DLA renewal - update

dekra · September 27, 2012

Finn's DLA renewal was only sent off last Tuesday 18th and was received on 19th by DLA office. Yesterday we received the letter confirming reciept and today I came home to the decison letter. My first thought was oh god they've not even had time to read it must be a rejection. I opened it to discover Finn has continued to be awarded HRC and now he is 5 they have added LRM to the award. The award has been made for 5 years which is what I am shocked at mostly. I really didn't expect anything more than 2 years. The LRM was only awarded from the date they received the form and although Finn turned 5 a few weeks before hand and I had wanted them to award from then but as I hadn't said it specifically in the form they didn't do that. I am NOT going to ask them to amend this as I know this would trigger a full reconsideration and I'm not rocking the boat!!

It is such a relief to know that I don't have to worry about filling those awful forms in again for a considerable time.

Thanks once again to everyone that gave me advice on both the renewal and the inital claim and reconsideration a year ago.

Edited September 27, 2012 by dekra

Special_talent123 · September 27, 2012

whats HRC and LRM?

justine1 · September 27, 2012

Higher rate mobility(HRM) Lower Rate care(LRC)

Well done Dekra,must be a relief to all of you. When Sam got his in 2010(age 7) it was awarded as an indefinate award,so it will end when he is 16,that was a real shock as I have'nt heard of any child that age with ASD getting such an award. Makes life much easier not having to fill the forms every year.

dekra · September 27, 2012

Was a good post for Finn. Also recieved a hospital appointment to see the sleep consultant!!

Special_talent123 · September 27, 2012

oh i see. how much support does your child need, sounds maybe the care maybe too low?

justine1 · September 27, 2012

Oops I meant the other way around special talent, Higher rate care and lower mobility.

justine1 · September 27, 2012

Hope sleep consultant helps.

Special_talent123 · September 27, 2012

oh i see

dekra · September 27, 2012

Yep, High Rate Care as he has daytime and night time needs and Low Rate Mobility as he's perfectly capable of walking just needs a lot of supervision/has no sense of danger/no stranger danger.

dekra · September 27, 2012

Hope sleep consultant helps.

Thanks Justine, I daren't get my hopes up over that but even a reduction in his nighttime distress if nothing else would be wonderful.

trekster · September 28, 2012

Higher rate mobility(HRM) Lower Rate care(LRC)

Well done Dekra,must be a relief to all of you. When Sam got his in 2010(age 7) it was awarded as an indefinate award,so it will end when he is 16,that was a real shock as I have'nt heard of any child that age with ASD getting such an award. Makes life much easier not having to fill the forms every year.

Unfortunately indefinite doesn't mean anything anymore. In fact if DLA is moved over to PIP we will be eventually assessed 2016 is the due date for PIP. Really surprised by the 5 year award as well but then again we are talking about children.

dekra · September 28, 2012

Yep, very surprised too by the 5 years but as I say I am not knocking it - I can concentrate now on what he can do rather than what he can't do so much.

There are no plans at present for children to be moved to PIP and even if the adult change over goes well and they extend it to children I doubt it would happen until at least the 5 year award is up so I feel able to relax in that respect.

The PIP changeover must be worrying for adults currently on DLA.

Special_talent123 · September 28, 2012

I will show u score point on PIP next year and I look fine :

PIP points system

PIP daily living component points

To get an award of the daily living component, you need to score: 8 points for the standard rate

12 points for the enhanced rate

For daily living, the points need to be scored from activities 1-9 below.

You can only score one set of points from each activity, if two or more apply from the same

activity only the highest will count. So, for example, if:

4 d. Needs assistance to groom. 2 points

4 g. Needs assistance to bathe. 4 points

both apply you will receive only the 4 points for the ‘Bathing and grooming’ activity. These can

then be added to points for other activities, such as 'Dressing and undressing'

PIP mobility component points

To get an award of the mobility component you need to score: 8 points for the standard rate

12 points for the enhanced rate

For mobility, the points need to be scored from activities 10-11 below.

As with daily living above, you only score the highest points that apply to you from each

activity, but you can add points from activities 10 and 11 together to reach your final total.

PIP ACTIVITIES AND POINTS

1. Preparing food and drink.

a. Can prepare and cook a simple meal unaided. 0 points

b. Needs to use an aid or appliance to either prepare or cook a simple meal. 2 points

c. Cannot cook a simple meal using a conventional cooker but can do so using a microwave. 2 points

d. Needs prompting to either prepare or cook a simple meal. 2 points

e. Needs supervision to either prepare or cook a simple meal. 4 points

f. Needs assistance to either prepare or cook a simple meal. 4 points

g. Cannot prepare and cook food and drink at all. 8 points

2. Taking nutrition.

a. Can take nutrition unaided. 0 points

b. Needs either –

(i) to use an aid or appliance to take nutrition; or

(ii) assistance to cut up food. 2 points

c. Needs a therapeutic source to take nutrition. 2 points

d. Needs prompting to take nutrition. 4 points

e. Needs assistance to manage a therapeutic source to take nutrition. 6 points

f. Needs another person to convey food and drink to their mouth. 10 points

3. Managing therapy or monitoring a health condition.

a. Either –

(i) Does not receive medication, therapy or need to monitor a health condition; or

