Child DLA 1 year award

Sheri

Hi

My daughter has just been awarded DLA for having type 1 diabetes (insulin dependant).
I was just curious whether anyone knows why it is only a 1 year award. Is it standard to do 1 year with ALL new claims or will it have been based on the condition and treatment.
She is only just turned 5 and diabetes is a life long condition and I can't see her management of the condition will change much by the time she is 6 - she may well by then have learned how to do the blood check for example, but presumably she won't be able to do the injection herself and she will still need years of training in how to interpret her blood results and carb counting to decide how much insulin she needs.
Thanks

RazWaz

Things change a lot very quickly with all children, so the care your daughter needs will probably change over time. My parents claimed for me when I was 2 years old, and filled in 5 more claim forms before it was passed over to me (age 16).

kingfisherblue

My son was born twelve years ago, with a lifelong condition and several conditions that were repaired at birth but left him with long term care needs. He was awarded high rate care at three months old, for one year. The next award was for two years. The third award, which included high rate mobility, was for three years. He now has an indefinite award and still receives high rate for both mobility and care. His needs still remain substantial both day and night.

Indie_Kid

RazWaz wrote: »

Things change a lot very quickly with all children, so the care your daughter needs will probably change over time.

This is true. Your daughter would from a certain age, be expected to deal with some aspects of her condition, if she has no other physical or mental health problems.

oldestrocker

Sheri wrote: »

Hi

My daughter has just been awarded DLA for having type 1 diabetes (insulin dependant).
I was just curious whether anyone knows why it is only a 1 year award. Is it standard to do 1 year with ALL new claims or will it have been based on the condition and treatment.
She is only just turned 5 and diabetes is a life long condition and I can't see her management of the condition will change much by the time she is 6 - she may well by then have learned how to do the blood check for example, but presumably she won't be able to do the injection herself and she will still need years of training in how to interpret her blood results and carb counting to decide how much insulin she needs.
Thanks

Hi,

From what I know, it is fairly common for a child to have DLA until they reach the age of 16 for Type 1 Diabetes. However, they do like to check up during those years just to make sure that the care is still required.
However when you get to 16+ and have to claim in your own right, things tend to move in a different direction.
If Diabetes is the only condition, it is very very rare to be granted DLA for it. In fact, it is highly unusual for it to be accepted as the only condition for ESA.

Diabetes is in the main very manageable and need not be a disability unless there are major complications.

[Deleted User]

One ot two year awards are common for most people form first award,then it goes to 3 years,and many now find that the 3rd award is indefinite

stassy23

i started to receive dla for my son in sept and hes been awarded for 3 years

Sheri

Hi all

Thanks for all your replies. I can understand that when she is an adult she won't have care needs as such and I wouldn't have been surprised if they lower it from say age 12 by which time I intend her to be capable of doing her own blood checks and possibly her own injections, but with me supervising and reassuring her when needed - it just surprised me they expect her level of care needs to have reduced by age 6!
Thanks again everyone x

sunnyone

Sheri wrote: »

Hi all

Thanks for all your replies. I can understand that when she is an adult she won't have care needs as such and I wouldn't have been surprised if they lower it from say age 12 by which time I intend her to be capable of doing her own blood checks and possibly her own injections, but with me supervising and reassuring her when needed - it just surprised me they expect her level of care needs to have reduced by age 6!
Thanks again everyone x

You will be surprised, kids come to terms with things quicker than adults and they can take on their own medical needs quite young if their parents give them the confidance to do so.