Elefan Report post Posted September 24, 2004 Oh Lisa!!! No pressure then!!! Your last thread of messages is merged into the larger DLA one, in case you were wondering where it had gone to. Elefan xx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nellie Report post Posted September 24, 2004 Lisa It's a long time ago, but I have a vague memory of the DLA needing this information well in advance. If you have problems you could phone the benefits enquiry line. 0800 88 22 00 Nellie. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lisajb Report post Posted September 24, 2004 What hacks me off is that they pour it on about "don't delay or we may not be able to deal with it in time etc etc..." and then stick a flipping note in about how fast they can deal with things! Well, which is it chaps? Oh s** it, I'm just gonna have to do it this weekend. I need a superhero - help! "where have all the good men gone, and where are all the gods? wheres the streetwise hercules to fight the rising odds?" Damn! Damn! Lisa Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kazzen161 Report post Posted September 25, 2004 I was late sending my form back - well, I had no chance of doing it in the Summer hols! I had three chasing letters, and then the lady asked about it when I rang them about something else - I told her I was "a little bit busy" and would do it when I got the chance. I sent it off the other day, and just got a letter saying if I had not heard in 8 weeks to contact them. I hope I do, cos it runs out in 7 weeks time. You can send Part one back now, and Part 2 in later. It took me 2 full days to fill mine in, and that was copying some bits from the last claim. Karen Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smallworld Report post Posted September 25, 2004 hi all, have had forms from dla to apply for mobility element for about two months. I still haven't filled em in ! my son isn't 5 until jan next year so can't motivate myself without deadline looming (story of my life!) also can't decicde whether to reapply for care element, we get middle rate for our 4yr old now, but for last 3 months he no longer sleeps through the night (realise we were lucky that he ever did !!) he routinely wakes at 4am and eventually goes back to sleep around 6am.am creamcrackered! apart(!) from this nothing else has changed, will i have to fill whole form in again ?? don't think i can be ***** ! am worried too that we could end up with lower rate, have heard stories if this happening. should i bother ? also have to do forms for tax credits and earlybird, have got form overload!! good news for today is he wrote his name for first time, unaided and unprompted, am over the moon !!!!! he's only been in reception for 3 weeks ! sorry, am rambling but am still not on par with those dammed pesky dla forms. waccoe Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ros Pattwell Report post Posted October 13, 2004 Did anyone see, I think it was the news, the other morning where they were talking about unclaimed benefits and there was a boy with Aspergers and his mum and she was claiming an allowance for looking after him. They were saying that people weren't aware that they could claim for conditions like this. Is anyone else claiming benefits for their children with Aspergers? Lisa Hi Lisa, My daughter has Aspergers and she was diagnosed last year. Her paediatrician explained that she could claim for DLA and we did and we have been receiving payments for almost a year now I think. The paperwork is a lot but don't be put off by it. There is a number on the form you can ring to help you with filling the form. Don't delay. Get the form now. Claim what's yours. You can get the form from DWP (Department for work and pensions) Ros Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
teaker1s Report post Posted March 7, 2005 DWP=IDIOTS golden rule never fill a form out get social worker to do it and you get a better result. anyone claiming DLA should ask about 'Direct Payments' the local social services and council have a nasty habit of forgetting to tell parents and adults about it when they are entitled. Basically I get 478.99 a month (12 hours a week)to pay for any assistance with daily living I require on top of DLA, In return for this I provide accounts of where I have spent the money and the name of the person I employed. been on it for over a year thanks to my average intelligence social worker. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nellie Report post Posted March 25, 2005 You can find an invaluable DLA guide here. http://www.cerebra.org.uk/ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
elizaphair Report post Posted March 29, 2005 Hi This is my first post. I do get DLA for my son who has Asperger's mostly due to his mental health component not mobility. I think there was a v gd example here a while ago of how to illustrate your application with evidence. Good luck if you are trying! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amanda32 Report post Posted April 21, 2005 (edited) Hi just deleted this post so ignore it. Many Thanks Amanda Edited April 21, 2005 by Amanda32 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mellymel Report post Posted May 17, 2005 We have a lot of parents in our support group who receive a fantastic amount of help with benefits from citizens advice beareau I hope this is of some help Good Luck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mellymel Report post Posted May 17, 2005 congratulations! something worth celebrating for a change. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
