Anyone got any advice for smi criteria for dla

carlylan22

Hello so  my son is nearly 5. Been diagnosed ASD and GDD. Professionals say his development is around 1year old. He's completely non verbal. No communication skills. Still in nappies. (No awareness at all for toileting) still spoon fed. Very very limited diet. He smears his 💩 when ever he can. He has so meltdowns a day which result in hurting himself and others. He's up most nights stimming. (Jumping up and down flapping hands) when he was diagnosed I was told his autism is significant and really effects his day to day life. He has been awarded an EHCP. Everyone's agreed he should be in specialist school. (Awaiting place he's been accepted into one ) nursery are keeping him behind instead of sending him to the next year as they agree it's not right for him. He has routine and knows his 1 on 1. (Taking it to tribunal)hes has completely no awareness to danger what so ever! He has a specialist buggy from the mobility service and has a blue badge because he doesn't understand anything about the world around him. Anyway he has got HRC. It runss out in Feb. But I have been sent the mobility form as he's coming up to 5. I have been told you can try to claim under smi rules (severe mental impairment) I'm really worried that if I was to try for that they would take it all away as it's a risk isn't it ? Does anyone know of any help or how I could word it. Iv filled in the DLA forms 3 times now finally got HRC which is what I believe he is entitled to. He's so bad in the car I have to stop and have a break. His meltdowns are so bad if I go a different route or he sees something he doesn't like that distresses him. He makes himself bleed from biting and scratching.

poppy123456

There's some information here. https://www.carersuk.org/media/v44a11bq/disability-living-allowance_april-2023-24.pdf

mobility component they must be aged over five and for the higher rate,
they must be aged over three.

To qualify for the higher rate mobility component because of severe mental
impairment, the child has to meet all the following criteria:

be entitled to the higher rate care component of DLA

suffer from a state of arrested development or incomplete physical
development of the brain which results in severe mental impairment of
intelligence or social functioning

exhibit ‘disruptive behaviour’ which is extreme and ‘regularly requires
another person to intervene and physically restrain them to prevent
them from causing injury to themselves or to another, or to damage
property’

be so unpredictable that they require another person to watch over
them whenever they are awake.

carlylan22

poppy123456 said:

There's some information here. https://www.carersuk.org/media/v44a11bq/disability-living-allowance_april-2023-24.pdf

mobility component they must be aged over five and for the higher rate,
they must be aged over three.

To qualify for the higher rate mobility component because of severe mental
impairment, the child has to meet all the following criteria:

be entitled to the higher rate care component of DLA

suffer from a state of arrested development or incomplete physical
development of the brain which results in severe mental impairment of
intelligence or social functioning

exhibit ‘disruptive behaviour’ which is extreme and ‘regularly requires
another person to intervene and physically restrain them to prevent
them from causing injury to themselves or to another, or to damage
property’

be so unpredictable that they require another person to watch over
them whenever they are awake.

Thank you for getting back to me. Yes iv read everything online that there is but I'm still second guessing myself I guess it's how I would put it on the DLA forms I'm worried about. He ticks all that you've just sent me. But I have no idea how to word it? 

poppy123456

I'd advise you to get some expert advice from an agency near you. This will help with that. https://advicelocal.uk/welfare-benefits

Unfortuately, i can't advise you what to write because i don't know anything about your son or how his conditions affect him.