Applying for DLA for child - is wrong to mention the cost?

skipfeeney

Hi,

I am applying for DLA for my daughter.  She now has to attend hospital 3 times a week so I have gone down to part time at work to manage this.  This is one of the main reasons why I am applying for DLA as we are struggling financially now.  Is it worth mentioning this on the DLA form or is it all about the care my daughter needs rather than the financial impact of managing her care.


Thanks

Alice_Holt

You can get DLA if your child:

• needs more care, attention or supervision than a child of the same age who doesn’t have a disability or health condition, or
• has difficulty walking or getting around outdoors in unfamiliar places
  
  Your child must have been disabled or had the condition for at least 3 months, and you must expect it to last for 6 more. You don’t need a formal diagnosis from a doctor to apply, but this can usually help.
  
  
  Personally I wouldn't include your financial issues as these have nothing to do with the DLA criteria, but the thrice weekly hospital visits are worth citing as they demonstrate the additional care needs. 
  .
  https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/disability-living-allowance/help-with-your-dla-claim/help-with-dla-form/
  
  Concentrate on the additional care needs your child has, space on the form is limited - so it can be useful to include additional sheets. 
• Start these sheets with a general introduction detailing the child's health conditions, there impact on them, and the consequent additional care needs / supervision (to set the scene for the DWP decision maker (DM) reading your form). Then go into detail for each relevant activity with separate titled paragraphs, explaining why there are greater care needs and what you do for the child in relation to that activity, that other children of the same age would not need. Spell it out to the DWP DM, and include examples to make it vivid.
• 
  Include copies of any medical evidence, and possibly evidence from other family members (grandparents ?) confirming the additional care needs. 

skipfeeney

Thanks Alice.  I am struggling a little bit with the difference between question 72 and 89.  Any advice around that?

72 - Tell us anything else we need to know about their difficulties with their daily living and care needs or how their needs change from day to day.

89 - Tell us anything else you think we should know about the child’s day to day difficulties.

As you can put additional sheets for 72, not sure what to add on 89.  I am thinking about just providing a summary

Thanks

Pollyisa

Hi Skip

I also claim DLA for my daughter, and the form is purely about the care your daughter requires - always assume that the day is the worst day, not the best day, so if they sometimes require assistance at night, and sometimes don't, you would say that they did require assistance at night time.

The Cerebra guide for DLA I found to be very helpful when completing the form.

Jyana

Pollyisa said:

Hi Skip

I also claim DLA for my daughter, and the form is purely about the care your daughter requires - always assume that the day is the worst day, not the best day, so if they sometimes require assistance at night, and sometimes don't, you would say that they did require assistance at night time.

The Cerebra guide for DLA I found to be very helpful when completing the form.

It is really bad advice to fill in the form as if every day is the worst day, you should never do this as you are lining yourself up to get the application rejected. No organisation will tell you to do this for this very reason either. As soon as they see a single thing that goes against the worst day you have put down, i.e. they can make it through the night without any assistance, in this case, or don't spend all day in bed every day, or can communicate with some people some days, etc. the assessor's will no choice but to put down that there are lies being told on the application. And once they know that, they will start to assume that there are more lies being told to them, and this is how you find yourself not scoring the points you deserve.

You must give a true and accurate description of all your needs, including all aids and help required and how it varies. The clearer you can make the picture to them, more difficult it is for them to question how you and your child get through the day. They only have a limited amount of time to spend on each case, don't mess it up for yourself by giving them any reason to not believe what you are saying to them at any point.

poppy12345

Pollyisa said:

Hi Skip

always assume that the day is the worst day,

That's the worst advice anyone can give! You should never ever fill out forms this way because it could be seen as benefit fraud. If your daughter has good days and you've told them that everyday is her worst, what do you think will happen if they found out? the only way to fill out such forms is to be completely honest.

Alice_Holt

Pollyisa said:

Hi Skip

I also claim DLA for my daughter, and the form is purely about the care your daughter requires - always assume that the day is the worst day, not the best day, so if they sometimes require assistance at night, and sometimes don't, you would say that they did require assistance at night time.

     NO, no, no....
  
      This is really bad advice.  The form should fully detail the range and variability of care needs not just what happens on the worst day. It should detail the help required on both bad and better days.

     The form should be truthful. 
    You will get nowhere on appeal if the tribunal panel find the form to be deceitful.
    (Not to mention the possibility of benefit fraud).

  OP - Please don't do this. 

 https://contact.org.uk/help-for-families/information-advice-services/benefits-financial-help/benefits-and-tax-credits/disability-living-allowance/tips-on-completing-the-dla-form/