Applying for PIP for a 16 years old

[MemSahb]

Hi everyone,
My son is reaching 16 years of age, he was diagnosed with autism when he was about 6.
He has been on DLA since however I now have a letter that I need to apply for pip.
I had a choice to be his appointee or he applying for himself.
I decided not to be his appointee
They said he will have to call them and they will send him a form which he needs to fill in.
My son is verbal and goes to a main stream school and has EHCP , get extra help from his teacher.
Regarding his mental disability , he is not like a 16 years old, he is not able to take shower by himself, not able to tie his show laces, not able to self hygehes,
Lots of reminders needed to do daily life things.
We have total 3 children on ASD and I keep them on gfcfsf diet and clean food, that makes a lot of difference, most of his benefits money goes towards diet for example we buy camels milk as cow and goat milk make him very hyper, not able to concentrate, lot of high pitch noises and running around, same with processed food and gluten.
Could I mention this on the form or on the phone if they ask where is his money spent?
Do they accept it being used on gfcfsf diet although these diets are not recommended by a nutritionist or a doctor.
Could I fill in the form for him as it will difficult for him to describes his disability and needs?
What else you can list on the forms?
Any other advice, please write it

Thanks in advance

You should reconsider whether DS needs an appointee.

You can help DS complete the form but unless you become appointee DS will need to sign it. And unless you are appointee, DWP will expect DS to speak on the phone when he calls for the form.

PIP is based on points awarded for specific activities. Not where the money is spent (and DS could choose to spend the money as he wishes. If you were appointee, you would be able to spend the money in DS’s best interests). You can see the points table here. So, things like not being able to take a shower independently and needing prompting are relevant. Special diets can be considered under the activity looking at a person’s ability to manage therapy and monitor a health condition. Normally, special diets are considered to be ones prescribed or recommended by a health professional. Sometimes support related to diet can be part of the eating and drinking activity e.g. if someone needs prompting to eat enough because of ARFID.

If your son can manage his own money he doesn’t need an appointee and can choose what to spend his money on. If he can’t he needs an appointee and you can help him to spend it as is needed.

Do you have a DWP link stating it is the appointee’s role to help the claimant spend the money? Because the government’s website states it is the appointee’s role, among other duties, to “spend the benefit in the claimant’s best interests” and the BF57 appointment to act confirmation states the appointee “will also receive and administer any money which may be due to them”. It is shocking if both of those are wrong. Although, at times, they could amount to the same thing.

@BrightYellowTrain its a question of capacity though isn’t it? You could fairly commonly have individuals that can’t “do the banking” perhaps because their numeracy isn’t up to it or they can’t organise themselves to pay bills but who are still able to direct their affairs to some extent. OP has stated that her son doesn’t have an appointee so at present she should have no control at all. The money will be paid to his bank account and he will manage it.

My question was about those with appointees since it was about the appointee’s role and claimants don’t have appointees if they can manage a claim themselves. Do you have a link? My first post said DS could choose DS could choose to spend the money as he wishes without an appointee.

@BrightYellowTrain I’m not sure what you are looking for here? If you want clarification of your role then just call DWP or possibly citizens advice or MENCAP could talk you through any parts you don’t understand they could probably point you in the direction of any written advice and “links” if you need that too. OP is asking about her child in her situation.

I was wondering where you got that the appointee’s role was to help the claimant spend the money rather than spend the benefit in the claimant’s best interest/administer the money because that is not to what the government/DWP states the role of the appointee is.

Of course the thread is about the OP’s situation. In her OP she asked how the monies can be spent. Whether or not she needs to relook at whether an appointee is required and if she does become appointee, her role as appointee is part of her situation.

Well I guess it would depend what you think is “in the claimants best interest” wouldn’t it? Most support involves allowing as much independence and autonomy as possible. If you’ve read something different into that guidance that may be because the person you support (if you do) doesn’t need you to consider those ideas and would be better cared for without any say or opinion. I suspect that the OPs son could have some level of understanding and for me that would mean best practice would not be to exclude him entirely from the process.
i am of course just a parent on a forum so this is my thinking on the subject and you can read and understand the guidance as written or talk it through with someone as I previously suggested.

That is why I posted “Although, at times, they could amount to the same thing.” I was just curious as to where you had received that information from, that’s all.

Probably from the same sources you did @BrightYellowTrain I think you just interpret it differently. I don’t see there’s any contention here but I expect OP would rather hear from a range of posters about their understanding, so perhaps we should avoid any more back and forth.

I haven’t forced you to reply. You are free not to, obviously.

It is a very different interpretation from the appointee confirmation to act rules so I just wondered where it came from. That’s all. You clearly don’t want to share more, that is your choice.

Hi if DD gets awarded a higher rate of pip since filling forms to change from DLA to pip does the difference get backdated or do they not back date any difference in award
thank you

For those transferring from DLA, if the award increases, it isn’t backdated to when the PIP claim was first made. Equally, if the award decreases, you won’t have an overpayment.

When dd starts the change from DLA to pip does the month of arrears of the DLA get paid or does it not .

The arrears are paid - there will be a further DLA payment after the PIP decision has been made but before the first PIP payment (if awarded) (because PIP is also paid in arrears).

@BrightYellowTrain hi my dd her DLA finishes 29th of April before her pip starts 30th April getting paid a month later , her last DLA payment was 18th march not sure how many weeks of DLA she will be owed

Following the PIP decision, DLA will continue to be paid until 28 days after the next payday. You can see that explained in the PIP handbook here. The arrears will be paid. It isn’t something you need to worry about. Some people think the arrears haven’t been paid because PIP is also paid in arrears so if the rates have remained the same there’s no extra iyswim when in actual fact the arrears have been paid.

I don't understand why you wouldn't want to be his appointee. Is he capable of answering questions and handling money? Yes, you can help fill in the form and I think there's a box to state if you got help. Would he be able to answer questions affirming what had been written on the form? It's a tall ask for someone with ASD/16.
Oh, and it doesn't matter what you spend the money on, as long as it's in their best interests. It could be towards running a car if it benefits them, towards household bills if their needs means it's more expensive for you. It doesn't have to be specific disability items. It could even be spent on their 'special interests' - gaming equipment, whatever floats their boat.