clair Report post Posted May 21, 2005 Could anyone give me a rough idea how long it takes for a reply off dla? I have just posted the form off yesterday along with a load of other information etc. I just wondered whether it was a case of weeks or months. any info would be greatly appreciated thanks in advance, Clair. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kathryn Report post Posted May 21, 2005 Hi Clair, It's fairly quick I think - about a month. They have to adhere to certain deadlines so it's not allowed to drag on. I was pleasantly surprised at the speed of the whole process, actually. K Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BuntyB Report post Posted May 23, 2005 You should actually get an estimate of the length of time it takes. They usually say if you haven't heard within 6/10/ 12 weeks to get in touch, depending on the length of backlog. Look for an acknowledgement within the next 14 days with it on. If you don't get the acknowledgement, that's the time to panic (I hope you kept a copy!) If you have all the info, it can be quite quick. My daughter who is 9 had been recently diagnosed and it took about 3 months as they wanted info from the psych, but it was worth it as she got Higher Rate and it's always backdated to the date you asked for the form. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
007paul007 Report post Posted July 26, 2005 This may have been mentioned already but I will write it just in case , my son was getting DLA and when he turned 16 it stopped without warning, apparently the DLA should of writtem to us about 6 months before hand and didn't , the parent or guardian has to apply to become an appointee , this involves contact your local benefits agency or DLA and you have a person come around to the house , to check that your child still lives there and also to see your child and basically just check they cannot fill the forms in or understand them themselves , he then sets it up so you become an appointee for them for all benefits claimed. I hope this helps ! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TylersMum Report post Posted July 29, 2005 Hi - am hoping you can help. This is only my second posting. My son will be 5 in September and we get middle rate DLA (about �165 a month?) and was diagnosed with ASD 3 weeks ago. We've been getting DLA for a few months though, based on his 'behaviour' and general symptoms. My husband stays at home with him while I go to work (financial reasons - I earn more) and has a part time job which he does very early in the morning, before I go to work. We recently applied for Carers Allowance foir my husband because if he could give up his part time job, his life would be considerably easier, but they turned him down. Do you think its worth re-applying now we have a diagnosis? BTW, my son has also had lots of sight tests since and he has very bad eyesight, which is another new thing since we applied for Carers/DLA. Should we re-apply for both? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lil_me Report post Posted July 29, 2005 (edited) They do need to know of any new diagnosis anyway, the only risk you take when adding extra difficulites and asking for a review is that they could refuse and reduce payment, but this is usually very rare when adding additional problems. I was told my sons very poor eye sight is not taken into consideration as he has been given glasses to attempt to correct the problem, but every case is different. The criteria is strict on carers allowance and would need to highlight the seperate parts on the form, for example that he cares for the child for over 35 hours a week. He may be able to work aswell as claim the carers allowance if he earns under the limit. Finding out why they turned him down might help. http://www.dwp.gov.uk/lifeevent/benefits/c...s_allowance.asp Some info inc the criteria they look for. Edited July 29, 2005 by lil_me Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
denise2 Report post Posted July 29, 2005 Hi Tylersmum, was it his earnings that made him ineligable? I thought once you had a child on middle rate care you automatically qualified for carers allowance as long as you don't earn over a certain amount a week. I think it's approx. �80.00 but not sure of the exact figures at the moment. Denise 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lil_me Report post Posted July 29, 2005 (edited) Thats why I said about finding out what stopped the award, upper limit is �82 currently from the info on the website. I don't know of anyone who earns under the limit and recieves DLA higher who hasn't qualified, unsure about middle care rate. Edited July 29, 2005 by lil_me Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smallworld Report post Posted July 29, 2005 Hi, I get carer's allowance and my son is on middle rate. Am getting confused, do we now have two 'Tyler's mums' ? hello to t's mum no.2 if that's the case if not, are we starting to be cloned ?? wac Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smallworld Report post Posted July 29, 2005 Just realised what a difference a hyphen makes ! Glad that's cleared up! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TylersMum Report post Posted August 1, 2005 Thanks - that really helped. Not sure if there is another Tylers Mum - I only joined last week though! I think I put his earnings down as about �400 a month (on a good month!). It said it was refused on the basis of earnings. I need to do some digging. Thanks for your help Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squishychick Report post Posted August 5, 2005 My community nurse suggested that I apply for DLA - we got it first time (you should have seen what I put on the form - quite right about the worse day being the one you choose) I didn't realise that the school got a say in the form on re-assessment. We will also have problems with that as they don't like anyone to think there is anything different with any of their pupils. We get the middle level - did try and apply for moblility but got turned down. My advice is fill in the form with all the worst things you can - but don't re-read it as it makes you very upset! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
