Understanding UC and capability to work and PIP

LucyNorthern

Hi everyone.

I am really after some help and information as I feel like I am swimming in circles. I am trying to help my brother and have had to go from scratch so please let me give a little background info.

Due to reasons beyond his control he has had to start over, marriage has broken down, so we found him his own rented house and got him in to see a GP. Long term he will never be able to work again, GP recommends he never works again, the problem with his back is degenerative, and his mental health issues just add on top. So the GP issues an initial 3 month sick note, referred him to back specialists and mental health therapy, so all that can be done health wise is being done.

My issues then came when looking at how to get him financially supported. Started a new Universal Credit Claim, and as part of that, housing benefit. When I did all of this myself years ago they were all called different things so I am learning as I go. The UC and housing came through, however the rent is more than his allowance so I researched and found out about discretionary housing which added an extra £3 a week, every little helps.

I am applying to BT for a basic set up as its cheaper and Northumbrian Water are looking at their basic allowance pack too. He has his council tax reduction also, but the money just doesn't even cover the basics.

With his sick note I then put in a form to the UC people for the unfit for work, called capability for work. We got an appointment that we went to and today have had a letter back saying they
"have decided that you have limited capability for work and work related activity."
It goes on to say means he won't be asked to search for work or prepare for work, that he may get extra money, and that the extra money will be awarded from 3 months after first evidence and details will be on his next statement. That he no longer needs to send statements of fitness so sick notes, but that in the future he may need to attend another work capability assessment.

What does this mean financially for him? I have no idea on amounts or now what I need to do next. Feel like I'm going in circles, and if it takes 3 months for additional financial support that is frustrating as at the moment I am propping him up as much as possible but I only have so much money myself.

What does this decision actually mean, does he still get sick notes but just keep them in case? Or should he keep getting them again, just in case? Is there something else I now need to claim to try and get him additional financial support? I did put in a PIP form at the same time but we have not had anything back from that at all. I help him with all his chores, cleaning, self help, cooking, appointments, finances, shopping, I stay over almost every other day etc, but I work full time so any help I can get in place for him would be great.

I am sure you all deal with hundreds of "me" but I just find it all so confusing. So... what else do I or can I claim for, and what do you all think I am looking at financial wise for him as right now I feel like I'm not even treading water.:(:(

calcotti

From the fifth UC payment after he first informed them about his health problems he will receive an extra element in his UC called the LCWRA element which is worth £336.20/month.

He doesn't need to get Fit Notes.

When you say you have had nothing back from PIP, has he received and returned the PIP health form (PIP2)? If so the next thing is likely to be a face to face assessment and only after this will a decision be made. Unfortunately claiming PIP is a lengthy process but any award will be backdated to the date of the initial phone call.

Has he claimed Council tax Reduction from his local authority to help pay his Council Tax?

cattie

When you sent in the PIP form did you get a text or anything back to say the DWP had received it? If not I'd be inclined to give them a call to be sure the forms were received & will be looked at eventually. Did you get expert help with filling out the PIP forms? Only it helps to know how what the criteria is & to word things to get the max points possible.

This is a brilliant site containing lots of valuable info on disability benefits. It's well worth joining & paying the £19 fee for the invaluable help in filling out forms for the DWP. https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/

God bless you for looking after your brother so well.

calcotti

Also lots of PIP advice/guidance here https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/

LucyNorthern

Hi all

Thank you so much for taking the time and the help and advice. I am not familiar with forum posting and wanted to reply to both of you so hope you don't mind my copying and pasting.

His first UC payment was made 5th October, I requested his forms for Capability in November and his work capability assessment was 13th December, so think this means he may see something extra come in ....... in May then? That just seems like such a long time

I will have to try and give them a call to go over details and see if they can narrow things down or give me more information. The extra money will go a long way.

Not needing to get fit notes is good, was not sure if it was something I should continue to get him to do just in case they want some kind of continuous record so thank you, hard to get him out of the house.

PIP forms I completed them myself, I read the full booklet that came with it and I did a lot of reading online, also referred to the capability form too as I was completing them at the same time, took photos of the pages as I went. I work 9-5 so it's hard for me to get to a CAB office or similar. When I posted the PIP form back they included a self addressed envelope, I actually went in to the post office and upgraded it to signed for myself so I know they arrived there on Friday 13th December in the before 1pm postal service. The initial call to them was made the same day as I started the universal credit capability to work claim.

