DLA becoming PIP at 16

[homeonthehill]

My dd turns 16 soon and I understand that she needs to apply for her own PIP. I also understand that she receives this directly but that there are circumstances where it can come to me, her parent.

Does anyone have experience of doing this?

She's still totally my responsibility, is at school, will be at college next year. I pay for everything for her. It strikes me as strange for a child to receive so much money when she has no responsibility for her costs, and seems way to young to be given such responsibility. Im torn in a way as Id enjoy seeing her have money each month to splurge on clothes and make up etc. But also wondering how we'll manage as I'm not able to work and money is tight as it is.

DD will be invited to apply for PIP once she's 16. If DD cannot manage her own claim you, or someone else, can apply for become her appointee. In normal times you have a home visit as part of the appointee process, but I think they are still being carried out via telephone.

Thanks @Imitatingdory I appreciate your reply. I am aware of that bit... my question was more around whether anyone had experience of claiming on behalf of their 16 year old. Mine isn't incapable of applying, but she's not mature enough to manage the money. Not really because of unusually delayed development but more because shes 16 and likes clothes and make up better than taxis to appointments and study books

It sounds like if there is usually a meeting to assess an appointee that it's going to be a ball ache of a process. Why on earth don't they wait for when the child leaves education like other benefits amd maintenance etc.?

When we started the application for Ds last year, they were definitely agreeing an appointee over the phone. I'm guessing that is still the case.

As an appointee the PIP would go into your bank account, unless you specifically asked for her to receive it. So you would be in control.

I think many areas consider young people 'adults' at 16. If she still needs support or you to talk on her behalf with a GP for example. You will need to submit a letter from her to give permission for that, from 16 onwards.
I find it frustrating as Ds is emotionally very immature but is expected to be able to manage the things his NT peers can at the same age.

The appointee process is really straightforward, and nothing to worry about. Once you've done it you can then speak for her for all DWP things, including at the face to face assessment (which I isn't know until the woman who came to do the appointee assessment told me, she was fab).

Thanks for the reassurance. I hadn't appreciated id need her permission to talk on her behalf with GP at 16. That does somewhat explain the PIP coming in to affect at that point.

I guess it's because it's financial as well as medical that it feels strange. Normally kids don't have to budget money or take responsibility for paying for things until they're working. I mean, she's had age appropriate pocket money from 8 years old so she's not clueless but that's for treats rather than essentials.

The appointee process is relatively straightforward, nothing to worry about.

When applying for PIP and to be appointee it is important you state DD can not do something e.g. budget or cook because of her disability, rather than can't do something because of her age or not needing to because you do it.

If DD is incapable of managing the money she is incapable of managing her own claim as managing the payments is part of that.

Be aware some assessors insist on the claimant answering the questions, but legally the appointee is able to answer and the assessor can not insist on the claimant answering.

Scotland now continue child DLA, or the new child disability payment, until 18 for claims made prior to 16.

Thank you that's all so helpful to know.

Sounds like Scotland have it right

When my son turned 16 and I applied to be his appointee, we were visited at home and I was told that they did this so that they met the young person and could be sure that they lacked capacity to manage money.
The person visiting us told me that parents often didn't want the money going to the young person, because of what they would choose to spend it on, but that is not a reason to have an appointee i.e. all 16 year olds would spend money on things parents would consider a waste of money.

@DietrichandDiMaggio

When my son turned 16 and I applied to be his appointee, we were visited at home and I was told that they did this so that they met the young person and could be sure that they lacked capacity to manage money. The person visiting us told me that parents often didn't want the money going to the young person, because of what they would choose to spend it on, but that is not a reason to have an appointee i.e. all 16 year olds would spend money on things parents would consider a waste of money.

That's what worries me. I don't really feel like we should even get it if it's going to be spent on frivolities. I don't think the tax payer should be giving hundreds of pounds a month for it to not be spent on the actual disability.

Plus I'll have to find the money from somewhere for the actual things she needs.

Maybe she'll surprise me if I sit her down and go through costs. I don't really want her to have to worry about them yet though.

Do you have a transition specialist nurse or roald Dahl specialist nurse? They have a fab benefits advice team that will guide you through filling in the form. It’s a bit of a slog.

@Helspopje

Do you have a transition specialist nurse or roald Dahl specialist nurse? They have a fab benefits advice team that will guide you through filling in the form. It’s a bit of a slog.

Ooh no I don't. Will look in to it

A health professional working with Ds added some extra information to his form. So when it came to Ds being assessed, they contacted the health professional and not us. I also sent as much evidence as I could (professional reports) regarding Ds's difficulties.
The form is a slog, but I managed it by using the citizens advice online information.
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/

I think they should stay on DLA until 18. I our case how can our neurologically immature son manage PIP? He would just waste it and be vulnerable to other people.
Also he's still at home and dependent on us. The DLA is currently used to buy what he needs. I gave up my career 14 years ago to care for him and simply won't be able to afford to buy what he needs and be at home to look after him 🤯🤦

As well as the guide Punx linked to the benefitsandwork guide is helpful, as is this one.

Hamjamwich it sounds like you will be able to be DS's appointee.

Thanks for the link.

@Hamjamwich that's exactly my worry. I've been reading up since posting and I don't think they'll allow me to be DD's appointee. ADHD and PDA with depression and anxiety. Lots of needs but she's an absolute master at masking particularly with a new stranger. I might be wrong and I will give it a try.

I think I'll just have to sit down with her and explain that whilst the money is coming to her, there are costs she'll have to be responsible for, and hope she understands. It really should be set at 18, how many 16 year olds manage their own costs. ridiculous system.

Also, the vulnerability aspect that you mention @Hamjamwich. It would mean she'd have way more money than any of her peers from her old school that she's still in touch with. I can just imagine if some of them get wind that she's got cash

I'm my daughter's appointee. She's 17 and has asd. There was no assessment or anything for me. I just told them I had to be her appointee and that was that. I get her pip and her UC. On paper, she's capable of filling in a form but in reality she can't. She can't speak on the phone either and hasn't had to give any consent for me to have her benefits paid into my account. I did both her pip assessment and her UC assessment for her.

It actually felt like it was incredibly easy to get her money. Seemed like a huge safeguarding red flag to me, tbh.

Just to add that we never had any home visits or face to face appointments due to covid.

Sting I agree with the safeguarding red flags, you could be anyone. I think the move to telephone checks/lack of F2F visits for appointees since the start of the pandemic will mean there are people who abuse the process.