DLA change if circumstances

[Bertiebear]

Just wondering has anyone done a COC for their child? And how long the turnaround has been? Mines gone to Wolverhampton. I know COC can take longer than new claims. But someone said they’d waited up to 14 weeks.

[Nic1982]

I applied for a DLA change of circumstances for my son recently and the result came back last week. It took 8 weeks from when we sent the form in.

Not sure if you know (as I didn’t) that they suspend your payment until it has been looked at and a decision made.

[derbomber1]

I work on DLA, currently a slight backlog with reported change of circumstances but not massive and FYI it is not normal practice to suspend payments on COC's.

[Bertiebear]

Originally Posted by Nic1982

I applied for a DLA change of circumstances for my son recently and the result came back last week. It took 8 weeks from when we sent the form in.

Not sure if you know (as I didn’t) that they suspend your payment until it has been looked at and a decision made.

See more...

That’s very unusual

[Bertiebear]

Originally Posted by derbomber1

I work on DLA, currently a slight backlog with reported change of circumstances but not massive and FYI it is not normal practice to suspend payments on COC's.

See more...

I’m really panicking. My son is severely sight impaired. Currently gets mrc and lrm. His award runs until 2020 he is 10. I’m on several forums and all I hear is their children’s claims getting reduced or stopped after putting in a COC. I really wished I hadn’t done it now. Stress before Christmas isn’t good.

[derbomber1]

Very unusual for a claim to be reduced or stopped on a COC, that's not to say it doesnt happen but the Decision Maker has to have really good grounds to do it and has to be able to prove an improvement in the child. Assuming your son has a CVI that states a severe visual impairment then there would not really be able to reduce an award. If you have provided upto date medical information and your claim form clearly shows that his needs are substantially in excess then they would be looking at the component you want reviewing. I for obvious reasons cannot guarantee any sort of decision I can only give the benefit of my experience!

[Twiggy1953]

Originally Posted by derbomber1

I work on DLA, currently a slight backlog with reported change of circumstances but not massive and FYI it is not normal practice to suspend payments on COC's.

See more...

I rang in a COC for my DS who has moved out of home into a care home and I’ve noticed his November payment hasn’t been made.

[derbomber1]

Moving into a care home is a "different" change of circumstances (should have explained that in my first post, a COC can be a change in the needs arising from a disability whether deterioration or improvement or a move into a care home/hospital). In this instance a suspension may well be necessary so it can be established who is funding the stay (in some instances it can be payable and in some it can't). This is called payability, suspending the payments prevents an overpayment being accrued if it is found that the care component isn't payable.

[Bertiebear]

Originally Posted by derbomber1

Moving into a care home is a "different" change of circumstances (should have explained that in my first post, a COC can be a change in the needs arising from a disability whether deterioration or improvement or a move into a care home/hospital). In this instance a suspension may well be necessary so it can be established who is funding the stay (in some instances it can be payable and in some it can't). This is called payability, suspending the payments prevents an overpayment being accrued if it is found that the care component isn't payable.

See more...

Out of interest do they work weekends? But obviously the phone lines are closed? Someone on a forum said they got a call yesterday was very surprised.

[derbomber1]

Yes we do. There are teams based at Blackpool and Birmingham. Weekend work is only when the computer systems are available.