Change in circumstances

dannizebra3

hi there 

so I’m currently in receipt of standard daily living pip. My condition has declined and got worse so I have to have a face to face assessment again or can I just submit consultant letter? Also I get dislocations in all my joints my shoulders are very unstable and I’m struggling to use the gear stick etc can they provide me any support with that at all? I don’t get any rate Motability currently scored 2 points 

CockneyRebel

Hi dannizebra and welcome

How long is your current award for ?

If you submit a change of circumstance then you will most likely be called for a f2f assessment.

Your problems with the gear stick do not come under the help you can get.
Mobility awards cover two areas
Planning and following journeys and Moving around so unlikely from what you have said that you would score enough points for an award

CR

BenefitsTrainingCo

Hi dannizebra,

You don't mention any illnesses or difficulties that affect your ability to walk and if you have a physical illness that's the only way you are going to score points for mobility. You will need 8 points just to get the standard rate which means you cannot walk further than 50 metres. 

Lee

dannizebra3

Hi I have a condition called ehlers Danlos Syndrome I get dislocations chronic pain etc often need crutches or wheelchair to get about. Already have a blue badge too. 

Didnt realise the award had had a time length??? Will check it out 

thank you 

BenefitsTrainingCo

dannizebra3,

You can ask the DWP to look at your benefit when a change of circumstances makes you think your award should be different. That could mean that you should get the mobility component too (as Lee says, you have to score 8 points to get it, on the grounds of difficulty moving around and/or difficulty planning & following journeys). Or it could mean that you now meet the conditions for the enhanced rate daily living component. Or both!

As CR says, unfortunately most people who report a change of circumstances will be called for a face to face assessment, although it is possible that you'll be able to get a changed award based on evidence only - it just doesn't happen very often, so it's best to expect an assessment.

The other thing to think about is that you must have met the conditions for the higher award for at least 3 months in order to get more money. If you already have been this much worse for 3 months, then you could report the change straight away (you can't get backdated benefit if you report the change later than this), but on the other hand, if your award is time limited you might feel that you'd rather wait. It really is up to you, but do bear in mind that you can't get money for a past period if you report the change later than 3 months after you meet the conditions for the higher rate.

I would start off by using the PIP self-test to see how many points you think you should score in both daily living and mobility now, and how long you think you've been at that stage (I know this is very hard to assess). Keeping a diary can help too - related to the PIP activities & the difficulties you have with them. 

As CR says, difficulties with the gear stick wouldn't come into it, but might indicate you have difficulties with other things in the home, and the pain and risk of dislocation are both relevant to the moving around activity. If you can't move a certain distance without it being safe (ie without risk of dislocation), or without so much pain that you would have to stop, then I would expect you to score points - and how long it takes you to walk certain distances is also relevant.

Have a go at the test and then see what you think. 

Will