dla mobility element-apply now? or wait for annual(?) review?

bottlered

My daughter currently gets dla (care component)
During a visit to great ormond street this summer, I discovered her condition is affecting her more than I realised.Just a few days into the new term and she is already exhausted to the point of being tearful.
Her dla is dated from february of this year-will it get reviewed in february of next year? should I wait till then, or should I apply now,while her condition is "fresh" in the minds of the GOSH physio team?

morveryn

I have been receiving DLA for a couple of months now (after two previously unsuccessful attempts at claiming) and my letter states that I will receive it for 5 years.
If your daughters condition is affecting her a lot then you should apply now. Don't wait until it worsens. The forms are notoriously complex and it all takes ages to sort out :rolleyes: , but if she gets the mobility component it will help her a lot.

Ted_Hutchinson

If when you got the original award it wasn't dated,there was no end date, then it is an INDEFINITE award. This means it will be reviewed sometime in the future but probably not before 3 years unless this claim is unlucky enough to get thrown up by the random Periodic Review claims process.

It is unlikely therefore that you will be sent review forms in Febuary 2006 (this should only happen if your claim was due to end in August)If your claim does actually end in Feb 2006 then the forms will be with you later this month or next month. If this is the case then there is no need for a new claim now.

Although each aspect of a claim is automatically renewed when a new award is made and therefore has to be looked at again, generally, in cases like this where new circumstances demonstrate that there is no improvement in care needs but Mobility has worsened the chances of the care element being lost are minimal. It follows then that it is worth your while, if you have an undated award, putting in a claim for increased needs due to a change of circumstance (worsening of condition) and stressing the mobility needs.
You can ask for a copy of the previous claim form if you didn't keep a copy, This will help you point out those points where the condition is worse.
It's worth checking through the guides at BHAS or Benefitsandwork
worth getting your claim checked by a Welfare Rights Professional
and making sure your GP/named health professional is aware of what you are claiming regarding mobility. (there is a checklist at the back of the guides linked to above.

bottlered

thank you for your advice
her award is due for review feb 07 (had to dig through her paperwork to find the award letter) so it is worth applying now
wish me luck-those forms are enough to trigger RSI ....