DLA stopped with no warning .

medusaishavingabadhairday

My son's DLA appears to have stopped on his 16th birthday (a couple of weeks ago..only realised today) even though he has his award until 2015 .

No notification of changing to PIP (I checked online and it says his current award stands til 2015) and no letters of any kind, no 'we are reassessing it cos he's 16 even tho he has his award for longer' Nothing.

Does this mean they have cancelled his standing award without notifying me? Will we now have to reapply even tho I have the award in black and white that states he is entitled until Jne 2015?

Confused and cross!

Horseunderwater

He has to apply as an adult now as that is the rules. Give them a ring in the morning and find out the procedure. There is probably some form that needs to be signed.

pmlindyloo

You should have been sent a renewal pack some time before your child reached 16years old.

Now he is 16 he needs to be assessed as an adult - there are different tests.


Also as an adult he can have the money paid into his own account. If he is unable to deal with his own finances then you can be his appointee.


Usually if you do the renewal after his 16th birthday the DLA will not be backdated.


You may have a good case for arguing that it should be backdated if you were not contacted.


Telephone them ASAP.

Housing_Benefit_Officer

...and I know of a number of 16 year old who insist on their DLA being paid direct to them instead of their parents - much to the annoyance of the parents who have lost that extra income.

medusaishavingabadhairday

Hi, and thanks for the info. I am already my son's appointee..this was sorted some months ago as he has severe learning disability and will not ever be able to handle his own affairs.
I am however still confused, as according to their own info his award will continue to stand until it runs outs as, because he is an existing claimant not due for renewal he will not be assessed for PIP until 2015.

Housing Benefit Officer.. I assume you aren't implying thatI am am annoyed because I have lost my son's income? My son has autism and severe learning disabilities and I would far far rather he was able to function as an adult, be independent and capable, than receive any amount of money!!! However iof their screw up means a temporary loss iof his DLA, it is HE who will lose out.. because we use it for special needs holiday clubs, and care....

toomuchinfo

The DLA would have been paid up to his 16th birthday then it will be paid in a different cycle every four weeks from his birthday. It's paid in arrears, every 4 weeks so expect a payment four weeks from his birthday date.

Best to ring them to check though. I can't see that they would have cancelled the award as it's until 2015.

My son will be 16 in July and had his DLA renewed indefinitely (aka until PIP) a few months ago, I am also his appointee. Luckily my friend had this with the payments for her son a while back so I expect a blip with my DS's payments next month.

starlight29

Just to say I hope you got sorted my little boy is 2 and has autism its not easy and extra stress like this cant help


Starlight

Darlyd

I'm confused about the changes and worried sick. I was awarded indef in 2001 but I've read on these boards when changed to pip I have to reapply. I think that's wrong.

nilla

Indefinite awards wont be asked to apply for PIP until Oct 2015 or later but at some stage you will have to claim PIP

zzzLazyDaisy

Actually the intention is to 'invite' people to apply for PIP earlier, but that will be purely voluntary. I wonder how many people will be confused into making a 'voluntary' application earlier than necessary?

OP, as someone else has said, you should have had a renewal pack some months before his 16th birthday, as at that point he is considered to be an adult and the rules are different. Every child is re-assessed in the run up to their 16th birthday. You need to contact DLA as soon as possible and explain what has happened. I just hope they don't treat it as a new application as that would mean he will have to apply for PIP.

Let us know how you get on.

nilla

So people will be invited to claim PIP but as its voluntary they don't have to take up the invite? I am confused as what will happen to my husbands as he is 65 next year and if they don't comne to him till Oct 15 he will be too old to claim PIP but if DLA had carried on he would have carried on getting it.