DLA durations of award

redbicycle

I applied for DLA (for first time) last autumn on mental health ground, and was turned down, but in process of appeal.

I'm curious what range of durations of award are given nowadays, my condition isn't severe and predictable enough to have a chance of an indefinite award.

Can it be given for 6 months only, or is 12 months common for an initial claim for a condition which is episodic or fluctuating?

redbicycle

OK, well if I do get it on appeal - it's likely to be 12 months - that I'd be up for renewal in November this year, and I may not still be eligible, because it's a fluctuating condition, and I hopefully won't be very ill again in the intervening period until then.

From further online research, all renewals will be under PIP after October 2013.

redbicycle

Looking at the DWPs consultations on PIPs (personal independence payments) in some ways it might make it worse for many mental health claimants, although a wider range of participation activities is included which counts in favour of mental health generally, the qualifying period will increase, to 3 months before and 9 months after the claim date (rather than 6 after) and the consultation explicitly says that the PIPs will only be awarded to those qualifying on 50% or more days.

So any unpredictable, fluctuating illness is pretty much frozen out.

zaksmum

I got my award years ago to be paid till age 80, with the relevant date, all in writing.

Pity this can't be legally enforced like almost everything else that is put in writing!

[Deleted User]

nogginhead wrote: »

12months from when it has been claimed is possible right up to indefinite.

However I presume you don't fall into the under 16 or over 65 by 2013 categories, in which case it doesn't really matter as DLA is being done away with as from the end of this year early next year and everyone, other than those mentioned, will be re-assessed under the much more difficult PIP benefit.

The government have said that they want a min 25% reduction in £ terms of DLA. It is very likely that there will be a 50% saving given the extremes that the new benefit is calling for.

They are seemingly in line for at least 30% of the Motability cars going back early!

you time frame for transfers to PIP is slightly out,for most people it wont happen till late 2013 and will take until early 2016 to complete,with those with expiry dates been done as they get to the date(in theory)and others as and when

redbicycle

Well, as I said, the intention is for all renewals to go through as PIP from October 2013. It may be a while before longer term or indefinite awards get transferred, and of course there will be some kind of political change before that all goes through, since election is at latest May 2015 (could be sooner if there's a no-confidence motion...although the LibDems have shown absolutely no backbone over issues that I would have thought would have been redlines for them such as student fees, health bill, certain welfare and tax things) so what actually happens in the end is anyoneś guess.

I think it also quite odd for DLA as it stands to be retained for children, and those over 65, just seems adding another layer of complexity to the whole benefits system.

[Deleted User]

redbicycle wrote: »

Well, as I said, the intention is for all renewals to go through as PIP from October 2013. It may be a while before longer term or indefinite awards get transferred, and of course there will be some kind of political change before that all goes through, since election is at latest May 2015 (could be sooner if there's a no-confidence motion...although the LibDems have shown absolutely no backbone over issues that I would have thought would have been redlines for them such as student fees, health bill, certain welfare and tax things) so what actually happens in the end is anyoneś guess.

I think it also quite odd for DLA as it stands to be retained for children, and those over 65, just seems adding another layer of complexity to the whole benefits system.

whats to say that when the 16-64 have all been done the over 65 and under 16 wont follow?

redbicycle

It may be thought that it is not appropriate to make a child attend an in-person assessment.

Its a bit of a minefield because there are so many "passported" benefits that can be affected by changes to DLA.

gingergee

I get HRC/HRM, awarded indefinitely. I know this means almost zilch now though. I have a condition that varies from day to day. They told me they accepted i had good and bad days. So it could be called "fluctuating".
PIP is going to cause mayhem i think. I'd swap every penny i ever have to be well. My disease is incurable though. Its managed instead.
Fingers crossed OP you get the right answer x

jazabelle

redbicycle wrote: »

Its a bit of a minefield because there are so many "passported" benefits that can be affected by changes to DLA.

Exactly - if I lost my DLA, I will lose my car - which is adapted, and has a wheelchair hoist for my electric wheelchair too heavy to lift even by healthy people. I then wouldn't be able to get to work any more to my part time job, plus my contract states I need a car.

I'd also lose my working tax credit, so could no longer afford the rent on the privately rented bungalow I moved in to.

So I'd be jobless and homeless pretty quickly, and would lose all the treatment my DLA pays for that the NHS would never cover.

It's such a worry.

redbicycle

I should have said, that 3 weeks ago, I had the appeal tribunal hearing, I got a DLA award, which will be backdated to November.

The award was middle rate care + lower mobility for 3 years, which was the best I think I could reasonably hope for, and a longer duration than expected. So often it is worth appealing even if you're turned down flat.

My only gripe is that they are being slow at paying - I haven't even had any correspondence about that yet.