Late DLA renewal and new claim gap - exceptional circumstancs

Hi All,

Wondering if anyone else can assist and has had a similar issue.  About really whether a DLA renewal time frame can be argued to be extended or a new claim backdated. 

We have a client whose son was getting DLA and got a renewal to be completed by November 2022.  Unfortunately his mother (our client was divorced from her) died in January 2023 and had addiction issues prior to this, was evicted and was living in a car before her death. but our client was not aware of his son’s DLA status and the benefit stopping.  Our client has multiple complicated benefit issues and is trying to work through these and get accommodation for him and his children now. 

He has now put in a new claim for DLA in March 2023 which is being processed but we wondered if there was anything that could be done about the gap. 

It feels unfair or that there should be an argument that the new claim could be treated as a late renewal claim based on the circumstances.  We just can’t really find anything that would be helpful to argue it apart from just a hope which isn’t probably good enough. 

any ideas most welcome. 
Thanks