If this is your first visit, check out the community guide. You will have to Join us or Sign in before you can post.
Unexpected PIP Award
whistles
Member Posts: 1,590 Disability Gamechanger
I'm new, so hello everyone.
I have been on DLA indefinite middle rate care, low mobility.
I called DWP for a copy of the assessment - which I don't have yet, during the call I was told they had made a decision. For how long I forgot to ask.
I realise DLA and PIP are different, although the questions are pretty much the same as what the DLA asked you. But is PIP standard rate the equivalent of what was middle? Or do people feel it's the equivalent of low. Or totally unrelated?
The reason my award feels unexpected is I thought I would get standard Care and lose the Mobility because it was low before. I am going to be £80 a month worse off, but I am not going to question it or appeal. The reason, a) the stress, b) duration, this has been ongoing since December 8, c) if they look at it all again they could decide to drop me to standard.
I wonder if the scoring system is designed to not award you points. You can only score once in a section. Obviously I am ahead of myself here because I don't know my points, but I have gone from middle care to zilch, so didn't score 8.
Anyone else lost award in one area but got higher award in the other?
My assessment lastest 1 hour 30 minutes and he was fine if anyone reads this and hasn't been yet. Four weeks wait for the decision.
I have been on DLA indefinite middle rate care, low mobility.
I called DWP for a copy of the assessment - which I don't have yet, during the call I was told they had made a decision. For how long I forgot to ask.
I realise DLA and PIP are different, although the questions are pretty much the same as what the DLA asked you. But is PIP standard rate the equivalent of what was middle? Or do people feel it's the equivalent of low. Or totally unrelated?
The reason my award feels unexpected is I thought I would get standard Care and lose the Mobility because it was low before. I am going to be £80 a month worse off, but I am not going to question it or appeal. The reason, a) the stress, b) duration, this has been ongoing since December 8, c) if they look at it all again they could decide to drop me to standard.
I wonder if the scoring system is designed to not award you points. You can only score once in a section. Obviously I am ahead of myself here because I don't know my points, but I have gone from middle care to zilch, so didn't score 8.
Anyone else lost award in one area but got higher award in the other?
My assessment lastest 1 hour 30 minutes and he was fine if anyone reads this and hasn't been yet. Four weeks wait for the decision.
Do not follow me, I don't know where I am going.
Replies
If you do decide to appeal and need any guidance, do let us know. You might also want to check the online benefits calculator and also the extra money and help PIP entitles you to page, to check you're getting all the help you're eligible for.
Have a look at the B&W self test
http://www.mybenefitsandwork.co.uk/pip/indexxx.php
PIP standard is the equivalent of DLA middle
CR
But I have gone from middle care to nothing.
Low mobility to enhanced. So it's strange either way.
Perhaps things have changed but that's pretty drastic.
CR
It's a minefield if you don't know what you don't know.
I don't want to put that online publicly though, can I messsge an advisor?
Thanks for the replies, this forum is so helpful.
My concern now is I have just lost that. So I could actually lose some ESA as well.
I will look in that forum in case someone else has experienced that. It looks to be classed as a change I need to inform them about.
I have never had an ESA assessment so I must be in some exempt category?
I know that if you get middle rate care you can get a disability premium, that's what they realised I didn't have- and I have just realised what it was for now.
So, it must strangely be linked.
I think it would easier to navigate the Hampton Court maze blindfolded than understanding the complexities of the benefit system.
Were you in receipt of any premiums ?
CR
I was on something called severe disablement Allowance on my original Income Support.
Please do consider challenging the wrong decision
CR
The award and assessment letter isn't here yet. I wish it didn't take ten days.
The more I read the report the more I realise what's gone wrong.
Section Four the box that says tell us about any help you or someone that's coming with you needs when you come to a f2f, I put no stairs.
That's gone into my report as something that they can't help with as its beyond the scope of pip!
They asked, it wasn't part of my claim. But someone did read the forms then.
I do think I might be one of the lucky ones though and had a nice assessor.
He has scored me in what I said I didn't need help and not scored me on what I said I needed help with. My condition although we get told isn't relevant was mentioned as the reason.
The phone consultation to my gp, and ringing up to apply for the forms will have gone against me.
Now the immediate anger has gone I can actually look at it from their point of view and it's the % of time I need help to stay safe. I did only make myself 8 points one or twice.
I am still a bit miffed to lose my sdp as well. I think that needs to move over and be inclusive with the dla/pip. Then you can do your sums. If that amount had been shared between low, middle and high we would know where we were. You get with care and lose without.
I have read plans to roll out UC and they will lose the premium for new claimants. So if my area becomes UC before my next pip review I won't get it back.
Sorry going off topic now. I think one of the reasons people might need to MR and appeal the pip, is because you can't live on the ESA. The cost of living is way higher than the benefits especially for those long term sick/ disabled but thrown off pip.
I can't cook so rely on food that's pre packaged- more expensive. Though I can cook a salad.
no decision letter yet but looks like I’ve got 6points for daily living on Pip and enhanced mobility.
therefore I too will loose money from my ESA support group.
However the wheels are in motion before the letter arrives.
ive contacted my local disability solutions centre and hopefully with their help will get an extra 2 points some how.
otherwise it’s off to court.
please do not give up without a fight and get as much help as possible
and please don’t give up.
At least get advice and ask for MR
It may not be as simple as that but until a test case arises that is my logic
CR
I hope UC isn't rolled out. I thought the idea was to save money and all these new benefits just seem to be costing the country money.
What's wrong with new claimants just going onto esa?
I can feel like a guinea pig in the system at times.
Also, I agree about ESA being too little to live on, especially if you can't get to big shops and have to shop in Tesco Express, need to take taxis for mobility reasons (I just don't go many places now, including therapy a lot of the time, especially when very mentally ill), and (now) have to buy tons of meds off-prescription (I'm paying ~£45 a month for ibuprofen, paracetamol, loratidine, cetirizine, esomeprazole, ranitidine, and Rennies/Gaviscon). I'm sure there are many other issues that other disabled people face that cost more.
It's all being looked at again in two years, I can't spend a year challenging it.
I live in warden supported accommodation with a night time live on site warden. This is where pip might be letting some people fall through the net- we don't care where you live, can you cook.
Luckily I have this support- but it's not cheap. I am in talks with the provider about funding etc. Things need paying for, it comes out of someone's pocket.
I think the ( i ) in pip stands for insult.
Have you thought about having a supermarket deliver your shopping?
Depending on what you want to buy wiltshire farm food deliver meals if you can't cook at all.
I used to get food delivered by supermarkets, but at this point the fees are money I can't afford.
I really want to get a granny trolley! Been looking out for them on Freecycle, etc. No luck yet. Would help a lot!
I need my PIP. I just can't make it without it.
It does not seem right but nothing about dwp does.
I hope he wins
CR
It's an online claim as well. So haven't seen how you would supply evidence they usually want?
I have lost the sdp, now they are rolling out UC. Life itself is paused until they move me over!!!
If I qualify for care in the futur I SHOULD get the premium back.
Imo it's unlawful and inhumane to cut a premium off someone for moving house, even within the area or days new claim !!!!!!
I wasn't appealing the pip and with this on top I just don't have the mental energy to do anything.
CR
IS to ESA was a simple no f2f change.