doubletrouble Report post Posted August 20, 2005 hi there!! well we have just applied for DLA for are youngest this time because the paeditrician wants her to go for dx assessment as soon as she turns 4. Already have two kids with autism. I had been reading through your posts beforheand and was very surprised to hear school mentioned as whenever I have applied for my others there school had never been contatced. Just got a letter back saying there was a delay as waiting to hear from her nursery school could not believe it. They also said they have written to her paeditrician so i am hoping they take the consultants advice over the nurseries as we all know what these nurseries are like!!! Mind you she is in a special nursery as she was not coping at mainstream very well but she copes fine in the special nursery as there is only 6 children and three teachers. Wondering whether to give DLA a ring?? aaaaaaaaagh i hate those people up at the office and would love them to come and spend a few hrs with kids like ours!!! not to worry, just have to wait and see as usual!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brook Report post Posted August 25, 2005 Hi all, someone on another forum I visit, posted this link to a forum for benefits advice, I've had a look and it looks really helpful. Sorry if its already on here somewhere, but just incase its not: www.yourable.com 'could someone turn that into a link please' doh' Brook Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brook Report post Posted August 25, 2005 Hi all, someone on another forum I visit, posted this link to a forum for benefits advice, I've had a look and it looks really helpful. Sorry if its already on here somewhere, but just incase its not: http://www.youreable.com/ Brook Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Malika Report post Posted August 30, 2005 Hi to all, I am waiting in anxiety for my son to go back to school, he has been diagnosed "within the spectrum" last year in september I have been refused a statement went to the sendist who dismissed my appeal I have been refused DLA because they contacted the school who said that there were no major problem with him I went for a review (explaining that I was in dispute with the LEA and with no support from the school) and lost again. H is 8 now and due to start year 4. He has just been assessed by an OT who said she did not see any evidence of him having sensory motor integration even if I talked to a very experience OT last year saying that he probably had this OT however gave plenty exercises to do with him as he has low muscles tone and coordination problems when ask if I would get some regular support she said that the school should do something but without a statement.... she said as well they would review him only if and when I will make the request to do so which may take ages as they say they have one year waiting list and all that because there are no funding they could not even give me a kind of plasticine call patty to exercise his fingers and told me to order it which may cost me around 50 pounds to get the right amount; the specialist in communication from the LEA said that he has no doubt that my son is autistic but that there are no funding so I probably will not get a statement and as consequence no DLA. I now feel that I am going round in an infinit circle while nothing is done for my son (I first stated to the school that I thought my son had some form of autism when he was 5). I am now waiting fo an apointment in Great Ormond Street hoping that the absence of pressure from my council will help for more objectivity that will prbably take another 6 months. Having health problem on my own with a daughter who his ill and needs regular blood test and appointment and, may be an operation next Summer I feel now so tired that I just wish to curl under my quilt and do nothing for the next ten years a receit for disaster!! Please any advice welcome has anybody enter the same kind of circle where everything seems to depend from everything else. thanks to this site there are people I can talk to who will understand what I mean. Malika. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
denise2 Report post Posted August 30, 2005 Hi Malika, I'm not sure if you wish to have advice re school or DLA. If it is school you will probably get a better response starting a thread in education. Also what difficulties does your child present in school? Often the school will not acknowledge them until they experience the difficulties themselves. With regards to DLA, this is not supposed to be linked to a diagnosis or if the child has a statement but is awarded on the amount of extra help the child requires during the day/night. I hope you get help soon Denise 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lisa Report post Posted August 30, 2005 My youngest doesn't have a statement and she was awarded high rate care and low mobility for DLA. We were initially turned down as DLA contacted her school who then tried to thwart the claim by saying she didn't have any problems. I challenged it and wrote to DLA saying exactly why I disagreed with the school and telling them that I'd be writing to complain to the school governors about the way the form had been filled in. I also gave them a list of names and addresses of 8 professionals from SALT, paediatrician and OT, even my sister who would be able to verify her difficulties. I feel very strongly that the system of awarding DLA is very wrong. Children (or adults) who have a diagnosed ASD should automatically be awarded some level of DLA. The fact that it's a registered disability and any child on the spectrum, irrespective of whether they are low or high functioning obviously has additional needs. I'm not trying to say that if you don't have a diagnosis you shouldn't get