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16 yr old doesn't want to claim PIP

50 replies

Sherrycat · 30/05/2023 13:54

Hi, I am being asked to give bank details to carry on paying DLA for my dc until a decision about PIP when they turn 16 has been made.

My dc doesn't wish to claim PIP. Does anyone know what happens next? Do we need to inform the DWP, or just ignore the letters & then their DLA just automatically stops after their 16th birthday?

OP posts:
P0stB0xT0pper · 30/05/2023 17:02

Why can't you claim it as their advocate ?

Surely they must have some extra needs where the money can be spent now or saved for their future

Do they understand how money works ?

PatchworkDonkey · 30/05/2023 20:53

Why wouldn't they want to claim? I mean I know that's a stupid question, it's hell on earth, but if they need it they need it.

It's so much easier to keep claiming than to get started. If there's a gap it'll be assumed they didn't need PIP as have recovered. It impacts on getting ESA or the equivalent, they do check what else you get and are more likely to believe you if you already get something else.

Plus it's money, which everyone needs to survive? Please for your own sake don't get into a situation where you're subsidising their adult life because they can't earn enough and won't claim. They need an alternative plan of how they're going to move out and live independently and pay their own way in adulthood, if they won't claim whatever benefits they're entitled to. It's hard enough bringing up a disabled DC. Disability doesn't mean they have an excuse to lean on you as the easy option in adulthood, they should claim whatever they're entitled to.

When it comes to benefits if you ignore letters payment will stop.

Sherrycat · 30/05/2023 21:22

They don't want the stress of it & know from others experience just how difficult it is. I will have another chat with them.

OP posts:
Mydcchangedmyusername · 30/05/2023 22:04

Could you become their appointee and take over the admin of PIP/benefits on their behalf?

RedSnail · 30/05/2023 22:59

Sherrycat · 30/05/2023 21:22

They don't want the stress of it & know from others experience just how difficult it is. I will have another chat with them.

How do they propose to pay their disability related expenses once DLA stops if they don’t plan on claiming PIP?

scrantonelectriccity · 30/05/2023 23:00

Sherrycat · 30/05/2023 21:22

They don't want the stress of it & know from others experience just how difficult it is. I will have another chat with them.

It's not like that for everyone. DP had a positive experience with claiming it!

peacelemon · 31/05/2023 07:08

RedSnail · 30/05/2023 22:59

How do they propose to pay their disability related expenses once DLA stops if they don’t plan on claiming PIP?

This is key

SouthCountryGirl · 31/05/2023 07:09

Mydcchangedmyusername · 30/05/2023 22:04

Could you become their appointee and take over the admin of PIP/benefits on their behalf?

They'd still have to go through the assessment for it though.

Okshacky · 31/05/2023 07:13

Transferring to PIP from DLA at 16 shouldn’t be massively stressful if you don’t care about receiving it. How are the expenses to be met otherwise? Is it that the difficulties have resolved?

Barleymilk · 31/05/2023 08:24

My ds is 16 in September and has been claiming dla since he was 10. Has a asd diagnosis with tonnes of paperwork and school sen have been very supportive.

Over the last year things have changed and son has made so much progress that his needs aren't really different to anyone else his age so I can't see him wanting to claim.

allabouttheboy · 31/05/2023 08:48

This is not uncommon amongst young people. You can explain the support you can offer, but you can't make them cooperate.

Okshacky · 31/05/2023 09:40

If he doesn’t meet the criteria anymore he won’t get it, if he does he should

DontBeBitterGlitter2023 · 31/05/2023 09:42

Not everyone who gets PIP meets the criteria. Wish I knew how they get around it but they do

Assignedtoworryyourmother · 31/05/2023 09:45

DD chose not to claim. DLA stopped and that was that, no need to do anything.

HeavenonEarth · 31/05/2023 09:46

You can do the forms for them as their appointee?

