PERSONAL INDEPENDENCE PAYMENT (PIP)

Transcription

1 PERSONAL INDEPENDENCE PAYMENT (PIP) Understanding the changes to your Disability Living Allowance (DLA) NE BIT(E) AT A TIME! A Step by Step Guide Hear Us, Croydon s Mental Health Service User Group. Registered in England No Charity No Orchard House 15a Purley Road, South Croydon, CR2 6EZ E: info@hear-us.org T:

2 About PIP Know your CORE facts There is no need to panic! Most people wont be affected by the change from DLA to PIP until at least October For more details about when see page 2 of this guide. PIP stands for Personal Independence Payment. PIP will be replacing DLA, for people, aged 16-64, who need help with their care and/ or mobility. However, you must claim for PIP and if you choose not to, your DLA will stop. No one will be automatically transferred from DLA to PIP. The DWP (Department for Work and Pensions) will write to you and tell you when you need to claim PIP From your JUICY gossip! PIP, like DLA, will have 2 parts: A care component called Daily Living and a mobility component Depending on how your mental and/or physical health problems affect you, you could be entitled to either or both. Granny Smiths need not apply (for PIP)! People aged over 65 before April 8th will remain on DLA Pip-squeaks below the age of 16, will also remain on DLA MYTH: I have a life time Award for DLA, I don t need to apply for PIP TRUTH: If you are aged 16-64yrs and are currently receiving DLA even if you were awarded an indefinite or life time award, you will need to apply for PIP instead, when invited to do so. 2 Working Together for Change and Better Understanding in Mental Health

3 THE PIP TIMELINE march april june october dwp sent out letters to DLA claimants pilot study from october 2015 new claims only EVERYONE of working age will be invited to change to PIP - but not all at once *certain people will 'swap' to PIP March April You may have received a letter explaining the changes from DLA to PIP, you don t need to do anything. In Northern parts of the country a pilot study for PIP occured. June *October From October 2015 New claims will be assessed as a claim for PIP. People already getting DLA don t need to do anything. People who report a change in circumstances, ie. their condition gets better or worse, and people whose DLA is due to end or be renewed before will be invited to make a claim for PIP instead. EVERYONE of working age, who currently receives DLA will be asked to make a claim for PIP instead. If you choose not to claim, your DLA will stop. Working Together for Change and Better Understanding in Mental Health 3

4 ABOUT THE MONEY Disability Living Allowance (DLA) Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Care: Daily Living: Low = Standard = Middle = Enhanced = High = Mobility Mobility Low = Standard = High = Enhanced = Please note: Rates of Benefit are reviewed each year, and therefore these amounts may be slightly higher or lower than what you are currently receiving. Money Facts... PIP (like DLA) is a non-means tested benefit. This means it does not depend on how wealthy you are. You can have any amount of savings and still claim PIP - even if you are a millionaire! If you are awarded PIP, you should not see a gap in your payments. If your claim is successful, you will continue to receive your DLA until you start receiving PIP. You can claim PIP whether you are in work or not in work (just like for DLA). You will not pay tax on PIP. PIP (like DLA) could mean that you are entitled to extra money called a premium on top of your other benefits (e.g. ESA, income support or housing benefit). Working Together for Change and Better Understanding in Mental Health 4

5 COMPARING PIP AND DLA What are the Differences? DLA Your disability must be expected to last for the next 6 months Applications are by form Low, Middle or High Rates 'Indefinate or Lifetime'Awards Non Means Tested Care & Mobility Components You may qualify for additional Benefits PIP Your disability must be expected to last for the next 9 months Application by Form & Assessment Standard or Enhanced Rates No 'Indefinate or Lifetime' Awards What is staying the same? Quick Bite Quick Bite 1. Attendance Allowance (AA) is not changing Attendance Allowance is a benefit for people aged 65 and over who need help with their personal care. If you receive AA you will not be affected by the introduction of Personal Independence Payment. 2. You can work and claim PIP Like DLA, PIP can be paid to people regardless of whether they are employed or not. 5 Working Together for Change and Better Understanding in Mental Health

6 Remember: No one will automatically be moved from DLA to PIP From October - Spring 2016: Everyone between 16 and 64yrs will be invited to change from DLA to PIP. You don t need to do anything until the DWP tells you to, but you must make a claim for PIP when invited to do so, or your money will STOP. 1 INITIAL CONTACT You will receive a letter from the Department for Work and Pensions between October and Spring 2016 inviting you to make a claim for PIP - don't ignore this letter. If you chose not to claim PIP, then your DLA will end. STOP If you don t understand the letter ask for help 2 CLAIMING PIP (Part 1) Phone You will need to phone the DWP ( ) and give some basic information, like your name, number, address, bank details. STOP You can ask a friend or key worker to help 3 CLAIMING PIP (Part 2) The Form You will receive a form in the post. This is your opportunity to write all about your Physical and/or Mental Health difficulties. Include supporting evidence (from a support worker, GP, friends etc.). Return the form in the FREE envelope provided. STOP See pg. 9 For tips on filling out your PIP form

