Am I supposed to inform PIP of this please?

TiredMother

If some treatment ends but needs don't change.

My daughter has autism and a learning disability and needs heavy social support.
At first application there was just me as her carer providing that support. She got 4 points in the mixing with others section.

She needs someone with her to attend all medical appointments and events or activities and the first time she meets anyone. She cannot make phone calls herself etc. If she HAS to go alone I still have to make the journey with her and wait nearby and she needs heavy role play and scripting. She is in supported work currently in an autism charity a couple of hours a week.

At PIP renewal she had started Open Uni and has remote support from an autism organisation for mental health and social support via remote zoom who help her with social scripts and encouragement alongside me.

She still got the four points for mixing with others.
The funding for this will end when she finishes uni but her needs won't have changed and she will still need her carer to access everything. The autism organisation has suggested after her DSA funding ends that she should apply for access to work help so that that continues but I am aware that this is taking months.

Am I meant to tell them that the treatment from the outside agency has ended when it does because it says to contact if there is a change in needs and there isn't.

chiarieds

Hi @TiredMother - as you note, there hasn't been a change in your daughter's needs, so you don't need to inform the DWP about her PIP. Is your daughter enjoying her Open Uni course?

TiredMother

Thank you so much.

In regards to Open Uni it has been HARD. She was great the first year but the novelty wore off and there are a lot of occassions I think she would have really benefitted from in person learning and access to tutors were she could have asked questions as she struggles to access support and OU take up to 5 days to reply but she would have never been able to attend.

She's almost made it though which for a kid who left school with nothing and was told it wouldn't be fair to have her in sixth form to retake is good going!

chiarieds

She's done really well then considering how hard it must have been for her after the first year. All credit to her, & you! My best wishes to you both.