Disability change of circumstances pension age

destinymoon
destinymoon Online Community Member Posts: 130 Contributor
I have just started receiving my state pension. I currently get DLA mobility. I want to report change of circumstances due to deteriorating health issues. I have been advised to claim attendance allowance because of my age. But I have also been told that as  I am already in recipe of DLA mobility I would be better claiming PIP. Any advice welcome. Sorry for long post! 
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Comments

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    As you weren't born before 9th April 1948 then you can ring to start a claim for PIP. If you were born before this date then you wouldn't be able to claim it. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/before-claiming/if-you-get-dla/

    I wouldn't advise you to claim AA because it doesn't have a mobility part like PIP does.

    Please do be aware that PIP and DLA are 2 completely different benefits, with totally different criteria and being entitled to one, doesn't automatically entitle you to the other. I'd advise you to have a look at PIP to at least try to understand the criteria before ringing to start a claim. This may help, though the link is long.

    Please also remember that if you're successfully awarded PIP and it's a higher award than the DLA then you will not receive the difference between the 2. Your PIP award will start about 7 weeks after the decision is made. Your DLA will continue until a decision is made on the PIP.


  • destinymoon
    destinymoon Online Community Member Posts: 130 Contributor
    Thanks you so much for taking the time to post. I will ring DLA and ask for PIP assessment. 
  • destinymoon
    destinymoon Online Community Member Posts: 130 Contributor
    Another question please Poppy. Where you  say if I am awarded the higher rate of mobility on PIP , I currently get low rate mobility DLA, I would not get the difference between the 2 if awarded the higher rate? Does this mean I would not be awarded/paid  higher rate and would stay on low rate? Apologies in advance if I am missing something here. Thanks again. 
  • destinymoon
    destinymoon Online Community Member Posts: 130 Contributor
    Have contacted PIP. They have accepted and have started a claim. Thanks you for your invaluable advice. At first the call handler said I could t until I explained as you advised , he went offline, then said yes I could claim PIP. You cannot get higher  rate of mobility once state pension age anyway but it won’t get stopped If I am refused PIP. I may also be eligible to claim pension credit if PIP accepted. Thank you again. 
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    You cannot get higher  rate of mobility once state pension age anyway but it won’t get stopped If I am refused PIP.
    As it's a DLA to PIP transfer then there's no restrictions on being awarded Enhanced mobility. see link. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/before-claiming/getting-pip-after-youve-reached-state-pension-age/

    Making a new PIP claim if you’ve been getting DLA

    You can claim PIP if both of the following apply:

    • you were born on or after 9 April 1948
    • you’re getting DLA now - or your last claim for DLA ended less than a year ago

    When you first claim PIP, there are no extra restrictions on what you can claim for or how much you can get.

    DWP are very behind in the transfer anyway and this should have been completed by about 2017 lol.

    When you mentioned that the mobilikty part won't be stopped if you are refused PIP isn't correct i'm afraid. Once a decision is made on the PIP your DLA ends. If there's no PIP award in place there will be nothing to pay you.

    Another question please Poppy. Where you  say if I am awarded the higher rate of mobility on PIP , I currently get low rate mobility DLA, I would not get the difference between the 2 if awarded the higher rate?
    That's correct. You will not receive the difference between the two, if the PIP award is higher. PIP starts abolut 7 weeks after the decision is made, if there's an award.





  • destinymoon
    destinymoon Online Community Member Posts: 130 Contributor
    Thank you again for your reply. If I cannot get a higher rate mobility then would it not have been best for me to claim attendance allowance. I am very concerned about the possibility I may lose my DLA. The call handler told me I would not lose it but I understand   from you as this is a reassessment to PIP if I fail the assessments then my DLA will indeed stop. Thank you 
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    The person you spoke to is not correct and yes once the PIP decision is made your DLA ends, regardless of what that decision is.

