Can parent claim PIP if their child is on DLA?

[Beurre]

Hello,

My nephew is autistic and is in receipt of DLA. My sister has fibromyalgia and has been advised by her GP to claim PIP due to her ongoing health issues. Just wondering if she will be eligible to apply as she is technically a carer for her son but not receiving Carers Allowance. Can they both get disability benefits? Really not sure what to advise her. Thank you.

They can. But does the care she provide to her son contradict her own needs? For example, if she says the child needs help washing and she says she needs help washing herself, they may question this. Different if the child can wash themselves but needs a reminder though.

There's no rule to say PIP can't be claimed alongside other benefits as its not means tested. The issue would be the assessment. If caring for her son contradicts what she is claiming for e.g. saying can't cook a simple meals but does 3 meals per day for son, or can't dress herself but assists son dressing each day.

I'd look very carefully at what she wrote on DC's application. Any contradiction/crossover will be looked at but if one is mental support and one physical it is perfectly legitimate to claim both.

Of course she can. They don’t even ask if anyone else in the household is claiming PIP/DLA so they are unlikely to question wether her answers contradict the care she’s providing for her DS. I know several parents who are disabled and care for children in receipt of DLA, they get PIP.

Each claim for PIP and DLA is based on the persons individual needs. She could easily say for example that there are days where she can’t cook and they have to order a take away (this would imply that PIP would help pay for take aways on days she can not cook).

Yes if course she can.

And if she is caring for him then she can claim that too; because his care needs and hers might be different. When I was working it was quite common to see couples who were both on PiP and who each got Carers Allowance for looking after tue other person because between them they had differing care needs. Also caring for someone can include things like being with them to make sure they are safe.

Thank you all so much for replying.

My sister was the main carer for her son when he was awarded DLA but her health condition has now deteriorated so much that she can’t do as much for him and needs constant help from her partner and mum. Would she need to contact child DLA to tell them her partner is now main carer for her son? Sorry to sound thick but just not sure about DLA / PIP.

No, they don't need to know who looks after him and, in fact, the DLA is awarded for the care needs that exist, even if the person doesn't actually get the care that they need.

Hi i have my grandson.stays with me he is on DLA I am.also on pip am.i legally entitled to have him.turned over to my care as I have arthritis and fibromalgia so gets bad but I'm.confused hes so.upswt as his mum is moving away and says he has to go with her but he doesn't want to go please help

You should be fine if your disabilities are not requiring the same kind of care/support…..for example if he has Autism/ADHD your needs won’t be the same as yours are more physical and his more mental/social. You both are already claiming so it should not be an issue.