Daughter got DLA awarded in Feb and now has to apply for PIIP

[EinsteinaGogo]

Hi all,

My daughter was awarded DLA in Feb of this year - middle level for care, lower level for mobility.

She was 16 in April, so we now need to apply for PIP as she is now classed as a adult.

I will complete the forms with as much detail and evidence as I did with the DLA (which was awarded from our first application)

Does anyone know if the PIP assessment will be more straightforward as she was so recently awarded DLA and it's her birthday threshold that's triggered the need to reapply?

PIP is a different benefit and harder to get to be honest.

Were you asked to apply for PIP ? I thought they usually wrote to you and told you when you need to switch?

Hi @Babyroobs - yes, we did get a letter telling us to apply for PIP now she's 16.

"Does anyone know if the PIP assessment will be more straightforward as she was so recently awarded DLA and it's her birthday threshold that's triggered the need to reapply?"

No, they won't take the DLA award or assessment into account. I expect they will treat it like a new claim and a new assessment.

However, if you have copies of the DLA form, any evidence submitted, award letter, assessment report, a lot of it may well be relevant for the PIP claim too. Get up to date evidence if you can (you can ask GP receptionist to print a Patient Summary Record, plus see if you have any recent medical letters and reports that would be relevant).

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/before-claiming/if-you-get-dla/

Here is some info on PIP. The low rate mobility does not have as many direct comparison in PIP. There is a lot of guidance available. Citizens advice or another welfare agency may be able to give tips or talk through completing the form even if not doing things face to face. Remember if need to you can challenge within a month.

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/before-claiming/if-you-get-dla/

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/help-with-your-claim/fill-in-form/

Be warned, there is no lower rate mobility for PIP (just standard and higher rate) so she might lose that unless she can get enough points to qualify for standard rate mobility.

PIP is based on how the disability affects the person day to day rather than the diagnosis itself. Take each descriptor on its own merit and think about how/why your DD would struggle. Each descriptor is considered separately so don't assume that because you mention something in one place it will be considered in another.

Thank you everyone, very good advice.

I will be extremely thorough and include everything I possibly can.

Thanks again.

Really recommend Fightback4Justice. Having had DLA for years, my son was magically cured of his disabilities after a 45 minute interview and was awarded no points for anything. We put in a Mandatory Reconsideration and they sent back a rejection full of inaccuracies. Fightback talked me through the appeal and tribunal process and it's been looked at again and he has his award just come through. Do use some help - PIP is very different from DLA.