alliance)

Tel : 020 7247 8763

Mon & Wed. 2-4 pm

 

Or try

Citizen advice bureau.

 

It may be better getting expert advice before taking any action.

 

Nellie.

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Oh Ksanic,

 

I'm so sorry! >:D<<'> I know exactly how you feel...when my son was about 8 social services tried to "help" by applying on our behalf to increase his care rate. Well, the DLA turned round and stopped the whole lot!! Like you , I was devasted and frantic because it meant I also lost my Carer's Allowance and we depended on both benefits .

 

On closer enquiry, it turned out that for some reason the DLA had sent a form to his school...old witch of a headtecher had ticked all the "nothing wrong that I can see" boxes!!

 

We appealed, and I basically got every professional who knew what they were doing to write letters of outrage. Plus apology from head.

 

Anyway, we got the DLA back, at the highest care rate...but it was all a nightmare, and I really felt at the time that "they" were actively trying to destroy us.

 

It is worth asking the doctor who signed your form to write in support of you, and any other medical professionals, etc. And in your appeal include every minute detail...see the brilliant notes further up this discussion. Don't be afraid to tick the boxes for "learning difficulties" and "mental health problems", because that is the reality.

 

I wish you all the luck in the world...try to stay strong and get ANGRY with the b******s...your son deserves this help. We get precious little as it is!!

 

Keep us posted, and we are all thinking of you :thumbs:

 

Bidx

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Thanks everyone for all your advice I will def. try the rights line no.

 

The DLA people don't say anything about asking the school advice ???? :(

 

This really worries me as Nick's last headteacher didn't like us at all, had no understanding of the difficulties that he faced on a daily basis and was a total snot bucket to me over the phone hanging up on me etc..... If she has filled in a form you can bet she wouldn't have been nice in it.

 

I thought the DLA people couldn't do that without asking or at least informing you that they would get in touch with the school. :o

 

Well I have written several pages to get my point across about all the extra help that Nick needs and will also add copies of various parts of the proposed statement. And then go from there.

 

Oh yes had a phonecall from the sen people today saying that they are having to liase with the new school with his statement needs before offering a place. But it seems as if it could be OK. Not getting to excited yet though not until its in the bag eitherway due to half term it will have to wait till after they go back so Nick will be off for a bit longer... :ph34r:

 

Anyway must dash as I heard a crash.........

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Does anyone think that you have less chance of recieving DLA if you claim for more than one child at once??

From what Ive heard a few people have been rejected for 2 or more kiddies. Do they really see us as grasping greedy benefit cheats??? OOooo shall I claim for my guinea pig too??? and the next door neighbour, I really do fancy those new shoes.

Love to hear from anyone whos had this problem!

 

hmmm ;)

 

 

:devil: Libby

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There's an acrobat document available for download on the internet that covers section 2 of the claim form, defining the criteria that they use for assessment. Basically, it tells you what they are "looking for" and you can then compare this with your childs needs for a very reliable indication of what their decision will be. I downloaded it about a year ago for a friend from www.bhas.org.uk, but if its no longer there....HOLD ON!... I just went to the website to check (DOH!) and it IS still there..., so go get it if you need it!

Also, if you are claiming, keep a record of everything you write down, as it saves hours when renewing cos you can just highlight the changes...

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It shouldn't make any difference at all, although I know of a case of identical twins with the same diagnosis. One got it, the other didn't!

It depends which Decision maker gets the application, their opinion could vary, but if you ask for a reconsideration, a different DM should look at it, and medical evidence is needed from your GP/ specialist, although some are better than others at making your case. There's always the right of appeal. If you don't get the level of DLA you are entitled to, get some help from CAB or welfare benefits adviser.

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hi all B) im so happy :D:D:D:D

harry has got middle rate disability living allowance :D

 

I thought the letter i was opening was to tell me that they had my forms and would deal with us in due time!

 

BUT it the real thing, i will beable to get the shed he wants WOOOWOOOWOOOW

i cant tell you the feelng i have that some one has classed harry as disabiled when im still finding that so hard .untill 6 months ago i had a normal heathly boy just some one thats hard work.

