Would future changes to PIP affect pre-existing PIP awards ?

brenj63

Hi,

I'm new to the forum and would like to ask a question with regards to my Grandson's recent PIP award.

He has autism and last Autumn was awarded enhanced daily living and standard mobility. We were pleasantly surprised that his award was for 9 years with a review from 8 years.To be honest I was expecting 0 points, an MR and a tribunal battle like many of us have to go through.

My question concerns the Government's plans to reform PIP and make it more difficult to get it.

I was wondering how any future rule changes affect current awards.

Are the Government likely to honour pre-existing PIP awards or void them under new rules ?

TIA

Kimmy87

Unfortunately we just don't know until Labour release their plans, which should be this month.

Albus_Scope

Heya @brenj63 and welcome to the community. 😁

As Kimmy has said, unfortunately no one knows what's going to happen with PIP. But as soon as we know, we'll be posting about it.

anisty

That's a really long award for autism. Obviously, I don't have any insider info on what the future holds but I don't thinķ you need to worry too much as that length of award suggests to me that your Grandson's autism is severe and his progress has plateued?

My son is now 26 and was given a double enhanced paper-based award but only for 5 years.

I totally get your concerns as, although autism is a life long condition, it's perfectly possible for new skills to be aquired which potentially reduces the amount of any award, but of course the underlying disability is always there.

In fact, this is our exact worry for our son. He is doing really well at the moment in supported employment. Although his week follows just about the exact same pattern it did 5 years ago, his confidence has rocketed and he has become very able in the things he does.

It is very possible, in his lifetime, that he could make the move into unsupported employment and maybe independent living. Who knows what the future holds. You always want them to achieve the best they can, whilst knowing their financial safety net is not withdrawn too quickly.

Hopefully, in amongst the plans to reform benefits, will be plans to support disabled people.

Our son is doing well because we are always finding opportunities for him where he can develop skills and contribute to society at the same time - without that support from us he would, without doubt, be at home full time and not working at all.

The goverment believes many more people can be in work and I have to agree with that - but it has to be the right work with the right support. And that all costs money.

It is a tricky one - especially with the huge rise in mental health conditions. I personally know of 3 young (20s) people in my small town who are on full disability, unable to leave their houses at all due to mental health. They have no physical disabilities and were just normal kids (albeit kids who probably did have undiagnosed learning barriers and became overwhelmed in secondary education)

It's kids like those, now facing a lifetime of disability, that could have led full working lives, had families and stayed mentally well with the right support that will be in the government's sights i think. There is such a mental health crisis in schools just now, the goverment has seen what's coming down the tracks and will be wanting to catch these young teens and get them skilled up for work before they retreat into the safety of their bedrooms for life.

That is just my thoughts though. Just need to wait and see.

luvpink

@bren63

Hi and a very warm welcome to the community.

Unfortunately until the government make an official announcement regarding benefit reforms, none of know what our fate will be.

anisty

Blimey! I missed the edit window for a lot of spelling errors in my post there.

Government - what was I thinking omitting the n TWICE?!

I'm not the best at spelling but I do know how to spell government normally.

The others - well. They look wrong, they are wrong but I think i'd need to look up the corrections for them!