DLA Appeal - ADHD/Aspergers

SuziQ

I would agree with outrageous monkey,don't play the time down but it's just a dangerous to do the form as if every day is the worst day-someone on here said someone at an appeal had been ridiculed and accused of fraud for doing that. I reapplied a couple of weeks ago and don't know if it will succeed-if it doesn't I'm not sure I could appeal as I haven't the energy at the moment. My son's senco filled in the section where you can get someone who knows the child to submit extra info-although she didn't see my form her words very much confirmed what I said. I think the form is very difficult and I used the advice from the Autisic society

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1561&a=3824 and Cerebra-

http://www.cerebra.org.uk/parent_support/DLA_guide.htm Where it asked how many minutes I have to watch him I had to answer-he needs me or his oldest sister supervising him all the time,as he takes plugs apart,steals and hides lighters etc-very worrying!
Your son sounds more demanding than mine-he is actually in main stream school without statementing and they are coping pretty well with him-I hope you get it on appeal.
As I say I could be learning in 3 months that we have also been unsuccesful-it's very difficult with children such as ours to 'prove' how much extra care and supervision they need (I would love the dla folk to have to live with my son for a few days!)

Titch89

On the form, I believe you need to put that it varies during the week, (or something along those lines) so some days he may need supervision all day and on others, he may only need a bit each day.

have you tried Citixens Advice Beareau (CAB)?

donnalove

also could i just ask how old your son is?

as with my daughter she is 15 and went from middle rate to lower basically because they say that although i still have to prompt my daughter on personel hygiene etc and keep reminding her to change etc and give medicines(she has alergies) this is common with all children of the same age
so didn't qualify, as said before this is the difficultie with children as their needs have to be greater than a child of same age.

cheap_charlie

Titch89 wrote: »

On the form, I believe you need to put that it varies during the week, (or something along those lines) so some days he may need supervision all day and on others, he may only need a bit each day.

have you tried Citixens Advice Beareau (CAB)?

I did this when claiming for my daughter. Its been a couple of years since I submitted her last claim (she has autism) because I felt making everything "worst case scenario" wasn't truthful.

I have never had a claim turned down but I did have to appeal to get the lower mobility rate but this was granted on appeal.

I agree with PPs...you need to get some help filling in the forms as from what you say it sounds like your son should be receiving this.

wornoutmumoftwo

I receive middle care and lower mobility for my 5 year okd son who is suspected of having ASD by Psychologist (though he has not been thorugh the proper diagnosis yet). He does however attend a part time special school for his communication/social problems.

I also receive middle care for my 4 year old - he has global development delay.

I was very negative on the form as that was what I was advised to do - I wrote down an actual exaample of the problem in each section and my children definately need more help then other children their age. I also had the nursery complete the relevant section and they quoted the psychologists findings,

I would suggest CAB, or your local council should have a department that can help you or even a Social worker.

Wishing you the best.

mspig

We had the same problem with my son who as above has been told he has an ASD but were under the Autism society in our area to find out where he is on the scale, we got turned down twice then appealed, and we got our claim at the middle rate care, he turned 5 in April so we applied for mobility but its still not been decided yet(its with the decision makers), i did everything on my own.

However my 2 year old son has a rare condition that is life threatening and incurable the social worker st his hospital did his claim for us(after the hospital CAB refused saying she didn't think we would be entitled) it was done within 6 weeks and we got higher rate care componant first time.

So may help if you get a social worker to help you but don't give up i felt like everyone thought i was lying on the forms each time we got turned down.

Terrysdelight

woodbine wrote: »

before you lodge the appeal(if its not too late?)ask for a statement of reasons,this will tell you why they decided what they did,it also extends the time you have to hand in the appeal from 4 to 6 weeks.
Its also an idea to get someone like CAB or welfare rights to help with the process,also best to ask for an oral hearing and not a written one as the chances of success are higher.
good luck

I telephoned asked for statement of reasons and was very kindly told 'if you are looking to extend the appeal by two weeks it won't work because the decision is the same as previously advised after the initial application'. What a lovely chap!

I also explained the letter was dated 26th June but I didn't receive it until 10th July (I even chased them up twice by telephone during this time for the decision) and was told, it's not there fault it was held up in the post and I only have until 26th July to appeal. I now have 4 days to get my appeal to them as I go on holiday! Think I'm going to need all the luck in the world for this one......

Thanks everyone.

Titch89

Have you ever been given a statment of reasons?

The_Libertine

Hello Terrysdelight

My son has similar problems to yours, from what I have read. We continously were turned down for Higher Rate mobilty and care, until my son's paediatrician who made the diagnosis stepped in, and wrote a letter to accompany the application. We were then awarded it. You need support from the paediatrician, and I would get somebody who you trust, and who knows what they're doing to fill the form in, such as the District or School Nurse. My experience of Social Workers are that they aren't very efficient, but if you have a good one then ask him or her.

You really need to push for this, as when you are awarded it, you will need to inform the Tax Credit people, and your Tax Credits will go up.

Good luck, and feel free to contact me.

Terrysdelight

Thanks for advice.