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DLA application rejected, should we appeal?

puffin

HI all,

Just wondered if anyone else has been through the same problem.  My son is on the spectrum (ASPERGERS) not yet officially diagnosed but recently commenced homeschooling as he was suffering real anxiety there.

We applied for DLA three months ago and they have just come back and said no!  It seems i can ask for a Mandatory reconsideration!?  Should i ?  My son does need extra care (as i am sure you all understand) but i do not want to force an ssessment on him if not needed and especially if they will only decline the application again afterwards.  I also feel unsure about his entitlement.  He definatly does need more help and guidance than his peers, symptoms varie though depending on his anxiety levels but social skills and eye contact are poor.  pain and heat and colour sensitivity issues, poor working memory etc etc.

Should i try again or leave it be?  Should i have applied in the first place?

Many thanks

Puffin

  • You have to send evidence in. You can't just say that your child has more needs than a child their own age. You also have to spell it out how he's like on an average day.

  • Hi Puffin,

    You can still appeal a DLA application for your son even if he hasn't got his diagnosis yet, as it's about his care and mobility needs.

    As others have said try Citizens Advice, or the NAS Welfare Rights Service, who can book a 20 min pre-planned call for you to discuss this matter in more detail. Just give the NAS hotline a call.

    Also other places of help may be Contact A Family, which is a charity for disabled children and they can really give you a lot of good advice and support on a whole range of issues over the phone and online.

    The Child Poverty Action Group/ Disabilty Rights UK are also sector leading charities for in-detail legal etc advice on welfare benefit and other issues too.

     

    Worse comes to worse you may need to make an appeal to a tribunal and/or make a fresh new claim in about six months time, but am not sure if the this timing applies or not. Child Poverty Action Group would defo be able to address this.

     

    And Remember not to give up!!!!  

     

    Good Luck,

    urspecial

  • Yes you should have applied and yes you should appeal.  If you can send copies of his diagnostic report, any other relevant reports if he has anything like dyslexia, anxiety, ADD/ADHD, depression, is he on medication?  Anything that is official that you can send and you can get your local Parent Partnership to help you with the appeal:

    http://parentpartnership.org.uk/find-your-pps/

  • Well I would  reapply as both my sons were turned down first time.However it would help greatly for a strong case with some documentary proof.Did the GP get involved in the anxiety etc.Are you awaiting a hospital appointment.The best chance you have is some definite professional evidence.I did have and although turned down first time when I appealed it was granted.