How long does DLA take to be paid, once tribunal won please?

arghhhh

I tried to claim DLA for my child in 2019, but he was undiagnosed at the time and we had been on a waiting list for a year at that point, but I was refused. I tried again in 2021, but he was still on the NHS waiting list to see someone and Covid had slowed everything down. He was diagnosed with two separate conditions and I appealed and had a tribunal for him 2 weeks ago. DLA was originally refused completely, but the decision was to pay the lowest in mobility and the lowest in the care element. I have autism and I'm bipolar and the whole experience was traumatic. The problem is, I don't know how long I'm meant to wait. I foolishly thought that winning would automatically trigger the payments to change. It's meant to be backdated to the last date that I reapplied (over 14 months ago), I've had to care for him day and night for 10 years and this has had a massive financial impact on us as a family, it has also prevented me from being able to access services, which cost money and I still can't access until they pay. 

I've looked on here, but the posts are quite old and I was wondering if someone could tell me what waiting times to expect in 2022 please? Also, we claim tax credits and I've read that there is a disability element to that, would this be backdated or will it just apply from when the tribunal voted in our favour?

poppy12345

After a Tribunal win it can take anything up to 8 weeks, somtimes longer to pay what they owe you and put the new award into payment. You will be owed money from the date you reapplied.

arghhhh

I've just called today and was told to expect 9 weeks, which would be next year! I first resubmitted a claim in August 2021, which is how long this has been ongoing. They may backdate the money, but I can't backdate the services that I can't access without the money. I have no family to help. My husband works long hours and I'm exhausted. The only 'break' I've had from home was when my Dad was on end-of-life care over 4 years ago and I cared for him in hospital. I yoyo between dragging myself through the day or just wanting to quit at life. The person I spoke to said that they may appeal the decision too, which would delay payment further or even stop it all together, so I can't even use my overdraft (knowing that it will be sorted by January 2023) to pay for help. I thought it was just going to be the backdated that I'd have to wait 9 weeks for, but it's the whole award. I thought the tribunal was going to be the last hurdle, but it sounds like they can just say no and send me back to the start. It's being over 14 months and I have to wait at least 2 more. That's such a long time. I'm desperate for help. I'm going mad.

poppy12345

Remember that when ringing DLA you are speaking to someone from a call centre, not someone from DWP. As i advised, it's not unusal to wait up to 8 weeks to receive money owed and the same time to put the award into payment.

DWP have the same chance we do to appeal the decision. Before they can do this they have to request the statement of reasons within 1 month of the date of the decision. Once they receive this they have to find the error in law before they can take it any further. They sometimes request the SOR but rarely appeal it.

If they do request it, it will delay the award being put into payment and paying the money that's owed.

arghhhh said:

Also, we claim tax credits and I've read that there is a disability element to that, would this be backdated or will it just apply from when the tribunal voted in our favour?

Sorry, missed that with my first comment. Yes, you'll be entitled to the disabled child element of tax credits. It will be backdated to the start of the DLA award. You must report the changes within 3 months of the date of the decision. It may take several weeks to recalculate your tax credits award.