Dla nightmare

stassy23

or go to your welfare rights office at the council they may be able to help good luck

GlasweJen

There used to be a space on the form asking who was filling it in on behalf of the claimant but we would usually write that the claimant was filling it in (as they were providing the answers - we were just giving advice/another perspective) unless the form was for a child (parents signed) or someone with a learning disability (carer/partner signed).

We certainly never endorsed DLA forms, could you picture the law suit if someone were to sue CAB for not being awarded DLA when they'd endorsed the form?

Margaret_Skinner

clairc wrote: »

My son has Autism and has been in receipt of high care and high mobility for past 3 years. I have a mobility car for him and cannot move without it (I have 2 other kids, one of them also have autism). Just done my DLA renewal and been awarded low and low rates. When I opened the letter I was astounded. Had it relooked at and awarded middle care low mobility. I explained on the phone that Im up most of the night with him and was told the assessor has written up that I can use plastic sheeting on the bed (so when he wets the bed have I just to leave him lying in it......but at least the mattress will be dry????) and that I could use an alarm system to alert me if he wakens. Well, obviously if an alarm belted out in the middle of the night my son would be terrified, agitated and it would take me a lot longer to settle him. The problem is not me sleeping through him getting up, its tryin to resettle him. I just feel like tearing my hair out. The people who have assessed my claim obviously know NOTHING about Autism. My life really is stressful enough without all this. I have to fight to get through each day which is filled with challenging behaviour and emotional outbursts, Im exhausted. Why does this process have to put so much pressure on us????? Phew

Clair - you could try going on the National Autistic Society's website www.nas.org.uk and ringing their helpline - their Head Office is in London and they have a few offices in Scotland but they also have various branches throughout the country. The helpline number should be on the website but if you can't find it let me know because I have it at work.

wammy77

clairc wrote: »

My son has Autism and has been in receipt of high care and high mobility for past 3 years. I have a mobility car for him and cannot move without it (I have 2 other kids, one of them also have autism). Just done my DLA renewal and been awarded low and low rates. When I opened the letter I was astounded. Had it relooked at and awarded middle care low mobility. I explained on the phone that Im up most of the night with him and was told the assessor has written up that I can use plastic sheeting on the bed (so when he wets the bed have I just to leave him lying in it......but at least the mattress will be dry????) and that I could use an alarm system to alert me if he wakens. Well, obviously if an alarm belted out in the middle of the night my son would be terrified, agitated and it would take me a lot longer to settle him. The problem is not me sleeping through him getting up, its tryin to resettle him. I just feel like tearing my hair out. The people who have assessed my claim obviously know NOTHING about Autism. My life really is stressful enough without all this. I have to fight to get through each day which is filled with challenging behaviour and emotional outbursts, Im exhausted. Why does this process have to put so much pressure on us????? Phew

Where are you in the UK? I'm in Hampshire and we have a great charity called Parent Voice (part of Barnardos) who have family support workers who are trainned to help complete the DLA forms and know what to put down and what the descision makers are looking for. I'm in the middle of training at the moment and it makes such a difference to your outcome if you know what to put down - it'll help me when I need to renew my Autistic sons DLA in a few years time.

sh1305 wrote: »

If you ask for a statement of reasons, you get an extra 14 days.

For the next week or two keep a diary, explaining the problems that your son has.

A diary is one really good way to make sure you are giving them all the information they need to make a well informed descision - as you say, it's easy to forget how much you do in a day.

Good luck, don't give up!

covlass

I really feel for you, the trouble is Autism affects children and adults in such different ways and to different degrees and the people that look at our claims really do not understand how hard it is to care for them.

My DD claim went to tribunal in 2009 as she went from high rate care & mobility to low on both. many times I felt like giving up on it but as she was clearly entitled to it under the criteria that they state I continued.

DWP sent some one to the tribunal also I do not think she was very happy when we won !!! The Dr even questioned her as he could not understand why my DD claim had gone so far.

Try and keep you chin up, keep a diary, do not rely on DLA to ask for any evidence write to people your self and ask if they would mind writing a letter in your sons support.

My DD was 13 at the time I contact her school as the form DLA had sent to the school was of no help at all, it asked if my daughter was able to undress/ dress her self they ticked yes.

Yes my daughter is able to undress herself by pulling everything off and tearing clothing and breaking zips and buttons. Yes she can dress her self but often gets things back to front/ inside out, she is also unable to choose suitable clothing for example if it is freezing cold she would put on her fav t shirt because she like it, most of the time is spent in her PJ's some days can be a battles, like last night she wanted to go out in the garden in her PJ's after trying to tell her she will get a cold 'lets get dressed' No get dressed Ok put a coat on NO coat on this went on for over half an hour by which time she was in the first stages of a melt down!!

Walking out doors ooooohhhhhhhhh :mad:
They do not seem to understand sensory needs