(ii) can manage medication, therapy or monitor a health condition unaided, or with the use of

an aid or appliance. 0 points

b. Needs supervision, prompting or assistance to manage medication or monitor a health

condition. 1 point

c. Needs supervision, prompting or assistance to manage therapy that takes up to 3.5 hours a week. 2 points

d. Needs supervision, prompting or assistance to manage therapy that takes between 3.5 and 7 hours a week. 4 points

e. Needs supervision, prompting or assistance to manage therapy that takes between 7 and 14 hours a week. 6 points

f. Needs supervision, prompting or assistance to manage therapy that takes at least 14 hours a week. 8 points

4. Bathing and grooming.

a. Can bathe and groom unaided. 0 points

b. Needs to use an aid or appliance to groom. 1 point

c. Needs prompting to groom. 1 point

d. Needs assistance to groom. 2 points

e. Needs supervision or prompting to bathe. 2 points

f. Needs to use an aid or appliance to bathe. 2 points

g. Needs assistance to bathe. 4 points

h. Cannot bathe and groom at all. 8 points

5. Managing toilet needs or incontinence.

a. Can manage toilet needs or incontinence unaided. 0 points

b. Needs to use an aid or appliance to manage toilet needs or incontinence. 2 points

c. Needs prompting to manage toilet needs. 2 points

d. Needs assistance to manage toilet needs. 4 points

e. Needs assistance to manage incontinence of either bladder or bowel. 6 points

f. Needs assistance to manage incontinence of both bladder and bowel. 8 points

g. Cannot manage incontinence at all. 8 points

6. Dressing and undressing.

a. Can dress and undress unaided. 0 points

b. Needs to use an aid or appliance to dress or undress. 2 points

c. Needs either -

(i) prompting to dress, undress or determine appropriate circumstances for remaining clothed;

or

(ii) assistance or prompting to select appropriate clothing. 2 points

d. Needs assistance to dress or undress lower body. 3 points

e. Needs assistance to dress or undress upper body. 4 points

f. Cannot dress or undress at all. 8 points

7. Communicating.

a. Can communicate unaided and access written information unaided, or using spectacles or

contact lenses. 0 points

b. Needs to use an aid or appliance other than spectacles or contact lenses to access written

information. 2 points

c. Needs to use an aid or appliance to express or understand verbal communication. 2 points

d. Needs assistance to access written information. 4 points

e. Needs communication support to express or understand complex verbal information. 4 points

f. Needs communication support to express or understand basic verbal information. 8 points

g. Cannot communicate at all. 12 points

8. Engaging socially.

a. Can engage socially unaided. 0 points

b. Needs prompting to engage socially. 2 points

c. Needs social support to engage socially. 4 points

d. Cannot engage socially due to such engagement causing either –

(i) overwhelming psychological distress to the claimant; or

(ii) the claimant to exhibit uncontrollable episodes of behaviour which would result in a

substantial risk of harm to the claimant or another person. 8 points

9. Making financial decisions

a. Can manage complex financial decisions unaided. 0 points

b. Needs prompting to make complex financial decisions. 2 points

c. Needs prompting to make simple financial decisions. 4 points

d. Cannot make any financial decisions at all. 6 points

10. Planning and following a journey.

a. Can plan and follow a journey unaided. 0 points

b. Needs prompting for all journeys to avoid overwhelming psychological distress to the

claimant. 4 points

c. Needs either –

(i) supervision, prompting or a support dog to follow a journey to an unfamiliar destination; or

(ii) a journey to an unfamiliar destination to have been entirely planned by another person. 8 points

d. Cannot follow any journey because it would cause overwhelming psychological distress to

the claimant. 10 points

e. Needs either –

(i) supervision, prompting or a support dog to follow a journey to a familiar destination; or

(ii) a journey to a familiar destination to have been planned entirely by another person. 15 points

11. Moving around.

a. Can move at least 200 metres either –

(i) unaided; or

(ii) using an aid or appliance, other than a wheelchair or a motorised device. 0 points

b. Can move at least 50 metres but not more than 200 metres either –

(i) unaided; or

(ii) using an aid or appliance, other than a wheelchair or a motorised device. 4 points

c. Can move up to 50 metres unaided but no further. 8 points

d. Cannot move up to 50 metres without using an aid or appliance, other than a wheelchair or

a motorised device. 10 points

e. Cannot move up to 50 metres without using a wheelchair propelled by the claimant. 12 points

f. Cannot move up to 50 metres without using a wheelchair propelled by another person or a

motorised device. 15 points

g. Cannot either –

(i) move around at all; or

(ii) transfer unaided from one seated position to another adjacent seated position.

