dla to pip

General health and lifestyle
1

Hi All,

I am reaching 66 in two months.. I have been on middle rate care and high rate mobility for 3 years now. My award was indefinite and I know that I could be contacted anytime now for reassessment and pip. My question is, how successful have others been once called in for dla to pip awards at this age group.

We keep hearing about working age groups being forced into work and losing their dla/pip benefits, how many retired and disabled people are suffering a simular fate?

If I lose my high mobility then like so many otbers here it will be several nails lining up to go in my coffin-what an absolute criminal way to treat innocent, lawabiding and vunerable citizens.

THEY WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO TREAT PRISONERS IN THE SAME WAY, they are innocent until proved guilty, we are guilty and have to prove we are innocent.

2

Hello Mike.

I'm 55 yrs old and I was on indefinite High Rate Mobility which I lost under the new PIP rules. That was last September. I fought the law and eventually won at tribunal so my high rate mobility was given back to me, however it's now January and still no word from the DWP

My advise is to never give up, if you have the strength. I have a very strong will and I was shocked at the original decision on how heartless the new rules are and I cringe every time I hear of some poor soul losing their vehicle or award in this manner.

I thought at 66 you were not contacted to apply for PIP, if you don't get a letter just sit tight but of course I could be wrong and no doubt someone will correct me

Try not to worry - though it is so easy for me to say that

3

Hi Mike,

I am in the same situation as yourself but my DLA is High on both Care and Mobility Components. I have to depend on my wife to drive me every where, because my mobility is serverly impaired. And like yourself I have DLA for "indefinite" period. I'm worried about losing my Motability Vehicle as well, I would be housebound without it.

As for PIP Award Application it is not a straight forward swap over, because it is an entirely different payment, and based on different parameters. You say anytime soon, well actually they are well behind, it was due to be all completed by 2017, this date as now been put back to 2018 - the backlog is still growing and the DWP are running on lower staff. Even with an increase in annual salaries, hardly makes any difference, their working conditions are terrible.

Do not believe everything you hear, DLA to PIP in some cases are now being swapped straight over with no "face-to-face" assessment, however this depends on your circumstances, and moreso on how you fill the PIP Award Application Form in, the more detail the better, if you need more paper affix it to form. Remember, detailed content is more likely to give you a better chance to getting PIP.

Just don't do what they ask and just tick boxes, explain why you ticked the various boxes, this will give them a better understanding of how you disabilities stop you from doing such tasks, if you have aids then list them, and state how you change over from one to another. Copies of Medical Records, or letters from consultants to your doctors are always good. Take time filling the form in, if you get writers cramp (this is an actual medical problem as well), ask someone else to fill the form in for you, normally someone that knows you well.

At the moment, it is a case of random pickings, if you get chosen - the chances are lower in some parts of the country than others, it is a depressing waiting for that brown envelope with the application form in, I'm in the same boat...

Regards,

Les.

4

Age Limit

If you aged 65 or over on 8 April 2013 when PIP was introduced, you can continue to get Disability Living Allowance for as long as you’re eligible.

5

Why is more detail important? From posts that have been on here, they don't take any notice of what you say on the form and doctors support anyway so why bother? 

6

I am in a similar position to you I was 65 in November.

Logically it is the younger people they are targetting because the older people will normally die first so the younger people are going to cost them more money if they gain an award. Hope that makes sense.

My understanding is if you are over 65 when you are assessed  for PIP (which you are)  then if your application for PIP is unsuccessful it can be treated as an application for Care Allowance.

However it is more beneficial (financially) to be on PIP.

I would be very interested to hear of developments and likewise if they get round to assessing me before I die!! I will let you know the outcome.

Sarah

 

7

Hi Sarah,

From my experience with the DWP, how you enter information on the form is essential, missing off important information can lose your whole DLA / PIP. It is a government document, you do not play games with the government, it just causes more hassle for yourself and your PIP can be easily lost or lowered. It is a vital part of your application, just ticking boxes, will probably get you an assessment you need to aim higher!

