Universal Benefit

[Connemmara]

During the next few months DLA will be scrapped other things will happen new name I think for DLA is Personal Independence. How is a person going to be diagnosed because I believe your own personal doctor has no say in the matter - how will it be done then.

[Zacs-Master]

From 8 April 2013 the Government is introducing a new benefit called Personal Independence Payment (PIP) to replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for eligible working age people aged 16 to 64.

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/policy/disability/personal-independence-payment/

[emmie]

the thing is the more you actually look at that, i believe it's for new claimants, so anyone looking to get DLA, will if awarded get the new named benefit.
I was looking at this the other day on the government website, it's always more confusing, but some claimants won't be assessed till 2015. Because there are millions who get DLA i think, so they can't just scrap it all in one go, as you have to be assessed to get it anyway.

[emmie]

PIP be introduced
New claims

April 2013 – Personal Independence Payment will be introduced for new claims in Merseyside, North West England, Cumbria, Cheshire and North East England. During this period new claimants in all other parts of the country will continue to claim Disability Living Allowance as now.
June 2013 – new claims for Personal Independence Payment will be taken from all parts of the country.

[Connemmara]

thanks for those answers zacs and em but as I said before who will do the assessment?

[emmie]

Existing DLA claimants

Existing Disability Living Allowance claimants who are aged 16 to 64 on 8 April 2013 or reach age 16 after that date will be affected by the introduction of Personal Independence Payment, even if they have an indefinite or lifetime award of DLA.

We will write to all existing DLA claimants in February and March 2013 with more information about PIP in their usual annual letters that tell them what their new benefit rate will be.

Example DLA uprating letter (34KB) pdf

Personal Independence Payment is being introduced in stages over a number of years.

[sara3]

this is Universal Credit.. http://www.dwp.gov.uk/policy/welfare-reform/universal-credit/

[emmie]

possibly ATOS, they did mine.

[Connemmara]

sorry who will be responsible for assessing and weighing up the sickness of the claimant without resorting to their doctors or am I wrong here.

[emmie]

what i would do if i were you, if worried about any loss of benefits, DLA, is get your GP to write a report on your condition, they do have a say, don't let anyone tell you different, however the criteria for work has shifted totally.

[Connemmara]

who are atos

[emmie]

as i said one of the companies is ATOS, they have doctors and nurses who do these tests, tick box exercises, you have to score so many points to continue on with these benefits. One thing aren't you a pensioner, over a certain age, sorry if that's wrong.

[emmie]

have you had a communication, letter from the department of works and pensions about this at all

http://www.atoshealthcare.com/contactus#PIP

[EDDIE51]

Atos Health care Look here
http://www.atoshealthcare.com/services/disability_assessment
They get paid a bonus for every case they refuse or payment they cancel.

[emmie]

Eddie, it's a terrible process.

[emmie]

Conne, is this for yourself or someone else, and are you over 65

[Zacs-Master]

on the link I gave..........

Under one of the FAQs:

Only DLA claimants who are over the age of 16 and under the age of 65 on the 8 April 2013, or who reach the age of 16 after October 2013 will be asked to claim the new benefit.

If you are aged 65 or over on 8 April 2013 you will not be able to claim Personal Independence Payment and will continue to receive DLA for as long as you meet the entitlement conditions.

If you are aged 64 on 8 April 2013 and turn 65 once Personal Independence Payment has been introduced, you will need to be reassessed for Personal Independence Payment. Because we will not begin to ask DLA claimants whether they want to claim Personal Independence Payment until after October 2015 (unless they have a fixed term award which is due to expire or their condition changes) then some people will be over 65 when we contact them.

We want to see how the assessment for the new benefit works for people age 16-64 before deciding if Personal Independence Payment should be extended to people over 65

[EDDIE51]

True story, I once took a wheelchair bound claimant to an Atos assesment.
When we got there I found the office was on the 4th floor and the lift was out of order. I went up and asked if the interview could be done in the ground floor reception area as there was no way I was going to get a wheelchair and the guy ( who was overweight) up 4 floors of stairs.
They said 'no . not allowed' . I phoned the DWP who said '' Ok sorry just get him home and it will be ok.
A week later he got a letter to say his benefit was stopped as he had not attended the interview. It took 5 weeks to get it restored.

[emmie]

if you are 65 and over you wouldn't get DLA but attendance allowance.

[emmie]

Eddie, not in London was it, as i am pretty sure that happened whilst i was waiting to go in.

[emmie]

Zac, i haven't heard a word from them about the new changes, the last letter a month or so ago just told me what it would be in April this year.