Important advice for people on DLA – the PIP is coming your way!

From February 2015, all people on DLA living in South Yorkshire will eventually be transferred onto the Personal Independence Payment or PIP. Everyone’s claims be transferred over time, unless:

• You have a time limited DLA award. When this runs out you will have to claim PIP rather than reclaim your DLA.

• Your condition changes. If as a result you want to be considered for a higher rate of DLA, you will have to claim PIP instead.

What does this mean?

The main thing, is don’t panic – just be aware that there are some differences between PIP and DLA.

Changes to the components.
• DLA had three components for Care – Low Middle and High, and two rates for Mobility – Low and High.

• PIP differs in that there are only two rates for both the Daily Living and Mobility components. These rates are called Standard and Enhanced.

IMPORTANT: If you are on DLA at the lowest rate care component and/or the lowest rate of the mobility component, Active Independence strongly suggests that you get advice before embarking on a PIP claim.

Changes to the components
The element of PIP replacing the Care Component of DLA is called the Daily Living Component, and looks at a range of activities that you can’t do, or struggle to do, such as preparing food, eating and drinking, managing your medication, washing and bathing, managing toilet needs, dressing and undressing, communicating, mixing with people and making decisions about money.

The DLA Mobility Component is still referred to as the PIP Mobility Component, but is broken down into two activities that you can’t do or struggle to do. The first one is “planning and following journeys” (which will look at someone’s mental health or intellectual capacity to use public transport, or go out alone safely). The second activity covers physical mobility itself and is called “Moving around”

Points and Assessments
Based on what you put on your claim form, DLA looked at your overall condition with regards to care and mobility needs, and made a payment based on how these were interpreted. There was also a clear distinction made between daytime and night time care needs.

PIP payments are made on a points based, assessment system. Once you have filled in your form, you are sent for an assessment. We strongly advise that you take someone with you to the assessment. They will be able to help you remember everything you need to tell the person who will be assessing you.

You will be given points for activities that you can’t do, or struggle to do, such as preparing food, eating and drinking, managing your medication, washing and bathing, managing toilet needs, dressing and undressing, communicating, mixing with people, reading and understanding, and making decisions about money.

When thinking about the activities, the PIP concentrates on whether you can do something safely, to an acceptable standard, repeatedly and in a reasonable amount of time.

As with DLA claims, you need to truthfully and realistically state what you can and can’t do, taking into consideration things like pain, fatigue, side effects of medication, lack of concentration etc.

If you use any equipment, aids or appliances, then your ability to carry out an activity using these will be considered, so you need to think about any problems you have using your equipment.

• To get a standard rate of daily living component of PIP, you have to score at least 8 points.
• To get an enhanced rate of daily living component of PIP, you have to score at least 12 points.

• To get a standard rate of mobility component of PIP you need to score at least 8 points
• To get an enhanced rate of daily living component of PIP you have to score at least 12 points.

Active Independence can supply you with a breakdown of all the activities and points, just ring or email and we will send one to you.

Don’t assume that your assessment will be enough – you still need to complete the forms as thoroughly as possible.

Don’t assume that what you put on the forms will be enough – the information you give will be used together with information from the assessor to decide on your claim. (The person you see will not be the one who makes the decision.

Help is here!
If you want to talk to someone about making a new claim for PIP or need help with transferring from DLA to PIP, either because your circumstances have changed, or the DPW have told you to, please get in touch and we will try to help you.

Other sources of help include on-line guides are available from:
• Disability Rights UK (has a link but can’t put it on here – Google disability rights UK PIP)
• The Citizen’s Advice Bureau Advice Guide (again there’s a link)

Your local CAB or independent advice centre may also be able to help you in person.

Lastly, try your national or local self- help group – they or their website may have useful information, tips and hints specific to PIP and your condition