advice needed for benefits

[MissFM]

Re: advice needed for benefits

Has he seen a psychiatrist with specific expertise in learning disabilities? (I am asking this not to cause alarm, but it is a magic gateway to services and benfits in my experience, and as difficult to access as.. )

Re: advice needed for benefits

His learning disabilites is his reading and writing which is extremely poor. He cannot understand people when they talk to him. He gets scared in new places. His connections advisor wrote he had dyslexia ( something i knew nothing about as he was living with his father at the time ). he has Emotional and behaviour disorder ( diagnosed at 8 years old ). Conduct disorder too. He also has enceprisis since 8yrs old.

Given the above pre-existing conditions which he has had for about 11 years, I assume there must be a huge paper trail from the school and from people such as Educational Psychologists?

[debs1974]

Re: advice needed for benefits

His learning disabilites is his reading and writing which is extremely poor. He cannot understand people when they talk to him. He gets scared in new places. His connections advisor wrote he had dyslexia ( something i knew nothing about as he was living with his father at the time ). he has Emotional and behaviour disorder ( diagnosed at 8 years old ). Conduct disorder too. He also has enceprisis since 8yrs old.

[MissFM]

Re: advice needed for benefits

Debs

I am so sorry for what you are going through - I also have a son with severe learning disabilities/behavioural problems. I'm afraid it is a fight all the way but you can win so that he has what he needs. If it's any help, my son now does after years of fighting and some despair.

Your son is most probably entitled to DLA but you do need to fill in the forms (which are harrowing) in a way that ticks the official boxes. It's terribly distressing because you normally spend all your time trying to look for positives but for these forms you have to look at worst case scenarios and it gets very upsetting.

I don't mean to pry but what learning disabilities does he have and are they officially diagnosed?

Are his behavioural issues diagnosed?

Do you have any support network?

I will help you all I can - from bitter but ultimately successful experience - and if I can't help you I will try to point you to a network that can.

If you would like to PM me please do.

FM

[debs1974]

Re: advice needed for benefits

from personal experience..my husband was turned down for dla when we was helped by the CAB, but when we appealed by ourselves we won. We asked a group called Money Matters to help with my son's form as they stated that it is how the form is presented.

Re: advice needed for benefits

I trust you know most DLA applications are turned down on initial application and have to be appealled. It doesn't sound as though he is going to get a lot of support from the medics though from what you write.

CAB are usually superb with benefits - it may be worth your while going to chat to them.

[leclerc]

Re: advice needed for benefits

mm well waiting for an answer from them, they are awaiting a doctor report

IF they turn him down then please appeal the decision because it is my understanding that DLA is being turned down regularly when a claimant would usually automatically qualify for it. On appeal the case is usually won. I'm not saying that this is always the case but please appeal it if they turn it down. It would cost you just the price of a stamp and there is a 50:50 chance.

[debs1974]

Re: advice needed for benefits

mm well waiting for an answer from them, they are awaiting a doctor report

[leclerc]

Re: advice needed for benefits

Does he qualify for DLA(Disability Living Allowance)?