How much care needs do you have to have to get low rate dla?

teabag29

My son had hydrocephalus as a baby (he's now 12) and almost died. He had a shunt put in and I was told he'd more than likely be mentally !!!!!! for life. Fast forward 12 years and he is in top groups for alot of his lessons and doing well.

He does have a few problems but nothing major, the main one being he still wets the bed (and needs to get to the toilet straight away when he needs it in the day) and so still wears pull ups at night which are always wet in the morning. We do wake him up and have tried everything suggested but still no improvement.

He also gets bad headaches and we were told he may suffer eplilepsy when older although so far this hasn't been the case thank goodness. He also has some ear/nose problems (his hearing is quite poor and he may need gromits) but dont think thats related to the hydrocephalus problem.

My question is would he qualify for low rate dla based on his toileting problems, particularly at night as the pull ups are costing a small fortune?

rogerblack

For low rate care, you need to either:
Be unable to prepare a cooked meal (not for under 16s), or need attention from another person for a significant portion of the day in connection with their bodily functions.

As I understand it, if he is able to clean up himself, without too many problems, he is not entitled to anything.

If it would take him an extended time, or someone else is reasonably needed, then he may be.

schrodie

Be advised though that under PIP the LRC criteria of DLA almost doesn't exist!

mummyroysof3

its worth filling in the form and applying to find out imo. if he needs more care than other 12 year olds then he may be able to get it.

nannytone_2

schrodie wrote: »

Be advised though that under PIP the LRC criteria of DLA almost doesn't exist!

children will still get DLA, as will people over retirement age.

only working age people will be tramsferred to P I P

[Deleted User]

schrodie wrote: »

Be advised though that under PIP the LRC criteria of DLA almost doesn't exist!

a 12yr old wont be transfered to pip until they are 16+
OP i`d claim and see what happens

teabag29

Thanks guys, I guess apart from the bed wetting he doesnt really need more care than other kids his age (but at night I do have to wake him up for the toilet and obviously wash his sheets each morning he's wet which is most mornings). I do worry about him, because of what happened when he was a child he has a large head and gets bullied alot and he often sticks his tongue out (not purposefully he isnt even aware he does it but other kids call him nasty names for it). I worry incase he gets a bang to the head as he's obviously brain damaged and what it could do to him and I have to admit its made me a tad over protective of him.

Think i'll leave making a claim doesn't seem like he fits criteria. Thanks for the info

Parva

I really think it's worthwhile putting in a claim for this considering the extra care needed, at worst they can only say no, what's to lose?

teabag29

Thanks, maybe I'll give it a shot. Feel a bit cheeky though because I dont consider him to be disabled and his care needs are nowhere near what some childrens are, also I've read stories about kids with all sorts of complicated problems being turned down for dla but nothing to lose I guess

rogerblack

To quote the sticky 'It's about entitlement, not benefits policy'.
Policy means that the benefits system is designed in ways that the deserving don't always get awards.
This doesn't mean that those perhaps eligible should not apply.

Parva

teabag29 wrote: »

Thanks, maybe I'll give it a shot. Feel a bit cheeky though because I dont consider him to be disabled and his care needs are nowhere near what some childrens are, also I've read stories about kids with all sorts of complicated problems being turned down for dla but nothing to lose I guess

Considering all of the extra work and washing of bed-linen involved I fail to see why you feel 'cheeky' applying for it. You sound very deserving of the award to me and it's certainly worth applying for, for the sake of a bit of form filling. As I said earlier, you have nothing to lose so you may aswell try.