DLA for 16yr old with Aspergers

rev229

DS currently get DLA. As he is about to turn 16 we now have to reclaim. However we will be doing it for him as he thinks he is 'normal' and is not aware that he actually gets DLA. If the money was in his account he would use it to buy cigerettes, alcohol and drugs and also to buy stuff for friends! Nothing has changed since we applied for it. However the form is very different than the under 16. He is still at school (just) has a statement etc. DH thinks we should not bother claiming if the money will go straight to DS as it will cause more problems. However I am not too sure what to do. I think the money can still be paid to us. Any advice??

Own_My_Own

My son is 19 and has aspergers. His DLA goes into an account in my name. Fill the form in for him. If you look at the back there is a section on why somebody else is doing this. Tell them he is not capable of dealing with forms etc. There is also a section on payment. Put the bank details that they already have. You can tell them he is not mentally mature enough to deal with money.

Richie-from-the-Boro

At 16 he has the right to manage his own money. That will be the point of view of the 'authorities' because that's the law, put simply its the year which they start claiming benefits in their own right.

In reality many / most young people don't want this responsibility at 16 or even 18 in which case you can become an appointee and take the responsibility for him.

In terms of tax credits, if your son decides to manage his own DLA money you teenager will still be a child in law and child tax credits and child benefit come into play. If your household's not entitled to CTC's then he should claim ESA [assuming he meets the criteria] because its worth a lot more than the child benefit you will lose.

DLA is not counted as income, ESA on the other hand is means tested.

REF: """cigarettes, alcohol and drugs""" issue, speak to whoever comes out to interview your son, there can be the odd muppett but I think you'll find 99% of them do this hundreds of times a year and are very understanding and very helpful.

kazzah60

when your son turns 16 you will get a letter from the DWP asking if he is able to manage his own affairs or if you wish to be his appointee

if you wish to be his appointee and deal with all correspondence from the DWP on his behlaf you can also have any benefits paid into an account in your name

The letter the DWP send asks you to send it back if you wish to be his appointee and a member of staff will come out and interview you and your son and will make a decision based on your sons ability to manage his affairs.

This is what happened when my son was 16 ( he is now 21) - the chap from DWP was lovely and my son was upstairs for the first part of the interview as he hates being spoken about while he is there - he is also VERY shy of speaking to strangers

The chap spoke to me for about 10 minutes asking how ds was doing and what he was going to do when he left school etc - then he said he was about ready, so i said " I will get son for you to speak to"
he said " no need to bother him, I am satisfied that you are acting in his best interests" and he gave me paperwork saying I was now son's official appointee and all letters etc come to me and all benefits for him are paid to me - he is quite happy about this as he he gets VERY stressed when having to speak to people on the phone or deal with any officialdom

I would ask for the interview - I am sure the interviewer will grasp if your son is capable of managing his financial affairs or not

hope this helps

ps son also has Aspergers syndroms - forgot to mention that!

GlasweJen

I have HFA (not Aspergers) and claimed DLA at 17 for a heart condition. Had my mum interfered I would not have been amused even though I was still in school, it was my claim and mum had nothing to do with it.

If he is capable of managing his finances then the DWP will expect you to let him, why at 16 is he not aware that his parents receive money for him? Surely you've explained this to him at some point?

Own_My_Own

GlasweJen wrote: »

I have HFA (not Aspergers) and claimed DLA at 17 for a heart condition. Had my mum interfered I would not have been amused even though I was still in school, it was my claim and mum had nothing to do with it.

If he is capable of managing his finances then the DWP will expect you to let him, why at 16 is he not aware that his parents receive money for him? Surely you've explained this to him at some point?

My son has always been aware that his money goes into my bank (separate account).
He admits quite openly that forms and handling money are not his strong points.:)

Brassedoff

Not getting into the why's and wherefores, but if you are not spending the money on his behalf (please take to offence at that), you have a great chance to give him the perfect leg up onto either to property ladder or in the case of a friend the money for a car.

On the course I have attended we were shown figures that demonstrated quite a few ASP claimants losing the benefit totally at the age of circa 19 as they no longer qualified. The three years would help a 19 year old out a lot.

GlasweJen

rev229 wrote: »

DS currently get DLA. As he is about to turn 16 we now have to reclaim. However we will be doing it for him as he thinks he is 'normal' and is not aware that he actually gets DLA. If the money was in his account he would use it to buy cigerettes, alcohol and drugs and also to buy stuff for friends! Nothing has changed since we applied for it. However the form is very different than the under 16. He is still at school (just) has a statement etc. DH thinks we should not bother claiming if the money will go straight to DS as it will cause more problems. However I am not too sure what to do. I think the money can still be paid to us. Any advice??

The OPs child is being made to think he's normal while his parents claim DLA.

OneYorkshireLass

GlasweJen wrote: »

The OPs child is being made to think he's normal while his parents claim DLA.

Maybe not. I think I'm 'normal' with Asperger's Syndrome and it's everyone around me who's weird

kazzah60

GlasweJen wrote: »

The OPs child is being made to think he's normal while his parents claim DLA.

I don't think anything in the Op's post would indicate that they have made their child think "he is normal"

my son (22) thinks he is completely normal and that everyone else is weird

please don't make assumptions about what the OP has told or discussed with their child.
The fact is if their son has personal care requirements over and above anyone without his condition then they are perfectly entitled to claim DLA for him - it isn't illegal, immoral or unfair.

My own son has no comprehension of how much clothing costs, we buy all his shoes, clothes, toiletries etc - even though he is 22 - if we didn't - he wouldn't think of buying them himself

remember it is a spectrum of disorder - and everyone on it is unique.

rev229

No we do not make our child think he is 'normal'. He is knows he has aspergers but to him that is normal and he has no understanding that others don't feel and behave how he does. If you knew anyhing about ASD and had children with ASD you would understand what I mean!!