DLA - A result not expected but very welcomed!

Simon7685

This is a result I was not expecting. My DLA award runs out on 04 June this year. Thankfully I was lucky enough to receive a DLA renewal, not the dreaded PIP.

I have been on DLA for 7 years now over 3 award periods, the first 2 following successful appeal tribunals. 2 years ago I sent off my renewal just before the award ran out and wihin 3 weeks received a new award for another 2 years. Each of my awards has been high rate mobility and low rate care.

This year I again waited before sending off the renewal form, I sent off the form on Friday 23rd May and paid for recorded signed for being added. I checked online and the form was received last Wednesday the 28th May.

In the post today was a letter, I expected it to be a confirmation that they had got the renewal form, it seemed quite thick for that, so I then thought it might be an appointment for a medical.

To my amazement it was a new award dated 29 May, the day after they received the form! I have been awarded high rate mobility and they have increased the care element to middle rate. I had to read it several times to make sure and then I looked for an end date and could not see one, only to then see it is an indefinite award for both elements!

I realize that indefinate nowadays doesn't mean what it used to but hopefully it will mean I will be okay for a good while before they move indefinate awards to PIP.

The thing I cannot believe is the speed they only received it on Wednesday and it was done in 24 hours. I reckon this has to be one of the quickest turnarounds going?

Indie_Kid

Blimey, that was quick!

In regards to your indefinite award - (I have one too) it just means they'll assess you for PIP sometime after October. Although, it may be a lot later due to the backlog.

Morglin

Simon7685 wrote: »

This is a result I was not expecting. My DLA award runs out on 04 June this year. Thankfully I was lucky enough to receive a DLA renewal, not the dreaded PIP.

I have been on DLA for 7 years now over 3 award periods, the first 2 following successful appeal tribunals. 2 years ago I sent off my renewal just before the award ran out and wihin 3 weeks received a new award for another 2 years. Each of my awards has been high rate mobility and low rate care.

This year I again waited before sending off the renewal form, I sent off the form on Friday 23rd May and paid for recorded signed for being added. I checked online and the form was received last Wednesday the 28th May.

In the post today was a letter, I expected it to be a confirmation that they had got the renewal form, it seemed quite thick for that, so I then thought it might be an appointment for a medical.

To my amazement it was a new award dated 29 May, the day after they received the form! I have been awarded high rate mobility and they have increased the care element to middle rate. I had to read it several times to make sure and then I looked for an end date and could not see one, only to then see it is an indefinite award for both elements!

I realize that indefinate nowadays doesn't mean what it used to but hopefully it will mean I will be okay for a good while before they move indefinate awards to PIP.

The thing I cannot believe is the speed they only received it on Wednesday and it was done in 24 hours. I reckon this has to be one of the quickest turnarounds going?

That was quick, and congrats on the higher awards.:T

It was planned to start migrating 'indefinite awards' from DLA to PIP, from October 2015, but due to backlogs and delays, it is now thought (unofficially!) that they won't begin until the following year.

Not sure what your circumstances are, but have a check to see if the higher awards entitles you to more, in other benefits:

http://www.welfarerights.net/benefits-guides/Disability-Living-Allowance-

Lin

Simon7685

Thanks for that info Morglin, I am hoping now that the backlogs get longer and I get left alone for 2 to 3 years but knowing my look they will start migrating my area next week!

I am self employed working from home 16 - 20 hours a week, so I don't think we can get anything else. Not that I am expecting to or complaining that I can't.

I am just relieved to know that at least I aren't going to have to fight tooth and nail with tribunals etc, at least for the time being.........
It is a massive weight off my mind and the higher care award was the cherry on the cake.

Last time it took 3 weeks for them to reaward me and applied for a doctors report, this time they have gone from the form and the prescription slips I included detailing all the drugs I take and they did it within 24 hours, I can't believe it really. I am still reading the letter to make sure I haven't missed something or got it wrong.

It is nice when something like this happens, I hope others are as lucky as I have been with this renewal.

vwjack2703

What's this i hear about indefinite award? I'm a support worker for a young lad who has cerebral palsy, he's had his PIP award and has to re-apply every 6 months, he's in a wheelchair for the rest of his life, how would he go about getting an indefinite award?

Indie_Kid

vwjack2703 wrote: »

What's this i hear about indefinite award? I'm a support worker for a young lad who has cerebral palsy, he's had his PIP award and has to re-apply every 6 months, he's in a wheelchair for the rest of his life, how would he go about getting an indefinite award?

I don't think they exist for PIP.

supersaver2

Great news Simon!

Good to hear some positive stories.

My daughter receives DLA and we've always had excellent service and received news of her awards very quickly.

Hoping you get a few years peace now.

Morglin

vwjack2703 wrote: »

What's this i hear about indefinite award? I'm a support worker for a young lad who has cerebral palsy, he's had his PIP award and has to re-apply every 6 months, he's in a wheelchair for the rest of his life, how would he go about getting an indefinite award?

Indefinite awards don't exist for PIP - the longest award I have heard of, is for 10 years.

Not sure why someone would be assessed every 6 months though, as the minimum period was supposed to be a year, or how this happened, bearing in mind PIP is fairly new and the average claim is taking 10 months to assess!

Lin :think:

clark24

So as my PIP claim will most likely take 10 months to process, and it may only be awarded for a year at a time, should I start the new application 2 months after receiving PIP, or do you get one year on, 10 months wait etc?

PIP really is the most degrading, time wasting and unpleasant side-effect to being disabled (and yes, that is taking into account my 'wonderful' time with the NHS, who actually are the reason I'm disabled in the first place!)

Simon7685

I don't envy anyone that has to go through the PIP process and I am just so grateful that my renewal pack came through in time to allow me to renew under DLA and not PIP, thanks to some of the delays with the introduction of PIP.

I hope I get a reprieve from having to go through the PIP journey for at least a couple of years or more. Although it wouldn't surprise me if it was announced tomorrow that it was going to start now and a form arrive within the week!!!