DLA - keeping mobility?

Ettenna

My daughter is in a neuro rehab facility. She is eligible for higher rate care and mobility. I received a letter from DLA today about moving to PIP in the future. In the letter it said that she might be eligible to keep the mobility component even if she was in a care home.

Does anyone know what the criteria are for this and whether it should be paid automatically.

benefitbaby

See: http://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/personal-independence-payment-pip

It appears that the mobility component will continue as long as you continue to meet the qualifying criteria (which are significantly more difficult in comparison to DLA mobility).

Ettenna

Thank you. The letter actually says

"If you are a resident of a care home and eligible for the DLA mobility component but not receiving it because you are funded by the NHS, you may now be entitled to the payment following a court judgement."

It relates to DLA not PIP.

So I wonder if she should be receiving the mobility payment? Is I something that they would automatically pay or do I need to phone and ask them if she qualifies for actually receiving the payment?

Ettenna

Anyone? xxx

princessdon

I don't know the answer, why I never responded, but have been keeping you both in my thoughts. Is there any progress?

Ettenna

Hi, she has moved to a specialist neuro rehab place. There is not much change but we see tiny, tiny things but nothing consistent that would indicate that she is aware. The staff at the new place are fab and if there is anything that can be done, they will find it. It's going to be a long haul xxx

Ziggazee

You need to contact the DLA helpline. They will refer the situation over to one of their Decision Makers who will look into everything and let you know whether it is payable in your particular case. There is no specific criteria as it is a very complex area.

Ettenna

Thank you. I will give them a call next week.

shirlgirl2004

My relative is in a very similar position to your DD and he gets DLA higher rate mobility as well as contributions based ESA totalling approx £600 per month. It seems a lot to me as his nursing home place is funded by the NHS but the rules say he is entitled. Given the choice it wouldn't be claimed on his behalf but the Court of Protection insist it must be.

Ettenna

I called the DLA people yesterday. They took a couple of details such as how long she had been there, who it is funded by and what sort of place it was and they said I would get a letter with their decision.

My daughter gets income related ESA of £56.25/week. She hasn't had her notification of being in the support group yet. She is only 19 so not paid enough contributions anyway I am her appointee for benefits (we don't need to go down the Court of Protection route yet). I use the money to pay for toiletries, clothes, DVD's, music and decorations (balloons, bunting, etc) for her room. When/if she needs anything major like an iPad for communication or new telly for her room, then she will have the money available.

If she gets granted the mobility part of DLA then we can use is to buy a power pack for her wheelchair to make it easier for us to push up the hill outside her home - the PCT almost certainly won't fund that.

Basically I have to ensure that the money is spent on my daughter and her needs. If that means that I give my eldest daughter a contribution towards her petrol every time she visits her then I would consider that acceptable. I keep accounts of what it is spent on so anyone can see where it has gone.

GlasweJen

Remember you're not allowed to put a power pack on a manual chair issued by the NHS. If your daughter can't self propel effectively AND can control an electric chair then she should have her chair reassessed. Obviously if its her own privately bought chair then she can modify it how she likes.