You are supposed to inform DWP if they are not applying but obviously they will stop paying if the forms are not filled in by a certain date. (Just applied myself for dc aged 16. There is no way they could have done it.)

Iyiyiiii · 31/05/2023 09:48

Sherrycat · 30/05/2023 21:22

They don't want the stress of it & know from others experience just how difficult it is. I will have another chat with them.

You're the adult, you can do it for them.
I still do my DS's and he is early 20s

DunkingMyDonuts · 31/05/2023 09:51

Do they realise how much it will impact in them if they dont claim it?

Not sure obviously HOW it will, but can you tell them worse case scenario - They wont be able to have a phone as you cant afford to pay, go out socially or whatever? (Doubt this is the case but they may be affective!)

If they see a correlation between them personally and the "hassle" of doing it it might give the kick up the bum to do it

Iyiyiiii · 31/05/2023 09:57

and there are other benefits they can get by being on it - access to help at university etc

BooksAndHooks · 31/05/2023 10:00

Depending on the disability it isn’t always stressful. My son turned 16 last year. I filled in appointee forms and had that in place. They did a paper based assessment and based it on the forms and his previous DLA forms. He didn’t have to see or speak to anyone at all.

They are doing more paper based assessments now especially for things such as autism where face to face will cause distress.

caringcarer · 31/05/2023 10:04

OP I had the same issue with my foster son. He has moderate to severe learning disabilities, IQ under 75, developmental delay, FAS, some autism and functionally he can't do lots of things like go out on his own as no road awareness, needs help dressing, prompting to shower, can't wash own hair or shave himself, can't tie his own shoe laces or do up buttons yet always says there is nothing wrong with me I don't need help. He can't cut up his own food even. He does not understand that the PIP pays for his activities and the extra assistance he needs and the Motability car he needs to get him to specialist college 40 miles away so 80 mile round trip each day. I discussed with his SW and she said put in claim as his appointee and send in all reports from consultants and his EHCP and she wrote me a letter to send in explaining he has no awareness of his needs due to intellectual impairment and due to his autism he won't speak to strangers. He was given a paper based assessment of the full award for care and full award for mobility for 9 years. I'm just relieved I won't have to raise it for him for another 8 years. The money goes into an account and pays for activities and extras for him. He is going on holiday with a sports club to Dubai in October. It is costing £3k. He would not be able to go without his PIP. Can you put in a claim as his appointee and ask for a paper based assessment. If you have enough evidence they sometimes do that.

Okshacky · 31/05/2023 10:11

DontBeBitterGlitter2023 · 31/05/2023 09:42

Not everyone who gets PIP meets the criteria. Wish I knew how they get around it but they do

You’re describing benefit fraud which while it does happen is extremely rare for disability benefits. What made you think people could get the benefit without meeting the criteria?

Mydcchangedmyusername · 31/05/2023 10:14

SouthCountryGirl · 31/05/2023 07:09

They'd still have to go through the assessment for it though.

I think as the appointee or if it's part of the
?terms of being his appointee, the appointee can and do speak for the person in assessments. In some cases, the person doesn't even have to attend.

There are groups for this where it's explained more clearly and others have gone through it.

HecticHedgehog · 31/05/2023 10:14

Is he still in full time education? If you're still supporting him I think the decision should be down to you until he's 18 at least. You can do it all for him. We didn't have an assessment as my child wouldn't cope with it. They moved from mid rate care/low mobility to enhanced pip.

DontBeBitterGlitter2023 · 31/05/2023 10:17

@Okshacky I have a family member who is even claiming the higher rate mobility payment yet has zero issues with going out clubbing, to gigs, etc (PIP is for ASD and social anxiety). We're a close family so I know the true story before anyone tries to claim there are obviously other things going on

Mydcchangedmyusername · 31/05/2023 10:21

He is going on holiday with a sports club to Dubai in October.

How is he going to manage on his own or will he have someone to support him? Genuinely asking because I too have dc who's very similar to him, so I'm just wondering to get possible tips.

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