Disability change of circumstances pension age

destinymoon

I have started a claim for PIP. Waiting for the forms. Prior to this I rang DWP thinking I should be claiming Attendance Allowance . The forms have arrived today. I am currently in Receipt of DLA. Do I need to ring DWP and inform them that I am now claiming PIP. I don’t want my DLA stopped if they think I have not gone ahead with claiming. Thanks 

poppy123456

Are you saying you applied for AA and have now received the form? If so then i'd advise you to ring them to tell them that you've been advised to apply for PIP because you weren't born before 9th April 1948. You also need to ask them to cancel the claim for AA. Hopefully they will be able to do that because there's no mobility part for AA.

destinymoon

thank you. Just got off the phone. Stressed! Yes forms came in post today. They say no claim has been started until they get the completed forms back, so no worries. Told to  forget about it. I am awaiting the forms from PIP. 

poppy123456

destinymoon said:

They say no claim has been started until they get the completed forms back, so no worries.

I'm not convinced that's correct. A claim starts when you ring them and not when you return the form. In some cases they can continue with a claim even when the forms aren't returned. Did you ask them to cancel the actual claim?

destinymoon

I spoke to someone and explained. He said it wasn’t a claim until I returned the forms to them.  I did reiterate as I’m on DLA already I wouldn’t want that ignored and cancelled. They don’t have any of my medical details. I only have the form. They couldn’t assess me for AA without any info could they? Whereas PiP went through a 20 minute phone call asking me docs details etc etc. That claim has started. Just waiting for the forms to complete now. 

poppy123456

That's really poor advice you've received there. A claim is started when you ring to request the forms for AA. If then awarded it's paid from that date providing you returned the forms within 6 weeks (although that wouldn't apply to you because you're claiming DLA)

It only starts from when you return the form if you download and print the forms online. See link for confirmation. https://www.gov.uk/attendance-allowance/how-to-claim

Please remember that when ringing any DWP department you're speaking to someone from a call centre who are well known for giving misleading information.

destinymoon

Thanks again for replying. How can they go ahead with the claim if I don’t complete and return the forms? I’m really anxious about this now. I am going to ring again tomorrow and discuss. Who would you advise I speak to please? 

poppy123456

DWP can use their own discretion if a form isn't returned. You will only be able to speak to someone from the call centre. Just ask them to cancel the claim and that's all you need to do.

destinymoon

Yes that’s what I already did today. I rang and told them now claiming PIP. The guy said that’s ok don’t need to do anything. Do you think I should ring again and make sure? 

poppy123456

Yes please ring again to make sure the AA claim has been cancelled.

destinymoon

Have spoken today with someone from INDEpendent  age and they are advising to ring Citizens advice about my claim. They are saying I should not be able to claim PIP as I am 66. Claim
has  started and now I’m not sure what to do! I started the claim over the phone for 20 mins and received a text confirming my claim and awaiting forms. Have to ring AA to make sure they haven’t started a claim for that but completely in a muddle over all this. My anxiety is through the roof! 

poppy123456

destinymoon said:

Have spoken today with someone from INDEpendent  age and they are advising to ring Citizens advice about my claim. They are saying I should not be able to claim PIP as I am 66.

That's very poor advice you've had there and it isn't correct! As i advised in my first comment and also provided a link to confirm that advice is correct. See link from first comment here. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/before-claiming/if-you-get-dla/

Only those that are born before 9th April 1948 won't be able to claim PIP.

Please remember that DLA ended for all those of state pension age and below in April 2013. You should have at some point been invited to apply for PIP as many thousands of people have already been throught the process.  However, there's been considerable delays for many thousands of people, which is why you haven't yet been invited. Though you would have been sent a letter at some point in the future.

destinymoon

I see thanks again. As I am in receipt of DLA and it hasnt been stopped for a year and I was born after 1948 I am entitled to claim PIP. Plus I should have been assessed from DLA to PIP sometime back? I am sorry I am not getting this clear. 

poppy123456

Yes, that's spot on. They have just been extremely delayed in the process of the DLA to PIP transfers. Nothing unusual because there's usually delays when a new benefit is introduced.

destinymoon

I think I do remember a letter from  them some time back saying( 2017/18)  DLA was not to being reassessed for PIP and DLA would continue. 

destinymoon

Thank you again for your replies. You are very helpful and knowledgeable! 

poppy123456

destinymoon said:

I think I do remember a letter from  them some time back saying( 2017/18)  DLA was not to being reassessed for PIP and DLA would continue. 

It's highly unlikely to have said that. You would have eventually received a letter. I think the timescale for this to be completed was originally something like 2017

destinymoon said:

Thank you again for your replies. You are very helpful and knowledgeable! 

You're very welcome. Always happy to help anyone i can.

destinymoon

Just got to ring Attendance Allowance again  and reiterate to them to ensure AA claim not going ahead. Should I give them my NI number and they can check it using  that?

poppy123456

They should ask for your NI number everytime you ring any DWP department.

destinymoon

Oh ok. I spoke to someone at Attendance Allowance yesterday to tell them im not going ahead with AA claim, as I explained  in previous posts. I  was not asked for name nor insurance number! Will ensure it’s done properly this time.