DLA... for a baby?? And claiming for costs incurred child's illness.

Indie_Kid

ArtoDeeto wrote: »

Sorry to hear what you are going through.
I am pretty sure you can't claim DLA for a baby as a baby needs constant care and DLA is for extra care; as a baby needs 24 hours care there can't be anything more then that.

But you could if for example, the baby required something like physiotherapy to be carried out by the parents. Obviously, a healthy baby doesn't require that kind of help.

You can claim DLA for a baby. Depending on the disability, they would need more care than a baby their own age.

kingfisherblue

ArtoDeeto wrote: »

Sorry to hear what you are going through.
I am pretty sure you can't claim DLA for a baby as a baby needs constant care and DLA is for extra care; as a baby needs 24 hours care there can't be anything more then that.

Sorry, but you are wrong. You can definitely claim DLA for a baby if they have more needs than a child of the same age. I speak from personal experience - my son has been in receipt of high rate care DLA since he was three months old.

Additional care needs as a baby in my son's case included administering regular medication, using a feeding tube, reinserting the feeding tube as he regularly pulled it out, feeds taking much longer than average (we had to feed as much milk orally as we could before giving the remainder via tube), regular visits to hospital, care of scars following surgery, additional help to develop 'normal' skills such as sitting, playing, etc. In addition, my son choked regularly and needed constant supervision - I couldn't leave him in his pram sleeping, while I nipped to the loo.

Following my son's pneumonia at six weeks, I also had to give gentle but regular physiotherapy.

Although all babies need full time care and attention, for much of the time they can be left to sleep, with an adult nearby. For those with disabilities though, there is often much more care needed.

OP, please do think about claiming DLA for your daughter. It can be difficult, but it certainly isn't impossible. Your child has additional needs due to her visual impairment, and the money can be used to pay towards the costs of her hospital and clinic visits, as well as things like sensory toys or anything else that benefits her.

ArtoDeeto

kingfisherblue wrote: »

Sorry, but you are wrong. You can definitely claim DLA for a baby if they have more needs than a child of the same age. I speak from personal experience - my son has been in receipt of high rate care DLA since he was three months old.

I defer to you then - we were told no with my son but he didn't need special medication.

merlin68

My dd has had dla since 10 months of age, but she did have a feeding tube as well.