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DLA/PIP/Appointee advice please

77 replies

Gymbob · 02/06/2014 19:10

I am re-posting here hoping to get some replies......Grin

DD turns 16 later in the year and I've been sent the form that will decide the PIP she will get instead of DLA. At present we get lower and middle rate, which amounts to about £320 per month.

My question is, has anyone been through this process yet, and has anyone applied to be an appointee? It all looks quite scary. My DD is not good at managing money. The DLA has always gone towards paying for her expensive hobbies and transporting her around etc, but now as she will be 16 the payments will go direct to her, unless I have a good reason as to why they can't. I will have to attend an interview to explain the reasons why she shouldn't have the money. I know it will be reduced using the new PIP, but don't know by how much.

I have had to broach the subject with her and she says she wants the money! She says I can put it into a special account if I want for her to have when she turns 18. I've told her we can't afford her hobbies without the money, but she is adamant.

I feel in a vulnerable position. I may have to end the hobbies if she insists we pay rather than her PIP. Of course she doesn't fully understand - she has special needs - but I'm told that she would need to have further special needs to not be awarded the money directly.

HELP!

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Gymbob · 11/08/2014 22:38

I'm bumping this up as I now have an appointment for a home visit to me and DD. Does anyone have any advice on how to succeed in becoming an appointee??? Please??

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Rainicorn · 11/08/2014 22:41

I became my sil's appointee today.

I called DWP, number on Internet, someone came out and did a quick form, no questions asked, got me to sign it and that was that.,

I need to open a new bank account in my name to receive her benefits which I am in the process of doing.

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Rainicorn · 11/08/2014 22:41

It's worth opening the bank account before the appointment as they ask for bank details.

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Gymbob · 11/08/2014 22:48

Really Rainicorn? That easy? but surely presumptuous to open a bank account especially in advance. Not sure I could tempt fate like that!!

Actually, thinking about it, I already filled in a form weeks ago, and gave my current account details, even though I have to have a home visit before a decision is made. Won't that contradict the matter?

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Rainicorn · 11/08/2014 23:14

I was surprised myself how quick it was. I was expecting to have loads of questions fired at me.

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Gymbob · 11/08/2014 23:27

thanks. hope I get the same visitor you did Grin

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streakybacon · 12/08/2014 10:04

I'm at the same point with ds's PIP - he turns 16 in November. I've filled in the form to request appointeeship and we're having a home visit on Monday to formalise.

We've already opened an adult bank account for him with me as third party so I can help him manage it.

It's ridiculous that a child of 15 years and 364 days could be judged as incapable of managing money, yet the following day they magically can, unless you have solid proof otherwise. It's a rubbish system.

Do you have reports that describe your daughter's SN and her limited understanding of money? It's part of her condition to be immature and lack awareness so surely that would be taken into consideration. Can you phone DWP ahead of the meeting and explain?

I believe the office who visits is usually local - mine is coming from a nearby Jobcentre.

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Gymbob · 12/08/2014 10:20

thanks streaky, you have a good point. so you have also opened a bank account in advance in your sons name?

good luck for Monday, please will you let me know how you get on?

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streakybacon · 12/08/2014 10:46

Yes, new account in his name with me as third party. He transferred all his money from an existing children's building society account (he'd have had to move it anyway as it was for under-16s), and we've both got cashpoint cards. His is also a debit card. He isn't allowed online banking till he's 16 but he's agreed that we'll set it up together so I have his password and can help manage his money.

It's a huge responsibility for a sixteen year old, and massive temptation to just spend it because it's there, so lots of discussion going on at the moment about sensible spending, keeping his card safe, remembering PINs etc.

I'm also making a head start on the PIP form, which isn't exactly filling me with joy Confused.

Just got the DWP letter to confirm Monday's meeting, with list of ID they need to proceed for both parties. Looks straightforward enough but I'll let you know how we get on.

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Gymbob · 12/08/2014 11:10

thanks streaky. DD already has an account that I went to open with her and a debit card too. it only has up to £20 in it at any one time as it's predominantly for school in case she doesn't have enough cash for something and can bail herself out. she never knows how much she has left in it and relies on me to keep toppling it up.

you have reminded me I need to shift all the money out of her savings account before she turns 16 as she could blow it on a whim.

I didn't know I had the option of an account in her name but with me able to manage it. I think that's what you're saying? off to look into that now.

many thanks

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Gymbob · 12/08/2014 11:17

and you're saying there's a pip form to fill in too? Sad

my only hope is that I can copy lots from the last dla form I filled in and photo copied 3 years ago.

