Received DLA finally - post here-don't start a new thread!

[Rosie]

Hiya Helly Welly

Great news! I have the same and it was such a relief to know I could afford to buy the things I needed. It also gave me a little more leeway when it came to giving up work.



Rosie

[MandyG]

OMG I am in shock

to re cap - I applied for dla in nov 2007 for rebecca - we were refused and went to appeal september 2008 - again refused so I applied again.

This time we were refused so I ask them to look at it again, at this point we had been to gosh so had them behind us

just sent in my appeal letter last week and this morning we got the letter

they have awarded rebecca HIGH rate care and HIGH rate mobility til 3rd sept 2010 - day before she turns 5

am so chuffed - worked so hard fighting this for last year.

No idea what to do

anyone know what this opens up?

I know she is entitled to blue badge which I applied for last week.

I have already phoned tax credits and let them know and they are back dating money - no idea what though cause no sure what effect dla has on tax credits

my PSEHV said something about me getting a mobility car??

I have applied for carers - but only cause my hubby found out couple weeks agi he is getting dla - low rate mobility and middle rate care (he has suspected narcolepsy)

anything else?

I am in total shock and would like to thank everyone on here who have helped me over the last year

good luck to everyone else who is fighting it

xxxxx

[Englishgremlin1]

Congratulations! A well earned victory.

Just one thing that I would add to your list and that would be to apply for exemption from road tax. This can make quite a significant difference to the cost of running the car. There are two advantages in doing this, it gives you a exemption from certain tolls on bridges and places like that and obviously saves you money in running around.

[barkingmad]

Mandy, I am so pleased for you! You seriously have had a battle and come out victorious! Well done for perservering!

I cant think of anything else, except ensuring that the electric, gas and water know you have a disabled child and hubby, sometimes you get a cheaper rate and with the water they can put you down as a priority should there be a crisis they will bring you bottled water quickly. You should have a separate carers assessment done for both hubby and daughter, you may be entitled to help at home (I get it!), a free bus pass or swimming pass...but this depends on your local authority. It may pay to ask for a social care assessment, as well as the carers assessment and an OT assessment, for both hubby and daughter. They should also check you are on the right benefits as you maybe entitled to disability premium added, or help with council tax/housing benefit. You can phone the Benefits helpline for info as well. The motability can be used for car or elcetric wheelchair for daughter. If I can think of anything else i will come back but I am sooo pleased for you!

The tax credits increase is quite substantial really....looks like someone will be having a great Xmas!

[MandyG]

thanks guys

I had remembered about the tax exemption just after I posted.

how do I go about getting a carers assessment done? and an OT assessment?

we have an OT for becca but she hasn't been very helpful - she did mention at the professionals planning meeting last week that rebecca may be able to get smaller handrails put on our staircase and outside our house as she cannot manage stairs withouth help.

My hubby has never had any assessments. It's awful - I cant afford to be ill - not just looking after 3 young kids (5,3 and 1) one with extra needs, but I have to physically carry my husband up the stairs daily as he passes out,

both of us cant believe how much our luck has changed and touch wood, it continues.

I know gary gets the disability premium added to help the council tax, BUT it has been reduced cause he now gets dla and obviously I think it changes it again cause I have applied for carers.

will contact gas and electric and let them know.

How do I apply for the mobility? this is totally confusing - These boards have been a life saver - no one in 'real world' tells you all these things -you are just expected to know and if you dont ask they wont say

thank you so much again for all your help

xxxxx

[dibley]

Well done Mandy. I'm really pleased for you. Have just applied for my DLA with the help of Donna. I've heard that it takes 12 weeks for it to come through now because of a back load. What of load of....... I hope it takes a lot less co's we could really do with the financial help now.

Sue

[barkingmad]

Hi Mandy,

to get a social care assessment and a carers assessment you ring your local Social Services Dept or Local Council, either way they will make sure you get to the right person, you can also request an OT assessment at the same time, some councils will register you disabled others dont, if Ot has already said that daughter need adaptations then, i would contact her and really push it. even if its not her dept she has a duty of care to tell you where and how to get the info you require.

Life sounds very hectic for you, do you have a social worker who can keep an eye on your needs too? This will be done again under the carers assessment...it is you right to have your own assessment done as a carer, they have to do it, some SS depts are slow though, but really insist and explain how difficult it is and that you really are physically and emotionally overstretched hun. You honestly cant keep that level of care up for your hubby and kids..its not healthy and will make you ill, so then there would be a major crisis for them to contend with...I really wish I was there to fight it for you...I get so cross that people like yourself are struggling so badly with no help!

