DLA appeal

annies_mum

Hi, wondered if anyone might be able to shed some light on a DLA appeal. My son was initially refused DLA, so we appealed and he was awarded low rate care. We then decided to appeal again (knowing we could lose the low rate award).
We still couldn't understand why he had only got low rate care so asked for a statement of reason. Stupidly i thought you had two weeks to appeal AFTER receiving the SOR. The SOR took a month to arrive, despite ringing up several times to find out where it was.
I have now being told that time has run out, and my apeal was to late and it ran out on October 7th despite not receiving the SOR until the 14th.
They have written to me asking for the reason it was late, i will explain of course, but how are you supposed to know if you want to appeal if you don't know the reason they turned you down?

Thank you in anticpation of any help x

AdamHex

Hi,

I think this is just a typical "computer says no" reaction. As long as you can avidence that the statement of reason took a month to arive (it should be letter dates and postmarked), then you should have nothing to worry about. All phonecalls to the benefits agency are logged on the customer's file, so that will provide attitional evidence that you have been trying to chase the matter up and the delay was beyond your control.