    I never said you couldn't be awarded Enhanced mobility. Please read the link i posted above, it says "there's no restrictions to being awarded any part of PIP" (mobility included) when transferring from DLA to PIP.
  • destinymoon
    destinymoon Online Community Member Posts: 130 Contributor
     Sorry I am not understanding clearly. If I am already in receipt of DLA low mobility then I cannot get a higher rate, only the same, that won’t change I can only get the standard mobility component in PIP? 
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
     Sorry I am not understanding clearly. If I am already in receipt of DLA low mobility then I cannot get a higher rate, only the same, that won’t change I can only get the standard mobility component in PIP? 

    No, that's not correct. As you were born after 9th April 1948 then any changes means you can't report those changes to DLA because it not longer exists for you.

    Although you are now over state pension age because it's a transfer to PIP you can be awarded either rate of mobility, standard or Enhanced.

    Your low rate mobility DLA doesn't automatically entitle you to standard mobility PIP.
  • destinymoon
    destinymoon Online Community Member Posts: 130 Contributor
    Ok thanks. I think I got confused where it said even if I was awarded the higher rate mobility I would not be able to receive  the difference of the two amounts thereby the amount would stay the same as DLA. Would I be eligible to apply for pension credit if I am awarded care and mobility for PIP? Thank you. 
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    edited October 2023
    Ok thanks. I think I got confused where it said even if I was awarded the higher rate mobility I would not be able to receive  the difference of the two amounts
    That's correct you won't be owed any money if the PIP award is higher than the DLA award.

    Whether you'll be entitled to pension credit if awarded daily living PIP will depend on your circumstances. Do you live alone or with other adults? If with a partner are they under or over state pension age?

    Depending on circumstances now there maybe some entitlement but it will depend on your state pension and any other income such as private pensions or whether you live with a partner that's younger.

    PIP mobility is irrelavant for Pension Credit.
  • destinymoon
    destinymoon Online Community Member Posts: 130 Contributor
    Thank you. I am widowed and live alone. I only receive full state pension. Am I to understand only if awarded the care component of PIP I would be eligible for guarantee credit??
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    A daily living PIP award will entitle you to the Severe disability Premium. This is paid with Pension credit but you need to make sure that no one claims either carers allowance or carers element of Universal Credit for looking after you otherwise there will be no entitlement to SDP.

    An award of Pension credit will then entitle you to full Council Tax reduction and full housing benefit (if you claim this)
  • destinymoon
    destinymoon Online Community Member Posts: 130 Contributor
    Thank you so much for your help and advice. Sorry for so many questions but I find it difficult to make sense of it all. Depending on who you speak to at DLA, Age Concern, or ask advice of, many different responses! Thanks again. Very informative. 
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    You're very welcome. I wouldn't advise ringing any DWP department for benefits advice because they are not advisors.
  • destinymoon
    destinymoon Online Community Member Posts: 130 Contributor
    Would a £5000 loan affect my housing benefit? My housing benefit is being reassessed due to starting my state pension. Thank you 
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    Would a £5000 loan affect my housing benefit? My housing benefit is being reassessed due to starting my state pension. Thank you 

    As advised on your thread here, https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/111036/loans#latest no, not if you have no other savings/capital.

  • destinymoon
    destinymoon Online Community Member Posts: 130 Contributor
    I have just started receiving my State Pension. Will I automatically receive the winter fuel allowance or do I have to claim it as it’s the first payment? 
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    edited October 2023
    You mention "just started receiving State pension" to qualify you must have been born before 25th September 1957. If you were born after that date then you won't qualify this year. If you do qualify then it's automatically paid, you don't need to claim it.

    Eligibility

    You can get a Winter Fuel Payment if you were born before 25 September 1957.

    You usually need to live in the UK. In some circumstances, you might be eligible if you live abroad.

    When you will not be eligible

    You will not be eligible if you:

    • have been in hospital getting free treatment for more than a year
    • need permission to enter the UK and your granted leave says that you cannot claim public funds
    • were in prison for the whole of the week of 18 to 24 September 2023


  • destinymoon
    destinymoon Online Community Member Posts: 130 Contributor
    Thank you. I will wait for letter