Genuine question on benefits from someone whom never claimed

Want_to_be_free

emmaface wrote: »

The two areas a DLA claim looks at are mobility and care needs-for example, does your DS require help because he can't get to unfamiliar places on his own? Does he need someone with him to keep him safe? Does he need help to dress/wash/care for himself, even if it's just prompting because he won't do it without? If you gave him all the ingredients, could he cook a simple meal for himself? If your answer to any of those was "yes" it's probably worth you making a DLA claim for DS. I've had many a wrangle with them but I receive lower rate mobility and middle rate care for my mental health problems and would be happy to give you any help I can with the claim. There's an excellent site http://benefitsandwork.co.uk which has information guides on preparing the best possible DLA claims for children, however you do have to join at a cost of £19-probably the best twenty quid I ever spent, but if it's not possible for you you can contact a disability charity in your area who will have a great deal of experience with these claims
HTH!

Dear Emmaface, many thanks for this useful message. My DS can do some of those things especially now he does not want to come home and want to spend all his times with his friends. I am not so sure this is whether typical teenager beheviour or due to his obsession with friends. Touch the wood no complaints so far , although we try hard to get him home and sometimes it is a real strugle but it is same with Play station or computer, once he starts , he cannot stop... Normal playing hours etc will not make sense to him if we allow him he would go 48 hours without eating/ drinking/ sleeping...He needs to be reminded... On the other hand, he will wash himself ( learnt activity ) but will not remember to put clean cloths on ...Bless!!! This is quite complicated topic and I am not so sure if I should push considering I am able to manage without this money , reallity maybe should have done it earlier when I really needed it due to financial strain. ...

chivers1977

I definitely agree that the Benefits and Work guide is great but you can get this information for free using this guide from Cerebra http://www.cerebra.org.uk/English/getinformation/publications/Pages/DLAGuide.aspx

I used it for my DS who still doesn't have an AS diagnosis but is likely to and got High Rate Care and Low Rate Mobility.

chivers1977

Want_to_be_free wrote: »

Dear Emmaface, many thanks for this useful message. My DS can do some of those things especially now he does not want to come home and want to spend all his times with his friends. I am not so sure this is whether typical teenager beheviour or due to his obsession with friends. Touch the wood no complaints so far , although we try hard to get him home and sometimes it is a real strugle but it is same with Play station or computer, once he starts , he cannot stop... Normal playing hours etc will not make sense to him if we allow him he would go 48 hours without eating/ drinking/ sleeping...He needs to be reminded... On the other hand, he will wash himself ( learnt activity ) but will not remember to put clean cloths on ...Bless!!! This is quite complicated topic and I am not so sure if I should push considering I am able to manage without this money , reallity maybe should have done it earlier when I really needed it due to financial strain. ...

Definitely claim. If there are things that he can't do himself without prompting in excess that you would have to for other children of his age then he should be entitled. Most teenagers will remember to eat/drink/sleep even if they don't put clean clothes on.

You can't lose out by claiming. If they turn you down then you are in the same position that you are in now, you can even appeal. Have a look at the Cerebra guide that I linked to.