Evidence to support a request for the higher rate of the mobility component can be provided either with the original claim form, with a revision request or at a tribunal. There is no limit to the amount of extra evidence you can provide. It can come from a variety of sources, including GPs, support workers, teachers, educational psychologists, psychiatrists, parents, friends, relatives, or anyone who has a knowledge and understanding of your child's condition and how it affects them on a daily basis. Reports from healthcare professionals can also be submitted if they are relevant.
The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) will often gather evidence themselves and there is a section on the claim form (part 35) where it asks for your permission to gather this evidence. If this is ticked, the DWP will often contact your child's GP and/or school when gathering information. For this reason, you may wish to let your child's GP/teacher know you are claiming DLA so that if the DWP do contact them they are fully aware and updated on your child's present condition.
Though medical evidence will often carry the most weight, the decision-maker (or panel members if at a tribunal) should weigh up all the evidence carefully, be it from healthcare professionals or the family. As the criteria for receiving the higher rate of the mobility component are quite rigid, it would be advisable that any supporting information be tailored to the specific criteria for the high rate mobility component as outlined above.
On the original claim form you do not have to choose between one of the routes for the higher rate mobility component, you can simply state your case, taking into account the criteria mentioned above together with supporting evidence, allowing the decision-maker to come to the decision as to whether your child satisfies the relevant conditions. Quoting case law, as mentioned previously, is usually more relevant to disputed decisions after the original decision on entitlement has been made.
A warning
If you are making a first claim for DLA and it is refused, then if you wish to dispute this with the DWP you will effectively have nothing to lose.
However, if you choose to request the higher rate of the mobility component while there is an existing award of DLA, for either care or mobility, it is possible that the whole award can be reconsidered by the decision-maker or tribunal. It is possible for existing awards to be reduced as well as increased if they are disputed in this way.