Thank you for the link on the advice I will have a read up on that later on today. Hoping there may be any other additional benefits I can apply for, feel like a money grabber but he needs all the help he can get so I will apply for all or anything I find.

45002

cattie wrote: »

It's well worth joining & paying the £19 fee for the invaluable help in filling out forms for the DWP. https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=16

Plenty of Free forums and Free advice available on the internet, without out paying 19 pounds




....

Alice_Holt

LucyNorthern wrote: »

... feel like a money grabber but he needs all the help he can get so I will apply for all or anything I find.

You really needn't feel like this, you are supporting your brother brilliantly.

Re PIP, the DWP have large backlogs so be prepared for a wait. As calcotti says any award will be backdated to the date the form was requested.
Like the UC WCA, PIP also has an assessment. Some info on that here:
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/help-with-your-claim/your-assessment/

You have claimed the available benefits - UC, PIP, and Council Tax reduction.
If a PIP award is given, then inform the council as that will entitle your brother to full CTr.
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/before-claiming/extra-help-pip-entitles-you-to/

Be aware that DWP decisions carry appeal rights, so if you think the PIP decision wrong you can appeal that to the Tribunal Service.
I hope that the correct award is given, but your local Citizens Advice should be able to help if (at any stage) an appeal is necessary.

Some additional thoughts -
In my area surgeries have access to a "community navigator", who can advise patients on local sources of help - might be checking if your area has anything similar;
This may apply - https://www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme;
Water suppliers may also offer a reduced tariff;
If your brother is in need of a grant (esp if he has worked) - this can be a useful site - https://grants-search.turn2us.org.uk/
If your brother is in private rented accommodation, it may be worth speaking to your councils housing option team to see if a sheltered scheme may suit his needs more. Sometimes these have wardens.

Best wishes.

calcotti

Based on what you said previously I would expect the extra money in the April payment. If you provide the following information we can advise further.

When do his assessment periods run or what day of the month does he get his regular payments?

Can you remember when in November you/he first notified them of a health issue?

Mrs_Bridge

You could also contact Adult Social Services to come out and assess your brother for Direct Payments to pay for a Support Worker, which might relieve some of the pressure on you. I have a support worker who is paid for 7 hours a week to give my husband a break. Our local Social Services sent out someone from the Finance and Benefit Team to check we were getting everything we were entitled to.

LucyNorthern

Hi everyone, wanted to give a small update.

I asked through my brothers UC journal about letters explaining and confirming the limited capability etc and they replied with a message to say no letters will be sent he will just get an online statement through his UC journal a few days before his next payment and that he doesn't need to get any more sick notes from his GP, but they did say they could confirm he will receive an extra £366.20 a month
from his next payment in February.... so that makes a huge difference..

PIP I called and they couldn't tell me if they had or had not received the forms and that I needed to just wait for an appointment or letter to be sent out, very frustrating as I had tried to phone them a number of times, each time sat on hold for about 20 minutes, and then just told they couldn't tell me.. Anyway, it is still early days for the PIP but wanted to update you all on the UC limited section.

Thank you all for the ongoing support, this forum has been amazing.

LucyNorthern

Hi all. Another update.

So, my brothers PIP form arrived back with DWP on Friday 13th December 2019, on Monday of this week 20th January 2020 we got a text notification that his PIP assessment would be 10th February 2020.

So if you take Christmas and New Year in to consideration and weekends then thats 23 working days from the completed form going back to an assessment date being issued, making it 38 working days from form going back to the appointment.

Now the date and time offered landed on probably the only date in the next 6 months I couldn't make, so I rang the number in the text message and got a cancellation appointment today! So that knocked almost 3 weeks off the process.

So timescales so far;
* Initial claim phonecall to DWP re PIP claim last week of November, form arrived a few days later.
* Completed PIP form arrived with DWP 13th December
* PIP appointment issued 23 working days later on 20th January for 10th February, this would have been 38 working days from the date they got the completed form to his assessment.
* Called PIP on 20th January to see if I could reschedule and got a cancellation appointment for 22nd January, this made it 25 working days from completed form to assessment.
* Now awaiting the decision, and will update as we know more.