To believe my DM is not losing her PIP benefit?

[Marieme]

Can anyone clarify the changes to PIP assessments and reassessments?

Specifically my DM was awarded PIP for 10 years, so due a reassessment in about 8.5 years.
She thinks they are going to take this off her soon.
However I thought it would remain the same as she has been awarded it for 10 years and then when it comes the time for a reassessment she may not get it due to the stricter regulations.

can anyone tell me as she is really worrying about it?!

No one knows what is happening at this moment. If your DM has a long award, I would not be wasting time worrying about it now.

She is convinced she is going to get a letter saying they are taking it off her, whereas I think they will wait until the reassessment date.
Im glad she was awarded it for 10 years if I’m right.
she is a worrier, but she has me doubting myself!

Maybe they will, maybe they won't. As PP said, nobody knows at this stage and any changes will not be implemented for a while since they are a long way away from changing the law.

The bill hasn’t even been presented to the commons yet so nobody knows.

All the proposed changes right now are just that - proposals. They are awful though but a lot of people and organisations are fighting our corner.
Until you get that UC journal message or letter from the DWP about it, then try not to worry. I know it is easier said than done. Times are scary right now.

What has that got to do with the OP Mother worrying unnecessarily? I knew of a family where the child had type 1 diabetes, and was needing a very high level of care to manage it. She is now a teenager, and still has high needs due to her condition.

Diabetes can be debilitating.

The proposed bill is for changes to be made at people's next assessment period. 10 years is also a significantly long award period, suggesting she is significantly disabled. I don't think she should be worried.

I'm sure they won't review her until nearer the end of the 10years. The changes are only due to come into effect from November 2026 and they will be for new applicants and current claimants at review. If your mum has only just been awarded PIP for 10 years then I wouldn't expect her to be reviewed till maybe after 9 years. If she's been awarded PIP for 10 years then she must have a severe disability so I really don't think she has anything to worry about.

No one knows for sure.

There are already long backlogs for PIP assessments so the most likely scenario is that they will be reassessed when they come to the end of the award.
When DLA changed to PIP that is what happened - people were assessed on the new criteria at the end of their award.

She definitely won't receive a letter saying her benefits are being stopped suddenly.

Theres alot of scaremongering going on in the media. Have you checked her award letter to see if she is already scoring 4 points on any descriptors? A friend of mine was in a complete panic but when we reviewed her award letter she scored 4 points in 3 of the descriptors so would be unaffected by the changes.

A 10 year award is also one of the longest awards that are given & so likely to be a 'light touch' review at the end of the 10 years anyway.

Yes I asked her for a copy of her award letter so hopefully she will have scored 4 points in one category and this will put her mind at ease

Theres alot of scaremongering going on in the media. Have you checked her award letter to see if she is already scoring 4 points on any descriptors?

Even this is not set in stone yet, and is unfortunately being touted as final, and is causing unnecessary worry for a lot of people. The Government has not had the go ahead to implement this, at present.

I have an ongoing award like your Mum - ie a light touch review every 10 years. I’m not worried. The plans seem to be that it’s only at reassessment that changes would take place and someone with an ongoing award would be very unlikely to lose their award.

From what I've gathered she will keep her award until her next reassessment is due so if it's due in 8 years that's when it will be reviewed so she has nothing to worry about

Is she over State pension age and on the ten year light touch review ? They haven't really said what changes this group may face. I expect at some point they may bring things into alignment with Attendance Allowance as currently we have a two tier situation where some pensioners who claimed PIP before pension age are potentially on double the money that others claiming Attendance allowance with a similar level of disability because people on AA cannot get a mobility component. I don't see how this level of unfairness can continue indefinitely. However as others have said , with the current proposals they do not come into effect until Nov 2026 if they are even passed and would only affect people's next assessment which could be years away. As the focus seems to be on getting working age people back to work, if your mum is a pensioner then I imagine this is the group they will be least likely to go after.

Also we’re in NI so usually it takes longer until any chances are implemented here

She needs to think about it in the following way:

Say there was a snap election tomorrow, a new government could come in and change it all. She could end up more secure or she could end up with everything taken away tomorrow.

At present the situation is they are targeting new applications and renewals. Since she hasn't got to renew for a long time she's safe until then. Unless there is a significant change.

But as I say that significant change could just as easily be another change of government and potentially there's two elections between now and then! Equally there could be a significant economic or political crisis which changes everything too.

There's literally no point in her worrying about it, precisely because it's beyond her control.

*changes

Despite a long award I’ve had a reassessment letter the same year in the past, there is no guarantee any more, it’s all fucked! No wonder so many disabled people are suicidal