Unexpected PIP Award — Scope | Disability forum
Please read our updated community house rules and community guidelines.

Unexpected PIP Award

whistles
whistles Community member Posts: 1,583 Disability Gamechanger
edited March 2018 in PIP, DLA, and AA
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.
Do not follow me, I don't know where I am going.
«1

Comments

  • Pippa_Alumni
    Pippa_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 5,793 Disability Gamechanger
    Hi @whistles, hopefully some of our community members will be able to share their experiences with you: I'm not sure on how exactly PIP compares to DLA but just from what other members have said it sounds much more difficult to gain PIP points and awards now than it was for DLA.

    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.
  • CockneyRebel
    CockneyRebel Community member Posts: 5,209 Disability Gamechanger
    if you feel that your award is incorrect you should challenge it
    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

    Be all you can be, make  every day count. Namaste
  • whistles
    whistles Community member Posts: 1,583 Disability Gamechanger
    I haven't got the assessment forms yet to see what's been written.
    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.
    Do not follow me, I don't know where I am going.
  • CockneyRebel
    CockneyRebel Community member Posts: 5,209 Disability Gamechanger
    that is a strange move . You should consider an MR. you have one month from the date of your decision letter

    CR
    Be all you can be, make  every day count. Namaste
  • whistles
    whistles Community member Posts: 1,583 Disability Gamechanger
    I wonder if this change will effect my ESA as I'm in the support group. They sent someone out three years ago and realised I wasn't on what I should be. 
    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.
    Do not follow me, I don't know where I am going.
  • whistles
    whistles Community member Posts: 1,583 Disability Gamechanger
    Hi @whistles, hopefully some of our community members will be able to share their experiences with you: I'm not sure on how exactly PIP compares to DLA but just from what other members have said it sounds much more difficult to gain PIP points and awards now than it was for DLA.

    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.
    Looking at that link. It looks as if the extra benefit is linked to the DLA care. 
    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.
    Do not follow me, I don't know where I am going.
  • caitainsley
    caitainsley Community member Posts: 4 Listener
    I think they cannot change you from support group ESA till you have another specific esa medical assessment. PIP and ESA are supposed to be independent. If you are a high rate mobility you would think ESA should be still support group , but nothing is logical with DWP , is it ?
  • whistles
    whistles Community member Posts: 1,583 Disability Gamechanger
    It's not no. 
    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. 


    Do not follow me, I don't know where I am going.
  • caitainsley
    caitainsley Community member Posts: 4 Listener
    edited February 2018
    Hmm I obviously know even  less than I thought! I have always had ESA assessments. You are right ... It is a maze for anyone .
  • CockneyRebel
    CockneyRebel Community member Posts: 5,209 Disability Gamechanger
    ESA award cannot be changed until you completed a WCA
    Were you in receipt of any premiums ?

    CR
    Be all you can be, make  every day count. Namaste
  • whistles
    whistles Community member Posts: 1,583 Disability Gamechanger
    CR.
    I was on something called severe disablement Allowance on my original Income Support.
    Do not follow me, I don't know where I am going.
  • CockneyRebel
    CockneyRebel Community member Posts: 5,209 Disability Gamechanger
    SDP is paid as part of ESA when you receive PIP DL so this will be part of what the B******s have taken
    Please do consider challenging the wrong decision

    CR
    Be all you can be, make  every day count. Namaste
  • whistles
    whistles Community member Posts: 1,583 Disability Gamechanger
    Looking like I need to challenge if going to lose more than just the DL.
    The award and assessment letter isn't here yet. I wish it didn't take ten days. 


    Do not follow me, I don't know where I am going.
  • whistles
    whistles Community member Posts: 1,583 Disability Gamechanger
    I won't challenge. It's for three years and I will be reviewed in two. I can spend time gathering 'evidence' that may or may not be taken into account.

    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.  :)
    Do not follow me, I don't know where I am going.
  • whistles
    whistles Community member Posts: 1,583 Disability Gamechanger
    I will be interested to follow your progress as the time frame is similar. You should hear back soon on your award. 

    Do not follow me, I don't know where I am going.
  • CockneyRebel
    CockneyRebel Community member Posts: 5,209 Disability Gamechanger
    I might be wrong but as long as you have a current claim for ESA and PIP when you are migrated to UC you will not be considered a new claim. So if your next PIP review falls after your are migrated and you are awarded the DL component, you should be able to claim SDP.
    It may not be as simple as that but until a test case arises that is my logic

    CR
    Be all you can be, make  every day count. Namaste
  • whistles
    whistles Community member Posts: 1,583 Disability Gamechanger
    Yes we don't know this yet. 
    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.
    Do not follow me, I don't know where I am going.
  • Waylay
    Waylay Community member, Scope Member Posts: 973 Pioneering
    Hi @whistles! Well, congrats on your enhanced mobility, but that sucks about your daily living! Do consider doing an MR, and then an appeal. 69% of claimants are winning their Tribunal appeals. 

    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. 
  • whistles
    whistles Community member Posts: 1,583 Disability Gamechanger
    Yes, keep in touch.
    and please don’t give up.
    At least get advice and ask for MR
    I wouldn't say i have given up. But because I scored four I need evidence to bring it up to 8.
    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. 
    Do not follow me, I don't know where I am going.
  • Waylay
    Waylay Community member, Scope Member Posts: 973 Pioneering
    Oh, and some specialist food (can't have lactose), and £100 a month on therapy, because NHS mental health services won't provide me anything through my service (not sick enough), or through IAPT (too sick). 

Brightness

Do you need advice on your energy costs?


Scope’s Disability Energy Support service is open to any disabled household in England or Wales in which one or more disabled people live. You can get free advice from an expert adviser on managing energy debt, switching tariffs, contacting your supplier and more. Find out more information by visiting our
Disability Energy Support webpage.