Hi,

Just wondering what you guys have experienced with this.

DD has a cows milk allergy and is on a fully excluded diet and on neocate.

She was on the CDA, at her review the Dr ticked the box saying she had a serious disability, but then ticked "no" to the boxes saying that she doesn't require any extra care (which I didn't notice - long story - actually think Dr made a mistake!!).

Anyway as a result she has been declined the CDA. I'm gutted!

She still reacts badly when she has anything dairy based, even the smallest amount is enough to set her up. I know this from both the last challenge and her dad giving her some ice cream (but we wont go there!!!!!!).

She goes all lethargic and sleepy, then vomits for the next 24 hours. Her reflux kicks in and for a week she is a very unhappy girl, with a sore tummy (and the reflux). Last time - the ice cream incident, her face also broke out in hives where it touched her skin (a new reaction).

So I believe she does require extra care, in that I have to watch what she eats, by providing an exclusion diet and special foods (also watch her while she eats so she doesn't steal her brothers food) and when she either has a challenge or accidentally has some dairy she requires extra care while she is sick.

I have friends who get the CDA for lesser conditions!!

We rely on this as I am on the DPB and use the extra money to buy her neocate. Without it it's almost impossible to find the extra $$ to buy the milk I was especially upset when they declined it, as a friend gets it who's DS has a very mild allergy as he has almost grown out of it (she even admits this!) and her DH earns over a 100K!!! And here is me struggling

I am going to take it to review, but WINZ have become very tight on all benefits and I don't like my chances. I have to get something signed by my Dr too.

Has anyone been through a review? or had any bad experiences trying to get the CDA? Any advice or help would be appreciated.

TIA

OMG I went through this exact same thing with WINZ this year with DS, who is anaphylactic plus other serious food allergies....let me see if I can find the thread/rant that I had going back then. And I am more than happy to email or post you copies of the huge long letter I wrote for WINZ about it. It had to go to a review or something.....very long & invovled but in the end we got it again....wait while i go searching & bumping

I went through something similar recently.
The doctor ticked the wrong box. I cahallenged it. Basically all I needed was a letter from my doctor saying she ticked the wrong box and it was approved.

Thanks guys.

I have a big long letter written out explaining what we do and what happens when she has dairy. I mean nothing has changed since we initially got the CDA, only that she is older.

One of my arguments is how on earth can you say that a 2 year old with and allergy/reflux requires no more work than another child (I mean I have 2 boys both with eczema & asthma and dont claim!!). At the end of the day she is 2 years old ... she cannot tell anyone what she can or cannot eat ... therefore requires more attention! Simple really.

I am also going to see the doctor and see if it was a "mistake". As we saw a junior doctor who took it in to him to sign (which I have also put in letter to winz).

I just want to make sure I have all the info I need.

Will let you know what happens. I am going to try and get it sorted next week

I am totally pissed at WINZ at the moment ...totally agree how can your child not change is illness/disability and they decline it one year.
We got declined for my DS so I am not even bothering with DD's which is due very soon. They just piss me off. I know there are people worse off than us but what we have is hard too.
I hope you get the review overturned....good on you for wanting to fight this. Best of luck

gutz_cmum2 sorry to hear you have had the same thing happen.

The thing that really gets me is I know people who are getting it for minor things. I just want it so I can afford her neocate and other alternative foods for her

I don't claim it for DS2 who has really bad asthma and eczema ... in fact he had a bad attack last night and ended up in after hours (costing $50 ). He has been in and out of hospital since he was born.

If they don't give us the CDA for DD ... I am going to try and get it for DS2 and use the money for DD. It shouldn't be that way though in fact most people I know say I should claim it for DS2 anyway.

I have written my letter for the review and have a doctors appointment for T next week to discuss winz declining it with him. I am hoping he can sign my letter, that should help. Then it's off to winz again.

Totally off the point, but still on winz. I feel like winz are against me! Last week I also got declined for a TIA (Training incentive allowance). So they are so not my favourite people at the moment!!! What's worse is they said to me ... if you lived in another part of the country we would have given it too you Rant over!

Just thought I'd update you all.

Went to the doctor fully armed. Had a letter that I had written covering everything that we do and her reactions etc etc.

Anyway, he said, it was a mistake, she is definitely eligible for the CDA. He filled in another form then and there and signed my letter in agreement.

Went to WINZ (had to wait ages for an appointment!!), they said due to the circumstances they would submit a new application for the CDA (along with my letter and a covering letter from case manager). So no review ... unless it was declined again. From what I understand the regional health advisor was involved and they spoke directly to my doctor who told them everything.

Anyway, I rang today to find out and they approved it

and it's to be backdated as well

I am delighted and so happy that I persevered with this. I have also applied for the disability allowance as well to cover neocate ... so


So ... if you believe you are entitled to the CDA and you have been declined, my advice is fight it! You just never know

Yay good on you 3littlies!

Hi
I am new to the forum so not really fully educated yet What is CDA? My DS has a high dairy and egg allergy for the egg he may have anaphylaxis although the specialist isn't sure from bloods. He is also allergic to Beef and Lamb and we are still waiting on potato, rice, banana and chicken. He is bad reflux and possible some big long two word thing starting with E....tis sorry! I can see CDA is some sort of allowance? - which would be great with the cost of the foods and he's only 6.5months old! Please educate me?

Hi Kazza007, welcome & CDA is the Child Disability Allowance & you should be able to get an application form from your specialist. It is not means tested and the actual criteria has to do with the extra care that an allergic child requires so although its helpful for the cost of food etc, WINZ go by what sort of care is required.
Yeah unfortunately with anaphlaxis you won't really find out for sure unless your DS actually has an anaphylactic reaction