I'm so p'd off with how our kids are viewed

[Flora]

I am so b****y fed up. I got the letter from the DWP this morning turning my son down AGAIN. I have rang them and just typed a hugely long letter telling them why their decision is wrong.

 

I am absolutely at screaming point (again). He's been turned down for stat assessment; turned down for DLA (twice), and yet here we are having him up half the night wetting his bed and crying and unable to do ANYTHING for himself without taking up hours of time encouraging and coercing and cajoling. He's on anti depressants; he's suicidal; he's in melt down more than not these days. What on earth do they have to be like before they are considered as disabled? Or put it another way, how disabling does autism have to be before they are considered as needing extra care and attention and support beyond what is normally required for a child of the same age? We live 10 mins walk from the school yet almost every day I have to drive him because he is 'unable' to walk due to his mental state. He cries and withdraws constantly because he is so stressed at school.

 

We've been in the newspapers and on the tv news and I have files of paper work on him and yet we are still getting doors slammed in our face.

 

I'm sending the DWP and the LEA video evidence (mainly auditory as we didn't want to point the camera at him) of his melt downs. What else can I flaming well do to make someone listen and take us seriously?

 

I'm almost disabled myself with having to care for him (I'm on all sorts of medication for stress and depression) that if I was so inclined I could almost qualify for DLA in my own b***** right! Not that I would mind!

 

Just needed to get that off my chest.

 

Lauren

[Brook]

Lauren,

 

I'm really sorry to hear all this. <'> <'> <'> <'> <'> <'> <'>

 

It is a total disgrace

 

did you phone them for an explanation? I did with my youngest (he is not ASD, but has a lifelong physical condition) if the man I had spoken to had been face to face with me, I can guarantee he would not have a face left after what he said.

 

I wrote and asked for the decision to be looked at again, also included a letter detailing 'why', not that we should have to, as we spend hours filling out the bl**dy forms, I also expressed my disgust over the person I spoke to and put him straight on my sons condition. Within two weeks I received a letter saying that my son had been awarded it for the next three years.

 

I would phone for an explanation and then write and ask them to look at the decision again, is there anyone who could write you a letter so you can put it in with yours to support your claim?

 

I was told by a proffesional the other day that they take a very quick glance at the forms and make a decision and most of them do not have any knowledge of the disabilities.

 

All the best <'>

 

Brook

[Suze]

Lauren I,m so sorry, things sound particularly tough at the moment <'> <'> , wish I was in a position to help, but I have,nt got a magic wand to give your son and you the help you need.So I,m sending loads of love and a big hug your way via my amazing telepathic brain..............concentrate here it comes............. ................................. ......................... .....ouch that hurt.

[DaisyProudfoot]

Lots of these <'> <'> <'> <'> <'> <'> <'>

 

I'm hoping to get DLA for my lad too so I know how you feel

 

Keep strong

 

Daisy

[KarenT]

Sorry to hear your news Lauren. You should ring or write to the DWP asking for a written Statement of Reasons - this is their decision as to why they will not pass the claim. From that you can give your responses to why you believe the decision is wrong, and go on to provide evidence to back up your claim.

 

Don't give up - they fail most claims at the first hurdle just to see how serious you are about applying, and from what you've said your son certainly sounds as though he qualifies.

 

Good luck.

 

Karen

x

[Kathryn]

Hi Lauren,

 

<'> <'>

 

This is so frustrating. You almost want to dump your child on their doorstep and shout LOOK!

 

I agree with the advice to keep on at them but that's probably the last thing you feel like doing right now.

 

K

[phasmid]

You should ring or write to the DWP asking for a written Statement of Reasons - this is their decision as to why they will not pass the claim.

 

Good idea. That way you can address those particular points in your appeal. If you know why your claim was turned down you should be able to produce the right supporting evidence. Most claims do get turned down at the first hurdle (it saves 'them' money), at which point a lot of people just give up - even if they are entitled to it.

[oracle]

Lauren they will offer you the right to appeal opt for a verbal appeal and then mail me. We have an expert on Campaign OK so you don't feel much like at the moment but you can't roll over and play dead girl. You are made of stronger stuff than that.

 

Do you know what the professionals said in their statements about your son? That would help. Maybe you should mail this up on Campaign. I am sure one of our members will help you.

 

Carole

[clintess]

hiya, ive been sorting my sons out since april, it was turned down the i asked for it to be look at again with further evidence from his community nurse, it was then revised and he was given low for care but nothing for getting around. Now its in appeal and i will be given a decision next mth. dont give up you will get there ,mine was first turned down cause of his previous useless senco as they sent me all copies of documents involved after i went to appeal so sorting that out to (another long story~).

anyway put in for appeal and state under headings applieing to your child and then explain why and how it would benifit your child,good luck and another load of paperwork

[Flora]

Hello all, thank you for your responses. Sometimes we just need to hear from other people who share our outrage. I've typed a letter, copied some video footage and will get that in the post tomorrow, I've also written to our MP. I am trying to contact CAMHS and his GP to get their support.

 

Carole, I will take up your advice and post on AIM.

 

Thank you all, don't know where I'd be without you. <'>

 

Lauren

[tinminer]

From my own experience, it is always best to get professional input on the DLA claim (psychologist, psychiatrist, educationl medical officer etc), as well as your own words.

 

It shouldn't be that way - I mean the forms are bad enough aren't they!

 

As everyone has said, find out their reasons for turning your son down, and appeal against that.

 

Don't give up!

[smallworld]

Hi Lauren,

I don't know how much help you had to complete the forms but, I would have been lost as to what to put on the DLA form without the help from portage. We were given an example form form a very similar child, and it really helped to paint that necessarily depressing picture of our son's needs(middle rate)

We had more help from the ASD specialist teacher when it came to applying for mobility (low rate)

It might just be that your claim is one they picked off a pile to reject (who knows how they work ) I'm just applying the same logic they use for investigating your tax return

Appeal, I think they just want to know if you can stay the distance ! Good Luck,

 

wac

[ksasnic]

we too got turned down on the second go so I asked for a review sending in additional information shoving in a few leaflets with what aspergers is, symptoms lack of a cure etc and the boys statement - it worked for us we got middle rate care and low rate mobility... My theory is apply detailing everything you can think off that your child does and add some for the worst day scenario keep a copy of your old claim form helps save time and effort trying to remember all his/her problems.. if claim is rejected write or fax them through a letter asking them to review state your reasons why you disagree clearly and conscicely.. listing each item on a seperate line - makes it easy for them to scan it through with their eyes - if its too long winded they might just reject for the hell of it.. be polite. add any other letters from people in authority cp,ep.salt,senco, dr, head teacher,vicar.. and leaflets.. then wait for reply because you are only asking for a review it isn't quite at that offiscious stage. if this fails then its appeal time. then if that fails tribunal and then newspapers even ask for one of their drs to assess your child..

 

sorry for the lack of what to try for appeal and tribunal but we luckily so far havn't needed to go that far..

 

Good luck

[Flora]

I'm almost tempeted to put this in a thread of it's own because it's such good news.

 

I've just had a call from the DWP, and my son is being awarded higher rate care and lower rate mobility until he's 16!

 

I burst into tears when the guy rang me, I had to explain to him that I'm having so many battles for my son that the news that someone is taking us seriously was overwhelming! It doesn't change anything for my son, but justice has been done and I'm very happy about that.

 

Lauren