DWP DLA Mobility submit new paperwork?

mummy_jonno

Not too sure this belongs here however it seamed suitable.

I filled out the paperwork for my son's DLA earlier this year (around April time I believe)

I put on the paperwork that we struggled with his mobility. Getting to him walk is really rather difficult. He's not old enough to explain (almost 5) why he doesn't want to walk/can't/won't.

He attends to local mainstream school with 30 hour 1:1 to himself has a statement of special educational needs and a full diagnosis of classic autism. (this was all granted after the DLA happened)

He was awarded high rate DLA but no mobility seam's they didn't take this on board when the application was looked at. Now his school is less than a 5 minute walk away and he will not walk to school.

So much so they have granted him council funded taxis to school and back.

Would anyone happen to know if in light of the new proof that he will not walk even to school if I were to submit it to DWP would/could they overturn their decison of no mobility?

I realize compared to those that CAN'T walk this seam's quite silly however I'm really struggling and even his DLA a month won't cover taxis to hospital appointments and specialists (even though it's walkable) and that's before we have to buy everything else he needs to make his life easier.

Would appreciate the help.

thanks in advance

nannytone_2

the main reason that he hasnt had an award for mobility is his age.

no mobility is awaded til the age of 3, and that is high rate for children physically unabkle to walk.

an award of low rate mobility can be made from the age of 5, and that is mainly for sypervusuin.

unless your child has a physical problem that leads to him being unable to walk, then the awards you have received seem correct

mummy_jonno

See that is what I thought until I read the national autistic society's website which states "•because of a physical disability, you are unable or virtually unable to walk without severe discomfort, or at risk of endangering your life or causing deterioration in your health by making the effort to walk
•you have no feet or legs
•you are assessed to be both 100 per cent disabled because of loss of eyesight and not less than 80 per cent disabled because of deafness and you need someone with you when you are out of doors
•you are severely mentally impaired with severe behavioural problems and qualify for the highest rate of care component
•you need guidance or supervision most of the time from another person when walking out of doors in unfamiliar places"

He falls in to the lower 2 brackets he is very severely autistic and even with adult supervision he is not only dangerous to himself, everyone else but refuses to walk completely and I'm certain this is not due to laziness.

Tigsteroonie

You can ask for a review/reclaim of DLA at any time, and when your child turns 5 is one of those occasions when consideration should be given because of the opportunity to start an award of LRM.

We recently re-applied for our son as he turned 3, in case he were to be awarded HRM - unfortunately we were unsuccessful. He does refuse to walk, but doesn't have that "handy diagnosis of ASD" yet, we don't start testing until the end of the year. His claim was only awarded until he turns 5 thereby forcing us to reapply at that point anyway - maybe the DWP are suggesting that LRM could be awarded hence it's worth reclaiming? (Not getting hopes up or anything!)

Did you see the guidance on the NAS website about not answering any of the mobility questions directly, because they ask how far your child can walk - instead, you should write over the top of the questions that "my child wilfully refuses to walk" and then explain when appropriate about the behavioural problems.

mummy_jonno

Tigsteroonie wrote: »

You can ask for a review/reclaim of DLA at any time, and when your child turns 5 is one of those occasions when consideration should be given because of the opportunity to start an award of LRM.

We recently re-applied for our son as he turned 3, in case he were to be awarded HRM - unfortunately we were unsuccessful. He does refuse to walk, but doesn't have that "handy diagnosis of ASD" yet, we don't start testing until the end of the year. His claim was only awarded until he turns 5 thereby forcing us to reapply at that point anyway - maybe the DWP are suggesting that LRM could be awarded hence it's worth reclaiming? (Not getting hopes up or anything!)

Did you see the guidance on the NAS website about not answering any of the mobility questions directly, because they ask how far your child can walk - instead, you should write over the top of the questions that "my child wilfully refuses to walk" and then explain when appropriate about the behavioural problems.

I'm thinking the same as you right now. We applied earlier in the year. finally got the award in June however his renewal is not until his birthday next year (november) when he turns 5 in november this year.

