Winning the War

It's been a grim time, really; child regularly excluded, me not able to get to appointments, everyone dithering, two tribunals (yes, two, I'm about to get to that). But I'm winning the war. Things are happening. Things are falling into place.

Today, completely out of it due to utter lack of sleep, I got a phone call. My son's tribunal hearing today, and I was nowhere near ready. Wait, what? What tribunal? The clerk explained to me it was for my son's DLA, contesting his low rate mobility. Blearily I tried to remember when I had tried to apply that. March? May? In any event, the Panel was there looking at the files I had sent and asked if I wanted to attend (which means they'd have to adjourn). I felt rather stupid but said that would do.

I got a call five minutes later. The clerk again; apparently the panel had had a good look at the paperwork of my son's report and decided that on this basis they would grant high rate mobility and his high rate care stands as well. No review till 2014.

I hung up, speechless, then squee'd like an idiot for a half hour. FINALLY, the full package. No more being told "well surely he could just walk 2 miles...". No more "well can't he just get on the bus?" Done. Sorted. Dusted. Squared. I am over the moon - I can even think about applying for a bunch of other things now; discount rates on taxi fares, Blue Badge, all sorts which will make life easier. And a car! I could get a Motability car now, provided I can get assessed for driving and so on.

Such a huge deal, I can't stop grinning. Independence would be nice - I know, it's early, there's still a lot to consider, and while I'm sleep deprived is not the best time. But just when I thought the Monday was a good start, it got better; social worker called and the panel has approved me getting hours of care so I can attend appointments (so no longer need to panic if I can't get a hospital appointment while son is in school). I also have the respite weekend approved so one weekend a month sproggo will go to a foster family so I can have a break. This is also coming together - granted, it's nowhere near enough help but it's better than nothing at all.

Now, I'm ecstatic - things are going well and we're making progress on all fronts. This is good. But...well, the thing is, I had to fight for how long for all this to happen? Why even deny my claim when a Tribunal panel takes five minutes to realise what the real issue is - (and that goes for my DLA and the SEN tribunal)? Why did it take a year of useless Social Services, three different assessments, four OTs and nothing happened until I wrote to the Ombudsman? In these times where the Hardworking Taxpayer is whipped into a frenzy over people like myself and my son, why oh why make it more difficult, more expensive, and more time-consuming? The evidence was there. It was always there. Nothing changed but the fact I had to beat the bureaucracy over the head and shoulders before they'd admit I was right in the first place.

How can that possibly be saving the big bucks the Government insists on by kicking us off the system? How can this give the results they're projecting? And how is it anyone can possibly believe a word of it?

Ugh.

Anyway, the good news is still the good news; help and support is trickling in, and considering the utter dearth of same up to this point, I'm content with it. A few more things to push on at the moment, true, but this is still some great progress.

On the gardening front, being the early bird wot I am, I ordered some kiln-dried logs for the chimenea and fire pit, as well as a bunch of potting soil and manure to start planting and topdressing everything properly. Son and I have had some celebratory toffee cake and even though last week was a big kerfuffle (I banned him from computers and video games due to behaviour), we're slowly getting back into things and the house is a cheerier place as a result.

I'm still absolutely shattered, but I'll carry on today. It's a good day.