child dla advice needed please

wispagold

my 9 year old has ADHD and asthma and for the last 3 years he received middle care and low mobility however i didnt fill in the renewal forms very well and i left blank the amount of time taken to try to get him to do things ie go to bed, wash, teeth etc however i did write in length about the problems we had with him.

i wrote in the extra information 'between the hours of 9am and 4 pm his behaviour is fine due to his medication, outwith these hours his behaviour is extreme'. some nights it may take only a hour to settle into bed on other occasions it may take 3. When his behaviour becomes so extreme he has to be physically restrained, this can be 3 times a weeks and he has to be restrained for as long as 20 minutes'

on the page about settling in bed i just wrote at the bottom of the page that it can take up to 2 or 3 hours a night, sometimes it can be less but every night presents a challenge' and i listed his challenging behaviour. I also wrote that he wakes up in the early hours and requires reassurance. He often gets up before everyone else and disturbs his little brother.

on the page about needing encouragement, prompting when getting washed and again with how often he each day he needed help with eating, getting dressed and taking his medication i didn't put any time limits i just listed his challenging behaviour.

i found it diffficult to time these things because i was told to pick my battles with him and depending on how our day has gone it just isn't worth the fights.

Anyway my renewal got turned down and i wrote and asked for them to reconsider, they contacted the hospital and i have now been awarded low rate care and low mobility. it says on the letter 'he needs attention with bodily functions for about an hour a day in total' what does that mean?

So since his behaviour has got worse as he has got older and not better i'd prefer to get middle rate care again but i wasn't sure if i should appeal against this decision or just write to them and say things have got worse since i filled in the forms in November since we have had a change in circumstances with Dads new job and hope they increase the award. (He did run away from school twice last week and he was also racist towards pupils which he is being punished for at school. He also was kicking and punching me at the school one day two weeks ago in front of parents and other children).

Many thanks for any help and advice

Twisted_Cherry

If you struggle to fill in the forms, then contact the CAB or your local Welfare Rights for help.

To qualify for Middle Rate Care you need to meet the following criteria:

If you need help with personal care frequently or supervision continually throughout the day only, or help with personal care or someone to watch over you during the night only, or someone with you while you are on dialysis.

By this they mean he needs help to go to the toilet.

'he needs attention with bodily functions for about an hour a day in total' what does that mean?

They will not increase his award because of his dad's new job. However you can tell them his behaviour has become worse and fill in a new form... but get some help completing it from CAB or Welfare Rights. It also helps if you have some medical evidence from people involved in your son's care. Perhaps a psychiatrist or psychologist report.

Who treats him for his ADHD?

Indie_Kid

To add to the above, he also needs to have more care and /or mobility needs as his peers.

wispagold

many thanks for your replies

he is seen by a child psychologist (the last time was in August), me and dad see a specialist nurse monthly to get advice about dealing with his behaviour. His psychologist was contacted after we asked for a reconsideration, his award was then increased.

He needs constant supervision because he is very impulsive and can't be trusted. If he loses his temper he will kick cars, throw things in the shops , swear and use inappropriate and racist words, expose himself, hit and kick me and his dad and then run off. He was assulting the school staff regularly but because of his new medication the last time was in November. His award letter doesn't mention that he needs supervised.

i just wondered what was easier to do and what had the best chance of success, appeal this decision or just write and state the changes in his behaviour since November and hope they increase it.

wispagold

can i get a copy of what the hospital said about my son? if so who do i get this from?