PIP and supported accommodation?

blackcat_
blackcat_ Online Community Member Posts: 3 Listener
edited August 25 in Housing and independent living

To give some background, I am currently receiving PIP (standard elements on daily living & mobility) for autism, EUPD, anxiety, depression. My needs have severely increased within the last year, to the point I have had to move into Supported Accommodation. The supported accommodation is through a housing association. I live in a flat on a residential street, no other service users live with me in this space, I have my own tenancy and pay for all utilities myself - i.e. council tax, water, gas & electric.

In this time, I have received a recent diagnosis of ADHD, had several safeguarding reports sent to Social Services from my supported accommodation staff (client service manager, who acts as the landlord) which then triggered a Needs Assessment with a social worker. The Needs Assessment identified I was a significant risk to myself and required 2:1 staff to support me in keeping myself safe, keeping my home safe, and helping me access the community. (The latter has not yet happened, I am unable to leave the house even accompanied, which was why I received mobility in the first place. And this is unlikely to change).

Now I have the outcome of that assessment and now have support staff coming to my home (x2 weekly for 2.5 hours each time), I was advised to contact PIP and inform them of this and request a change of circumstances to see if I was entitled to more. Which I have done. I am also not sure who exactly is paying for my care, apparently retaining the daily living depends on if it's the council who are paying or social services (they're both the same thing though, no?)

But now I'm worried if I've done the right thing? My last award was given in January 2024, and was in place until November 2026 and I'm concerned if I've just messed this all up for myself by not waiting? Should I have waited for the next re-assessment period? Should I have even said anything at all?

I've also just found out after asking on Reddit (I know I shouldn't believe everything I read online) and they said I will have my daily living removed because I am receiving care while claiming Housing Benefit. Which, maybe this is the autism making me more pedantic than usual - but it's not "care". It's support. The staff don't do things for me, I have to do it with them.

Obviously nobody here can answer whether I'll get a higher award or not, but my concern is that I am going to lose everything I already have. It didn't dawn on me until after I'd gotten off the call, despite acknowledging the risks on the phone (it's really stressful for me to be on telephone calls, especially to strangers & we all know how traumatic it is dealing with PIP-related stuff). I just feel scared now as if I lose this I am going to be significantly worse off.

I don't know what to do. Sorry if this is all over the place.

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