Looking for information on PIP

[Elle1984]

Hi I’m new here and I’m looking for anyone who has been through the PIP process, I’m about to apply for my daughters PIP as she has just turned 16 and id like to know if anyone got the same level of support from PIP than they did on DLA.

[TC65]

My son got the same amount , It’s depressing completing the forms having to be negative about all the things my son can’t do but I have learned that’s what’s needed with any type of disability related benefit paperwork . I always give as much information as possible stating exactly what he can’t do - always assume the person reading it knows nothing about disability. I always use very basic direct language and usually end up saying the same thing again and again .The assessor called to clarify a few things but other than that it was very straight forward - awarded the same level and for an indefinite period of time .

I hope this helps

[Elle1984 in reply to TC65]

Thank you so much I’m so worried about having to take her to be assessed, I’ve asked the assistant head of her school to write a supporting letter as she has to be in her own room due to not being able to be around other students and she can become violent regularly. I’m hoping this helps my application. My daughters DLA was indefinite so I’m hoping we get that from PIP too

[Eeviee]

Hi. I would suggest you keep a copy of what you submit so that you know exactly what you wrote. You may need it for future reference or filing in a form in the future

[Elle1984 in reply to Eeviee]

That’s a really good idea I’ll do that thanks

[AES71 in reply to Eeviee]

Completely agree with this! It’s been so useful to us.

[AES71]

It continued the same for my daughter. Same forms really and have to be assessed but otherwise is the same. Our assessment was done at home but I know others have had to go to appointments. The guy that came was quite rude to my daughter so I had to put him straight!We’ve had to do renewal forms but the questions are more along the lines of ‘has anything changed since your application’ so much quicker to sort. Very frustrating when your child isn’t going to experience some miracle and everything will suddenly be okay!!

[Elle1984 in reply to AES71]

It does make you wonder how they expect suddenly for a disability to get better, if anything with my daughter it’s gotten harder as she’s gotten older

[DSSmith]

Citizen's Advice had someone who helped a lot when I needed to complete the PiP forms. Maybe they have someone in your local area?

Also, if you have a Carer's Centre near you, they should be able to help or put you in touch with someone who can.

[Elle1984]

Thank you my daughters disability social worker is going to come and help with completing the form. But thanks for your reply, if anything happens and I need more help I’ll definitely look into that

[Picklebum]

Mine got more under pip at 16 she did get full for care low mobility now gets enhanced I was shocked and got it for 10 years

[MumOfSmiler]

My son was on high rate DLA and was moved on to enhanced rate PIP, with a review in (as it phrases it on the paperwork) "not less than ten years". I know it's a worry but I honestly don't know many families whose 16 yo have been moved down, except for one who had a heart condition that had been resolved with surgery years back (no LD or other conditions) and in all honesty should probably not have been getting it since then anyway. I think with LD people often need more help as they grow up past 16, or at least that gap between them and their non disabled peers/siblings becomes so much more obvious as at this age others really start developing their independence. We had someone come to the house who was very polite and friendly, explained that she thought she knew what she would be recommending from the forms but that her recommendation would be followed easier if she had met him face to face (This was 3 years ago). She sat in the living room and we encouraged him to come out of his room, he came in, made some noises, she said hello and asked if he liked his school, he made some more noises at her and left, and she said that's completely fine, went through a few details of his medical conditions with us (eg is he likely to need more surgery on his spine for his scoliosis or on his hips), and that was it. She explained that as the system was still getting sorted she couldn't really say whether he would be reassessed at any point, but if he was it was mostly likely to be a phone call where they'd ask if anything had changed, and that would be it. I think they're starting to realise that if a person's needs are this intense at 16 and it's a learning disability, then it's very unlikely that they're going to wake up one day and suddenly be able to walk and talk and understand everything that's going on. What I found funny was that he scored full points on every section except the managing medication one, where it says he needed prompting and supervision - yes, he can't read, write, walk, talk, or hold a pen, but he can draw up the correct amount of a liquid medication from a bottle (having got the childproof cap off) as long as I remind him too!Good luck

[BenjiB]

My son got enhanced rate for both care and mobility, the same as DLA. The forms were much easier and he did have a short face to face, very short once they realised he couldn’t understand or talk! The mobility part of pip is further broken down into two sections “making and planning a journey” and “moving around”. I found the whole process much easier than DLA.

We had to apply separately for blue badges as they aren’t automatically issued with high rate like DLA unless you get full points on “moving around”section of the mobility component of PIP which we don't as my son is fully mobile.

[Hidden]

Hi Elle. ‘Benefits & Work’ is a really good source of information and support. It’s £20 to join but so worth it. There’s a forum for questions when you need help. Good luck and take care… it’s horribly stressful. FUNCTIONALITY is what you need to focus on… and prognosis.. as this will help the award length… Most of the Assessors have really limited knowledge so write as if they know nothing at all x

[njbhlj]

SO nice to see positive stories here of the changeover from DLA to PIP - I have seen so many negative ones and am dreading our changeover. My daughter is 16 this year and has had DLA indefinately. I am slightly more reassured it won't be as terrible as everyone makes out. I know this is an old thread now but still.....