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streakybacon · 12/08/2014 11:32

Yes, the claimant has to re-apply at 16, though it's not immediate as they're changing the system from DLA to PIP and it's being rolled out slowly, a few postcodes at a time. DLA will continue to be paid (though into their account, not yours) until a decision has been made about eligibility for PIP, but you/they will have to make a fresh claim when the time comes. It might not be for a few months yet - it will depend on how far ahead DWP gets with the changeover.

Unfortunately adult DLA and PIP are a lot different from the children's claim forms, so you may not be able to cut and paste much. It's very much from an adult perspective - which is why I'm so narked that the moment they turn sixteen they're considered in the same way as someone in their 50s - it just doesn't make sense, especially for young people with developmental disorders Sad.

I have a copy of the form somewhere if you want me to send it to you.

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Gymbob · 12/08/2014 12:18

thanks again. I have just hunted about on line and think I found a sample form. I will need reams of paper for 'additional information'! most of the form is irrelevant to us. one question was 'does the claimant need help managing the household budget'. she's 15, have I found the right form?! will need lots of space to say how her disabilities affect her daily life. oh boy, what a pain. I think they need to up the age to 21 for pip. she won't even understand most of the questions Sad

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streakybacon · 12/08/2014 12:30

I always type mine, rather than write onto the forms - that way I can take as much space as I need to explain thoroughly and I can go back and edit until I'm completely satisfied with it. It's also there on your hard drive for next time.

You will need to be careful how you word your answers because they do clearly say that you can't say the claimant isn't capable simply because they're young (which again hacks me off because they're developmentally delayed, FGS), so you'll have to explain why they're not capable in more detail.

I'm having a tough time working through it with ds as his self-awareness is limited and he can't describe how he feels, which means I have to make educated guesses at reasons because he can't tell me Sad.

Contact A Family have a very useful guide to changes 16+ here

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streakybacon · 12/08/2014 12:47

Sorry, meant to add that the CAF guide gives you the scoring system so you can phrase your answers to get the points you need for a successful claim. It helps to focus you on giving the information in the way they will assess it, and it can make a difference to your formatting.

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Gymbob · 12/08/2014 17:05

thanks so much for your advice.

should I have the form already do you know, and does it have to be filled in for the home visit?

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streakybacon · 12/08/2014 18:10

No, you won't have it yet. I just know from past experience that it takes me months to get it right so I've started preparing answers now. It could be a while yet, depending on their backlog.

I'll let you know how our visit goes on Monday.

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Gymbob · 12/08/2014 18:43

thanks, and good luck xxx

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AgnesDiPesto · 12/08/2014 23:33

We have building society accounts where we are trustees and the kids can't access the money until they are 18. Some building societies do offer this type of account. Their grandparents had given them money which we wanted to put away for uni etc. It was easy to do and gives you another 2 years of control over savings.
If a person can't manage money post 18 you can apply to be a deputy at court of protection. Sometimes parents do this so for eg NHS and social care still have to involve them where the young person lacks capacity eg over placement etc. I think over 18 you need the permission of the court to be a deputy so it's better to look into it before then. You don't need this just for benefits but worth considering if decisions to be made about housing, care packages etc.

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vjg13 · 13/08/2014 13:15

I had the home visit earlier this year to be the DLA appointee and it was very straightforward. My daughter has severe learning difficulties and the lady met her very briefly when she came home from school. I had to give the bank details for an account in my name as previously DLA had been paid into a joint account with my husband.

I am interested in your point Agnes about being a court appointed deputy as this is probably something I need to look into. Has anyone gone down this route?

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streakybacon · 18/08/2014 10:59

PIP lady has just left. Very straightforward. Asked for ID from both of us and asked ds if he felt able to manage his own financial affairs. He gave some daft answers which illustrated perfectly that he couldn't Wink.

It seems that the information in part 2 of the letter 'Where to pay the young person's DLA when they're 16' is a bit ambiguous. Although it says that payment isn't automatically paid into the parent/guardian's account, this only applies when there is no appointeeship. So although I've set up a new account for ds with me as third party to manage it, you can still have it paid into your own account if you prefer. However, given that we've set up the account and it fulfils the function that we need it to, his account was fine and it'll be paid into there from November.

Now to wait for the PIP forms Confused.

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Gymbob · 18/08/2014 15:11

thanks vjg for your input, very interesting.

streaky, thanks so much for the update, it obviously went well and your ds gave all the right answers.

Ours is this Friday, will let you know how it goes although don't expect it will go as well as yours Grin

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Gymbob · 18/08/2014 15:13

thanks also Agnes. I don't think that will apply to us, but you sound well in control of things x x

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streakybacon · 18/08/2014 16:04

Good luck for Friday.

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sazale · 18/08/2014 23:49

Good luck for Friday Gymbob!

Glad it wasn't too bad streaky!

I've just had the form to fill in. I'm not sure what dd will end up saying to them

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