Pip

[Year7mom]

Hi,
I need some advice on the pip assessment process.
If I am currently on the claim form as an appointee for my adult, Autistic/adhd son and have received a text saying the following..

Hello from Health Assessment Advisory Service. We conduct Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessments for the Department for Work and Pensions DWP. This is for information purposes only, to let you know that we are managing your PIP assessment. We will look at the available evidence and will contact you with an appointment if we need to have a consultation with you. You can find information about the service we provide at www.haas.ingeus.co.uk You do not need to contact us.

Does the above mean they will be needing only to speak with me or will they want to speak with my son as the claim I manage is for him.
also what may happen if he refuses to speak with them or possible just as bad if he decides to speak with them and says he can do everything - which he can’t but always says yes to everything.

If DS has a face to face assessment, he must attend. The HCP will try to engage DS but you can still answer questions/help DS answer. Try not to worry if DS refuses to speak. If he answers incorrectly, you will need to bluntly answer correctly and explain DS lacks insight into his difficulties or whatever other explanation fits.

If DS has a virtual or phone assessment, you can speak on his behalf. The HCP may try to tell you they can’t speak to you and have to speak to DS, but you can stand your ground.

ok,… thanks. I hadn’t even thought about a face to face assessment. Hopefully it’ll be on the phone or video call at worst.
and if I do get a phone assessment I will let them know before my son speaks that he goes of in tangents as his EHCP states.
he’ll likely answer yes to everything.
another worry is his annual review states he’s still struggling with independent ‘out of borough’ transport. His teacher said he was documenting that as my son will not travel alone. The borough used to provide transport but he only started playing ball when they started sending the same driver - who my son had for the last two years until he finished six form last summer.
im pretty sure the assessor will read this as meaning my son’s only struggling with out of town travel and that my son can travel locally alone - which he can’t.
the teacher documented that as he said my son would likely need transport provided to get to whichever college he was going to and if it was documented in his Annual report social services may help provide this in the future.
it’s terrible that you can’t even have a final annual review highlight a students positives through fear of it being used against them.

Unless you have other strong evidence, I would try to get a statement from the school/college to clarify the AR paperwork.

If you have transport issues down the line, it is worth reading up on the actual law because many LAs’ post 16 transport policies are unlawful. The rules are different depending on the age of the young person.

Thanks, unfortunately my son left special school last summer. He had to stay till the end of year 14 and then started a drama college in September. He’s refused to let me have any dealings with his new college as he doesn’t want to be a ‘special needs’ kid… the new college know he has autism and adhd and his course being a drama one means he’s on the go all day so with the support they offer and constantly being on the go it really works. No paperwork for him at all - he’s in his element! don’t know what sort of supporting letter if any that I’ll able to get from them without his consent…

I’m wondering how relevant new input would be anyway since he’s an adult - as I’m assuming it’s now just like an adult in employment claiming pip - where the assessors wouldn’t expect statements from the employers - I don’t think

PIP isn’t about someone’s ability to work, but evidence from work, e.g. occupational health or access to work can help.

If DS has capacity, and having an appointee doesn’t mean DS lacks capacity for other things, such as matters relating to college, the college is unlikely to speak to you.

Is the drama college course up to and including a level 3 course? If so, the EHCP should still be in force, so there would be paperwork from that and the SENCO would still be aware of DS and his needs.

If the drama college is a level 4+ course and an eligible course, is DS in receipt of DSA? There would be paperwork from that. Disability services are probably still aware of DS if he needed such significant support in school.

His course is foundation at drama college and he is twenty years old this year. I was told EHCP was to stop last year as he wasn’t staying at level three.
did fill out lengthy forms for DSA and was told we would receive a call but nothing ever came through and like an idiot I didn't pursue it as was told the amount was minimal, and receipts and all sorts had to be kept. I’m doing all the driving of him to and from college and having to work too - it’s draining to say the least :/

Chase DSA. That can fund taxis.

That’s what I was told too. But being a black taxi driver I do all my son’s driving around.
I was told if it was a regular independent hired minicab, full cab fare (minus bus fare) could be claimed; but since I’m family and dropping him I would only likely be able to claim fuel. what happens to the cost lost out of the work shift in the one hour drive there and hour drive back home - no expenses for that! I have discussed with him the idea of getting a minicab but know the reality of the journey will likely be very long as the minicab don’t have use of the bus lanes and the journey is over six miles (in London that can almost be equivalent to a road trip on many days!). God knows what his college day would be like after a journey that long!
And I know it’s my son I’m dropping but if he didn’t have the disability he’d be able to bus it - while I worked at that time and earned money for the family.
I will definitely be claiming DSA for his next year even if it is only minimal he’s awarded. Things have been so tight financially the year!
Right now my main concern and hope is that he gets a uni place for next year🤞