DLA to PIP help please

MGHFR

Please help i am so depressed at the moment and struggling to get through.
I was receiving DLA high care and low mobility which worked out at £110.85 a week.
I have gone through the PIP transfer and just received a PA3 form from my assessment and with the points awarded i will be facing low care and low mobility for pip at £81.90 a week.
I already was using over £300 a month from the DLA to top up the rent as my landlord increases the rent every year but the housing benefit remains the same.
With this reduction i will now loose my home where i have lived for around 15 years.
I was also receiving income related ESA which included extra money because i am severely disabled and also extra money because i am in the support group.
Will the reduction in my PIP payments mean my ESA will also be reduced?

poppy12345

MGHFR wrote: »

Please help i am so depressed at the moment and struggling to get through.
I was receiving DLA high care and low mobility which worked out at £110.85 a week.
I have gone through the PIP transfer and just received a PA3 form from my assessment and with the points awarded i will be facing low care and low mobility for pip at £81.90 a week.
I already was using over £300 a month from the DLA to top up the rent as my landlord increases the rent every year but the housing benefit remains the same.
With this reduction i will now loose my home where i have lived for around 15 years.
I was also receiving income related ESA which included extra money because i am severely disabled and also extra money because i am in the support group.
Will the reduction in my PIP payments mean my ESA will also be reduced?

That's a massive shortfall in your rent. If you live alone then you'll be entitled to the 1 bedroom rate, how many bedrooms do you have? Check here to make sure you're receiving the right amount. https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/



Sounds like you were claiming the Severe Disability premium in with your ESA, your PIP award will still entitle you to claim this because you need a daily living award of PIP, which you have.


If you disagree with the decision of the PIP then you have 1 month from the date of the decision to request the MR. Do be aware that you do risk losing everything you already have by requesting this. I'd advise a visit to your local CAB or the likes for further advice.

MGHFR

i am living alone in a small 2 bed house. i have a medical need for occasional overnight care and also the second room is used when my son stays. I am only entitled to the one bed rate. The council will not help. The rents in my area have gone up by a large amount over the last 5 years. The housing benefit has stayed the same and now other benefits reduced. HB used to almost cover rent.
My rent is not expensive for the area. I have tried to move into a one bed flat but nobody will accept benefit claimants.

WhenIam64

i have a medical need for occasional overnight care and also the second room is used when my son stays. I am only entitled to the one bed rate.

Does the council have a discretionary housing policy that might give you help with this one?Councils are variable in the way they approach the 1 bed/2 bed option for people in need of overnight care.

There may be some wriggle room on the issue but you'd need the help of a housing charity. Check who has the Legal Aid contract for housing issues in your local area. It is most likely the charity that can give you help with this.

Rubyroobs

You can appeal the PIP decision but the criteria are different and lots of people face a reduction in money. You will continue to get the severe disability premium as you have standard daily living PIP awarded.

pmlindyloo

WhenIam64 wrote: »

Does the council have a discretionary housing policy that might give you help with this one?Councils are variable in the way they approach the 1 bed/2 bed option for people in need of overnight care.

There may be some wriggle room on the issue but you'd need the help of a housing charity. Check who has the Legal Aid contract for housing issues in your local area. It is most likely the charity that can give you help with this.

And to add - how often is overnight care needed? Most councils would want the overnight care to be regular to give the two bed rate of local housing allowance.

Does your son visit often thereby taking over the overnight care aspect or is he just an occasional visitor?

As well as exploring the extra bedroom for an over night care there are other options you could explore.

1. Discretionary Housing Payment - this may be awarded by your local council because of the shortfall in your rent. You may wish to get some help with the form from your local Citizens Advice. You should explain about your drop in income, your need for an overnight carer, failure to find a one bed that accepts someone on benefits. Do not mention your son if he is 'just' a visitor.

2. A DHP is usually only awarded for a period of time so it would be worth visiting your local council and asking about going on the local housing register. If you are allowed to apply then you could mention that you have done this on your application form for the DHP.

3. If you can manage without an overnight carer then you should keep looking for one bed places. Avoid letting/estate agents and look in your local newspapers/ask friends/family/look for adverts in shop windows.

If you can't manage with an overnight carer then you really need to go down the route of getting the extra bedroom awarded in your local housing allowance. Medical evidence (would your doctor write a letter saying that you need over night care when……………………. which happens …………………….?) would be very useful when applying for the extra bedroom rate or for the DHP.

Good luck.