war pension/mobility or dla

dazza-mac

Hi,
I currently receive a war pension with the mobility supplement. I was aware that I could not receive both the war pension/mobility and dla.

Years ago I went to an advice centre and asked about applying for dla and giving up the war pension as that was for one health problem occuring within the services, but I wanted another acknowledged and recognised that occured after I left the services and I thought dla would be better, not because it was any more than what I received with the war pension, but it would mean that both health problems would be acknowledged.

The welfare advisor reccommended that I 'don't rock the boat' and that if ever I lost my war pension/mobility if that health problem improved, I could then apply for dla for the other.

I was never happy that I never had the second health problem acknowledged but I did as she suggested.

My query is: was this good advice. Does anyone reccommend that I consider giving up the war pension and then apply for dla to recognise the health problem for which I received the war pension and also have the second health problem acknowledged.

Or should I just leave things as they are - what with all upheavel with benefits right now?

HB58

I am not sure what you mean about a condition being 'recognised'. Presumbly there is evidence of it in your medical records? DLA is not awarded for specific conditions but for care and mobility needs (indeed, it is possible to get DLA awarded even without having one's condition diagnosed).

Tally-Ho_2

dazza-mac wrote: »

Hi,
I currently receive a war pension with the mobility supplement. I was aware that I could not receive both the war pension/mobility and dla.

Years ago I went to an advice centre and asked about applying for dla and giving up the war pension as that was for one health problem occuring within the services, but I wanted another acknowledged and recognised that occured after I left the services and I thought dla would be better, not because it was any more than what I received with the war pension, but it would mean that both health problems would be acknowledged.

The welfare advisor reccommended that I 'don't rock the boat' and that if ever I lost my war pension/mobility if that health problem improved, I could then apply for dla for the other.

I was never happy that I never had the second health problem acknowledged but I did as she suggested.

My query is: was this good advice. Does anyone reccommend that I consider giving up the war pension and then apply for dla to recognise the health problem for which I received the war pension and also have the second health problem acknowledged.

Or should I just leave things as they are - what with all upheavel with benefits right now?

Speaking as an RBL Welfare Case Officer, I would say stick with the War Pensioners Mobility Supplement (WPMS). It is paid at a higher rate for one thing. Plus you will not be reassessed under the forthcoming Personal Independence Payment (PIP) scheme which is replacing DLA).

There is no advantage nowadays in WPMS holders claiming DLA (unless you wish to claim a care component and do not have the required 80% War Pension to claim a War Pensioners Constant Attendance Allowance).

Although if you do claim the care component, you may also be awarded the Mobility component but there is no advantage in claiming the mobility component nowadays as nothing would be paid (some who previously claimed High Rate DLA Mobility and WPMS are still permitted a disabled tax disc from both WPMS and HRM DLA awards but this loophole was closed about 15 years ago).

The criteria for an award of WPMS is interpreted more strictly than an award of High Rate DLA mobility (and arguably still more difficult to get than the forthcoming PIP). Awards of WPMS are only really withdrawn should your Accepted Disability permanently improve to the extent you are no longer entitled (you are obligated to tell the SPVA should this occur).

TH

dazza-mac

Thanks,

It sounded all a bit technical what you were saying, but I suspect it just trips off the tongue for you if you're an adviser.

It would seem that whatever you were saying (my brain gets confused very easily!) that it would be the better option to stick with the war pension/mobility. (do you think these benefits will have an overhaul too like everything else?)

Just out of interest. I note that in order to get the war pension/mobility you have to be assessed at 40%. Well I was assessed at 30% in the late 80's. I'm assuming that they've just upped the criteria - rather than me getting it all by fluke, which is a bit of a concern!

Also, what does RBL Welfare Case Officer stand for?

Tally-Ho_2

dazza-mac wrote: »

Thanks,

It sounded all a bit technical what you were saying, but I suspect it just trips off the tongue for you if you're an adviser.

It would seem that whatever you were saying (my brain gets confused very easily!) that it would be the better option to stick with the war pension/mobility. (do you think these benefits will have an overhaul too like everything else?)

Just out of interest. I note that in order to get the war pension/mobility you have to be assessed at 40%. Well I was assessed at 30% in the late 80's. I'm assuming that they've just upped the criteria - rather than me getting it all by fluke, which is a bit of a concern!

Also, what does RBL Welfare Case Officer stand for?

Hi,

RBL is the Royal British Legion.

Yes it used to be a 30% disability that permitted one to claim War Pensioners Mobility Supplement, but this was changed in the nineteen nineties to 40%. However those already in receipt at 30% could keep the award so long as they still had the accepted mobility problems.

I am not aware of any imminent changes to the War Pension Scheme in the foreseeable future.

TH

Richie-from-the-Boro

- Royal British Legion

EDIT - sorry Tally-Ho, your post !

dazza-mac

Tally-Ho wrote: »

Hi,

RBL is the Royal British Legion.

Of course it does! What a do-nut I am. I hate abbreviations though and spend half my time trying to figure out what they mean!

s1lv3rdal5

Hi Tally-Ho
In your post you have said; "Speaking as an RBL Welfare Case Officer, I would say stick with the War Pensioners Mobility Supplement (WPMS). It is paid at a higher rate for one thing. Plus you will not be reassessed under the forthcoming Personal Independence Payment (PIP) scheme which is replacing DLA)."
Could I ask where it is stated officially please?

rogerblack

s1lv3rdal5 wrote: »

Hi Tally-Ho
In your post you have said; "Speaking as an RBL Welfare Case Officer, I would say stick with the War Pensioners Mobility Supplement (WPMS). It is paid at a higher rate for one thing. Plus you will not be reassessed under the forthcoming Personal Independence Payment (PIP) scheme which is replacing DLA)."
Could I ask where it is stated officially please?

What?
That PIP is replacing DLA>

Tally-Ho_2

s1lv3rdal5 wrote: »

Hi Tally-Ho
In your post you have said; "Speaking as an RBL Welfare Case Officer, I would say stick with the War Pensioners Mobility Supplement (WPMS). It is paid at a higher rate for one thing. Plus you will not be reassessed under the forthcoming Personal Independence Payment (PIP) scheme which is replacing DLA)."
Could I ask where it is stated officially please?

As Roger Black infers, it is common knowledge that for working age people, DLA is being replaced by PIP and that PIP has differing criteria than DLA . To give some insight, the following page and its links from the new GOV website (which will eventually replace directgov) has details:

https://www.gov.uk/personal-independence-payment

With regards to WPMS, it is a totally separate benefit paid by the Ministry of Defence, as opposed to DLA or PIP which is paid by the Department for Work & Pensions. It has its own 'rules' and differing qualification criteria which are at Para 4200 onwards of:

http://www.veterans-uk.info/pdfs/publications/guides/e_e_guide/part_4.pdf

The following extract from the Motability website regarding PIP explains the changes re PIP and specifically mentions that WPMS recipients are not affected by the introduction of PIP.
The planned changes

PIP will replace DLA for disabled people aged between 16 and 64, even if they currently have an ‘indefinite’ or ‘lifetime’ DLA award.

• DLA will remain for children until they reach the age of 16
• DLA will continue to be available for those aged 65 and over on 8 April 2013
• Recipients of the War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement are not affected by the planned changes

http://www.motability.co.uk/about-us/news-and-information/personal-independence-payment


refers.


TH

s1lv3rdal5

TH
Many thanks for that, I am in receipt of War Pension and until I saw your post was worried about the changeover to PIP.
The Government say that it is not a; cost cutting exercise, but I do not believe them....