DLA Claim renewal forms but moving to West Midlands in December

greenfarm

Hi All, some would be advice greatly appreciated!

I am currently receiving DLA mid level care and lower mobility awarded through to March 2014.

I cannot cope with living on my own any more and am having to move from the South East to live with family in the West Midlands from December.

I have received forms to apply again for DLA but am not sure whether I should fill them in now or wait until I move when I may get PIP forms after advising of my change of address?

If the DLA forms are sent now and before I move would it remain a DLA claim or would the move trigger a reassessment onto PIP anyway?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Horseunderwater

Fill them in now as you need to get them back for them to process. That way your Renewal will be done as DLA. PIP has descriptors and looks harder to claim than DLA. Did you have help completing it before? If so has your condition got worse - tell them if it has in plain simple language on how it affect mobility and your care needs. Once the form has been sent off and they have acknowledged it - then update them with new address once you have moved.

HB58

DLA is awarded for a limited period. If you do not get the forms in on time, payments will cease and you will have to start afresh with a PIP claim anyway

greenfarm

Thank you for the above posts. The DWP sites have said

'From 28 October 2013 we will start inviting individuals living in Wales, East Midlands, West Midlands and East Anglia to claim PIP if:

• we receive information about a change in care or mobility needs
• their fixed term award is due to expire
• children turn 16 years old (unless they have been awarded DLA under the Special Rules for terminally ill people) or
• an individual chooses to claim PIP instead of their DLA'

https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/simplifying-the-welfare-system-and-making-sure-work-pays/supporting-pages/introducing-personal-independence-payment

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/253421/timetable-for-pip-replacing-dla.pdf

so was thinking perhaps the point about fixed term award expiring would apply to me as by the time I have filled in and returned the form I will be living in the West Midlands although the PIP checker https://www.gov.uk/pip-checker says

'You’ll be asked to make a claim for PIP if after 28 October 2013 you live in Wales, East Midlands, West Midlands or East Anglia and one of the following happen:

• there’s a change in how your condition affects you
• your DLA is due to end and you haven’t received a renewal letter'

I have received a new claim pack.

Horseunderwater

Precisely why I said to fill in the DLA form and return it to them. Once they have sent the acknowledgement letter to you. Let them know your new address if/when you know it.

greenfarm

Just an update - received a letter today with an award for DLA through to 2019 after sending DLA application pack back last week. Very quick (almost unbelievable) response time.

Still worried will have to go through same form filling and stress when I move but at least for time being it's all done.

Horseunderwater

But it should only be for a change of address as your award has been redone until 2019, so that should in theory be the earliest that PIP happens for yourself.