devistation regarding PIP and other benefits

braca

I was recently helping a friend  who has Vascular Dementia and was not given enough points to gain any award of PIP, Surely  people with Dementia have more problems with Daily living activities than (Removed by moderator, not appropriate for community)? This has totally sickened myself with the Benefits system, I myself recently reported a change in circumstances when I notified DWP of a £250,000. win on a Scratchcard  that lost myself all income benefits, And to make matters worse having received an extension on my current PIP Award, I have now received review form from PIP and am now pulling out what is left of my hair. How do those in the Know get round such Cases, AS had to go through MR and hard fight for my last PIP award. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

janer1967

The best way is to fill out the review forms as if it is a new claim gibing as much detail as possible about how your condition affects your daily living.  Give real examples of what happens when you try and do the task, if you canty do it ehy do you use any aids or support

Winning the amount of money you did is fantastic but of course you wouldnt be entitled to benefits as they are aimed at people who need support financially and have no other means of income or savings hence why they are means tested 

I am sorry but in my opinion the money you won is equivalent to around 10 years earnings of an average worker and if there wasnt any means test to benefits then where should they draw the line     

woodbine

@braca did you expect to continue to receive IR benefits with £250,000 in the bank?
Has the person with dementia put in an MR for the PIP claim? PIP is not about a diagnosis but the care and/or mobility issues you have. Just because you got an extension never meant you wouldn't get a review.

Girl_No1

Like you, I'd find it difficult to believe someone with Vascular Dementia does not warrant any additional support, so it may need some professional input as to how best to progress.

Does your friend have a Social Worker?  Perhaps a call to their worker, or Social Work Services if they don't already have a worker, would be something to consider?  Social Workers, here in Scotland, are generally able to make referrals to in-house Welfare Rights Officers to ensure maximisation of benefits.  

I hope your friend manages to receive their correct entitlement.  

mikehughescq

Having vascular dementia is nothing to the point. It’s really about what stage it’s at and the level of reliability. There are plenty of people with a VD diagnosis who go 3 or more years without developing anything like the level of symptoms which come later on. They absolutely won’t qualify for PIP in the interim.

Worth remembering that there are no conditions which magically fit the PIP descriptors and VD is no different in that respect. You can have someone perfectly capable of prepping food to a high standard but at the wrong time of day. Unlike DLA or AA, which distinguish very clearly between day and night, PIP makes no such distinction so those food points are by no means a given and so on.

Girl_No1

@mikehughescq - fair point.  As I have only ever known people whose diagnosis was given very late on in the progression of their condition, I had assumed the poster's friend was also at that state.  I hadn't really thought about those who may have been (un)fortunate enough to have received an early diagnosis.  

cupcake88

First of all congrats on winning 250 k I was made up when I won a tenna on a scratch card so that was good . 

I would of thought some one with dementia would of got pip but as the info above it will depend on how it affects your friend I hope you get it all sorted soon let us know how you get on .