worries about money

simmyt1996

hello i know i am not alone in worry about money i just need someone anyone to talk to. Until 2018 i was doing ok money. But i was told to apply for pip. Before i had dla and esa. i have autism and anxiety and learning difficulties as well as a wheelchair user and have speech problems. mum filled pip form in they wanted to do assessment. the first appoiment i couldn't keep they expected to be there at 9am me and mum can't drive and bus dosent start until 8am. so mum managed to change it. unfortunly i was to sick to attend the second one. it isn't a good enough reason for not attending so they took my dla away and then most of my esa. recently it is getting harder and harder to cope with food and electric costs. i fear that we will have to choose between having a meal or heating the house. it is so horrible i dont know what else to do. 

Oxonlady

Hi @simmyt1996, could you not have asked for a home assessment, with the support of your GP?
I had a home assessment for DLA, I don't know what the procedure is for PIP exactly. It's unacceptable that they don't consider being unwell as a good enough reason for not attending your assessment. Could you not have appealed? Is it worth you applying again and requesting a home assessment?
Also, could you check that you are getting all the benefits you are entitled to, maybe with the CAB, or other Charity? Even local Councils can help with benefits.
If you are paying water rates to your water provider, as opposed to the Council, you can get a reduction if you are on benefits or low income. You should also get some help with your energy bills starting from October. 

poppy123456

If the decision on the PIP was in 2018 then you are outside of the maximum time of 13 months to do anything about that decision.

You can reapply for PIP as there's no rules on not being able to reapply. They are no longer doing home assessments as these stopped during Covid and it's unlikely they will ever start back again. Most people have assessments so it's likely you will need one, these are now done by either telephone, video call or face to face at an assessment centre.

If you're successfully awarded it will be paid from the date you rang to start your claim.

If your ESA was reduced because your DLA award ended then this could have been because you were claiming the SDP.

If you do decide to reapply for PIP then you can post back here and someone will advise you further on filling out the forms.

simmyt1996

Hi thank you both. i wasn't sure how it works either. we appeald it right away but it didn't work and reapply in 2019 also didn't work. Hope you both are well

Oxonlady

Hi @simmyt1996, I see that Poppy has given you some good advice. It's probably worth you calling in to tell them that you want to apply for PIP as soon as possible. You'll need to supply whatever supporting evidence they require, but, as Poppy says, you can ask for further advice, either here or by calling Scope's Helpline. Good luck. 

Thank you for asking, I'm not too well today, I'm in a great deal of pain so I'll be lying down shortly. Wishing you all the best. 

enaj19

Hi all
Thanks for the advice including in this thread, a lot of this relates to me and probably a lot of other people too. 💜