CHRISTMAS LUNCH 2012!!!!

EXTRA

 By Steven Richardson

In April 2013:  Personal Independence Payment replaces DLA, and all new working age claimants are to apply for PIP in the trial geographical areas, from June 2013 it opens up fully to new claimants nationally. In autumn 2013 through to March 2016 existing working age DLA claimants must apply for PIP

Existing claimants will be written to in advance to be told their DLA is to end, and they may want to apply for PIP. They will be told they don't need to do anything at this stage, but will have a leaflet enclosed to explain why DLA is changing to PIP. Lead in time will be 2 months. The DWP want to give a warning but not lead people in to panic calling this their “warm up” letter. Over 65s will remain on DLA or AA.

2 months is triggered either by “natural” trigger, ie the end of a periodic award, or just from random selection. After 2 month “warm up” period, you get a letter to invite you to apply for PIP. This will give you four weeks to submit some basic information “Part 1 claim”. Can be online, over the phone, by paper application. Part 1 claim is just the basics eg. Residency, NI number, On receipt of this DWP send you a paper based form Part 2 where claimant describes impact of condition on their life. You have four weeks to fill in the paper form (will also be electronic to help advisors fill in for people)

If you have medical evidence you can submit it, or put details of appropriate contacts so DWP can gather reports as recognise people often charged for these.

Part 2 is sent to the independent assessor who then decides whether to make paper based assessment or need for face to face. If face to face, people will be invited to bring someone with them.  As yet there are no details of how they will decide criteria for face to face, No details of how they'll decide if home visit appropriate. No details of who is doing assessments other than this won't be one national contractor, could be different contractors in different regions. DWP say they want to learn from ESA!

The DWP gets recommendation from assessor but it is for DWP to make decision. Not ruled out is the potential to make “indicative” decision and consult the applicant if they want to submit anything additional in support of case, also being considered is a summary of the report to go into the letter so people know why the decision has been made and telephone calls to explain decision. If rejected for PIP, person loses their DLA but can appeal If they appeal they will not get DLA during the appeal period.

PIP will be a Points based system – Standard and Enhanced will be the only 2 that apply. Entitlement for standard rate daily living will be 8 points, and for enhanced rate daily living it will12 points. For standard rate mobility it will also be 8 points and for enhanced rate mobility 12 points and just like DLA you can receive either component or get both together.

Daily living criteria include

Preparing food and drink, taking nutrition, managing therapy or monitoring a condition, dressing and undressing, bathing and grooming, managing toilet needs or incontinence, communicating, engaging socially and managing finances.

The points scored in each activity criteria are added together to reach cumulative score eg. 2 points under preparing food and drink, 4 points under dressing and undressing, and 2 points under bathing and grooming would give 8 points and so eligibility for standard rate of daily living.

Two activities measured under mobility.

These are: Planning and following a journey (Planning and following a journey includes prompting and supervision to follow either an unfamiliar or familiar journey, supervision being constant support from another individual) and the other is Moving around.

If anyone wishes to discuss their concerns then please contact their local Parkinson’s UK Information Support Worker, Steven Richardson on 0844 225 3744