Child refused DLA renewal

[3Kerry]

Hi, i am new here and was hoping to get some advice please. My 13 year old son has just been refused his dla renewal and now i have to take it to tribunal which is the last thing i wanted to do but i don't understand how after 5 years of being on middle care that he is suddenly responsible enough to deal with every aspect of being type one with little to no help from me. I do all of the everyday stuff aswell as get up in the night when he is low. He can do his injections apart from his bottom and he can check his bs levels but that is where his involvement pretty much ends. He has trouble remembering a dose when i tell him at meal times let alone sort every aspect of life with diabetes. He just wants to be like other kids his age and i believe at the moment while he is under 16 shouldn't be left to get on with it by himself. There is a reason why his hb levels are in a good range or why he has not had any hospital admissions and that because i make sure everything is done right. I have to fight with him to do corrections doses because according to him it's not a big deal or why he must eat lunch at the weekends because he doesn't want to do yet another injection. I would be very grateful for any helpful comments people may have. Have any of you had problems with dla or have your children been lucky enough to be awarded dla. Thanks

 

[Tracey167]

Hi 3kerry
I have had exactly the same problem my daughter dla renewal was refused just before her 13th birthday she had been getting middle rate care for 2 years and nothing has changed to be honest what with all the hormones racing round there bodies at that she it's harder to control there levels. We asked for a re-consideration and that also refused within 3 days of DWP receiving it, then went to appeal and to be honest couldn't believe the idiots we were dealing with we had a doctor who couldn't read properly and the dwp representative who had to be told 3 times she needs to turn the page over to continue reading the detailed diary we had done on my daughters daily routine. We had so much evidence and they still refused it. I also believe why should a child under 16 be given a big responsibility to deal with alone what with changing needles, insulin cartridges, weighing food out and working out there insulin ratio there's no way my daughter could do all that alone she also injects herself and does her own bg test but we have to check her insulin units before she injects it's so easy to make a mistake and insulin is a dangerous drug and I don't think a child should be left in complete control of it. If we left them to do all this thereselfs then we would end up with social services telling us we are not caring for them and they would definatly and up with hospital admissions. We are not giving up we r taking it further if we don't we will re-apply cos they want you to give up and go away so they save money.

 

[mkzp123]

Totally agree with you guys - it's ridiculous
Worth asking for diabetic consultant which your child sees to get a letter to strengthen the case

 

[ally1]

I am shocked, my nephew was refused renewal of dla/PIP because at 14, he was told he was old enough to manage being type1 alongside being autistic

 

[Mrsass]

Does a child with type 1 diabetes really need DLA? They are not, after all, actually disabled. They need no extra care that costs money?! Just extra time and a little bit of extra attention from their care givers/mum/dad.

The only part of my daughter's care that I am consistently actively involved in is ordering her prescriptions. Everything else she does herself. E.G calculating insulin doses, administering insulin, weighing out her food etc etc. Unless she is poorly, then the level of care she receives from me is upped but still, it doesn't cost any money...

100% agree

 

[Shar67]

Every child is different, if you have a confident youngster who wants to take charge of their regime then alls well. There are children who need extra help, becoming a teenager doesn't suddenly make your ability change.

 

[Mrsass]

Every child is different, if you have a confident youngster who wants to take charge of their regime then alls well. There are children who need extra help, becoming a teenager doesn't suddenly make your ability change.

But even if the child isn't confident in taking charge themselves, as @mahola said what extra care does the child need that costs money?

 

[Shar67]

If you have to do everything for her, I presume that means you will not be working or only working part time, the government save a fortune by relatives providing care for young or elderly with health needs, DLA/PIP provides payment for care needs, so it is saving money by not having to pay out for carers.

 

[MrsB]

At some point a child needs to start taking some responsibility for their own care. They do not necessarily need it all suddenly just dumped on them in one go but it has to start somewhere as this is something that will never go away and they need to learn at some point. Especially once they hit senior school and have less structured 'care' at school. I was diagnosed at 12 and pretty much did everything myself apart from cooking. My parents kept an eye on my testing diary but certainly didn't tell what to do and when, or ever do my blood tests for me.

Not trying to be rude as I am curious. What difference does the DLA make to the child's care? What has to change if you cannot get the decision overturned?

Good luck with your appeal

 

[eddie1968]

I think the point that a child is considered to be under 16 makes them eligible for some DLA. Adults get PIP now. Every child is different, some more responsible and independent then there are others who do need extra help. Children do not stop becoming children at 13 as the DWP seem to think. Appeal if you need help.

 

[Robinredbreast]

I think the point that a child is considered to be under 16 makes them eligible for some DLA. Adults get PIP now. Every child is different, some more responsible and independent then there are others who do need extra help. Children do not stop becoming children at 13 as the DWP seem to think. Appeal if you need help.

Plus it's the horrendous teenage years with raging hormones too.

 

[eddie1968]

Agree @Robinredbreast. I get so irritated with the "benefit scrounger" label that was propagated by the media a long time ago to people with disabilities or people in need of extra care. The family members often give up a lot of their time looking after people that saves the state a lot of money. For the people who think diabetes doesn't have medical or care needs then they are deluding themselves, many lives have been shortened or ruined due to diabetes.

 

[Robinredbreast]

Agree @Robinredbreast. I get so irritated with the "benefit scrounger" label that was propagated by the media a long time ago to people with disabilities or people in need of extra care. The family members often give up a lot of their time looking after people that saves the state a lot of money. For the people who think diabetes doesn't have medical or care needs then they are deluding themselves, many lives have been shortened or ruined due to diabetes.

A lady I know has 4 children, 3 with type 1 diabetes. She was PE teacher but has had to give up her job because she couldn't cope with all the planning for lessons, up during the night to more than one child, lack of sleep, coping with endless hospital appointments and the youngest was admitted to hospital a little while ago with DKA, because he became so unwell. She was struggling to keep all the balls in the air, I know this is an unusual case though.

 

[eddie1968]

My attitudes to care and help were reinforced after my last ICU stay in 2012 when I spent 4 weeks on a ventilator in a coma. These beds cost two to three thousands pounds a day and can only be grateful for the NHS and all the specialist Intensive Care doctors and nurses. The next 10 months in recovery were a struggle, unable to work, shop, make meals and feed myself as usual and daily activities like showering etc. I relied a lot on my family and learned a lesson not to take things for granted. My diabetes only contributed to things and probably contributed to my overall 9 weeks in hospital and 10 months at home.

 

[Tracey167]

Yes I agree with eddie1968 a child is a child until they reach 16 some day 18 now but they should be more responsible for thereselfs at 16 not 13 that is ridiculous with hormones racing there glucose levels can be very much unstable. My daughter does as much as she can herself but it's confusing for a child to work out there ratio of insulin in type 1 as she has different ratios for breakfast, lunch and dinner as well and I have to check and double check sometimes my workings out, and to expect a child to take it all on as soon as they reach 13. She doesn't fully understand how to do all the working out. Plus she sometimes has hypos with no warning signs so she can't go out alone she either had us her parents her sister or she has 2 good friends who look out for her at school and know what to look for.