Teen and PIP

People will use PIP in different ways depending what their costs are in life. For many families it will go into the overall pot of money needed to survive to the end of the month, for others it will all be spent on specific therapies. Some may save it for a more expensive item. Most will have a combination of the above.

Be careful, if he saves over 7k it will begin to affect his entitlement.

Why are pp still adamant that PIP assesses capacity? You simply fill out the form and in many cases you have absolutely no F2F or phone interaction with DWP.

PIP isn’t meant for extra expenses relating to disability. My son gets it, it’s a daily living benefit to ensure a decent quality of life if you’re unable to earn and the amount you receive depends on your level of need. It is not intended to cover ‘disability’ costs.

PIP isn’t meant for extra expenses relating to disability. My son gets it, it’s a daily living benefit to ensure a decent quality of life if you’re unable to earn and the amount you receive depends on your level of need. It is not intended to cover ‘disability’ costs.

PIP isn’t meant for extra expenses relating to disability. My son gets it, it’s a daily living benefit to ensure a decent quality of life if you’re unable to earn and the amount you receive depends on your level of need. It is not intended to cover ‘disability’ costs.

@LadyKenya
@Starlingexpress

I would have to disagree, I have never specified or itemised particular costs or expenses as part of the application process

I was my son’s appointee at 16 and so received the PIP into my account, the same as his DLA. At 16 he wouldnt have been able to manage it.

When he turned 18, after a lot of work, we sat down and talked about how the money should be used.
My son did a lot of activities such as scouts and Duke of Edinburgh, sports, - all things which contributed to developing independence and living skills. So I kept the money to pay for all of that, plus a chunk of driving lessons and getting him set up for uni.
Now he’s at uni I still receive the money but transfer it straight to him. From thus year he wants me to put it into a savings account so I will.

It is assessed! There is a section on PIP regarding ability to make budgeting decisions which assesses capability to handle money.

I would have assumed this assessment of what the extra costs are would be submitted as part of the application process?

I think that expecting a 16 year old to comprehend the costs involved to their parent of them having the needs they have is a tall order and quite likely to cause stress and distress. We are not talking about grown adults, this is from 16th birthday. No 16 year olds are paying board or paying for their own food surely?

And don't you think it'd be upsetting for a just turned 16 year old to sit down with mum and hear 'well you cost me extra than a normal kid would because of x, and y, and double of this and loads of that' because of something they can't help? Because they lose and break stuff more than other kids, they wet the bed and cause.more washing, they chew through the cuffs of their clothes etc etc? They're likely already self conscious about their difference without literally being sat down by their parent and have it itemised and being asked to pay for it all. I'm all for helping young people reach as much financial independence as they can, but I think that's a very big ask of a 16 year old, to set out the way they cost their parent more.

It's a nightmare isn't it. My dd is 17. I use her PIP to pay for private psychiatry and if she would agree, I'd pay for psychology too. Her condition has had a massive toll on the family for years, I haven't worked full time since she started school. If she were to live away from us she would absolutely need PIP to pay for a cleaner, for ready prepared food and for taxis, so I am saving it for that day.

The money isn't for spending how you like though, it's for helping with the extra costs of the disability. And at 16, I doubt any of those are coming out of the teens pocket.

I think if you asked a 16 year with needs high enough to be awarded PIP how much or in what way their disability cost their parents they'd have no idea. If you asked my 15 year old (who gets higher rate care DLA) she'd have no comprehension of how her needs mean I can't work full time for instance. And I'm not sure I'd want her to fully understand the impact on my mental health and earning capacity her need have. If you asked her she'd probably just say I'm lazy

Teen keeps money and can spend how they like but parent should be sitting down with them regularly to help budget and advise and basically teach them how to manage money responsibly.

But the ability to make their own application and manage their own money is assumed from age 16. So the assumption is that they can, before they even apply. Presumably it cuts down the number of successful applications, as people who believe they can do so without help, bit actually can't, don't make applications which tick the boxes in the right way to be awarded. Maybe I'm too cynical. But 16 year olds aren't trusted with much else legally but somehow disabled 16 year olds are assumed to be able to cope with this themselves.

To PPs - no, capacity is not assessed as part of PIP.

But even if it was, capacity as assessed under the mental capacity act only assesses the individuals understanding in capacity to understand the issues discussed and make decisions in regards to them in the context of the physical or mental health condition that has prompted the capacity assessment. It includes the right to make what other people may consider 'bad decisions'.

I think a lot of posters don't understand what capacity is legally, hence all the posts on this threads and others; particularly where posters with elderly parents are told all sorts of nonsense about capacity.

It is assessed! There is a section on PIP regarding ability to make budgeting decisions which assesses capability to handle money.