DLA to PIP some questions

Pippity

My son turned 16 back in August and was claiming DLA before that since he was 10 (high care standard mobility)

We submitted PIP claim early September but they apparently didn't receive forms and we resubmitted them end of September. We got a text early October from IAS saying they are doing assessments on behalf of DWP and texting for information purposes to let us know they are managing our assessment and will look at our evidence and let us know if a consultation is required.

Since then we've heard zilch, zip, nada. Is that normal?

My questions: 
Do child DLA moving to PIP get processed differently to normal new PIP claims?
Is the wait time for new PIP claims same as child DLA to PIP?
Do we know what those wait times are?

Should we have been sent an assessment date or heard anything else by now? 

Have to say I'm getting nervous as we don't have much evidence as he refuses to engage with services. He's refused and screamed outside appointments for past 3-4 years so we've given up even trying to go. 

Pippity

Another question, if they decide he needs to do a consultation he absolutely won't attend. He won't even speak on the phone to give permission for me to. So what happens then? They just close the claim?
I am his appointee but I assume I can't just do the consultation for him without him even saying hello or attending? But he 100% won't. 

poppy123456

That sounds perfectly normal to me. It will be classed as a new claim so the waiting times will be quicker than a review. 

Please also remember that waiting times don’t just include backlogs, it’s also each individual case and some wait longer than others. 

If an assessment is needed you will be contacted. If successfully awarded the PIP payments will start about 7 weeks after the decision is made. No money will be owed, even if the PIP award is higher than the DLA award. 

Are you his appointee? 

Pippity

I am his appointee I think. We had trouble as his dad was his appointee or claimer for DLA and when we got the letter about switching to PIP it had an appointee form and we decided to change it to me, but they started sending letters to both of us and it got confused.

But the PIP application came addressed to me and said "yada yada write as if you are SON NAME, the questions are about him" and texts come to my phone so I think it got sorted eventually.

Did you spot my question about if he doesn't attend an assessment? Any help you could give with that please?

Pippity

Oh and although they are individual is there an average waiting time for new claims? Just want to know whether to expect months more or weeks or years? I have zero frame of reference

poppy123456

Most assessments are by telephone and you will be able to answer all the questions on his behalf. If it's a face to face assessment then they would expect him to be with you but you can again answer the questions on his behalf. You can also change it to a telephone assessment if you prefer this.

It could several months but that's just a guide, it could be less or more. Your timescale up to now isn't that long compared to some people.

MissKitty1973

My son turned 16 just before end of August, our timeline so far has been:  I am also my son's appointee.

25 September PiP forms arrived to DWP
20 October had a text from IAS stating they have paperwork and will be in touch.
18 November received an out of the blue telephone call from health assessor asking me one question (I presume my son has had a paper based assessment).

It could be you might have sent in enough of evidence for a paper based assessment and therefore might not get a letter informing you of an appointment.  If you do get a letter asking to attend a face to face you can call up and ask for a telephone appointment instead.

I haven't had a text message to state they had received the assessor's report back but I did call up DWP and was advised that they had the report back and it was now with the Decision Maker and to expect a decision anytime between 6 and 12 weeks but who knows could be sooner or much later depending on backlogs etc, but DLA will be paid until a decision is made.