DLA claim for physical disability

Tigsteroonie

Hi there! If you mean when will you receive a response to your submitted claim, I believe it is around 8-12 weeks.

I have found that the best advice for completing the form tends to be found on the pages of charities supporting the condition. There are also some good Facebook groups if you are a FBer, for example "DLA for children, advice and support"

Our son has learning difficulties rather than physical difficulties. We simply add the money to the family pot, and spend it through that; so it goes on replacing things that get damaged, it goes on having a full-time at home parent, it goes on his food because he is very picky, that kind of thing.

poppy12345

In this link here you say you appealed the previous claim. https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5963105/dla#5


Do you mean you took it to Tribunal or just requested the MR?


I'm assuming this is a new claim? If you didn't take the previous decision to Tribunal is there any reason why you didn't do this?


My advice is if a refusal happens again this time, which is likely so soon after being refused then you'll need to request the MR followed by Tribunal if that fails. To constantly keep re-applying using the same evidence you previously used they will very likely continue to refuse you.


I'd suggest you read some links that have been posted in both links because reading them will help.

Alice_Holt

poppy12345 wrote: »

In this link here you say you appealed the previous claim. https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5963105/dla#5


Do you mean you took it to Tribunal or just requested the MR?


I'm assuming this is a new claim? If you didn't take the previous decision to Tribunal is there any reason why you didn't do this?


My advice is if a refusal happens again this time, which is likely so soon after being refused then you'll need to request the MR followed by Tribunal if that fails. To constantly keep re-applying using the same evidence you previously used they will very likely continue to refuse you.


I'd suggest you read some links that have been posted in both threads because reading them will help.

Totally agree. Constantly re-applying is likely not to be successful as the DWP may link it to the previous refused claims.
Hopefully, though the OP's son has reached the age of 3 (you had advised her that no mobility award could be given for a 2 year old), as on this second form she seems to have focused on walking.

My understanding from her previous thread is that the OP did request an MR of the decision. However she thinks this had been "lost" by the DWP, and rather than following it up - the OP has now put in a new claim.

I have concerns that the OP wrote the form in 2-3 hrs, from a starting point of "I have no clue how to answer the questions. Some of them do not apply to him as he has no trouble doing that.". I would have thought it would take longer than a couple of hours to research DLA via the links given her, get a sense of the DLA criteria , and establish what needs to be included on the form.
Just gathering relevant medical reports, additional evidence from others who know the child, etc, could easily take a couple of hours.
The next sensible stage (covered in the Citizens Advice link) would be to gather examples by way of a diary.
Actually writing the form would ideally have been done through several drafts (with time between for consideration), and if possible getting someone to review it. Having a second opinion does help ensure the final form paints a clear picture for the DWP decision maker, and is as compelling as possible.
The difficulty, as we know, with a DLA form is that the decision can be made just on the form alone. So it is really important that the form directly addresses the DLA criteria (i.e it is pointless writing a form geared to high rate mobility award for a 2 year old), fully explain the difficulties, and consequent care-needs of the child. Those examples (from a diary) can help to make it more vivid for the decision maker.

The advice given in her threads is probably now too late for the OP, but may help others to approach a DLA form with the thoroughness needed to receive an appropriate award.