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Hello all

Doozer

Hi Everyone, I have joined the forum as my partner's little boy aged three and a half was diagnosed Autistic spectrum about 6 weeks ago now, although of course she's known it for a long time before this it was quite a releif to get the official diagnosis as we thought at long last some so much needed help should come our direction, both financial and practical day to day support n some respite..

Well some good interesting support groups have turned up and we have found some local play centers that allow him in free so this is all positive stuff, it seems there is quite a lot to take in

But

We are in the UK and having a horrid time trying to sort out the benefit forms the benefits agency are overflowing and not making furthur appointments  we where told that they would phone back within 6 weeks to make an appointment to fill in disability living allowence form and the full time carer form but nothing she tried the carers asociation but they also are saying phone back in febuary ???

The form says on it that you will require help to fill it in

but how long  we live on a tight budget and things are painful at the moment

We'd be very greatful if anyone could point us in the direction of assistance with the form filling  my partner is dyslexic & adhd which doesnt help things any tbh

anyway Ive not really looked through the forum yet so no doubt will proberbly find something on this subject

kind regards

K

  • You dont say how old your partners son is! but if you have a health visitor or paedatrician they should be able to help you with filling in forms, or even a local childrens centre usually have someone available to help people.

    It can be quite daunting to begin with, it has taken me 6/8 weekd sometimes to fill in a dla form (due to a hectic household has well).

    Sometimes i did find answering a page or two a day, maybe you could ask your partner the questions and either of you fill them in or if you have a member of the family that could help.

  • Doozer, try the CAB. They usually have someone who is an expert at form filling-in (and knows how to answer the questions in a way to get you what you need).

  • hi Doozer - form filling, what a pain, especially trying to get it right.  The DLA form isn't designed for autism, as far as I can recall, but with imagination you can complete it adequately.  I don't know if it's online.   It's yrs since I filled one in - they sent it in the post to me.   You don't necessarily need help to fill it in, but if you're concerned that you won't fill it in adequately, then it's best to get help.  Your local council shd have a Welfare Rights Dept - they shd be able to help with any benefit form filling.  I don't know if their waiting list is as horrendous as the other agencies you've contacted.  There may be parents at the support groups who've filled these forms in before who can help.  I found that you need to think a bit differently when filling a DLA form in.  You sort of need to think a bit laterally.  They ask if the person who's claiming can walk, for example.  Well yes, my son has no problems with walking BUT he wd be unsafe out on his own, he needs someone with his BECAUSE......(fill in).  It's that sort of thinking.  The present political/economic climate is incredibly anti benefit claimants so however well you do, you may be refused by some pen-pusher with no empathy.  You then must absolutely appeal.  You could well win the appeal.  My son was refused when we tried to claim a higher rate DLA in 2003.  We went to appeal - took a number of months to get a date for it - there were 3 men on the panel - they granted him a lifetime award in about 20 mins flat.  However, I've since learnt that a lifetime award can be altered at any time, so they did their best, but it's not as good as it sounds.   They were brill.  I don't know if things have changed since then with appeals.  If you think you can do a good job of filling in the forms without help, then go ahead.  Others will be along to give advice which will also help.  bw