DLA to PIP

[PinkPonyClubber]

I have the dreaded letter telling me I have to apply to move to PIP as DD has turned 16.

Does anyone know how the process works. She gets middle component DLA for severe anxiety and we are currently waiting on an ASD assessment.
I am down as her guardian but she won’t really speak to anyone on the phone and especially if she doesn’t know them. Might even be worse in person.

Im slightly scared we will get turned down. I had to give up work 3 years ago when she stopped coping/going to school. Although things have improved she is in no way independent yet. I can’t even think about starting to look for work until she starts college and hopefully is settled, just now she is on partial timetable so I am back and forwards to school. Even college won’t be full days still and won’t come home on her own yet. The money is poor compared to what I earned but at least it’s something.

has anyone else been through it?

Dc moved over a few years ago. I was a little annoyed at the process but actually it worked in our favour.
So he had to phone up to request paperwork (he couldn't) so I phoned and he went on the phone and said yes when happy for me to talk on his behalf. They said he must be in ear shot. They never documented this but I did. I filled the paperwork in (dc is mainly medical tube fed, medication etc but also asd). Dc signed the form writing he wanted all contact via me. They phoned dc to do the assessment (no prior letter/communication). The assessor wasn't getting the answers they wanted (this should have been great evidence but wasn't documented either). Then dc passed me the phone and I said I'll answer the questions by communicating with dc and relaying the answer. The assessor was obsessed with could dc make a frozen pizza (he could physically do this however but couldn't know it was done and would bring it to show me) also due to specialist diet and some tube feeding dc would not be able to live on pizza /other processed foods. This was also not documented. However dc did get what I felt was fair. Since then dc had a desk top review and it another 5 years.
So my advice make sure you ask for things to be documented. Make sure dc has written and given consent. Don't put dc contact details put yours. As soon as the paperwork is available request the full report.

That’s very helpful. My biggest fear is that she would have to go somewhere to be interrogated. And actually she might seem okay during it but would lead to a massive breakdown afterwards.

Im going to look for a notepad and start making notes. I don’t need to ring for several weeks so I’ll do it in the Easter hols if DD has to be present.
DD also couldn’t make a frozen pizza (or would eat one) anyway.

If DD is unable to manage the claim herself, you can request to become appointee. You should have already been asked about this. Have you been?

The initial phone call will ask basic questions. Then you will be sent a form to complete. Then there will be an assessment. Some claims have a paper based assessment, some via the telephone, some virtual, and some F2F.

It is worth reading about the activities and what counts/what doesn’t. For example, using the pp’s example, medical diets/feeds are not considered as part of the preparing and cooking food activity and some people don’t realise that. They are considered under activity 2 and/or sometimes activity 3. Although it sounds like pp’s DS should score under activity 1 anyway.