DLA to PIP ......

[frazzledbutcalm]

Dd has just turned 16. She's being transferred to PIP. I'm not her appointee but have just spent 25 minutes on the phone to DWP to sort this out for her. How they expect vulnerable 16 year olds to go through the phone call I've just had is beyond me. They're sending her a claim pack. I have an awful feeling she's going to lose out .....

[bitbap18]

Polter - do you help people do it? We've appealed hubby's decision....!

Frazzled - from what I have seen, people who had DLA already and for some time are often ok, it's new claimants that seem to be hit hard. But don't give up either way! The amount overturned at appeal/tribunal is amazing!

[wasuup2014]

Can you Pm me as Polter please - well I am kind of in the same boat filling out the form atm - think im on the right track but could do with checking with someone more experienced. I am the appointee for my 16 year old though.

[frazzledbutcalm]

Another query ... Dd was awarded DLA til 2016. Because she turned 16 at the beginning of July she had to transfer to PIP. So I made the phone call as in opening post, I've not received forms for her yet and they've stopped her DLA! Can they do this? They've paid until the week she turned 16 then nothing! There's been one week since then .. with no money. Is this right?

[MrsMummyPig]

This happened to us too frazzled My daughter turned 16 last summer and we had a couple of months where we had no payments. We eventually got it sorted after numerous frustrating phone calls. They ended up extending her DLA award for a year as PIP wasn't yet available in our area. I have recently been on the phone to them again to make sure the same thing doesn't happen after her birthday this year as we still haven't heard anything to instruct us to make a claim for PIP. Again her DLA award has been extended.

[frazzledbutcalm]

That's the problem though mrs .. we do have PIP. I was under the impression that dd would continue to receive her DLA until her PIP was looked at, especially as her DLA was awarded til 2016

I'm going to ring them on Monday.

[AndNowItsSeven]

Frazzled did you ask for her to be moved to pip because you assumed you had to as she turned 16, or did they write to you telling you you had so many weeks to apply for pip?
If it it's the former it will be viewed as choosing to end a dla claim early and that's why her dla has stopped.
If they wrote and specifically said you must claim pip now then her dla should continue until a pip decision is made.

[AndNowItsSeven]

I meant you had so many weeks on which to apply for pip.

[AndNowItsSeven]

Ahh in not on.

[AndNowItsSeven]

Basically when 15 year olds in receipt of dla turn 16 they just become adult dla claimants automatically. They are subject to the same rules as any other adult dla claimant.

[frazzledbutcalm]

and ... I got a letter saying as dd was turning 16 she must change from DLA to PIP. I rang up the same day as the letter came, had a long 'interview' then was told the forms would be sent out. The forms actually arrived yesterday. I just assumed they would still pay her DLA until they received her PIP forms and decided if she was entitled to PIP or not. But they've stopped the DLA. I'm assuming if she's awarded PIP they'll backdate it to when they stopped her PIP. I'm going to ring them tomorrow. I just didn't think they were able to just stop the DLA like that.

[AndNowItsSeven]

Frazzled I have a bad feeling about your letter but hopefully I am wrong. Everyone gets a letter saying they need to change to pip as they are now 16 but it usually reads along the lines of at some point in the future we will contact you and offer you the opportunity to claim pip etc etc.
If it was that letter they would accept a pip claim at any point but you would effectively be "choosing" to end dla and claim pip.
If your letter actually said you have a certain time frame I think it's four weeks to claim pip or we will stop your dla then that's the correct time to call and your dla will continue until a pip decision has been made.
It just worries me it was the first letter as your payments have stopped.

[AndNowItsSeven]

Although obviously even if that's the case your dd's payments will be backdated if pip claim is successful.

[AndNowItsSeven]

Sorry hadn't read your post properly and noticed you mentioning backdating. I didn't mean to be rude with the "obviously" just wanted to reassure you.

[frazzledbutcalm]

I'm going to dig out my letter and ... if I've mis-read it I'll be well miffed!!
You didn't come across as rude

[frazzledbutcalm]

Phew! Panic over!

I rang DWP, dd's payments are still being paid, they made a single payment for the week she turned 16, then payments are 4 weekly after that. It's just how their system works. Makes sense.

Now I just have to complete the PIP form. I'm not he appointee but there is no way she'll be able to fill the form in. Do I fill it in as if I were her or do I fill it in as her mum then she signs to say I've filled it in? So, if it was her it would read 'I' all through, but if I fill it in it will read 'dd' all way through?

[unweavedrainbow]

I would fill it in as you about her. There's usually space on these forms for someone else to say that they've filled them in for someone who can't manage to do so. This will also help if you're arguing that she can't cope with complex communication (there's a reading/writing criterium for PIP). If you fill it in as her they might think that she managed to do that, which could cause trouble later on-especially if they think you're contradicting yourself in the things you say she can or can't do. Good Luck

[AndNowItsSeven]

Oh that's great frazzled am really pleased.
Both my dd's receive four weekly payments I didn't realise it was sometimes given weekly.
Good luck with the pip form.
Would you mind updating on how the interview goes if you get chance.
My dd is 16 , expecting a pip form any time after October in our area.

[frazzledbutcalm]

I thought that too unweave ... I figured if I write the form as dd then it looks like she understands the questions, how to answer them, and physically write/fill out an extensive form - but she can't. So I thought it best to fill out as I did the DLA claim, then fill box out to say someone else has filled form out for dd.

When I rang up to be her appointee they said there's no need. They sorted out the different bank account for payment but that's all. I didn't even think of the forms etc. Can I still be her appointee now she's 16? Or would that have to have been changed before she was 16?

and ... I'll update as and when things happen. We got our PIP letter the week dd turned 16! DWP are on the ball when it suits them!

[unweavedrainbow]

Yes, you can still be an appointee after she turns 16-there are plenty of disabled adults who couldn't manage their own benefits so there's a system in place. You'll have to phone the DWP and I think they'll want to come and visit to check everything is ok. Here's a link explaining how:
www.gov.uk/become-appointee-for-someone-claiming-benefits

[frazzledbutcalm]

That's great unweave thanks!

[cricketballs]

we had a form through before DS turned 16 asking if he would need an appointee; filled it in and they the DWP sent someone to my home to ask DS and myself about why an appointee was appropriate.

The first appointment was during term time with only 3 days notice, so they got told very clearly - must be during school holidays; they made the appointment for the Easter break, she came on time and as I had to deal with a very important phone call I left them both to it for a couple of minutes; as soon as I entered the room she agreed he needed an appointee!