I applied for an upgrade on my DLA Care Component which was at the middle rate, and mobility was on high rate. I applied for the form last July, my wife and I spent 4 days collating all information and reports together. All medication that was being prescribed, how much and how often per day. This also included reports of 6 BoTox injections which are given by my neurologist every 10 weeks. A letter confirming the dosages and to which muscles was also included from the British President of Neurology.

Now, the letter stated do not fill in the first 2 pages because they did not apply, however in my case we filled it all in which was four A4 sides, with additional information supplied on 6 other separate A4 sheets, each one was complete with my National Insurance Number on, my address, and landline phone, mobile was not included because my wife has to speak on my behalf, because of a speech disorder from Dystonic Nerve conditions.

A four page letter was also included from my Occupational Therapist.

Once all this was done, then we scanned it all, before sending it all off to the DWP. They sent us an acknowledgement letter within 2 weeks. Just before the 12 week period, we received another letter stating, the case was still being looked at, which was understable considering the amount of paperwork that we sent.

About another 2 months passed before I received a letter stating the Care Component had been changed from the Middle Rate to the High Rate. The person that had dealt with my case also phoned me, but my wife had to take the call, he was asking why we had not applied for the High Rate before, he said we can only back date the difference to July, which we knew anyway. He even said under the circumstances he wish he could back date it further, but of course they cannot do that. I had about £400 backdated.

I needed no "face-to-face", with the amount of information that was sent and some of it coming from top consultants in the country (I do not think they would mess around with my case). There is no way on this earth I can make up what problems I have, and all the medications I have to take a day.

If you compare the PIP Award Application Form which is online with the one on paper there is a big difference. The online version has shrunk in the past 6 months, not by questions but by how much information you can enter. So, if you fill in the online version - you can expect a 20% chance of getting to the assessment stage. This is why, I do not advise anyone to fill in the online copy - you are restricted in too many ways.

But you have to consiider how your disability or disorder affects you from doing certain tasks, then look at how the questions are set out, bearing in mind the trick questions that will just zero your application.

There is a lot of reasons to bother, if you are disabled to a degree then you should bother - look how many people have not tried for PIP, since they lost their DLA they don't try for PIP, which caught many that were not supposed to be claiming in the first place. A genuine person that deserves the payment should be entitled to PIP and not lose it, but we have to extremes in order to keep PIP. Sad really, but thats what this country has come to...

Regards,

Les.

8

In my case I found the arresting statement the police use. "If you say anything it may be used later as evidence ... etc"

It's a difficult document to fill in and if you aren't good at filling forms in, I'd strongly suggest you seek help. 

Don't be afraid to enclose more information on seperate sheets of paper. The more info you can give the better your chances are.

I found that when I went to tribunal, a lot of what I enclosed in my PIP 2 form was not taken into consideration by the HP when I was assessed. That went a long way in my favour since the HP left out my main condition which thankfully the tribunal doctor remarked upon and knew quite a lot about my illness to make a decision

I threw everything bar the kitchen sink in my application for PIP. I wasn't surprised when I was sent to a face to face and I wasn't surprised to be handed a lesser award. 

I went to Mandatory R and again no surprises when the award remained the same but by then I had so much evidence both from my docs and clinic letters that it resembled War and Peace

I had to fight and go to tribunal - I saw little option since it would mean total isolation and no attendance to clinic appointments. I live too far away from the nearest bus stop and in any case I could not walk to any degree without losing circulation and feeling very ill

I cannot afford a car but I would have had to buy one knowing that my insurance would be sky high due to having a dubious accident in the last 3 years

Anyway, back to the issue of evidence. Get as much as you can, try and get support from anyone that knows you well and if your GP is understanding, let them help you

Good luck and yes it is sad but it's the way things are

 

9

Hi I'm 67 (68 in June) Previously had DLA High Mobility/Middle Care.