This was awarded very quickly ,it only in May that i aplyed.

Thanks to m brown ,nellie and helen for all the help

from vastsarah >:D<<'>

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Brilliant news Sarah! B) I am about to send off my forms with the same help and advice found on the topics here and on the NAS site. Keeping my fingers crossed that I may have the difficulties acknowledged too.

 

I must admit to feeling inclined to not apply for Carers allowance until I know the outcome of DLA application. All the forms are SO time consuming and daunting. Will you be applying for CA or have already done so?

 

Again, well done. Much deserved.

 

 

Elefan

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Wonderful news Sarah,

 

As you say, the recognition of the job you do and the difficulties the child has, are just as important as the money. It does wonders for your self esteem.

 

Well done Sarah

 

Nellie. :thumbs:

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Elefan,

 

If you apply for Carer's allowance at the same time as DLA, you'll get turned down for Carer's, which is processed quite quickly, but if you are then awarded DLA they will back date Carer's allowance from the date you first claimed. The man on the Benefits Enquiry Line told me this. It's best to apply for both at the same time. I did this and got 4 months back payments!

 

Lisa

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hi all >:D<<'> im just so glad for the dla which i have got but i dont know any thing about carers allowance.On the leflet it said to phone the working tax credit people which we have because we are on a low income .

 

But im still geting my head around the fact we got middle rate i was seeing the doctor today about harrys statementing and she was surprised that i got middle rate.

She was the one to tell me to apply for it to begin with.

But i know that i didnt write any thing down that wasnt true about harry.

She warned me that when she writes about harry for the statementing it wont be very nice.

Only the negitive things about him which she will send me a copy of in a letter.

I have started my perental advice and have till 9 th july to send back , the school nurse has helped me with it.

from vastsarah

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Way to go Sarah B)

 

I am so pleased for you just a thought get them to send out the carers allowance forms now as then it will have this date so when you eventually claim it will be backdated to the date they stamp on the front of the form if you catch my drift... I did get a really big backdated amount when I applied last which was very handy...

 

:dance:

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hi all, >:D<<'> i must say that the benifit and allowances are a bit of a mine field.

 

I have the middle rate DLA for harry and phoned the working family tax credit people and they have givin us �31 more a week!!!!on top of the DLA.

 

But they say that itsnt carers allowance,so i phoned the DLA back up and asked about carers allowance and they are going to send a form!!!

What i cant understand is that why isnt it coming from 1 pot ,and why we need to fill in different forms (apart from wmtc).

Im feeling like a money grabing harpe at the moment if he didnt want/need a base of his own (playhouse type shed) i would burre my head in shame at what im becoming.

from vastsarah

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B) Well done Sarah! It does really make you feel your child needs are being recognised!! I'm really glad for you! :D

I applied for DLA before i got a diagnosis for my son and was lucky enough to get the higher rate for care (2 days before christmas, excellent!!) but the part for help with getting around has been a bit of a nightmare.They lost my forms and when i sent them in a foul letter they couldn't apologise enough (i think that was because i told them i was coming to see them with my son!!! :devil: ) I sent the forms again yesterday by recorded delivery this time and i'll just have to wait and see what happens, heres hoping it won't take them the 11 weeks they specify!! will let you all know!

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thanks, B)

i hope that all gose well for you this time and it dosnt take to long.

The money that i have got we are going to save up for his playhouse then use it for the hoildays!! :D

Hopefully it will help in someway but money isnt every thing.

He still will have his problems

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Just thought I would say when I was on income support I applied for ICA and it was given but then when I started working and earning over I think at the time it was �71.00 I had to stop getting ICA but then I claimed working and child tax both these allow me an extra premium because Nick is on middle rate. Depending on the rate of DLA depends how much extra you can claim for. Tell the inland revenue asap you won't lose money you will only gain extra if you go from no dla to dla.

