Higher DLA awarded without mobility

[Thea]

Hello all

 

I wondered if any of you kind people could help me here. I have just got the letter to inform me that my child has been award the higher level of care with DLA. He is ASD and Im sure I dont need to spell out the many many problems we have getting out and about both on foot and in the car. I felt I did a good job of outlining his difficulties and the many steps I have to take to keep him safe so cant see a reason why he wouldnt be get any help here. He can walk of course but has no common sense were traffic is concerned and needs one to one every moment when near roads. Plus he has behavioural problems in nearly all situations. What happens if I appeal and would I be wise to just be thankful we have the DLA for care. He really does need more help and care than the average child of the same age. I had two disabled children so wouldnt like to put myself through lots of hassle appealing if it involved going cap in hand but Im happy to write again if that is all that is needed. Advice please would be wonderful.

 

of course Im please he has DLA and thank all you people who have posted to help others deal with the book size form!

 

Feel free to mail to my box

 

Love Thea

[baddad]

High Thea -

 

This could be age related if he's very young...

Mobility allowance used to only come into effect if the child was five or over... that changed to 3 (I think) a year or so ago, but only if the HIGHER RATE of care component was awarded(?)

So - if your dx is really early and he's under three that could be it, or if this is an updated claim it could be that his last didn't have a mobility allowance because of his age/wasn't entitled and now he is eligible but they haven't included it because it's not on the old award!

 

I would TRY giving them a ring and asking to speak to a supervisor - as this has only just come out she may be able to get it amended without a re-submission (they did this for me when Ben was five). Don't bother trying to get the initial person to change it, and make sure you have your submission paperwork to hand... If you can highlight to the supervisor the sections that 'cover' the eligability, and she can see the evidence is already there you might get it done and dusted with one call.

 

If not, then there's no harm (apart from the work involved) in redoing the claim form with exactly the same info you've supplied + new evidence re mobility and a cover letter... there's no way they could come up with a different answer on the care award, 'cos none of the circumstances have changed...

 

Hope that helps

 

[Thea]

High Thea -

 

This could be age related if he's very young...

Mobility allowance used to only come into effect if the child was five or over... that changed to 3 (I think) a year or so ago, but only if the HIGHER RATE of care component was awarded(?)

So - if your dx is really early and he's under three that could be it, or if this is an updated claim it could be that his last didn't have a mobility allowance because of his age/wasn't entitled and now he is eligible but they haven't included it because it's not on the old award!

 

I would TRY giving them a ring and asking to speak to a supervisor - as this has only just come out she may be able to get it amended without a re-submission (they did this for me when Ben was five). Don't bother trying to get the initial person to change it, and make sure you have your submission paperwork to hand... If you can highlight to the supervisor the sections that 'cover' the eligability, and she can see the evidence is already there you might get it done and dusted with one call.

 

If not, then there's no harm (apart from the work involved) in redoing the claim form with exactly the same info you've supplied + new evidence re mobility and a cover letter... there's no way they could come up with a different answer on the care award, 'cos none of the circumstances have changed...

 

Hope that helps

 

[Thea]

Many thanks for your reply. My son is seven now, six at the time of application. I did ring them and put my case but they said they would need to reassess the whole claim and there was a chance they could then drop the care award. He did say it didn't happen often but that this did happen now and again. So I am left wondering if I might be as well to just be glad he has what he has and accept the decision. Frustrating because I feel he is elligible however the guidedance states those receiving mobility on the grounds of severe mental impairment would be likely to have an IQ of less than 55. This is very unlikely to be the case as he is very bright. Very much autistic rather than AS but still bright and can read. Just I am puzzled as I know of other children of his age far more capable and independent than him and they do get mobility all be it it at the lower level. Strange Any ideas why this is? Is it just down to the discrepencies between different decision makers? Not questioning others needs just wonder why I was turned down when basically I can't let go of him once outside our house or he would be under a car.

 

Love Thea

[cmuir]

Hi

 

I get the higher rate care for my son, but nothing for mobility. When I was on the NAS help! programme the course manager actually said that he was aware of instances whereby people appealed and although they ended up with mobility, they also ended up with a lower rate of care. I've heard this can happen. I didn't appeal and have stuck with the higher rate care.

 

Caroline.

[Thea]

Hi

 

I get the higher rate care for my son, but nothing for mobility. When I was on the NAS help! programme the course manager actually said that he was aware of instances whereby people appealed and although they ended up with mobility, they also ended up with a lower rate of care. I've heard this can happen. I didn't appeal and have stuck with the higher rate care.

 

Caroline.

[shamu]

We have recently been awarded the higher rate mobility and care components of DLA but we did need to request them to reconsider the original decision (which was for middle rate care only - DS is 4 and a half, non verbal, depends on us for every aspect of his care including feeding and toileting, unpredictable sleep etc etc etc). My consultant paed fully supported us in our application for reconsideration.

What I did (and I don't know if it was this or the paed's letter that swung it) was actually wrote an explanation of why I felt he fulfilled the criteria for "severe mental impairment". I used the crib sheet from Cerebra (if it's not on a sticky here it will be easily found on a google search) and the NAS leaflet here http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1561&a=3330 Basically, if you can argue your corner with confidence you may be able to get at least lower rate mobility without having to go to a full tribunal/appeal.

Good luck!

Shamu

[Thea]

We have recently been awarded the higher rate mobility and care components of DLA but we did need to request them to reconsider the original decision (which was for middle rate care only - DS is 4 and a half, non verbal, depends on us for every aspect of his care including feeding and toileting, unpredictable sleep etc etc etc). My consultant paed fully supported us in our application for reconsideration.

What I did (and I don't know if it was this or the paed's letter that swung it) was actually wrote an explanation of why I felt he fulfilled the criteria for "severe mental impairment". I used the crib sheet from Cerebra (if it's not on a sticky here it will be easily found on a google search) and the NAS leaflet here http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1561&a=3330 Basically, if you can argue your corner with confidence you may be able to get at least lower rate mobility without having to go to a full tribunal/appeal.

Good luck!

Shamu

[Thea]

Many thanks for that Shamu, very kind of you to take time to post. I had guidelines sent by the NAS through the post but the link you gave seems to have even more info.

 

I feel he should have got the higher mobility due to his total lack of common sense but I won't like him to have to go through further assessment as might happen if we appealled and I don't like the threat to his care award . As he was six at the time of application I think I will leave it until the review and then send even longer spelling out his difficulties....but then he may have progressed and have a better understanding of safety issues. I'm just so glad we have the blue badge for his even more serverly autistic younger brother because both benefit. I certainly would appeal if we hadn't already got the blue badge as he really is a danger to himself and others without someone permanently on hand to restrain him. It's tricky because he is a bright child, certainly would score over 55 in the IQ test. I don't think of him as having behavioural problems, more that he can't organise his behaviour or where to put himself. His brother is a wheelchair user, getting around the house can be hard for him some days so it was more clear cut there.

 

Congratulations on your award

Love Thea