extra dss benefits if my child is on a special diet

kate1964

Does anyone know if I can get extra dss benefits for my child. He has to eat a special diet which is expensive and I cant do this on the benefits that I get at the moment.

Indie_Kid

There's none, I'm afraid. You may be able to claim disability living allowance (DLA) if he's under 16 and has more care and /or mobility needs than a child of the same age.

Tigsteroonie

You may also be able to get some food by prescription depending on what the dietary requirements are - our son has high-calorie fortified milk on 'scrip, and I've heard of gluten-free bread being available. Ask the GP for a referral to the community Dietitian for advice.

GwylimT

In some cases you can receive a prescription for certain foods, as I have coeliacs disease I could get pasta on prescription (enough for around 3 meals a month) but I don't see the point when I can make kilo's of the stuff for about £3. You can also get some supplementary shakes via prescription as well.

skipsmum

DS has crohns disease and can get some food on prescription - bread, cakes, pastas, flour etc, and supplementary shakes (originally he was dx with coeliac). Although its actually not very nice, and as GwylimT says its cheap to make it yourself. We still get the milkshakes, the prescription is done by our GP and we pick them up from the chemist.

DorsetGirl_2

My DS has protein type shakes which we get on prescription.

Why does he have a special diet and who recommended it? If its part of a wider disability you may be able to claim DLA for it, depending if he has other care needs.

ArtoDeeto

Put in a claim for DLA

DorsetGirl_2

ArtoDeeto wrote: »

Put in a claim for DLA

If the only 'additional need' the child had is a special diet, it wont be enough for DLA.

zaksmum

solbert wrote: »

Not a hope in hell in getting an award with just that as the disability

I actually know a lady who has Crohn's and is paralysed with pain quite frequently. She has had numerous operations and has a colostomy bag.

Her condition is so severe that she's virtually housebound. She gets full DLA at the higher rate for both care and mobility.

She has no other condition.

nannytone_2

zaksmum wrote: »

I actually know a lady who has Crohn's and is paralysed with pain quite frequently. She has had numerous operations and has a colostomy bag.

Her condition is so severe that she's virtually housebound. She gets full DLA at the higher rate for both care and mobility.

She has no other condition.

then her care/mobility needs arent just a special diet are they?

all the OP has stated, is that her child requires a special diet, and has given no indication of additional care mobility issues

Indie_Kid

I've been on various special diets since I was a baby (mostly due to being lactose intolerant on and off since I was several months old) and it never occured to my parents that they may be entitled to extra money because of this.

Just having a special diet isn't a care need in itself.