To apply for motability, you can go to the website or there should of been an info sheet in your DLA award pack for daughter. They are lovely people who will talk to you about th ins and outs of it all.

Just had a friend round who said she cant get a cheaper tariff on elctric and gas,she is with a different energy supplier than me and she has HEDS/fibro too. Dont forget to phone the water boards...they can make you are priority, and get you water out if there is a problem with the supply. If it works out cheaper they can put you on a meter,...there is something called a social tariff, which takes into account low income families and families with members who are disabled.

Obviously the rates will vary county to county etc, but I know that if I go on a meter and the tarriff I would save nearly £300 a year. But I would have to pay the £497 social tariff even if I didnt use that much water. I am having a meter put in and seeing how it goes for a quarter, then make a decision about the social tariff. You can have the meter installed in Plymouth, and if it looks like you are going to go over the normal water bill, as long as its within a the first twelve months they will switch you back to normal rates, so there is a fail safe option there.

there is also something called a family fund which you maybe able to access...but I will have a look into that before people get excited, as I'm not sure of the ins and outs. Hope this has helped hun
Donna

[Englishgremlin1]

You mentioned how can you apply for mobility, not quite sure what you meant or did you mean the motobility scheme?

If that is the case you should of had a leaflet with your results. If you did not get one you can do a quick Google search and they to do good deals on cars if you haven't already got one. Since you now get higher rate mobility under the DLA that means you would qualify for this scheme. It could mean you could get a car with any adaptions you need and very good insurance cover but it would mean they'd take a large chunk of your DLA money to pay for this. It is a scheme well worth looking into and to some people it is a good way of getting mobile but I would certainly do the sums before going for it.

[MandyG]

thanks everyone

I did mean the motobility scheme - all makes sense now

will have to think about it. our car is fine for us just now. We could just really do with a special needs car seat for becca - one that swivals out so I can just place her in instead of breaking my back.

I have also requested a carers assessment and contacted gas/electics who are sending out a form for us to fill out as may be able to get reduced rate

not sure about water as we are in scotland and I dont think we ever have to worry about that but will look into it anyway

I appled to family fund at beginning of year before dla and before proper diagnosis and will try again

thank yo so much for all your help

ps - got the blue badge yesterday - fantastic although I am awaiting first comments from people saying usual - ' are you sure you should have one of those?'

got to park right next to hospital entrance today which was brilliant. - this was an appt for my hubby who passed out when we got in - funny but it isn't when i have one in buggy and carrying becca whilst having gary leaning on me haha

[Helly Welly]

I realise that this is unimportant, but all those who receive DLA can get a carer in free at most cinemas. Go to http://www.ceacard.co.uk/ to get the details and check if your local cinema supports the scheme. I know that in the grand scheme of things it's not important but cinema prices are high and getting an adult in free is a benefit that i will be making the most of. You have to pay a £5.50 admin charge but the card lasts for three years.

[barkingmad]

HI Mandy..when you see the Ot mention that to them..I mean the swivel seat and your back in the car...they maybe able to sort something out.

[Sue New]

I realise that this is unimportant, but all those who receive DLA can get a carer in free at most cinemas. Go to http://www.ceacard.co.uk/ to get the details and check if your local cinema supports the scheme. I know that in the grand scheme of things it's not important but cinema prices are high and getting an adult in free is a benefit that i will be making the most of. You have to pay a £5.50 admin charge but the card lasts for three years.

Hiya

Just as a matter of interest Helly Welly, I have been to the cinema a couple of times recently with my friend acting as my carer. I always thought I needed one of the cards you mentioned, but when I paid for the tickets, I just asked for one disabled and carer, and we only had to pay for one ticket. I am registered disabled, and had to show them that card and they made a note of the number in their books .

Sue.

[Helly Welly]

I can't register disabled in my area, i tried but they literally just made a note of it, i certainly didn't get a card!!

[alison1984]

woooooooo hooooooooooo after 2 attempts we have finally been awarded DLA for our 4 year old daughter, we were near on giving up but finally they accepted our application and awarded her high rate disability and low rate care we are over the moon its been a long fight but its tought us never give up

[barkingmad]

Congratulations Alison..I know you had a tough fight but I am so glad you were finally successful. Hopefully this will take some pressure off, as we all know, living with a disability actually costs more money!