DSA and Motorbility

[Nazmann]

Hi. My daughter is 3 and currently going pre-school every Tues and Thurs. She is diagnosed with DS and GDD. Although the school is not far it is not walking distance. Is their scope of getting a car via the motobility scheme? By the time i drop her and come back for work i am very late. Work has been understanding. But i was i can get to her school on time and back for work relatively on time. Any help will do? Thanks.

[BenjiB]

Does she get DLA?

To qualify for a Motability Car she would need to be in receipt of the high rate of the mobility component of DLA. If she can physically walk then that is highly unlikely.

[FragileXmum in reply to BenjiB]

Hi there, my two sons (now adults) have always been in receipt of the qualifying mobility component. They don't have any physical barrier to walking, but because of their learning disabilities have a need for close supervision at all times when out and about for their safety and to ensure they can access the community. Definitely worth investigating.

[BenjiB in reply to FragileXmum]

My son has had DLA since he was 3 but only high rate mobility since he was 14. We had a fight to get it even though he is severely autistic with severe Learning disabilities and epilepsy. He’s 24 now and thankfully his PIP is for life.

These days though it’s a lot tougher to get the High rate for 3 year olds that are physically able to walk. It’s definitely worth investigating though I agree.

[jazzy15]

Hi Nazmann,

Just going to mirror what has already been said really. You may probably know all of the following but just incase, I am going to make clear a few things as I have known a few people with misconceptions about DLA & motability.

*The motability scheme is only accessed with an award of the High Rate mobility component of PIP or (in your case) DLA - the equivalent of PIP for under 16yr olds.

If your daughter is in receipt of this, instead of receiving the monetary amount you could sign up to the scheme & have a car.

The car is never yours to keep, so each time you have to renew your claim, you could then be considered no longer entitled to the high rate mobility & the car has to go back.

*If your daughter is not in receipt of DLA then you need to make a claim.

DLA is made up of two components, care & mobility, you don't necessarily get the same rate for both of these components, so for example you could be awarded high rate care but not receive anything for mobility, or you could be awarded low rate mobility - which then you can only receive the financial payment, you cannot sign up to the motability scheme.

What is important to know is what gives the entitlement to the mobility component - or what will not give you an entitlement.

*Mobility is not awarded to give a person enough time to get between points a-b, or because somewhere is not in walking distance. In your case that means you wouldn't get a car just so you can drop your daughter off on time at nursery & not be late for work, or because it's not in walking distance - the nursery could be 30miles away, it doesn't change your eligibility.

*The entitlement to mobility is only based on your daughter's mobility, her ability to walk. Either your daughter would be virtually unable to walk or walking would lead to a serious deterioration in her health or there's high risk of danger.

Last I just want to say if you are to claim, I would highly recommend you do not fill the forms yourself, contact your local CAB, or disability network, or if you have a support worker they sometimes have people that work for DWP that help families with their claim, or check with other professionals you are involved with.

Contact these before you ring for your application forms - though not essential, it's useful to see if there are long waiting times to get the help with the form, as once you receive the claim forms you are given a date to return them by, you can ring and ask for an extension, but rather than panicking once you have the forms, if you have everything in place ready it just helps with the process.

There are some useful Facebook groups for people claiming DLA for children, just parents supporting each other, bits of advice, sharing experiences, could be worth looking these up.

[1946timmy in reply to jazzy15]

Entitlement to the mobility component is not solely based on someone’s ability to walk.

46 ur old son is Autistic and receives the high rate DLA so receives the high rate mobility component. We have had a Motability car since he was 16, it’s not judged on walking as he is fine walking, it’s the fact his Autism make travelling on buses etc very difficult.

[jazzy15 in reply to 1946timmy]

Yes, you are correct, but in this case it is for a 3yr old. The mobility award is considered on a very different criteria to that of someone age 16 to any older child & very differently to a teen or young adult on PIP. It is extremely hard to get any mobility award let alone full rate for a 3yr old, unless there is severe physical disability. Any DLA award is based on a person or child having considerable difficulty compared to that of another *average* child of the same age, so a 3yr old isn't expected to travel alone, walk a long way, may not be great on public transport, may cry in the supermarket, not like busy places etc etc anyway.

From 5yrs of age onwards, the chances of being awarded the mobility component begin to raise (just a little) if the same difficulties are present. The *average* 5yr old will begin to walk further, travel on public transport better, go around the supermarket better etc etc, so then the 5yr old with the disability the difference in coping & behaviour becomes bigger, therefore difficulties comparable to a child the same age are bigger & that forms the basis of the award.

[SpeedyH]

I recommend that you phone the Downs syndrome association helpline and speak to one of their benefits advisors. You need to be able to demonstrate that your child's mobility needs are significantly greater than other pre school 3 year old, not many of whom would be able to get to school some distance away on foot.

[Bergersil400]

As I remember when my child who has severe LD & Global Developmental Delay was age 3, she had just started getting DLA with care at middle rate & mobility at lower rate. At that point she didn't qualify for a car, and as a non driver I had to take her in a push chair to play group and a special needs nursery. They were both close by and I didn't work at the time.When she started her special school at age 5 she initially was refused assisted transport on the basis we lived within walking distance of her school. I was able to appeal on basis that I had another child at primary school and a baby, and the child at primary started at a different time, so couldn't be in two places at once on foot in all weathers with a baby also in tow.

We won the appeal, and had assisted transport all through school, and also for 6 years she attended the day centre

Perhaps times were different in the early millenium years or perhaps due to being a non driver, but it would be worth you looking into assisted transport for your child once reached school age. I remember the head teacher telling me that about 90% of children came on assisted transport at my daughters school.

[Annabellelily Community friend]

Hi there, just to add to everyone else’s great advice, you can also reach out to Mencap’s learning disability helpline on 0808 808 1111 or their email [e-mail] as they may have knowledge according to your local area as well. Wishing you the best of luck