PIP and Housing Benefit - living at home

pocketstrings

Aldea, I am in exactly the same situation! I am forty and since 2003 have been severely disabled and living with my mum. But, like yours she is abusive and controlling and I also always feel my cortisol is through the roof. I am very depressed and she often makes me feel suicidal. I use much of my benefits paying for counselling just to deal with living at home and a third I give to my mother.

I have always wanted to move out, but it seemed impossible as I have been on the council waiting list for years, despite having been recognised as having medical need to move, can't buy a place obviously and housing benefit won't cover anything in my general area i.e. near my doctor, specialist etc.

But now a flat has come up which a friend will let me for an affordable rate.

The problem is, I am sure if I move out DWP will stop my PIP.

Even though my condition is the same as it ever was, in fact worse, I know they will say that if I am well enough to move out I must be less ill and therefore they will stop my PIP, as they kind of awarded on the idea that my living at home proves I am very ill and that my mum must be helping me. even though I tried to explain this is not the situation etc ad of course they should just accept my condition for what it is - we all know what DWP should do and what they do in reality are two very different things.

Without PIP my benefits will just be ESA and I don't know if I'll be able to cope as I have a lot of expenses due to the severity of my disability e.g. I need to get food shipping delivered, often need a taxi to medical appointments etc.

To add to the confusion, my PIP, which shouldn't be erased till next February is going to be erased now, so I have that going on too.

It'd be great to be able to chat this all through with someone in the same situation - maybe we could message each other directly?