Do FAS children qualify for DLA?

[DeeDeeMac]

Looking through some of the posts people refer to receiving DLA for children with FAS. Is this something I should be looking into or is it very rare to obtain? I have not got a formal diagnoses of FAS for my child so not sure whether it would even be worth applying for.

[David_99]

Hiya DeeDee, my eleven year old doesn't have formal diagnose of FASD but is eligible for mid-level DLA, which I get. My daughter has been helped enormously by a formal Ed Psych report, which has a lot of force behind it. Best advice is, get an Ed Psych report, fill out the monstrous DLA form as fully as you can - putting every little issue that affects your child - and send it off. If they turn it down, appeal.

David.

[Kyle07]

We got DLA for our grandson after he got his DLA. Not sure if you will be successful without a diagnosis.

[Magicgem in reply to Kyle07]

Hello, children do not need a diagnosis for DLA to be awarded. They have to need care/supervision over and above that of a child the same age. Simply make sure that you put down everything that makes your child more difficult to care for. Look at the notes that are available. I would advise ringing and obtaining a paper copy of the forms rather than filling it in on line. Then you can spend time writing and re-writing on a separate sheet, using the headings, or write it in pencil on the form itself. It is time consuming but worth while to get it right.

[Legemain]

I echo the replies above. No diagnosis necessary, but be ruthless/pessimistic when filling in the form. You're not trying to convince someone about the best bits of your child (you know the the good bits), you're trying to show the worse. The money is really useful to fund respite - which you may need.