Disability Living Allowance

Hi

I have been advised to apply for DLA for my son. I am not sure what to do?? Does anyone have any experience of applying for this? Do they even recognise asthma?

Advice please

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Yes they recognize Asthma. They only grant it if symptoms and problema evident every day. Tho o don't know how it works for children. Dla has a lower age limit and sorry can't remember the age. When filling it in they will ask for dr's name to support your claim. Better to use and request consultant to verify as they recommending u apply and will

be more supportive in your claim. Hope things improve for your son.

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You have to show how your son's asthma means he is different from other children. Things he can't do etc Please do not fall into the trap of taking your sons worst day go for an average day there is a huge clamp down on people over-claiming sadly some people cheating the system has meant that it is much harder to get DLA. You need to get as much evidence as you can his school might be helpful in backing your son's claim, get your GP and consultant on board as well as any specialist nurses etc. Getting DLA for an adult with asthma is a nightmare and I think it is the same if not worse for children. Don't get disheartened or be put off you will get a lot of help and support here, the form is not designed for asthma and many questions will seem totally inappropriate, there are places where you can explain in detail and don't be afraid to write up on a seperate sheet how you son is different from other children his age.

Good luck

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We where also told to claim DLA for Ryan but we got refused as apparently he doesn't require more care than a child of his age with out asthma. His class teacher has told me to get another form and she will fill in the section that another person who knows the child has to fill in and she will state that on a weekly basics there is general a change in his asthma medication and it affects his education as when he has an attack after it he requires between 10 mins to half an hour quiet time and that is time he is lossing on his education and he requires a teaching assistant to help him with the meds and remind him when to take his meds. That they have to be very vigulant on Ryan as he is embarassed about his asthma and has a habit of hiding when is havign problems which delays getting the inhalers in him before it is to late. She si also going ot add details about the learnig issues he has an the extra help he is know getting in school for these and that she is in the process of getting him refered for assessment for a mental health issue ADHD. I would apply but get help to fill the form in and get the the doctor/consultant who todl you put the claim in to fill in the section about the child as this should help. Good luck and I hope your claim goes well

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Hi I get DLA for my daughter we are on the lowest rate she is 11 we started to get it when she was 10. When we applied for it I had to put down literally everything I had some help from the citizens advice as I am no good with knowing what to put in it. What I filled it out with was literally everything from what meds she was on to how often she needed to take her meds how often the nights were disrupted, how often she was away from school, how hers and our lives were changed from it also how she can't go out anywhere on her own as she always needs to be with someone responsible who can help her or get help while she is out etc etc . If it was left down to me to fill it out I would have at a complete loss. Also something else that helped out was also a letter from the school teachers, a doctors letter a letter from the specialist and also a statement form somebody who knows you and your child and can explain from an outsiders point of view on what life is like. My mum did my statement as when we have weeks of sleepless nights throught being up with my daughter she has her for a night or 2 to let us catch up on some sleep as she is very aware of her asthma and how to keep her calm and do the inhalers and other meds with her. I hope this helps shelly

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Hi there, i claimed DLA for my son from about 6 months to 5 years old for asthma and eczema combined.... he was on the higher rate at that time around £50 a week. They dropped him to the lower rate when he was 3 1/2 their reason was because he was at nursery part time and i wasn't looking after him!!! When he went to full time school at 5 they stopped my claim and refused to renew again when i asked it was because he was at school and it was a mainstream one (about 3 days a week though cos he was ill the others.. lol)

However they do recognise asthma and my experience was 11 years ago now so hopefully things have changed!!