7 A 'Step by Step' Guide to claiming PIP 4 ASSESSMENT/MEDICAL STOP Most people will be asked to attend a face to face meeting with a health professional to discuss how your disability affects you. It is a good idea to take someone with you 5 DECISION STOP The decision maker (at DWP will review all the information, including your form, the result of your assessment and any extra information e.g. from a GP or psychiatrist. A decision letter will be posted out to you. This will say if you have been awarded PIP, at what rate, and possibly for how long (before your claim will be reviewed) You can call the DWP & ask for an explanation 6 APPEAL/ STOP RECONSIDERATION Ask an If you are not happy with the organisation decision, don t panic. You can such as MIND ask a different Decision Maker in Croydon for to look at your claim (this is called a Reconsideration) help

8 about the pip form What are the Questions about? The form will ask you Questions about: Traveling Washing Preparing Food Daily Living - things like washing, eating, managing medication etc. and Getting Around Planning a Journey Medication Eating & Drinking Talking, listening socialising Mobility - things like planning a journey and getting around Toilet Needs Getting Dressed See pg for 'Golden' TIPs on filling in your PIP form Quick Bite About the help you need.. Write about the help (or support or supervision) that you would need to carry out an activity. It doesn t matter if you actually get help from another person or not. 8 Working Together for Change and Better Understanding in Mental Health

9 ABOUT THE POINTS You will score point s: If you have a mental or physical health problem that means: you are unable to do an activity or you need help to do an activity 12 points or more 8 points or more Enhanced Standard If you need help to do an activity, you will score points according to how much help you need. less than 8 points No Award 4 Golden 'Delicious' PIP Tips! Don t just think about whether or not you can do each activity; think about how an activity MAKES YOU FEEL IMPORTANT: If your mental or physical health suffers as a result of doing an activity - write about this on the form. PIP TIP 1. Tell the whole story Breathless? In pain? Anxious? Distressed? Exhausted? Paranoid? Working Together for Change and Better Understanding in Mental Health 9

10 TOP 'PIP' TIPS PIP TIP 2. Safely,Timely? Reliably? Repeatedly? Don t just think about whether or not you can do each activity, also think about how you do each activity. (Please note: the table below is just an example of how people might be affected by their condition - think about how your mental or physical health affects you). 1. Safely Do you take medication that makes you drowsy, or foggy, suffer low moods or hurt yourself? If your symptoms or behaviours mean you put yourself (or others) at risk - write about them on the form 2. Timely Do you lack motivation or find it hard to concentrate? Do you find you worry so much that you are constantly checking things or can t make decisions? If you take longer than other people to do certain activities as a result of your disability - write about it on the form 3. Reliably Do you have a condition that means you are sometimes able to do an activity but not other times? If you have a fluctuating health problem - write about how it varies on the form. 4. Repeatedly Do you find an activity leaves you so exhausted that you are wiped out for the rest of the day? If you have to keep stopping because of pain, breathlessness, anxiety, panic attacks or paranoia, write about it on the form. 10 Working Together for Change and Better Understanding in Mental Health

11 TOP 'PIP' TIPS PIP TIP 3. Send in Extra Information or Supporting medical evidence Extra Information/Supporting Evidence Ask someone who knows you well to write a letter or statement about how your disability affects you This could be your GP, your psychiatrist, key worker, care coordinator, social worker etc. Don t worry if you are not able to send supporting evidence with your PIP form, the DWP should ask for it. If you want the DWP to seek more information from another person, it is always a good idea to write in big red letters on your form: PLEASE DO NOT MAKE A DECISION WITHOUT FIRST CONSULTING MY DOCTOR APPEALS If you are not awarded PIP, or you are not happy with the decision, remember it is always possible to challenge that decision. It is worth asking for help to do this. Many people WIN their Appeals. PIP TIP 4. If at first you don t succeed A PEEL! Send in extra evidence if you can, and state clearly why you think that the decision is wrong. See the back of this guide for how to get help to appeal. Working Together for Change and Better Understanding in Mental Health 11

12 WHERE TO GO FOR HELP SLaM Welfare Benefit Team: If you attend a Resource Centre or are a patient on the wards at the Bethlem, contact your Resource Centre or ask your support worker to make an appointment for you: Tamworth Road Purley Resource Centre Westways Resource Centre The Crescent Resource Centre Mind in Croydon's Welfare Benefits Team: Opening Times Tues 10am - 1pm You can leave a message outside these times Thurs Contact 2pm - 5pm Croydon Council Welfare Rights Advice Line For Croydon residents: Check for opening times. Phone for details of drop-in surgeries (available in certain areas) Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Benefit Enquiry Line Pension Centre for Enquiries Disability Living Allowance /AA Carers Allowance