Disability Living Allowance Is changing...... Slide:
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It will now be replaced by..
Personal Independence Payments = Slide: 2
PIP Slide:
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Why the change? The following are extracts from the published DWP Impact Assessment and other sources
This is part of the 2012 Welfare Reform Act The Current system of DLA was not sustainable in the long term. It has been virtually unchanged for almost 21 years Cost of DLA has risen by >30% in last 9 years 3.2 million people now receive DLA - forecast expenditure on the benefit for 2011/12 is £12.6 billion. The assessment process for DLA is complex and subjective, making it difficult to assess people's needs on a consistent basis. Slide:
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Forecast number of benefit recipients for the Years 2015/2016 aged 16 -64 If DLA were retained
- 2.2 Million
After PIP migration
- 1.7 Million
This represents a reduction in recipients within the 16 – 64 age group of 22.5% Source : DWP Impact Assessment
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Cost Savings....
By 2015/2016 there is a forecast saving for Exchequer of £2240 million. Source: Disability Living Allowance reform (Personal Independence Payment) (116KB) (updated 15 May 2012) (PDF Document) Link: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/policy/welfare-reform/legislation-and-keydocuments/welfare-reform-act-2012/impact-assessments-and-equality/
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PIP 1. To claim PIP you must be of working age from 16 – 64 2 So PIP will not apply to children when it is introduced in 2013. 3 This means children below age 16 will continue to be able to claim DLA and over time DLA will gradually become a benefit for those under 16s only. 4 There is a possibility the under 16’s will be migrated into PIP but this will be the subject of further consultation by the Government/DWP
5 People over 65 on 08 April 2013 (whether receiving DLA or AA) will not be affected by the introduction of PIP. 6 People in receipt of PIP will continue to receive the benefit past the upper age limit of 65 provided they continue to meet the eligibility criteria. (same as DLA) Slide:
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DLA
Vs
PIP
Qualification Conditions
Qualification Conditions
Normal Claim Conditions need to have been satisfied for a period of at least 3 months
Normal Claim Conditions need to have been satisfied for a period of at least 3 months
Normal Claim Conditions must be likely to continue for at least a further 6 months
Normal Claim Conditions must be likely to continue for at least a further 9 months
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PIP Payments 2 Components
1. Daily Living Component (DLA – was called “CARE”) – Standard Rate (Limited Ability) – Enhanced Rate (Severely Limited Ability)
£53.00 pw £79.15 pw
There is NO Low Rate equivalent as there was in DLA
2. Mobility Component (DLA – Was called Mobility) – Standard Rate (Limited Ability) – Enhanced Rate (Severely Limited Ability)
£21.00 pw £55.25 pw
All PIP payments are tax free & are NOT “means tested” Slide:
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Claims for PIP ...
Entitlement for PIP will not be based on the conditions or disabilities the client may have, but on how these affect the applicant’s everyday life........
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Claims for PIP – Following the Application .... No Automatic Entitlement. Is based on how Condition affects them NOT what condition they have – unlike DLA Applicants must satisfy the Residence requirements Most applicants WILL have a Face to Face Assessment with some specific exceptions
Independent Health Professional looks at the application and evidence provided and advises ....... DWP Decision Maker – He/She authorises/declines the award In respect of our location we understand that the assessment will not be done by ATOS, but by:
Capita Business Ltd Slide: 11
Concerns !! o Vulnerability of applicants, pitfalls, resultant impact. o The DLA application document is very easy to complete very badly, leading in many cases to rejected applications. o The PIP application is similar, may present difficulties to applicant. Always suggest seeking advice from alternative source. o Those “migrating” or making an initial PIP application must be made aware of the pitfalls. Recommendation is that they SEEK ADVICE. o We should ensure that we are all aware of the organisations within our geographical area that can, and do, offer professional advice on this benefit.
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PIP Timeline - 1 Early February – Mid March 2013
DWP send general information about PIP
to all existing DLA claimants in their annual DLA updating letters.
DLA claimants DO NOT need to take any action as a result of this letter. It is a 7 page document - will it be read properly?
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PIP Timeline - 2 New claims for PIP start for those living in:
From 08 April 2013 Persons aged 16 - 64
From 10 June 2013 Persons aged 16 - 64
Cheshire, Cumbria, Merseyside, North East England, North West England. Any DLA claims from these areas will be treated as PIP claims.
All New claims will now be for Personal Independence Payments
No further ‘NEW’ DLA claims for 16-64 age group
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PIP Timeline - 3 From October 7th 2013 Existing DLA claimants: Awards end before 24 Feb 2014: DLA will be renewed. They will be invited to claim PIP at a later date Also: All existing DLA claimants who report a change in their DLA Care or Mobility and/or Medical Conditions will be invited (Need) to apply for PIP
Also: Claimants with existing fixed term DLA awards due to expire after the end of February 2014 will be invited to claim PIP. Slide:
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PIP Timeline - 4 Children up to 15 inclusive
DLA can continue to be claimed for children up to and including the age of 15. Once PIP has been introduced, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will contact them as they approach their 16th birthday to explain what will happen next. ------They will then need to apply for PIP as an adult. Slide:
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PIP Timeline - 5 Between October 2015 and 2018 All the remaining eligible claimants in receipt of a DLA Award, INCLUDING THOSE WITH INDEFINATE AWARDS, will be invited to make a claim for PIP. DWP plan
to have contacted everyone by 2018 and will write to individuals in plenty of time to explain what to do. Existing DLA recipients do not need to contact DWP now.