15 points

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Variable and fluctuating conditions

Taking a view of ability over a longer period of time helps to iron out fluctuations and presents a more coherent picture of disabling effects. Therefore the descriptor choice should be based on consideration of a 12 month period.

Scoring descriptors will apply to individuals where their impairment(s) affects their ability tocomplete an activity on more than 50 per cent of days in the 12 month period.

The following rules apply:

If one descriptor in an activity applies on more than 50 per cent of the days in the period – i.e.the activity cannot be completed in the way described on more than 50 per cent of days – then that descriptor should be chosen.

If more than one descriptor in an activity applies on more than 50 per cent of the days in the period, then the descriptor chosen should be the one which applies for the greatest proportion of the time.

Where one single descriptor in an activity is not satisfied on more than 50 per cent of days, buta number of different descriptors in that activity together are satisfied on more than 50 per cent of days – for example, descriptor ‘B’ is satisfied on 40 per cent of days and descriptor ‘C’ on 30 per cent of days –the descriptor satisfied for the highest proportion of the time should be selected.

Awaiting treatment

If someone is awaiting treatment or further intervention it can be difficult to accurately predict its level of success or whether it will even occur. Descriptor choices should therefore be based on the likely continuing impact of the health condition or impairment as if any treatment or further intervention has not occurred.

Reliably, in a timely fashion, repeatedly and safely

An individual must be able to complete an activity descriptor reliably, in a timely fashion, repeatedly and safely; and where indicated, using aids and appliances or with support from another person (or, for activity 10, a support dog). Otherwise they should be considered unable to complete the activity described at that level.

Reliably means to a reasonable standard.

In a timely fashion means in less than twice the time it would take for an individual withoutany impairment.

Repeatedly means completed as often during the day as the individual activity requires. Consideration needs to be given to the cumulative effects of symptoms such as pain and fatigue – i.e. whether completing the activity adversely affects the individual’s ability to subsequently complete other activities.

Safely means in a fashion that is unlikely to cause harm to the individual, either directly or through vulnerability to the actions of others; or to another person.

Risk and Safety

When considering whether an activity can be undertaken safely it is important to consider the risk of a serious adverse event occurring. However, the risk that a serious adverse event may occur due to impairments is insufficient – there has to be evidence that if the activity was undertaken, the adverse event is likely to occur.

Aids and appliances

The assessment will take some account of aids and appliances which are used in everyday life. In this context:

Aids are devices that help a performance of a function, for example, walking sticks or spectacles.

Appliances are devices that provide or replace a missing function, for example artificial limbs, collecting devices (stomas) and wheelchairs.

The assessment will take into account aids and appliances that individuals normally use and low cost, commonly available ones which someone with their impairment might reasonably be expected to use, even if they are not normally used. Individuals who use or could reasonably be expected to use aids to carry out an activity will generally receive a higher scoring descriptor than those who can carry out the activity unaided.

Support dogs We recognise that guide, hearing and dual sensory dogs are not ‘aids’ but have attempted to ensure that the descriptors capture the additional barriers and costs of needing such a dog where they are required to enable individuals to follow a journey safely. Descriptors ‘C’ and ‘E’ in activity 10 therefore explicitly refer to the use of a ‘support dog’.

Support from other people The assessment will take into account where individuals need the support of another person or persons to carry out an activity – including where that person has to carry out the activity for them in its entirety. The criteria refer to three types of support:

Assistance is support that requires the presence and physical intervention of another person i.e. actually doing some or all of the task in question. This specifically excludes non-physical

intervention such as prompting or supervision which are defined below. To apply, this only needs to be required for part of the activity.

Prompting is support provided by reminding or encouraging an individual to undertake or complete a task but not physically helping them. To apply, this only needs to be required for part of the activity.

Supervision is a need for the continuous presence of another person to avoid a serious adverse event from occurring to the individual. There must be evidence that any risk would be likely to occur in the absence of such supervision. To apply, this must be required for the full duration of the activity.

Unaided Within the assessment criteria, the ability to perform an activity ‘unaided’ means without either the use of aids or appliances or assistance/prompting/supervision from another person.

Epilepsy Epilepsy is a marked example of a fluctuating condition where an individual can have no functional limitation one minute and considerable limitation the next. Assessment should be based on the impact this causes.

Key to assessing individuals with epilepsy is the consideration of risk. Within each activity, the relevant descriptor should apply to a person with epilepsy if there is evidence that a serious adverse event is likely to occur if the person carried out the activity in that descriptor. It is essential to consider the likely effects of any seizure – type and frequency of fit, associated behaviour, the post-ictal phase and whether there is likely to be sufficient warning to mitigateany risk of danger.

Special_talent123 · September 28, 2012