hi all

just a quick query and wondered if anyone knew or receipt of the motability side of DLA?

have looked on the website for the criteria etc and my youngest has TOF/OA and i receive the care component for DLA and wasnt sure if i would qualify.

she will be 3 in August so not sure what happens etc..

any info would be great.

thanks

liz

Hi Liz,
Not totally sure but I think that you may get it if you receive the highest level of dla.
Jayne x

Hi there. As I’m sure you know, there are 2 components to DLA benefit, a care component and a mobility component, each with different levels of payment. You can get paid for both if your needs are such.
As far as I know, you have to be in receipt of the mobility side of DLA (i.e. actual walking ability) rather then the care side we (hopefully!!) get for our TOFS in order to qualify for ‘motability’.
If you get the mobility side, you can apply for the motability scheme (note the slight difference in terms) which means you can apply for a vehicle.
Not heard of any of our TOFS getting this, but know a bit about it as my Mum qualifies for mobility component DLA as she struggles to walk due to arthritis etc.
To qualify for the mobility side, your child HAS to be over 3 years, as before then any child would obviously struggle to walk far. Then i think the guidelines say something like ‘cannot wlak far without severe pain or discomfort’. Unless your child has a physical disability of some sort, I would not expect a TOF child to qualify under ‘normal’ circumstances.
Claire
PS If any TOF parents are in receipt and know more than me, please post! x
PPS Sorry if I am ‘teaching a grandmother to suck eggs’, but I thought I would add background info for future forum visitors looking for info.

PS I think there are quite a few of our TOFS on the highest rate care component, but it doesn’t in any way entitle you automatically to the mobility side.

thanks for the info

i am in receipt of the high level of care component for my daughter at the mo.. and my mum does get both as she also suffers from arthritus (soz cant spell!). so i know abit about it too but not in terms of TOFS etc.

liz

Hi Liz
We get high rate dla for our daughter (tof/oa) and also mobility allowance since her third birthday. This was awarded in relation to her limited ability to walk due to futher complications and illness last winter. We have always received high rate care component for her, and at the time of her reassessment last Jan age 2,she was on oxygen, had limited walking- short distances with support, and couldn’t pull herself up to standing from sitting or kneeling. She had been referred for physiotherapy and had orthotic shoes for mobile ankle joints.She was awarded mobility component at that time, but it did not commence until she was 3. If your daughter is awarded mobility you would receive literature about the motability scheme automatically. I expect when our daughter is reassessed this year she may not receive the mobility component again. She is still behind her peers in terms of her physical abilities, but her walking and general mobility has improved.

Hi JONJOE,
Was interested to hear about your post as i have been wondering about a mobility claim for Harrison. He is 3 and a half and can only really walk to the end of the road without having to be carried. He didn’t even begin to walk until he was 2 years old. He sees a physiotherapist who gives him exercises and monitors him.
He has problems with his ‘proprioceptive’ muscles in his ankles, which means he has poor balance and co-ordination. He is also tiny for his age (only 26 pounds) and has very little strength in his legs due to long term feeding difficulties. He is like an average toddler at 18 months I would say. He can’t stand on one leg without holding on to something, and often loses his balance.
Has anyone else got experience of similar in relation to DLA?
Claire

Hi Claire
When was Harrison last re-assessed for his DLA? I can only assume that as Isobel was due to turn 3 within the period for which she had been granted high rate care component,they felt she was likely to require mobility assistance over and above that required by a typical 3 year old. Although she also had respiratory issues/oxygen etc,in addition to her poor mobility, it sounds as though she was at a similar level of mobility as Harrison. It may be worth reapplying (groan !), on the grounds of his ongoing mobility problems and get your physio to give you a report to back you up.
Joanne

when I got help filling in peters renewal last month, the lady mentioned about the mobility side to me.

basically, to qualify for the high rate mobility, the person has to have more severe walking difficulties, this is the level where you also qualify for a car.

to quailify for the lower rate, the person need must need guidance or supervision outdoors, which could include being with the child to make sure they don’t eat something they shouldn’t.

You can claim for mobility needs from:

•age three, if your child is unable, or virtually unable, to walk or would be at risk if they tried to walk
•age three, if your child is both 100 per cent disabled because of loss of eyesight and not less than 80 per cent disabled because of deafness
•age three, if your child is severely mentally impaired with severe behavioural problems and qualifies for the highest rate of care component
•age five, if your child needs guidance or supervision when walking out of doors