 

Also on another note if you claim working tax don't forget to claim back your work expenses like travel, specialist work clothes anything you have to pay out for your work which your boss doesn't supply you can take this off your annual total pay and they calculate more working tax for you. And apparently you can count your private pension and ppp encase you lose your job...

 

Sorryto waffle on but well worth knowing as a) the forms are never that clear and B) they won't tell you. B)

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Hi Iam new to this forum , i think its fab.

I have an 8 yr old who is diagnosed with dyspraxia and aspergers, i applied for DLA and was turned down, i asked them why and they replied that they went to the school to ask how my child was at school and to ask the teachers about his disability.Now this school is the very school that i fought to get an assesment, so they wrote to the DLA people saying that they had no difficulties with my child and that he understands danger, yet in my form i told them that i have found my child in the garden shed at 2PM at night and he constantly runs away from me when we are out and about .he runs across roads without a thought.I also mentioned to the person at the DLA office that i have to change my son's bed three times a night , she told me to use incontinence pads.I am gobsmacked, that they did not talk to to the clinical psychologist or the occupational therapist or my GP.After all they are the one's who have an understanding of the disability far more than a stuborn, ###### minded teacher.

Has anybody had the same experience and did the apeal work

Cheers

Tess

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Lasy year on the advice of paediatrician and other professionals I applied for DLA. At the time my son was diagnosed with emotional/ behavioural difficulties - an ASD was suspected but assessments were inconclusive as some behaviours were observed but not enough for a diagnosis. I copied all the information - it took ages to fill in! It was turned down. I lost heart and missed deadline for appealing but my paediatrician told me to appeal so I did anyway as at time I was awaiting a decision for a special educational needs statement to be finalised. I sent of appeal, explained that this was reason it was late, and sent the copy of the statement (as well as numerous other documents detailing his problems from age of 2yrs). The appeal was also rejected. I was sent a wedge of papers (copies of all statements supplied, application form and the medical/ professional reports obtained. Despite me asking them to write to the paediatrician and early years special needs teacher they instead wrote to my gp who has never seen my son regarding this problem, and to a nursery where he had been for all of 3wks and with whom he was showing his good side (that did change and they supplied another letter later but it was still rejected). The reports received did little to help my case and they did not contact the people I wanted them to. And the appeal decision stated that although my son needed help it was not as a result of a disability so he did not qualify.

My son was diagnosed with pathological demand avoidance syndrome (and feature of Aspergers) in January. I was told to reapply and my mum told me to reapply once he was 5 as they often turned down younger children saying they needed no more help that a child of same age (as all children who are young need to be supervised). My niece is autistic, non verbal and was not toilet trained but she was turned down before age of 5).

My husband gave up his job last year as getting James to school became a big issue so things were financially stretched. He was told to reapply for DLA and at end of july this year I filled in the form again. I used last years form for guidance, and focused on negative. I stated he had been diagnosed and included letter of diagnosis, information on his condition from PDA website and also part of a diary kept by the school detailing his (often violent and agressive and disruptive behaviour). I asked his teacher to fill in the page about him). I put on the form the speech therapist who has been involved with James from age 3 at his first visit to child development centre and who was knowledgable on PDA and on the effect it has on James.

Last week we received a letter to say that he had been awarded the middle rate care component for 2 years!!!! :D

My hubby also applied for care allowance at same time but about 4 days after they send back saying he wasnt entitled as my son did not get valid DLA allowance (even though it says on form to send both at same time) So now hubby will phone up and explain situation and hopefully they will reconsider application.

Major thing that it says on form is that you cant get DLA just for having a disability, you must need more help that another person who does not have the disability. So just saying you have autism etc is not enough for an award, you have to go through everything you need help with (very personal and negative is how I found the experience - much the same as contacting LEA regarding James' special educational needs!)

Sorry its such a long post, and best wishes to all those with DLA applications to be sent/ awaiting decisions/ appeals.