I wanted the PIP1 form to fill in as it gives you the chance to give a lot more info instead of the usual phone call. Told the DWP what I wanted by letter, sent a reminder after 2 weeks. This was in November/December. Recently received a letter telling me that the PIP application has been closed and that my DLA will stop. I'm too old to try for PIP again. No one has mentioned anything about them trying for Attendance Allowance instead?

I never got past the starting gate so never had the chance of filling in the PIP2!!!

Mind you it isn't a disaster as such as I had already made my mind up not to claim PIP for the simple reason that I just would not be able to contemplate multiple re-assessments every few years until I die.

10

Hi Mike, I must say all this is very worrying. I had my face to face assessment last week at home. Previously I was on high rate mobility and middle for care. I am 66 and stupidly thought that because I had been originally awarded indefinite DLA that I would not have to go through further assessments how wrong was I. Although I have multiple illnesses with doctors reports and consultants letters plus loads of medical history I was still asked to perform like a circus seal!! This i did not do as I said it was too painful, these people are not medically trained so how can they override the medically trained decisions of your own doctor's? Totally wrong in my opinion

Let us see what decision I get?

11

Not necessarily Les.   I qualify for depression for lower rate DLA but this category is being abolished.  I doubt whether I would qualify for middle rate PIP because the criteria is different. It doesn't mean that I am not genuine just that they have changed the goal posts again and I will lose out.  x

12

Thanks for reply.

Not sure what you mean by PIP application been closed?

Surely that does not mean no one else can apply for PIP any more?!!

I read somewhere on internet about Attendance Allowance. I'lltry and find it again and let you know how to get to it. But if you have decided not to apply for PIP it would not apply to you anyway.

Surely they realise that people of our age are not suddenly going to improve. That is just common sense which they seem to lack!!

Sarah

Sarah

13

Hi, my posting may have confused you. The DWP have told me that as I did not telephone them within the time frame given to start off the PIP claim (I sent two letters to them instead asking for the PIP1 form - which seem to have been ignored!), they have now closed down my chance of being moved over from DLA.

Given my age (67) I cannot make a fresh claim for PIP as I am over the age limit.

As for Attendance Allowance, no one, including the DWP has mentioned it.

However I am aware that the forthcoming budget could well include changes to Attendance Allowance. The government and the local authorities are very keen to see Attendance Allowance disappear with the Attendance Allowance money that would be paid out being handed to the local authorities Social Services to support the elderly.

I would not like to find that after going through the form filling and medical assessment (as my wife had to do) scenarios that the benefit no longer exists. It would then I presume be up to the local authority Social Services to assess what my needs are and how best they could offer some support in anything other than in monetary terms. 

14

Hi, I can understand how you must be feeling. Unfortunately, much like ESA, the assessors working for the DWP are not there to assess your condition, but simply to see which of the many boxes your inabilities fit into. You could be at death's door, but unless you neatly fit into the right number of boxes and gain the right number of points, your health condition matters for nothing.

One thing that put me off moving from DLA to PIP was the thought of the numerous, regular face to face re-assessments every few years for the rest of my life to continue to keep the PIP award. This ignores the fact that if any of those re-assessments reduces the award it normally means a fight at a Tribunal hearing with everything that that brings to the table.

At 67 I just don't need that stress. 

 

15

All NEW applications for Attendance Allowance are being put on hold, pending removal and being plumbed back into local authorities.

16

Thanks Les, yes that is what I have been told too - No new applications for Attendance Allowance will be accepted until the matter of passing the money over to the local authorites has been approved - presumably in the Budget.

It will certainly help to pay for more/longer visits by care workers visiting the elderly at home, more care workers, more Social Workers and contribute more to those in care homes to have a better quailty of life. It will stop the awards being made to all and everybody who just happen to be over 65 and have low to medium rate needs. Only those with high/severe grade needs will see the difference.