it, there should be better guidelines. A lot of our children are turned down initially and this shouldn't happen. They should get the forms and say, this child has an ASD so they qualify, now from the information, at what level should they be awarded. I'll get off my soapbox now. I seem to have got a bit carried away. Lisa Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Malika Report post Posted August 31, 2005 HI... and thanks you so much for the reply my son has been dx, the situation at school is that he does not do much but he is quite a good boy, I am interested to find out about the DLA as I cannot understand their criteria, I have as well been refuse my indefinite leave to remain ( as EEA citizen) after 17 years in this country and various years (9) of work from myself and my ex husband because I have not been working for the last 4 years.... it does not have too much implication for me so I am not entitle to any appeal the only implication is that I will never be untitle to vote and that MPs are not to keen to support me. The DLA mention as well that to care for my son was not much more demanding than for another 8 years old and may be I could try again in few years time my problem with the DLA is because I had so much problem with my daughter who had severe asthma and multiple food allergies untill she was 10 and now has grave desease that I have absolutly no idea of what is a "normal" level of care for a child. Any Idea? my form to the LEA had been filled up by somebody from "Contact a Family" who advice me to go to tribunal but has I was already going to the sendist it was too much for me at the time, I am not sure now when I can reapply again I am worried about my son growing older and not having any form of recognition for his handicap. Sorry to be an old winge but I do not know what to do anymore?? Thanks to all. Malika. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
UltraMum Report post Posted September 2, 2005 Just discovered the DWP Bible on how they decide on who gets what re DLA! DWP link Use the above link and then go to Volume 10, Chapter 61 - you can download it as an adobe acrobat file to peruse at your leisure - over 100 pages! Might help us to know what we're dealing with! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TinaP Report post Posted September 18, 2005 Cheers Jericho. Trouble is,...with my little girls diagnosis being 'ASD' but not pigeon holed into any one condition on the spectrum it may make us illegible. She misses the criteria for Aspie because she does not have an obsessional hobby/interest. Elefan Hi there... my friends little boy is ASD and she gets DLA for him...and u do get a preminm on income support for a disabled child...i got it for my son ... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flora Report post Posted September 25, 2005 (edited) Hi all.... I sent off my claim form for DLA for my son.... It took me about 6 hours to fill in and write an extra submission. Anyone got any idea how long it takes before you get a response? Edited August 19, 2006 by Flora Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kathryn Report post Posted September 25, 2005 (edited) I think it was about 10 weeks for us from application to the decision but we had Christmas in between and my daughter had to be seen by one of their doctors as well - (this isn't usual). Well done for getting it done - the administrative equivalent of scaling Everest. I think 6 hours is good going, it took me about 3 days. Good luck K Edited September 25, 2005 by Kathryn Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brook Report post Posted September 25, 2005 (edited) They normally reply and let you know they have recieved your claim within about a week. Then the actual processing of it can take anything up to twelve weeks, but I think it depends alot on how busy they are and how quick they get responses from anyone they write to for info. When I applied for my first son the whole process only took just over two weeks, but my second sons took about seven weeks. I can remember when I filled out those b****y forms and then re-read them, I sat and burst into tears. good luck Brook Edited September 25, 2005 by Brook Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flora Report post Posted September 26, 2005 (edited) Thanks for the replies. Brook, I was crying too when I read mine through. I even added a bit on the end saying how upestting it was just writing about my son's problems, I also felt that I was betraying my son's trust by telling total strangers about him. Hope I hear sooner than 12 weeks. Edited August 19, 2006 by Flora Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brook Report post Posted September 26, 2005 I know what you mean Lauren, I even ended up putting on the end of the forms, 'despite his difficulties he is a beautiful child and we love him more than anything' . Hopefully yours wont take the twelve weeks, I think they just say this to cover themselves. Brook Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flora Report post Posted November 16, 2005 (edited) Just rang the DWP today as they said in a previous letter that I'd hear within 8 weeks (it's 8 weeks to the day since they received my application ) They had written to the school who replied with hardly any information at all; they just ticked the boxes and even didn't bother with that on some of the questions. I was lucky enough to see a copy of this and wrote with my counter evidence several weeks ago. Today I was told that they sent a letter out yesterday with their decision and I should receive it within seven days Please keep your fingers and toes crossed for me Edited August 19, 2006 by Flora Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brook Report post Posted November 16, 2005 Lauren, I have everything crossed for you. Brook Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