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hiya all i am going to appeal tomorow for dla for my son lee 12 adhd i have got welfare rights on board they will be there to guide me they are very helpfull any tips/advice would be great will post how we got on when i find out (does anybody know how long a decision takes)

wish me luck in this lottery we call dla :pray:

and if i get a big fat no then i will take my vodka and :pepsi: get drunk as a skunk with hubby watchin kids (ofcourse) then i will start the :star: all over again

think they have seen the last of me noooooooooooooooo way

i am the ninja :ninja:

lol lost the flipin plot now got hospital /dla/ appeal forms comin out of my ears :crying:

tada chucks

sharon x

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Well I cant tell you exactly but when we appealed last year it did not take that long a time for them to decide to turn down the appeal as well. I remember in the notes if you ask them to contact someone else for advice/ information regarding the person claiming then it instructed them that they were under no obligation to contact the person. BUT if you can get that person to write a letter, then copy it and send it in with your appeal letter then they have to read it dont they! (and saves waiting for months for them to contact the person, and for the person to reply etc).

Good luck with your appeal and your other forms etc, sounds like you will be busy! Oh and love the pictures in your post, am not as advanced as that yet, but here goes.... :dance:

Edited by westie

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thanx for that westie :rolleyes:

for the pic go into my controls (top of page)

then personal profile on left of page and edit avatar settings it will let you choose a pic take care

sharon x

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oh well oh well

its only took sice april but the good people at the appeal decided lee was entitled to dla middle rate for care and lower for mobility :pray: so there is a god i have never been that nervous since i got married. three cheers for welfare rights the guy was fantastic especially when the so called expert on disability called my parenting skills in to question :thumbs: checky sod i should have invited him to walk in my shoes for a day that would have shut him up lol

got to go kids a calling

take care

sharon x

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HOORAY! CONGRATULATIONS, HOPE YOU ARE CELEBRATING TONIGHT THEN!

B)

Edited by westie

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well hello folks and a BIG THX to vastsarah after reading her post i got on to wftc who informed me that i had been underpaid by �70.00 per week since april due to kyle and lee being on dla well i can tell you i was gobsmacked :fight: i can tell you this is going to be a fab christmas for the kids :party::party::party: and one i wont have to spend half of next year paying for so thankyou vastsara and thankyou all for letting us know all the things that the officialsv should but dont

take care

sharon x

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I too would like to say a big thank you to Vastsarah! Sarah previously posted about DLA, when she also made reference to Family Tax Credit.

 

When the time came for me to re-new my FTC claim last month, I stated that I was receiving the higher rate of DLA for my son - not only have I received a substantial back-dated payment, but I am now receiving an extra �40.00 per week!

 

So, THANK YOU SARAH!!!!!!! :clap::notworthy::clap::notworthy:

 

Helen x

Edited by Helen

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just wanted to say that in previous reply I told you about my sons successful (2nd) DLA application. My hubby applied for carers allowance (he gave up his job last September to look after James) and checking my onlline bank statement found that the CA has paid some money (backdated to when he first was awarded DLA) into the bank! No official letter yet, but presume he has been awarded (or we have some mysterious benefactor who knows my hubbys NI number!)

so I would also encourage you to get your application in now!

 

:D

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HI ALL

Just a quick enquiry, before you got your diagnosis was anyone already in receipt of DLA?

I am getting middle rate for care/low rate for mobilty as got medical things i need to do for my son regular.

DLA know that he as been having assesments but ive notified them of his diagnosis now. Whether it would make a difference i dont know as i have to fill all the forms out again :angry: Im going to try and get a letter from the psychiatrist to send as this may help.

Amanda

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my son was getting dla for having learning disabilities, but they dropped him a rate and i lost my ca , but he as had a diagnosis of asd since and i am thinking of asking for a reveiw due to a change in his circumstances. lynn

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Received my claim pack this morning. just when I was wondering how to entertain myself this weekend. :rolleyes: I think I need to lie down in a quiet room before I tackle it! :wacko:

 

Hope we get it as we really could do with the money. Thanks to everyone who has posted info on this site as I would never have known about DLA otherwise. I will be reading the relevant threads carefully before filling the forms in.

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