DLA to PIP: Becoming an appointee. Home visit from DWP

[Toomanyminifigs]

I started a similar thread about this recently but this query is about the DWP appointee home visit specifically so I would welcome some advice/ information about people's experiences.

My DS is soon to turn 16 and I'm weighing up if I need to apply to become his appointee or not when he moves from DLA to PIP.

I understand that if I want to become his appointee, someone from the DWP will visit us. Can I ask what happens at the visit? I'm not sure my DS will engage with a stranger at all.
If he goes to hide in his bedroom could they insist on going up to his room to speak to him there? I think he - and I - would find that incredibly intrusive.

How long does the interview last? What sort of questions do they ask? Will we need to show them birth certificate/passport etc? (So I can be prepared).

Also, as he's in his GCSE year, can I ask for the appointment to be outside of school hours?

Thanks you for any insights you can give me.

From your previous posts, I would strongly recommend you request to become appointee.

You can request a visit outside of school time, but it might not be possible. The appointment is usually quite quick. I have known many to be as quick as 5 mins and a couple as long as about 30 mins.

Don’t worry if DS won’t engage. That isn’t something DWP hasn’t come across before. They might want to still try to speak to DS even if he is upstairs. You can explain why this isn’t suitable for him. They will ask questions about why DS needs an appointee, make sure you understand the appointee role and that you are a suitable appointee, check identity (the letter will tell you the list that is accepted but passport will be fine along with your NI number.) and complete the BF56 form. Try not to worry. They aren’t trying to catch you out and it is nothing like the PIP assessment itself.

I am my son's appointee. The job centre automatically remove the requirement to find work or trianing if the young person has an appointee.

Thank you both for taking the time to reply - and thank you @perpetualplatespinning for everything you do to help support people on this forum. Many people would be lost without you!

I have had a fair bit of experience with the DWP and sadly, it's made me automatically suspicious of their actions/intentions - even more so now with the planned changes to PIP.

I didn't know that about the requirement to work aspect - I hadn't considered that, so thank you @fizzypop100

I completely understand why there needs to be checks though as these are vulnerable young people. I'm not sure any 16 year old would be able to effectively communicate with the DWP though or fill in a complex benefit form!

You are welcome. The Visiting Officer for appointeeship will (well, most likely, I suppose I can’t say for certain) be nothing like your previous negative interactions with DWP. In all my years I have only couple across a couple of times where the experience has been negative, and even then it has been relatively easy to sort.

One thing you must do is focus on what DS can’t do because of his disability not what he doesn’t do because of his age. For example, some say their DC can’t manage a budget or can’t cook and focus on their age as the reason.

You are talking about the transition from DLA to PIP and becoming appointee, rather than UC. PIP has nothing to do with working or not, and someone with an appintee can still work. Fizzy is talking about UC. Most UC claimants with an appointee will not need to accept a claimant commitment (because they have been deemed incapable of accepting such a thing). Although you should still pursue LCWRA for the extra element.

On the note of UC, once DS is 16, as well as claiming PIP, you should make a credits only New Style ESA claim in order to establish LCWRA (called Support group for ESA purposes). Contact has information on this.

My daughter barely engaged with the visitor, more or less passed her in the hall. It seems like one of very few things where the DWP are trying to help! The visit was short and not intrusive.

I became my sons appointee in June last year and we didn’t have any visit?

@Washinginthesun home visits as part of the appointee process stopped completely when Covid hit. They have now gradually restarted. Some of those who didn’t receive a home visit at the time of becoming appointee have now had a visit.

Ah I see. Thanks. May get a visit then

Thank you for taking the time to share your experiences.

I have decided to apply to become DS's appointee. In regards to that, can I ask - on the form the DWP sends out: How much detail did you put in the box where it asks why you're applying?

The box is quite small and I'm trying to work out if I need to attach a separate sheet and go into detail about DS's difficulties?

Thank you.

It is OK to be brief. You only need to write enough to explain why DS can’t manage the claim himself. You can use an extra sheet if you want/need.