Child’s DLA form

vixen_5053

Hi,

I've just received the form today for my son, am I right in thinking that it can be filled out the same way as an adult pip form?

Also he hasn’t been diagnosed yet but is waiting on the appointment from specialist. He also doesn’t take any medication because GP says he has to be diagnosed first. I do have medical evidence to provide for him.

Whats the best way to fill in the form?

 Thanks. 

Ross_Alumni

Hello @vixen_5053

Thanks for making your post, I hope you are well.

Regarding the DLA form, you might find this page on the CAB website useful, it walks through some things to keep it mind when filling out the form. A section reads:

"Keeping a diary of your child’s care needs before you fill in the form can help when it comes to answering the questions. This way you’ll have recent examples of how you care for them, and a good idea of how long it takes you to do certain tasks like helping them get ready for school.

If you haven’t kept a diary yet, it might be worth spending a week (or longer) keeping a diary before  you start the form. Make a note of what help is needed, why, when and for how long.

You should try to fill in the form over a few sessions rather than doing it all at once - you’ll probably find that your answers will be better.

Don’t just use the tick boxes on the form - you’ll have a better chance of getting the benefits your child needs if you use the boxes below the questions to explain and give examples of their needs. Write about specific occasions where your child needed help or care because of their disability or heath condition. "

The page also contains some information about support you can receive to help fill out the form, if needed. 

We have a category on the community dedicated to PIP and DLA, so you also might find it useful to have a look through there for related discussions.

vixen_5053

Thanks it’s been completed, sent off and received as of Monday gone by as I rang to confirm. They said it’s taking roughly about 8 weeks for a decision at the minute for DLA. 

vixen_5053

Hi,

Just an update. My son has been awarded the higher rate care component of DLA, they received forms on the 6th of May and decision made on 25th July. So just over 11 weeks for a decision. They only awarded it to him for 2 years from March 2022-March 2024, is there any reason for this? Is it because he will be 5 then? He is still currently awaiting an assessment for possible ADHD/AUTISM and has unidentified lower limb problems, so he actually got awarded without any diagnosis. 

Very happy but wondering is it worth appealing the mobility side as he is only 3, he does have problems walking but I know only high rate mobility can be awarded before the age of 5, they said that as he can still walk a bit he doesn’t qualify, he needs to be virtually unable to walk to qualify.

Backpayment is being made from 30th March 2022, as I receive universal credit, am I able to claim the disabled child element from this date, if so how do I claim it? 

I receive LCWRA in my Universal Credit, so if I was to apply for carers allowance/carers element, would this be affected in anyway?

Also I am currently private renting, the Local Housing Allowance doesn’t cover my full rent, I have 3 children and have to top up my rent by just over £200, I read somewhere online that if a child receives DLA, the full housing cost may be paid, is this true? If so how do I go about applying for this. Link below:

https://www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice/financial-support/help-with-benefits/disability-living-allowance

Also if was to transfer this from my own account every month to his own child’s account, would that cause any problems in regards to my eligibility for universal credit etc? 

Any advice and help would be much appreciated.

 Thanks.

poppy123456

DLA awards have ends dates and length of awards vary. A diagnosis is not needed for a DLA or PIP award.

You will be entitled to the higher disabled child element of £414.88 extra per month. You'll need to report a change of circumstances and tell them that you're claiming DLA for your child. It will start from the assessment period in which the changes took place (start of the DLA award)

As you're claiming LCWRA for yourself then you won't be able to claim carers element as well as this. If you're claiming UC with a partner then they can claim carers element for looking after the child.

Applying for Carers allowance will not make any difference to your overall benefit entitlement because it's deducted in full from any UC entitlement.

The LHA will only pay the maximum bedrooms that you're entitled to for your circumstances. It maybe possible to claim for an extra bedroom for your child if they can't share a room because of their disability.

https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/Calculating-Your-Bedroom-Entitlement

vixen_5053

Thanks very much for the advice. 

Regarding his mobility, would this be worth appealing as mentioned in my previous comment?

Also if I was to transfer the DLA money each month from my account to his, to save for him, would this be taken into account for my universal credit, if it was at some point to go over the £6k mark, even though it would be in his own account but I am the trustee? 

vixen_5053

Also I am entitled to three bedrooms on LHA, where I live is only three bedrooms, I know it may be a silly question but I obviously then wouldn’t be able to claim for an extra bedroom for him? Thanks 

vixen_5053

Also can I appeal just the award length of a child’s DLA claim? 

poppy123456

To be entitled to the high rate mobility your child must be virtually unable to walk. If this doesn't apply then you won't be entitled to the higher rate.

Yes, you can challenge the award length only but before doing this i'd advise you to get some expert advice from an agency near you. Start here. https://advicelocal.uk/

vixen_5053

Okay he is physically limited in his walking ability but not to the point he is virtually unable to walk. 

Do they not take into account the mental repurcussions of his conditions? Like when we’re out he has to be physically restrained from running out into the road or harming others and himself, he is a danger to himself and others when at home and more when he is out and about, is this something I can argue? He has to be straped into the pram when this happens 

vixen_5053

Does this not involve mobility problems? 

poppy123456

Children can also qualify if they have a severe visual impairment, are both deaf and blind, or are severely mentally impaired.

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 another, or damage to property’
• be so unpredictable that they require another person to watch over them whenever they are awake

Before doing anything else you need to get some expert advice from an agency near you. Start here. https://advicelocal.uk/

It's not possible to give any specific advice on whether he would be entitled to high rate mobility because i don't know anything about your son's conditions.

vixen_5053

Okay thanks very much for the info and advice, much appreciated. 

L_Volunteer

You are welcome @vixen_5053. Our info and advice are the very least you deserve. If we can do anything else to support you, please don't hesitate to let us know. We are all here for you 

vixen_5053

Hi,

How exactly do I add this to my universal credit claim? I went into report a change, and don’t know what to choose?

 Thanks 

poppy123456

Try "children and other people that live with you" if that's no help then put a message on your journal under the payment section and tell them that you're now claiming DLA high rate care for your child. Also tell them the start date of the claim.

vixen_5053

Yes I have since put a message on my journal informing them of this and the start and end date and that it should be backdated to the start of his DLA claim. Thanks for your help. 

L_Volunteer

It is really positive to hear this news @vixen_5053. You are welcome, it is the very least you deserve.

Thanks for your positive feedback. If we can do anything else to support you, please don't hesitate to let us know. We are all here for you 

vixen_5053

Hi,

I thought it would be better to add on this thread so you know the background rather than creating a new post.

I receive DLA for my child at the higher rate for care but nothing for mobility. This was a 2 year award until March 2024.I have just received this letter in the post:

He is about to turn 5 near end of the year. There is a form attached with it. I am a little bit confused by this form. I’m not sure if I have to treat this like a whole new claim, tell them about his personal care needs and his mobility problems or just his mobility problems as this is the question asked for personal care:

His care needs haven’t changed since his last award. They seem to be just asking about his mobility but do mention that his whole claim might be looked at including personal care and mobility. 

Has anyone else had experience with this? Any advice would be appreciated.

 Thanks. 

poppy123456

You only need to fill the form in if you think he's entitled to a mobility award. If you do this then you'll need to fill the whole form in again. Yes there's always some risk to his current award when you do this.

vixen_5053

So only fill in the the mobility bit? 

And what do you mean I’ll have to fill in the whole form again? Even if his care needs haven’t changed and I just want to let them know about his mobility problems 

Thanks for your help.