Your Entitlements

The first is (DLA) Disability Living Allowance. This is a benefit that is paid to the children because they have diabetes. It is not means tested so it does not matter how much money you earn. It may have been mentioned to you at the hospital when your child was first diagnosed but this is not always the case.

Various websites for you to look at are www.direct.gov.uk and search for disability living allowance. Diabetes UK also have their own page detailing how to fill out one of these forms for a child with diabetes. It is very useful. Go on to: www.diabetes.org.uk and go to the search button. Click the button that says search entire site and in the search box enter DLA for children. This should bring up the page you need, click on this and all the information you require should be to hand. You may also find information on how to apply for DLA from your Local Authority website.

Another site you can look at is: www.ceacard.co.uk This is a cinema card which is issued to the child for a fee of £5.50. This means whoever takes the child to the cinema gets in for free. You pay for the child. This is valid for one year. To be entitled to this you the child has to be in receipt of  DLA. Full details of this card is on the above website.

Finally if the child receives the higher/middle rate of  DLA then they are entitled to a free bus pass in Scotland. For details go to: http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/concessionary-travel Alternatively, you should also be able to get the relevant forms from Buchanan Bus Station.

Hopefully this information may be of use to some of you. These sort of issues are not always talked about and you seldom get leaflets handed out about them but as a group we feel that they are very valid and important points and we are trying to let all our members know about them.

If you are interested in saving some extra cash, you can also buy a copy of the latest Spree Big Savings Guide. This is available to anyone and costs £22.00 It is packed full of various Free Offers and Two for One Deals at numerous outlets. You will save far more than the book costs even if you only used it a few times, so the more you use it, the bigger the saving.

For more information on what's in the book and how to get a copy, please visit: www.spreesecure.com