I have a form to fill in for, either, disability living allowance, or pips,I am 66 nearly and already get the lower limit of DLA

[junespoon]

Well if I try to get either,living allowance,or mobility allowance, will I have to disclose savings and all my business , any one advise please x

[cofdrop-UK]

Hi June

DLA/PIP is not means tested. I am not sure from your post if the DWP have sent you the form or if you have requested it yourself to apply for a higher rate. A word of caution here June if you apply for a higher rate for the same component you are already getting (probably care I am guessing) then they will look at it as a new application and so there is a possibility you could lose the DLA you are receiving at present. Of course if your needs are greater than they were it may be increased. Just thought you needed to know and you really need to speak to a benefits expert. I found my local Welfare Rights most helpful but not all councils have them - check out online, lots of folks have found CAB, DIAL helpful and you can always contact BLF.

Good luck

love cx

[junespoon]

Thanks very much CD for you reply, I requested the form, as I get ,20 pound week. which helps a lot for the lower component of disability living for a stroke I had 10 years ago, But that was way before my Emphsema was troublesome, and has deteriorated bady in the last 2 years, making a lot of physical things impossible, And having to relie so much on my partner, The stroke side of the claim there has been no deteration or improvement, Its just this Emphsema, that is setting me back, and I woud like to be able to contribute more financially to the bills gas mainly. but really don't know what to do, On a good day I seem reasonable but still not able to hoover ,change beds, or carry shopping, then on the bad you can hear it in my speech, so very tired, and feeling a complete burden, still know there is a lot worse that myself, And it was all of my own making, my choices years ago, they catch you up in the end, but thankyou will give the people you say a bell. xx

[cofdrop-UK]

Please do - whilst being honest the 'benefit experts' know which bits of information the DWP would consider important and which they would not. You would be surprised what they pick up on. I have inflam arth alongside bronchiectasis and asthma and during conversation with my 'expert' I mentioned I sometimes had difficulty due to the pain fastening a bra. She started to put it down and I said 'no, I don't want them to know that'. She thought it important. Had I been filling the form in on my own I would have been too embarrassed to put that down. It really does take the stress out of it. Also the DWP know if the 'benefits expert' thinks you would be entitled, they would pretty much always appeal.

Let us know how you get on.

love cx

[teaky-19]

the problem is if you are making a new claim yourself you can not claim pip as you have to be under 65 if the dwp are asking you to fill out forms as part of migration from dla to pip then you have to fill in pip and you should be ok if your condition has deteriorated and you need more help then I recommend you see citizens advice before you fill out any forms

[cofdrop-UK in reply to teaky-19]

Really good point teaky - yes it would be Attendance Allowance.

Defo need expert help, especially as you are getting lower rate DLA which you will have had before your 65th. - could be quite complex.

Really sorry June - missed you were 66.

cx

[Hidden]

I thought those of retirement age still claimed Attendance Allowance and not PIP? You can get help filling in the forms either from CAB or local disability groups. I also recommend you have help to fill them in because they can be confusing.

[cofdrop-UK in reply to Hidden]

Yes they do sweet unless they were claiming DLA before they were 65 and this will be changed when they DWP get around to calling people in for the changeover to PIP. Minefield!

cx

[SecondLife]

We used to receive the low rate of care for something else under DWP and were advised to speak to someone from Age Concern as it was then (Age UK now) and also asked us to get a form. We did all this and someone from Age Concern came round and filled the form in for us and we waited with baited breath, the dreaded brown envelope arrived and we had been awarded middle rate care and high rate mobility. Do go for it but as everyone else has said try and use an 'expert'. Good luck

[longlungs]

Hi junespoon I agree with the others get help ,I think you are definitely entitled to more help,but those ruddy forms need someone who knows whats what,give blf a tinkle aswell they are helpful and have people to point you in the right direction. Goodluck Janexx

[out-for-lunch]

how the hell did we cope with all this before the interweb ....... amazing.

[helingmic]

I am 65 and can keep the DLA. I'm sure you can. Perhaps phone the DWP for clarification as to what you should do.

As cofdrop said, this isn't related to your pension, this is related to how the government can help you with your disability. it's a very useful benefit. Partly thanks to it, when I am fitter, i can ask the volunteer bureau and pay for it to go to the gym and back.

something I noticed this year. They asked for my financial statements. last year, I was told I could copy them from the internet. This year they told me they destroy copies and don't consider them! so make sure you ask your bank for originals of financial statement.

[airlite]

Get on to an organisation called FightBack, they are on line and will guide you through the minefield that is happening regarding DLA/PIP,

[junespoon]

Hi All , thank you very much for all your help asking for DLA or Pip, well I rang BLF, and a very helpful lady gave me the phone nos of Age Uk, and CAB , in my area, who will help me , so a big thanks to all, will let you know what happens.