DLA appeal for child with autism

pootleflump

Two years ago, at 7 years old, my daughter was diagnosed with autism. About a year later, I applied for DLA for her. This was after realising that everyone else I met with children on the spectrum was receiving this benefit - some of those were receiving it without any confirmed diagnosis.

I completed the forms without taking any advice and was subsequently denied any award; which I was told was standard practice. I then submitted a mandatory re-consideration which was also denied.

I now have a date for an appeal hearing in 2 week's time. The problem I have is that I don't have any more evidence than I have already provided. My daughter is high functioning, and like most girls, is very good at 'masking' to fit in at school, so receives very little extra help there. We have only lived in this County for 18 months, so our current GP doesn't know her personally. We did see a health professional for some help with techniques in dealing with her behaviour, but I've written to her to ask if she could assist by writing a report detailing our challenges and she has ignored it.

I'm at a loss as to who I can ask for any help. The reason they have given for denying the claim is that they don't believe we have to provide substantially more help to her than to any other child her age. This statement alone shows such a lack of understanding of autism in girls! I actually give the same level of care to her as did to my elder (NT) daughter at 2 years old!

Please can anyone advise me whether I'd be wasting my time going to appeal with no further proof?

Alice_Holt

Worth going because your verbal evidence to the tribunal will be very important in their decision.

Do a diary of a typical week showing what care your daughter needs, how frequently, timings, etc.
Include developmental and play activities as well as day-to-day tasks. At the tribunal use this to give the panel examples and illustrations to show you "have to provide substantially more help to her than to any other child her age".

Have you read this:
https://www.advicenow.org.uk/guides/how-win-dla-appeal

Evidence could be from carers, other family members who supervise / care for your daughter . Not as powerful as medical reports, but useful nevertheless in building the case.

pootleflump

That's really helpful, Alice, thank you.

I'll have a read through the link tomorrow.

It's difficult to even have friends or family write anything - we move house/location every 2 years due to my husband's career, so we very much do everything on our own.

xylophone

I actually give the same level of care to her as did to my elder (NT) daughter at 2 years old!

Think carefully about this statement.

If you made it at tribunal and were asked to justify it, what exactly would you say?

(I have had experience of ASD - close friend with son (A) diagnosed with what used to be termed Kanner's Syndrome, another with a son (J ) diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, another with a son (T) with Fragile X).

kingfisherblue

It may seem as though everybody else is getting DLA for their child, but it isn't necessarily the case. As you say, girls are especially good at masking. There must be a number of girls whose parents have not claimed, simply because they don't realise that their daughter may have a condition. A friend of mine doesn't claim for her high functioning autistic daughter, and I have never claimed for my son who has Asperger's - yet we both claim for our other sons who have different disabilities.


DLA is about how much extra care a child needs compared to another child of the same age, so you need to be clear what those needs are. Instead of 'she needs help with social situations', state precisely what help she needs, who gives the help, and how it is above the help that other children of the same age need. If she is a member of Brownies or any other club, the leaders may be willing to write a letter if they offer any additional support. Keeping a diary is a good idea too, as it can show how much extra help your daughter needs, and in what areas. Again, though, you need to be precise.

parkrunner

pootleflump wrote: »

I completed the forms without taking any advice and was subsequently denied any award; which I was told was standard practice. I then submitted a mandatory re-consideration which was also denied.

It's not standard practice, my daughter claimed for my autistic grandson and was awarded the highest care component at the first go. Many kids (and indeed adults) with autism will not need any help to get through life as the the spectrum covers an extreme range. Clearly I do not know your daughter so please don't take this as any kind of criticism. Some good info here,


https://www.gov.uk/disability-living-allowance-children/eligibility


The child’s disability or health condition

The child’s disability or health condition must mean at least one of the following apply:

• they need much more looking after than a child of the same age who does not have a disability