DLA claim for child

Moz19

Hi there 🙂
Currently going through the process of a claim for my child and just wondered if anyone had any experience claiming for hypopituitary/hypothyroidism?

Wee man is 2 and has been diagnosed, been told that it basically comes down to proving that we do more for him than what you would for a normal kid his age which I'm finding confusing because doesn't everyone do basically everything for thier 2 year old? 🤔

Sorry if that makes no sense but it's the best way I could explain it after trying to wrestle with the form 😅

Doctors don't even seem to know alot about his condition it's that rare so don't know how to get it on paper in a way that the benefits office could understand it. 

KatrinaWaves

Mobility is pretty hard to get at that age. Care you would need to show you do more than you would for a typical child. You are right that you would do a lot for any other child Of that age, so what do you do above that. Medication? Additional needs during the night? Extra help with feeding? 

It’s not impossible but you do need to show that there are extra needs. A disability alone does not always mean there will be an award. 

jimpwarsop

Maybe wait until there is a clear need.

That would be a lot easier to convince those who need to be convinced.

poppy12345

KatrinaWaves said:

Mobility is pretty hard to get at that age

You can't claim for mobility part for a 2 year old. It starts from the age of 3 and then you can only claim for the high rate mobility. Low rate can be claimed from when the child reaches 5.

The mobility component

The mobility component is based on your child’s ability to walk and how hard they find it to get around places that they don’t know well.

The higher rate is usually given to children with severe physical difficulties, or conditions that mean it’s dangerous for them to get around alone. You’ll get the higher rate of £62.25 if your child is 3 or over and one of the following describes them:

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/disability-living-allowance/before-you-claim-dla/claiming-dla/

KatrinaWaves

poppy12345 said:

KatrinaWaves said:

Mobility is pretty hard to get at that age

You can't claim for mobility part for a 2 year old. It starts from the age of 3 and then you can only claim for the high rate mobility. Low rate can be claimed from when the child reaches 5.

The mobility component

The mobility component is based on your child’s ability to walk and how hard they find it to get around places that they don’t know well.

The higher rate is usually given to children with severe physical difficulties, or conditions that mean it’s dangerous for them to get around alone. You’ll get the higher rate of £62.25 if your child is 3 or over and one of the following describes them:

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/disability-living-allowance/before-you-claim-dla/claiming-dla/

Impossible is pretty hard? 😂 thanks for that, I knew under 5 was hard as I helped a friend with an application, wasn’t aware of under 2! 

Tigsteroonie

At that age I would say the additional care needs are based around medication, effects thereof, and impacr of non-medication (for example if a stomach bug means their meds don't work). There may be a higher level of monitoring.

Generally the disability-specific charities and Facebook groups have guidance on how best to complete the DLA form.

Awards at a young age are less common but still happen if the child's needs are sufficient - our son was awarded Care DLA at 4 months.

Moz19

Thanks for all the replys 😊
He is daily medicated and we have to make sure he keeps that down, also has to be given half an hour clear of food and he can't have dairy or soy products. 
Also at moment he is only deficient in 1 hormone but his pituitary can fail and others can be effected some more serious some less serious so we have to look out for certain signs that would signal the more serious. 
Physically he is doing ok he is walking but very clumsy which is part of his condition falls alot, footless etc. 

Moz19

KatrinaWaves said:

Mobility is pretty hard to get at that age. Care you would need to show you do more than you would for a typical child. You are right that you would do a lot for any other child Of that age, so what do you do above that. Medication? Additional needs during the night? Extra help with feeding? 

It’s not impossible but you do need to show that there are extra needs. A disability alone does not always mean there will be an award. 

That last part is exactly what we were told by citizens advice before covid hit, not sure if we are being unrealistic 

Katie_j

I claim dla for my 2 year old. Although I can't apply for the mobility element until they are 3, I was successful with claiming for the care element. Nursery was great and filled in the supporting statement and other relevant bits. I agree that it can be hard to distinguish between every day care and the extra care needed but you have to put down everything on the form. As we get dla, we are now entitled to 15 hours funded at nursery that were weren't getting before. 

Moz19

Katie_j said:

I claim dla for my 2 year old. Although I can't apply for the mobility element until they are 3, I was successful with claiming for the care element. Nursery was great and filled in the supporting statement and other relevant bits. I agree that it can be hard to distinguish between every day care and the extra care needed but you have to put down everything on the form. As we get dla, we are now entitled to 15 hours funded at nursery that were weren't getting before. 

Never thought about nursery it's been a bit of a struggle putting him in with his dietary needs and the clumsiness so think they would be able to back it up, he's never slept during the day and has never slept well at night which can be linked to his condition not sure if they would take that in to account as part of the care element 

Katie_j

Moz19 said:

Katie_j said:

I claim dla for my 2 year old. Although I can't apply for the mobility element until they are 3, I was successful with claiming for the care element. Nursery was great and filled in the supporting statement and other relevant bits. I agree that it can be hard to distinguish between every day care and the extra care needed but you have to put down everything on the form. As we get dla, we are now entitled to 15 hours funded at nursery that were weren't getting before. 

Never thought about nursery it's been a bit of a struggle putting him in with his dietary needs and the clumsiness so think they would be able to back it up, he's never slept during the day and has never slept well at night which can be linked to his condition not sure if they would take that in to account as part of the care element 

A good nursery would be able to accommodate the child's needs and verify that they do need the extra help. My child only went for one morning as I had to pay until they got the funding I mentioned before. Like your child mine doesn't sleep much, make sure you put it all down on the form.