However the icing on the cake from the government's point of view will be the removal of the right to nominate someone to be a carer in order to claim carers allowance and to remove the right to the disability premiums in Pension Credit which can be worth over another £100 a week on top of the Attendance Allowance award.  

This will/should go some long way to solve the crisis that councils are currently facing with the provison of care for those in greatest need.

17

Yes, I have heard the same Bev.

It is bad that they feel to need to change the qualifying areas, but so many people are still out there claiming benefits, take today for instance.

One guy was filmed in his local gym, walking on a treadmill for over 50 metres, squats, push ups, weight lifting, etc for over a hour, yet he was claiming he had mobility problems and needed a walking stick to get around and could not walk more than 10 metres. He claimed £20,00 in benefits.

or

In another case, a woman was claiming £32,000 in benefits yet owned 3 pubs!!

But if you go to the other end of the scale then you see how bad the DWP really is to its own staff!

A DWP employee has been sacked after 10 years for having too much sick leave, despite having terminal cancer

You can't win either way if you see stories like this in the media, the DWP is still working at a loss even using Maximus, £800 million was supposed to be made, but they failed to make any change. Claimants are costing the DWP more each time they refuse to pay disabled people the rates that they are really due, hence they are losing all the time because people that are genuine are not giving in to having their PIP stopped or reduced, so they end up in a tribunal costing more money. IDS plans are not working and it is so obvious.

What I'm am worried about is the mystery survey from Opinion Outpost being sent to PIP Claimants, it would be good if someone came forward if they had received one.

Regards,

Les.

18

Hi Les, taking issue with your recent comment:

look how many people have not tried for PIP, since they lost their DLA they don't try for PIP, which caught many that were not supposed to be claiming in the first place. A genuine person that deserves the payment should be entitled to PIP and not lose it

.Many disabled people that have a highish award of DLA - middle/higher are not making the move over to PIP simply because they were 'swinging the lead' when making the DLA claim and know that PIP will catch them out. They fear the processes of PIP, the stress that is involved, the effort they are forced to make to gather evidence (when in fact there is no obligation on the claimant to submit any evidence - the regulations make that clear) and the worry that they will probably have to undergo regular re-assessments/face to face assessments and possibly Tribunal appeals for the rest of their life.

There is no longer a generally accepted award of 'indefinite' with PIP.

As for the research/opinions being canvassed. I had a letter late last year from the Office of National Statistics that said someone would be calling on ********* to carry out a survey of my disabilities/needs and how I feel/think/believe that they have been accepted and met by the government.

Obviously they are talking about my DLA claim so must have obtained information from the DWP. The letter went on to say that the 'book of 12 postage stamps' is a thank my co-operation.

To say the least I told the guy when he turned up to do one.

 

19

Hi Les,

The Outpost was asking people about a £20-£30 drop in DLA and PIP payments, which is what worried me. That is a lot of money to lose in a month.

I agree with you Les, I know a woman she is not claiming any benefits, neither can she hold any job for even a day, because it is obvious that her disability affects her in many ways. She even tried for PIP on her own, but to be honest she needs help completing the form, and how she filled it in caused the DWP to not even give her a chance of a claim for PIP, because they even refused to even assess her, she is autistic - So, it is obvious she needs help completing th forms.

Basically, her husband and a £300 drop in wages just before Christmas, they dropped his wages to the minimum pay per a hour. He is already, working full time, and it is now not covering all their outgoings. So, he is now looking for another part time job!!

My wife and I helped them get their first bungalow many years ago, only because I know many people in the right places, these days that makes no difference since you have to bid online for properties. Back then we knew the MP and Mayor, we were good friends with them.

As they say these days, you need a Mathematics Degree to see if you are even eligible for PIP, now how many people do you know that would go that far?

Regards,

Les.

20

Well I don't know about you but I would rather people falsely claimed rather than genuine ones suffer.  There wouldn't be more money for us even if everyone was found to be genuine would there?  So why worry about it?  x