DLA changes

Folio

Firstly I haveno idea about benefits and how they work never having had to claim myself but my friend is so worried and scared I wondered if anyone could offer advice.

He is 43 and has rheumatoid arthritis and COPD. He doesnt work and lives entirely on benefit, is living alone in a 3 bedroom HA property which has had a wetroom fitted in place of a bathroom by the HA.

He currently gets DLA, income support, a free bus pass, and gets his rent and council tax paid jn full.

His mobility is only affected sporadically, if he gets an RA flare up for example, but can be very poorly indeed somedays, though seems almost normal on other days. He maintains he cant expect to get a job as he will be unreliable on bad days and no employerwill stand for it.

He is very worried about proposed changes in the benefit system and has just had a steaming row with his brother,as brother insists he will have to start paying some of his own rent and probably wont get whatever benefit is replacing DLA. Whereas my friend insists he will not have to pay more rent as his house has been adapted by the HA changing the bathroom to a wetroom so he will not be expected to move to an unadapted property and is convinced that as he is already getting DLA he will automatically get whatever replaces it.

Also can anyone offer any info on when various changes are due to take place ?

enabledebra

PIP will replace DLA in 2013 and the assessment is different everyone of working age will be assessed for entitlement to the new benefit- there's no automatic transfer. Info here http://www.dwp.gov.uk/policy/disability/personal-independence-payment/

"Under occupation" rules come in in April 2013 and having an adapted property doesn't exempt someone form the new rules more info here http://www.housing.org.uk/policy/welfare_reform/%E2%80%98under-occupation%E2%80%99_penalty.aspx

JKJ

Like the OP I have no personal experience of making a benefits claim and feel sorry for those who are being caused stress and worry by the forthcoming changes, it must be a very worrying time for your friend. However, this Country is running out of money and it is vital that the scarce resources we have are targeted at those most in need.

My neighbour is in a similar situation to the OP's friend but is an oustanding example of abuse of the system as she receives DLA for the same illness and proceeds to smoke, go to zumba dancing classes, gets drunk every weekend and can afford to run a car, always has the latest mobile phone on a contract and goes on holiday. Hard to take when I earn less than she receives in benefits and then I have to pay tax and NI when she pays none.

Torry_Quine

Presuming that the income support is for incapacity reasons he will be assessed for ESA very soon. He will as said also be assessed for PIP which replaces DLA

gingergee

He will be invited to re-apply for PIP when it appears in his area. Those on indefinate awards will be "invited" last, after those who are up for renewal. It will be a total new claim and his current claim will not reflect his new application whatsoever. I only know this because the DLA form filler, from welfare rights in my area came to my house recently and told me they all had PIP training the previous week. She told me which areas it was starting in and which it was ending in.
Most advisors are dreading it, the fallout will have them rushed off their feet, she said!.