dla dilemma

ItsAGirlThing

Hi,

To add to all these other comments, I think there is a terrible mind set toward the word 'disabled'
You need to get your head round the fact that if your son cannot function like a 'normal' person - then he is 'dis' - abled, & therefore entiteled to any help you can get for him.
I hope that made sense!!

I have ME - it took me ages to come to terms with it being a 'real illness, because 'I was only tired'. How do I associate tiredness with real illness? Even if the tiredness was so extreme that I couldn't function, couldn't talk without crying, lost my co-ordination, walk into things & keep falling down the stairs...etc, etc. The pain of it didn't bother me too much, as I'd lived with pain all my life, & being a very sporty person (I was coaching trampolining right up to diagnosis) had plenty of sports injuries...!

DLA wasn't easy to get, I was turned down at every stage & had to take it to tribunal.
I have a neighbour who is riddled with cancer, has curvature of the spine & its also crumbling - along with all the normal bits & pieces of old age - arthritis etc - & she has just been turned down at the first stage!!!!!!!
[So the moral here is - if initially you get a letter of refusal PERSIST IN YOUR CLAIM!!

One last thing, just because he gets this, its doesn't automatically set he up to get other benefits.
I 'claim' incapacity benefit - & although I am classed as 'not fit for work', I do not get a penny, because of a hiccup in my NI contributions - all I receive is 'pension credits'.:mad:
My husband earns just over £10k PA
We are not entitled to ANY top ups.
Without my DLA we couldn't run the car.

As someone else said, get this for him now, before he NEEDS it.

You sound like a really great mother, & obviously care a great deal about your childrens welfare.
All the best - I wish you success in what ever route you choose to go down.:j

fabwitch_2

My 10 year old son sounds very similar to yours son and I suspected my son may have dyspraxia which has finally been confirmed. I used vthe money to buy my son a laptop which helps him learn and with allhis School work. It is really worth applying as it sounds as if your son will be intitled to it.

http://www.dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk/services/dys_dyspraxia.php

Please have a look at this web site as it tells you about dyspraxia and how it effects children. I applied for DLA for my son and was turned down at first because I did not give then enough information. I then sent in detail information about how he is effected compared to other children his age and was awarded low rate mobility and middle rate care. The mobility was awarded because although he can walk with no difficulty he could not go out in unfimilar areas by himself because although he can tell you about dangers he does not think anything dangerous could happen to him. If you need any further advice/information please let me know and Ill be happy to help.

bambam_2

I got the book Caged in Chaos as recommended by Danni and it is quite a revelation. I thought I understood quite well the problems that my son was facing but it appears that I really hadn't appreciated the half of it. I feel really guilty that he is having to struggle in this way - it really is every single aspect of his life that is affected.
I have come round to the idea that the tax my husband (and I) pay is not coming back to us in the education system and we therefore have to submit a claim and yes, I am quite determined now to go to appeal etc.

Thanks for spurring me on!

fabwitch_2

Once you receive DLA for your child you will be able to apply for the CEA card for your son.

http://www.ceacard.co.uk/

The card cost £5.00 but last for 3 years and gives a free ticket when accompanying your child to the cinema

bambam_2

Thanks for that

'The cinema trip' Now there's a challenge! (Just think pop up seats, popcorn, drink - you'll get the picture)

janash1959

Please don't worry about your son getting labelled as disabled, that really won't happen - why should anyone do that? Who would know he gets the benefit anyway?
As others before me have said, go to the citizens advice bureau, they will advise you whether you would be likely to be awarded the benefit - and they will help you fill the very lengthy and detailed form in. If you aren't able to get DLA they may be able to advise what else you could apply for.
If you are awarded DLA it will be for a set time initially, and is then re-assessed. I'm in receipt of DLA having woken up paralysed one day last year - I was awarded DLA for 18 months initially, and have now been re-assessed and are on a reduced rate for another year, so don't worry that others may need it more than you (or your son) it really is given on need. As for thinking he'd live his life on benefits - unlikely since it isn't a fortune, it really is a sum to help with the extra things you need.

Good luck with your claim.

Elliebabe

My son is three and has had his problem since he was 6 months old - I never claimed DLA because I thought he would n't get it and what I did was normal.

I then saw a specialist at my local hospital and he said I should claim as I had to buy equipment etc (my son has acute asthma) - They take a good three- four months to decide but its worth it.

I can now afford the extras I was struggling to buy for my son (including the fact I had ruined my washing machine)

Go for it - I lost out on a good couple of years and I wish i had known earlier

how1

Apologies as i don't know what DCD is but if you decide to claim (and it sounds like you should) have a look at the website of Cerebra https://www.cerebra.org.uk . It's a charity for brain injured children but it has a guide for completing the DLA forms which i found invaluable. It takes you through each point of the forms and focuses you on what you are trying to prove. What you need to ask yourself is whether your son needs more help from you or others than his peers and if the answer is yes, which it is you should claim! Good luck and appeal if turned down first time.
Also - for you do you get any help. Have a look at the website for carers. We have a local office and they organise coffee mornings, day trips, vouchers for beauty treatments, short courses there seems to be something for everyone .http://www.carers.org/

Savvy_Sue

Dragonmist wrote:

He refuses to see the Doctor to get the assessment form filled in, and the Doctor won't fill the forms without seeing him. I can't exactly twist his arm and frogmarch him down there. That's an hour's walk away, or £5 each way by taxi. We only have 2 buses a day, going in the wrong direction.

I am really sorry to hear this: I hope that you have been in touch with CAB or Welfare Rights or someone like that to make sure that YOU are getting everything you are entitled to in your own right.

As for your grandson, have you talked to him logically about how difficult it is to make ends meet on half the income you used to have?

And does it HAVE to be a doctor who fills the forms in? I didn't think it did, and wonder if through a Welfare Rights organisation you could get someone to come to your home to help you with the form.

TraciJ2

Bambam, i can also see where yore coming from, but could you not use the money to spend on something that normally you would not be able to do such as a trip to Disneyland for you and youre son?? I must claim ignorance and own up to not knowing what DCD is, but DLA is always worth trying for. Who knows, when your son reaches 16, he may not be awarded it and the money you would have saved may come in useful for him then. I think that there is also the added benefit of you then being awarded carers allowance. That money could always go towards having somebody else help you when things get too much for you to deal with alone.
Hope you decide whats right for you all
XXX