Receiving Dla For My Son Who Has Type 1 Diabetes.

[Jenarry]

My son who is nearly 7 years old and was diagnosed as T1 diabetic aged 3years old.It was a total shock when he was first diagnosed and there was lots I had to learn and do straight away such as giving my little son a minimum of 4 injections a day ,working out what dose he needed and doing regular blood glucose testing. My son now has an insulin pump which has been terrific and helps to make life a little bit more normal. my son is not old enough yet to look after things himself ,will be 2 or 3 years yet.
My question is about Having DLA for him. during the first week of my son being diagnosed and we were home from hospital in one visit from the paediatric diabetes nurse she told my about ringing up to claim DLA. she said their was no shame in claiming it and my son was perfectly entitled to it and she even gave me a preprinted help sheet of how certain questions should be answered.without her kind advice I wouldn't even had known about it. and so we were awarded DLA after completing and sending the huge form off.
I know that our lifestyle has changed and things aren't easy(on a day to day basis and night times too(i've been up most of the night just recently when matthew was suffering a high blood sugar) and I feel that receiving DLA ,i can heat the house a little bit more to keep matthew comfortable, I can afford more gluten free food for matthew as he is also a coeliac ,i can afford to have time off work to go to his regular diabetic appointments.
I did in fact receive a couple of comments from two different people who were saying in a round about way that matthew is my son and his health problem is my problem and it is madness that i receive this money off the government for something that is my responsibility, I thought this was quite hurtful and I wished they could change places with me for 1 day to get a full picture. what do you guys think?...

[sandyRoe]

Your son is entitled to DLA and gets it because he needs it. You shouldn't give a minutes thought to the poisonous comments from people who don't know what they're talking about.

[SpikeyBush]

I have been type 1 for 14 years now and find it hard enough controlling my own condition. To have this responsibility for another person means you really have your work cut out. I can feel when my sugars go low, you can't feel when your son's sugars go low and until he is old enough to take responsibility for his condition you have to sacrifice a great deal. I take my hat off to you.

[ChillDoubt]

You go ahead and take full entitlement for your son. You and he deserve and have the right to every assistance afforded to you.
Anyone making snide comments about your son's condition clearly have no compassion but more importantly no idea what they're commenting on.
Pay them no regard.

[Jenarry]

ah thankyou SandyRoe. one comment was from a friend who has a real bugbear about how it's so easy for people to get money out of the pot. Having a t1 diabetic son isn't a positive as I get money out of the government. I would happily pay for him to be diabetes free. And the other person is a work colleague who generally has fair ideas but she has a bugbear about DLA for children which makes me question having it but through the day to day trials and an extra work of a diabetic child If we are entitled to it I am going to continue having it.

[ChillDoubt]

one comment was from a friend who has a real bugbear about how it's so easy for people to get money out of the pot.
-------------------------------
In all probability you'll find that person is anything but a friend.

[vulcan42]

Sounds to me you're using it for all the right reasons, I agree with sandy, ignore those people who don't understand. Good luck to you and your Son.

[Jenarry]

I have to agree Chilldoubt both people are in their mid 30's and have no children and so they have no understanding of being a parent and the help you may need especially for a little one with a health condition. :O(

[Jenarry]

the friend in question has always worked and paid tax and never had to claim any help from the government (which really she count herself lucky for that fact)but she takes it very personally that other people receive the money which i think she considers as out of her pocket. she made comments about me receiving more wftc when my son's dad upped and left us also when my son was 3 . she doesn't do empathy very well. :O( :O(

[Brinjal]

If you are entitled then why listen to others or even discuss it with them. Just take care of your child.

[furrypusscat]

DLA isn't a benefit which is given out lightly. It is for extra expenses that a disabled person is likely to encounter. You have already mentioned heating the house and certain foods that he needs, these are extra expenses that people without disabilities don't need to maintain a normal lifestyle. There will be other needs also no doubt when you stop and think about it. You are entitled to this payment, don't let the narrow minded, jealous people get you down.

[ethandron]

My son was 10 when he was diagnosed with type 1 and we were told exactly the same by the specialist nurse, she even helped us fill in the forms. We received this benefit until he was either 16 or 18, I can't remember which. It is an entitlement for children with this chronic condition and not something you have to justify to anyone.
There is light at the end of the tunnel, you'll get your head round coping with Matthews day to day needs and life will return to some semblance of normality, albeit a different 'normal' than before he was diagnosed.
You have my very best wishes, it must be very difficult dealing with a newly diagnosed three year old. x

[friedgreentomato]

Regarding the gluten free - some of this is available on prescription - have you approached your doctor re this?

[factor-fiction]

I agree with you too, Jennary. At first I thought you meant the comments had been made by people on AB but I see now that they were made by people who know you.
Whilst it's wrong for people to be jealous or make such comments maybe it's best not to mention that you receive the benefit unless someone directly asks and you feel you need to answer. It shouldn't be like that, i know.

[murraymints]

Pay them no heed....hope things improve for your wee boy..

[bednobs]

i would stop telling people he gets it

[atalanta]

My son too was diagnosed with diabetes at age 9. We got the allowance too. It was tough for us all, since he had night-time panics about dying young of the disease. It was tough for the doctor, since in those days your own doctor had to turn out. But hold on to this thought - my son is now a father himself, and takes total responsibility for his condition, and has all the check-ups, etc. We just fervently hope his children don't develop it too. Yes, I know the chance is very small. But so were his chances of getting the diabetes in the first place.

[Peter Pedant]

.

Ignore.

Someone told me I didnt deserve DLA

and I replied, well you can have my disease if you want
[blood disease, not in remission]

and they didnt say, yeah yeah OK done deal..... [i wonder why]

[woofgang]

DLA is not easy to get. If it was me i would be telling those people to keep their opinions to themselves till they understood what they were talking about.

[Jemisa]

I've had diabetis for 30 years but was told it is not a Disability therefor not intitled to DLA.
Is it different for children.

jem

[Jenarry]

That is how I am Factor -fiction and others who have said the same. I don't openly talk about receiving DLA. I don't particularly cherish the thought that we receive money due to 'disability' so I will only talk about this if I am asked and both these people did ask me straight out. I'm not one for being cagey and will be honest when asked so not sure how I could of avoided this other than get defensive and short with them when the response is a negative one. I wonder what they would do if the shoe was on the other foot.