NOTE:
There are NO AUTOMATIC migrations to PIP. Clients must always apply for PIP. Slide:
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PIP Timeline - 6 IMPORTANT NOTE: There is
NO AUTOMATIC MIGRATION TO PIP Clients must always apply for PIP.
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The Application Process 1 : The following are extracts from the published DWP documentation To start a new claim for PIP the claimant should telephone DWP on: 0800 917 2222. This number will be available from 8 April 2013 and the lines will be open between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday. (Helpline No: 0845 850 3322) The caller will be asked for some basic information, including their: National Insurance Number Bank or building society details Daytime contact number GP or health professional’s details Details of time spent abroad if they have been abroad for more than 4 weeks at a time over the last 3 years. Slide: 19
The Application Process 2 : The following are extracts from the published DWP documentation Once the claim has been registered, a ‘How your disability affects you’ form will be posted to the applicant (PIP 2 ?) The applicant is then required to complete this 36 page document explaining in detail how their condition/s affect their daily life. Once completed – return it to the specified location. Similar to the DLA application, this is a form that is VERY EASY to complete VERY BADLY. Be Aware – Take Advice. Details of the PIP claims process, can be located on the Government Website: https://www.gov.uk/ Slide: 20
Application Notes: Almost every question in the extended application is proceeded by: We want to know is: You can do this safely, To an acceptable standard, As often as you need to and
In a reasonable time. Slide:
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The Application Process 3 : The following is information extracted from the published DWP documentation that may have been reformatted. Almost ALL applicants applying for PIP will be required to attend a face to face interview by a Healthcare Professional This will in most cases be conducted by an external organisation contracted to complete this procedure by the DWP (Capita in Leicestershire we believe – NOT Atos) The conclusion of the F2F interview will be passed to the “Decision Maker” within the DWP who will make the decision regarding accepting the application or not, and the associated level of the award – in accord with the accrued points Slide: 22
The Application Process 4 : Should the application be agreed, the defined payment will commence
The recipient of the award should anticipate frequent requests by the DWP for updated information as to the claimants current condition and maybe subjected to additional re-examinations There will be some applicants that are NOT successful both from new applications and those that have migrated from DLA. There is a formal appeals process that is available – BE AWARE: there are time constraints in respect of making these appeals and: be sure to take advice. Slide: 23
The Application Process 5 : Exceptions:The Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP) The Ministry of Defence (MOD), in conjunction with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), has introduced a new benefit called the Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP). This Benefit (AFIP) is aligned to PIP in that the rates are the same. The award would be BOTH Enhanced Mobility AND Enhanced Care elements – total award at current rates would amount to: £134.40pw. The Benefit is NON taxable and is NOT Means Tested. In addition, veterans can make a claim for other benefits as they do now, and where entitled, will receive those other benefits. However, recipients of AFIP cannot claim for Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Attendance Allowance (AA). Slide: 24
The Application Process 5 : Exceptions:The Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP) Continued:
Eligibility for AFIP: Service personnel and veterans awarded a “Guaranteed Income Payment (GIP)” of 50% or higher under the Armed forces compensation scheme will be eligible. AFIP will be administered by the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA) as part of the Armed forces compensation scheme. Further information is available from SPVA on 0800 169 2277 or by visiting the Veterans UK website http://www.veterans-uk.info/
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Things for Applicant to Remember: Do not rely on the DWP to gather the evidence from any source, to verify the applicants’ condition, or details as to how their condition affects them in their daily life. The Applicant needs to source and retain the evidence themselves
ALWAYS ensure that the applicant requests and obtains copies of any reports from a Specialist. This could be in the form of a “Discharge Note” from a Hospital. The Applicant should retain all details of any referral by their GP to a specialist or auxiliary worker/healthcare professional The Applicant should retain full details of the prescribed medication, any changes made, When, by Whom, and Why
EVIDENCE IS THE KEY – GATHER IT AND KEEP IT SAFE. WITHOUT IT YOUR CLAIM MAY FAIL. Slide: 26
Footnote There are, as we all know, many people in the community that are frail, vulnerable and possibly suffering from a Mental Health issue. For persons in the above group, and others, It is not difficult to understand how they may feel after having: Gathered all of the necessary information and having made the initial telephone application, and then: At a later date, needing to complete a multi (36) page document, All followed by a Face to Face interview/assessment –
They could become somewhat Stressed & Anxious
If they need help they only need to ask – Should we also be proactive in attempting to identify their need? Slide: 27
Thank you for your time and patience. Any Questions? Peter Yerrell: LeicesterShire Citizens Advice Bureau
Citizens Advice Call Centre: 0844 417 1025 Or From a Mobile: 0300 300 1025 _________________________________________ Do YOU Claim DLA? Do YOU need to question what will happen to you and when? – use this link.......
https://www.gov.uk/pip-checker Slide:
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