Should I, or shouldn't I, have my DLA reassessed?
Posted , 6 users are following.
I am 74 years old (born 18th January 1944).
I was awarded DLA in 2008 (High Mobility, Low Care), on the basis of my osteo and rheumatoid arthritis. Since then I have added a Polymyalgia Rheumatica, underactive thyroid, spondylosis, high blood pressure, and lymphoma to my list.
Earlier this year my partner had to give up work to care for my increasing needs. We applied for Carers Allowance and were told he didn’t qualify as I did not receive the correct benefit (ie middle/high care component. Fair enough. So far, so clear.
Now, I am in a terrible quandary...whether to apply for a reassessment, hearing that my benefit could go down as well as up, or even be lost altogether. The bottom line is that losing the car would be disastrous. I would rather struggle on with my current situation, than put that at risk.
But what exactly is the risk? I was over 65 when PiP came in, but would I still have to apply for that? Or would it still be DLA or attendance allowance? I cannot seem to find a definitive answer to this.
Is the type of reassessment/change of circumstances’ that I would have to submit to such a high risk?
I would be so, so grateful for any guidance on this question. I am not sleeping.
0 likes, 16 replies
wendy17594 jb58049
Posted
As you are over the age to claim PIP you will not be reassessed as the rules stand at present.
Attendance Allowance would be the correct benefit if you were to claim now and it has no provision for mobility needs so you would lose your car you have through DLA.
I believe you would be better off leaving things as they are.
Take care
Wendy x
jb58049 wendy17594
Posted
Thank you so much for these replies. Very disappointing, but I feel relieved that I can now avoid what would have been a major disaster. Thank you again for pointing me in the right direction.
I had already requested to be sent the form. I just hope that this action will not 'flag' me up to them, and have them require to re-apply. My current benefits do state indefinitely but I have read this doesn't always mean what it implies.
Thank you all again
Very much appreciated
denise15811 jb58049
Posted
Oh dear, you say you've already requested the form to be sent? Do you mean the DLA form? You will have to option but to continue with this now and therefore i advice you to get further advise from your local CAB office. Your current DLA award could be at serious risk here.
It's a shame you didn't post the question before you rang to ask for the form.
jb58049 denise15811
Posted
My partner rang and asked about upgrading, and the person read a statement about benefits going up and down, and then said she would post 'the forms' out. Is application compulsory?
Worried now.
denise15811 jb58049
Posted
I'm going to do some research for you because it seems like you can report a change if your condition has got worse and it maybe called a super session. As you've now rang them you will have to continue with this because if you don't return that form then they will stop your DLA. I'll post back once i find out more.
denise15811
Posted
Well that didn't take me long. I will private message you a link that you should read. I urge you to get some help with this from your local CAB. You do risk losing your whole award.
denise15811
Posted
jb58049 denise15811
Posted
Confused.
denise15811 jb58049
Posted
Yes of course it's DLA but you reported a change of condition. As i stated in the PM they will send you a super session form for DLA and not PIP forms. Have you read the link i sent you? All the info you need is in that link.
jb58049 denise15811
Posted
Yes, I have and thank you. I just didn't understand the context. So the form I will receive will be the form for a suppersession and not the AA forms? So even though I am compelled to go through with it, I am being assessed for DLA, and so even if I fail, my car could be left intact??
Sorry to be so dense.
denise15811 jb58049
Posted
Yes it will be DLA super session forms and not AA forms. You would indeed be assessed for DLA and not the AA. As previously stated they will look at the whole award again and therefore you do risk losing everything you already have and you have to prove your condition got worse before you reached 65.
If you fail and lose your DLA then you would of course lose your car too. You would be able to applea the decision by first asking for a Mandatory Reconsideration, then Tribunal if that failed. If you got to Tribunal and you weren't awarded the high mobility you would be able to re-apply for DLA. It will be AA that you would have to apply for and that doesn't have a mobility part to it.
denise15811 jb58049
Posted
Hi,
Yes, you're over the age for PIP. So it would indeed be AA for you. I agree that you're better off leaving things as they are, otherwise you'll lose your car.
deborah29205 jb58049
Posted
denise15811 deborah29205
Posted
Hi Deborah,
That's PIP you're talking about. JB is over the age limit to claim this and is still on DLA. They can't report changes because it will be Attendance Allowance for them, as already stated. x
wendy17594 jb58049
Posted
I suggest you ring DWP , the DLA team and tell them you think your partner has acted without your knowledge as you were just having a conversation about your disabilities and he took it upon himself to ring them and that you do not want to change your claim.
As long as he is not your official Appointee this should work, it would be good if you could sound a bit confused by what your partner did and upset about it when you ring them but please do it urgently !!!
Good luck
Wendy xx
jb58049 wendy17594
Posted