Adult Disability Payment

[youresodesperatetobedifferent]

Hi I was wondering if anyone had applied for this yet and if so how they found the experience? I have never applied for PIP but had done a lot of reading planning to apply then this was announced so have requested the forms.

It sounds like they’re hoping it’s much less traumatic than the PIP process.

Looking into this just now. Will be interesting to see how many people apply as it's just being rolled out.

Initial application process and forms pretty similar but the difference seems to no horrible health assessment unless necessary

the Feedback from this has been pretty good from the areas they piloted, they also offer support to fill in the application forms instead of having to go to citizens advice etc, there is a local team in every local authority across Scotland they are called local delivery. A friend of mine had an appointment where they supported her to fill the form in and she said it was fab, you just call their main number on 0800 182 2222 and ask for an appointment, you can request a home visit, phone appointment, video appointment or at a venue local to you. Good luck if you apply 👍

Thanks for the info!

I had to call and request the forms as could not for the life of me work out how to apply online after making the account. I’m still waiting on them but will try and remember to report back once I’ve applied.

I applied a couple of weeks ago so still waiting to hear. I'm not too hopeful though as I don't know how I can evidence things. I definitely meet the criteria for standard care but I don't really have any proof that I do and in my case I think the lack of assessment might be a negative point. I have had brief conversations with the GP over the years but I don't know if that's enough.

I have done a successful child application. DC DLA was due a review and instead of sending it I let the DLA run out and applied for child disability payment. It took 4 months from start to finish (mainly bc the DWP still had DC down as claiming DLA so that was a hold up while we sorted it) and they awarded the higher rate for care, whereas DLA only gave middle care. Low mobility which is what we got before, but I'm so glad it didn't do the review for DLA.

I’ve claimed SDP for a child and although it took waaaaay longer than they claim it should’ve - it was pretty painless. A chap phoned through and he was lovely and we got the award expected.

only fly in the ointment seems to be some delay in informing DWP as it’s not filtered through to tax credits yet despite me chasing it twice.

I hear you @mattressspring. Some things are so difficult to evidence. For some benefits there are aspects of them taking your word for it (maybe when you say you’re single rather than in a couple for example) - does that not apply here at all?

I have a diagnosis of a condition that makes my life very difficult so other than telling them the symptoms of that condition and saying I have these symptoms, what else can I do?

Good to know about the child one too as I have an application for that to do as well.

I updated tax credits online the day I got the award notice. It took 12 weeks for them to update my payments. It was a complete nightmare actually, much more stressful than the actual disability payment process.

Will the health assessment not still be necessary though for people who cannot provide supporting evidence from HCPs detailing how their condition effects them?

It's just so hard for me to 'prove' things when I have no proof. They can easily decide not to believe me, and what should they? Realistically people shouldn't be able to claim these benefits without proving they meet the criteria. All I can do is explain I do need help with X/Y/Z, and why and what but I can't send them a doctors note confirming it because the doctor has no idea, not being with me 24/7. They can confirm a condition, but they can't evidence it affects me in a certain way. So difficult.

Will the health assessment not still be necessary though for people who cannot provide supporting evidence from HCPs detailing how their condition effects them?

Oh I didn't realise that. I hope that's the case. I will be able to make much more progress with my application if I am assessed and able to actually talk to someone.

@mattressspring that’s great to hear TC got there in the end.

I got PIP the first time without “medical proof” because I was diagnosed abroad.

for the SDP (child) - formal diagnosis is waiting, but they were happy with a letter from school.

im expecting a new diagnosis which theoretically should give me a bigger PIP award, I expect I’ll go through SDP than face PIP wankery.

@mattressspring @youresodesperatetobedifferent
Have a really good think about what evidence you may have of the way your disability affects you? You may have more than you think. Don't answer these questions here but some things to consider.

What did you originally tell your GP about which sparked off investigations and a diagnosis? Difficulty walking/extreme fatigue/can't go out alone etc? What advice and changes did you make at that point. That's evidence.

Did you get referred to physio, CPN, OT? What changes did you make due to their input -that's evidence.

Do you get support from family, neighbours, friends for any daily living activities? Does someone always have to accompany you somewhere, does someone take kids to school for you on your bad days, give you your meds, provide meals for you? Name these people and how often they do this as it's all evidence.

Is your child's school aware of your disability? Is your your OH's work aware and sometimes they have to get called home to help you. All evidence.

Just have a really good think as you've probably got evidence. Submitting supporting evidence of way disability affects you has always been key to being successful and I'm sure will continue to be the case.

@AyBeeCee

Thank you, a lot to think about there.

Thanks @AyBeeCee
These are the kind of things I will think about and reflect onto the forms.

I suppose some of these are what I mean when I say above about them just having to believe you. If you say you use a certain aid then they just need to take your word for it surely? Unless they want you to record yourself using it every time - which wouldn’t surprise me

The forms have just arrived. Now to try not to put off filling them in for too long!

It’s worth forking out the £20 or so to join something like benefits & work who will help you with the forms.

eg did you ever stop to consider that your 99p plastic pill dispenser with the days printed on is considered an “aid”?

I have an autoimmune condition which affects me in daily life but there's no criteria to go on to decide if I would be entitled to any claim. I understand what you mean. I can't prove anything except for a separate issue which had to be confirmed by X-ray recently.

Very difficult to know what to do.

@youresodesperatetobedifferent is there an HCP or someone from charity sector who provided the aid for you or recommended you buy it?
They would know how you struggle without it and that could be used as evidence.

I’ve literally just seen this and it might help:

I submitted my PIP renewal form about 3 months ago and have heard SFA since so getting pretty worried. I'm still getting my PIP paid (I get full PIP) and my circumtances have not changed. I have submitted supporting evidence of my conditions but I am still worried because I've heard nowt.

I got a letter from DWP today re: TC. They want me to take a copy of the SDP award and post it to them…

you’d have thought they could phone Scottish social security and confirm it, but who am I to judge? 🤷‍♀️

I had to do this too. HMRC had DC down as still getting DLA even though it ended 5 whole months before I told them DC now gets SDP. They couldn't wrap their heads around it because every time I phoned TC they said yes DC gets DLA and I'm like, No, not they don't. In fact they wrote to me to tell me the DLA had ended and DC would no longer be entitled to the disability element. It was like banging my head against a very hard very brickish wall. Eventually they decided they needed me to send them proof that I didn't get DLA for DC - how can I prove something that doesn't exist. The best I could do was send a copy of the SDP award and finally a feeler weeks later we got it sorted. By the time I got it the back money was 7 months (added on over the rest of the award not a lump sum) because we went from middle rate care to high.

@youresodesperatetobedifferent hi there!! I’m hoping you’re still on this thread. I applied for this in September and I still haven’t heard anything back.
Did you apply in the end and have you had your decision letter yet?
thanks! X

I was really concerned as you can see upthread about not having any evidence but I was actually awarded enhanced rate for both care and mobility for ten years. I guess there was enough from the GP and any hospital appointments I have had being fed back to the GP. It took about 4 months all in and they did call me to double check my medications (I had to send my repeat prescription). The award notice states that examples i have given are consistent with my conditions and that in the short term they understand these are unlikely to change, hence the 10 year award. I was absolutely amazed since i have only ever heard of peoples struggles to claim PIP and when I applied there were no 'real life' stories of going through ADP.

Sorry I realise you tagged OP but thought it may be helpful to hear of a positive outcome.