Perhaps it's worth giving them a call and seeing if it's more suitable for me to have the mobility side looked at once his 5th birthday is past and gone x

northerntwo1

Does he not walk at all? If so (even if rare) perhaps specifying the supervision he needs whilst walking may be in order in addition to the none compliance, ie hit both angles?

mummy_jonno

He CAN walk, he runs, jumps around all over the place at home. So much so any type of food we manage to get into him he burns off instantly and them some (he never sits still) He's almost 5 weighs 25lbs and is the size of a 1 year old lol.

But once we head out of the door it's a complete other story he will literally walk to the end of the path and stop. You try and make him move, bribe, ask he will completely refuse. Usually ends in him being violent or and throwing himself around to floor.

mummy_jonno

Tigsteroonie wrote: »

You can ask for a review/reclaim of DLA at any time, and when your child turns 5 is one of those occasions when consideration should be given because of the opportunity to start an award of LRM.

We recently re-applied for our son as he turned 3, in case he were to be awarded HRM - unfortunately we were unsuccessful. He does refuse to walk, but doesn't have that "handy diagnosis of ASD" yet, we don't start testing until the end of the year. His claim was only awarded until he turns 5 thereby forcing us to reapply at that point anyway - maybe the DWP are suggesting that LRM could be awarded hence it's worth reclaiming? (Not getting hopes up or anything!)

Did you see the guidance on the NAS website about not answering any of the mobility questions directly, because they ask how far your child can walk - instead, you should write over the top of the questions that "my child wilfully refuses to walk" and then explain when appropriate about the behavioural problems.

Just saw your edit no I didn't see the NAS website however handy now I know it's there. I was quite amazed we got high rate care simply because I filled it out all by myself.

I really should have looked for more information on the mobility side I'm thinking. I'm not too sure if I can ask now or renew before his renewal is up

Tigsteroonie

mummy_jonno wrote: »

I really should have looked for more information on the mobility side I'm thinking. I'm not too sure if I can ask now or renew before his renewal is up

From what I understand, you can apply at any time. There might be a small rule about leaving a claim to run for three months or some daft nonsense, but that'd be all. They have to make it flexible, as needs resulting from disability can decrease and/or increase at any time.

Of course, when reapplying you do run the risk that they reassess the care element downwards (you mention getting HRC), different processing staff have different ideas plus as your son gets older, his behaviour may get easier to 'handle' (for example, as he learns to communicate) so his care needs become less.

Is he really the size of a 1yo? Our littl'un is 3 years old and just fits 18-24m clothing (trousers are the right length but fall off his waist) How is he getting on at school, being smaller than the others?!!

mummy_jonno

Tigsteroonie wrote: »

From what I understand, you can apply at any time. There might be a small rule about leaving a claim to run for three months or some daft nonsense, but that'd be all. They have to make it flexible, as needs resulting from disability can decrease and/or increase at any time.

Of course, when reapplying you do run the risk that they reassess the care element downwards (you mention getting HRC), different processing staff have different ideas plus as your son gets older, his behaviour may get easier to 'handle' (for example, as he learns to communicate) so his care needs become less.

Is he really the size of a 1yo? Our littl'un is 3 years old and just fits 18-24m clothing (trousers are the right length but fall off his waist) How is he getting on at school, being smaller than the others?!!

Yes I see what you mean however the older he gets the worse he seam's to get. It breaks my heart to say it as it sounds horrible but it's true. His communication is getting no easier than when he was 2-3 and on his SEN (which I was reading earlier) they say he's in the 12-18 month bracket in almost everything besides number skills.

Yep he's really the size of a 1 year old haha. It took us about 6 months to find his school trousers. His school trousers are aged 1! I have no idea why they'd make them that small however I'm thankful they do. A belt doesn't help you much when you have short legs too haha.

They've just given him some kind of dietary shake to try and bulk him up, doesn't seam to be boosting anything however you just have to play ball I guess lol x

mummy_jonno

School wise I'm not so sure right now. The reports I get back are he's had a good day. By that they mean one less meldown that day it seams. All the other kids say "yes that's Leo he's naughty hits people and screams and shouts alot" but I don't hear any of that from the teachers so who knows.

Will find out at his next multi agency meeting at christmas time however he doesn't seam to be improving to me and I'd be the first the see the smallest difference.

Although it is amusing watching parents look at him and thinking he should be in nursery not school he can't possibly be old enough lol x