Oh we were also entitled to carers allowance to start with, not sure what the ruling is on that now but might be worth a look

Good luck with the national joke that is the benefits system! (I'm not jaded and discouraged or anything, honest)

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Just to add about putting down the average day - don't fall into the trap the other way of making light of things. My Mum and Dad went years without getting what they were entitled to because they were assessing Dad's symptoms on his very best days (he doesn't have asthma, he has Lewy Body Disease). In retrospect they were probably a bit in denial about Dad's diagnosis and prognosis and so were always trying to remain dead chipper and upbeat. But the truth was that they missed out on benefits that they were entitled to (for years and years). At this point Dad had reduced the hours he was working and Mum had almost given up to care for Dad, so the money would have really helped them. So don't fall into the trap on playing down your son's symptoms! Lx

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hi,

i have applied 3times for DLA for my son who has asthma, and been turned down on all occassions. despite having a letter from the school and asthma specialist nurse. the last time a local charity called DIAL (disabilityinformation advice line) helped fill out the form.

he is on blue and purrple inhalers, singulair steroids daily and pred and anti-biotics at least once a month. he struggles with PE at school and even play times he cant run around much or he has to have extra inhalers. he has a croupy/hacking cough most nights which keep him awake and he gets frequently sent home from school. he has ended up in hospital loads of times as well on a nebuliser.

i was advised by the asthma nurse to claim because of how bad he is (he's 4) and has been like this since 18months. obviously he has to be reminded and helped to take his inhalers and tablets both at home and school. therefore he does need more care than another child his age without asthma, but DLA said he didnt.

its very hard to claim for asthma.

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I have also claimed for myself and I got rrefused as I am able to walk about and don't need aid to get about. I can't go out on my own anymore with my children as I can't even walk up a flight of satirs anymore with out havign to use my inhaler. I have just had my inhalers uped again for the second time in a month I have been on 2 cpourses of anti-bios and a course of oral steriods and today I have had to go on a nebuliser. The benefits agencie are so weird. I know people who have DLA for issues a lot less life threatening than asthma and it is so stupid. My mother gets DLA and she has asthma, BP issues, has had 4 majour strokes that have only affected her walking and she has careers come in to her bungalow 3 times a day to make sure she takes her meds and assist her with dressing and personal hygiene she doesn't need someone with her when she walks about as she has a stick and when it is charged she has an electric chair to get about with. We supply our children the care they need as it is our job as parents and we supply the reminders for taking meds again as it is our job to do this and when they need assistance to get about and dressed like for example can't walk to school so we get a taxi to school again we do this ourselves as we have to it is all part of the job of being parents. Maybe someone form the benefits agency need to come and have a day with out children on there worst day ever and see how hard it is and how much work we have to do for our children that a parent who has a child with-out the illness doesn't have to do.

Sorry about the rant it is just so frustrating that we can't seem to get the benefit our children are entitled too it is so stupid how it works

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I think people need to be clear what DLA is. It is extra money to help you do the things other folk would find ""normal"" every day and it is about things like getting to toilet, making a meal, going shopping etc. So just because you had an attack and ended up on a ventilator were alright for a few weeks and had another big attack will not quailfy you. My advice is sit down and write out what you can't do on bad days, then write down everything you would expect to be able to do on a good day and then how many days a week you have good, bad and inbetween days. Then fill in the form using your good day/bad day as a guide. You must also remember you are going to have to prove everything you have said and they will write to your GP, Consultants, OT's themselves gather evidence so it is worth warning them that something might be coming along, they will also look at things like is it temporary do the medics expect to get you better in the next 6 months. If the evidence supports the claim then they will decide how much you get depending on how much help you need and when. I am informed by someone who works for the benefits agency that asthma claims are heavily scrutinised these days meaning they will almost certainly contact your medical team.

Bex

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Hi Everyone,

just to add remember DLA is made up of :- 1 Mobility component (2 rates middle or higher).

2. Attendance allowance ( 3 rates - higher, middle and lower)

Mobility part obviously speaks for itself and is to help people who have difficulty walking.

Attendance part is for help to do things eg prepare a meal, get showered, got dressed etc.

It is possible to get the mobility component without the attendance part. It's also worth remembering you have the right to appeal the decision.

I hope this helps someone.

LIZ x x

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i was told to apply for dla for my 2 yr old son as he as severe asthma he is now on a 12 year olds dose of inhalers when i sent the form back with letters from his gp,paediatrician,asthma nurses who c him as well as his nursery i was told he wasn't entitled to dla even though he normally as weekly trips to the dr which on 2 occasions he needs antibiotics and steroids and a nebulizer at least once a mth ihe is constantly coughing at night he has had 11 chest infections since november