The forms for DLA are long and quite daunting but they should on no account be completed in a hurry. It could be said that they appear to have been designed solely for physical handicaps rather that mental ones as the questions don't appear to lend themselves to easy answering when considering the latter. Take time to complete the forms. Try to break it up and complete sections over several evenings, say. Don't skip any questions because you think they don't apply. Read them again and again just to make sure you can't put something. I was a Claims Manager before leaving my career to look after Richard and believe me these forms are similar, in that the Benefit Authorities like all questions to have an answer, even if it's 'Not Applicable', rather than leave them blank or worse still put a line through them.

Look at your child as though you were filling in the form for a stranger and complete the questions accordingly. Really ask yourself, how does this apply rather than does this apply? For example, Richard can go to the toilet unaided, so why do I say he needs constant supervision. Because, if you sometimes don't remind him he looks as though he needs to go, he'd quite happily stand there and let it run down his leg. If he has a bath, apart from the normal struggle of getting a teenager to actually take a bath, I need to make sure he washes under his arms etc., etc., or he'd just get part way into the water, get straight out and make a half hearted attempt at drying himself. In other words, if I wasn't there, he wouldn't think to bother. This goes for dressing and many other activities. He can cross the road, but many is the time he's suddenly strode away from me and quite oblivious to the danger, darted across the road, with cars swerving to avoid him. I think you get the picture.

If after filling the form in you get rejected, try, try, try again. Don't give up if you think you qualify. It really is an extra boost, especially if you're on income support or similar benefit. You can be working to claim it as well, as it is for the child and not for you.

To get the forms contact your local benefits office. The Benefits Agency have web pages at www.dss.gov.uk/ba/ that are well worth a look at.