ESA50 contact - found !

[Deleted User]

Update - I have definitely been put in the support group - letter from decision maker

Spoonie_Turtle

Deleted_User said:

Update - I have definitely been put in the support group - letter from decision maker

Good news!  Given that you had a paper-based assessment I would have been extremely surprised if they hadn't, but you can never know for sure until the actual decision arrives.

[Deleted User]

So should I expect NI credits from 26.09.2021 or from my application date (almost 3 months ago) ?

And how will I know that I am being credited correctly - my on-line NI records have not been updated by HMRC for 18 months +

Also in light of this sucess- do you think that it would be safe to apply for a transfer from DLA (mid care only) to PIP ? I have been on DLA for 16 years +

poppy12345

Good news. As previously advised, NI credits will have been paid from the date of your claim. The reason why the letter says Support Group effective from 26th September is because there's a 13 week assessment rate, even if a decision's made before that time. Although it may take quite sometime for your NI record to be updated... IE potentially several months. If you've paid NI contributions in those past 18 months then you need to contact HMRC to ask why it's not been updated.

For your DLA to PIP transfer, you can't assume that you will automatically qualify because no one does. Being placed into the Support Group has no affect on a PIP decision because they're 2 different benefits. Before you do anything you should get expert advice from an agency near you. This way they can go through all the descriptors with you to make 100% sure it's worth you starting a claim earlier than you need to. PIP and DLA are 2 different benefits with totally different criteria. Start here https://advicelocal.uk/

[Deleted User]

poppy12345 said:

Good news. As previously advised, NI credits will have been paid from the date of your claim. The reason why the letter says Support Group effective from 26th September is because there's a 13 week assessment rate, even if a decision's made before that time. Although it may take quite sometime for your NI record to be updated... IE potentially several months. If you've paid NI contributions in those past 18 months then you need to contact HMRC to ask why it's not been updated.

For your DLA to PIP transfer, you can't assume that you will automatically qualify because no one does. Being placed into the Support Group has no affect on a PIP decision because they're 2 different benefits. Before you do anything you should get expert advice from an agency near you. This way they can go through all the descriptors with you to make 100% sure it's worth you starting a claim earlier than you need to. PIP and DLA are 2 different benefits with totally different criteria. Start here https://advicelocal.uk/

Thanks I will do

[Deleted User]

What would You do?
Potentially missing out on almost £100 per week PIP

poppy12345

Deleted_User said:

What would You do?
Potentially missing out on almost £100 per week PIP

I would do exactly as i advised you to do... get some expert advice befire doing anything else. "potentially" is a lot different to "definitelty"

Alice_Holt

Deleted_User said:

What would You do?
Potentially missing out on almost £100 per week PIP

      As poppy has advised I would carefully go through the PIP descriptors with an advice agency.  
     PIP and DLA are two different benefits with totally different criteria, and a very different assessment processes.


   Why do you think you are missing out on £100 pw ?
   Is your DLA award £240 4-weekly? (Middle rate Care)
   Which PIP descriptors do you think apply to you (both Daily Living and Mobility) ?


https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip/pip-points-system

  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-assessment-guide-for-assessment-providers/pip-assessment-guide-part-2-the-assessment-criteria

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/help-with-your-claim/fill-in-form/

Spoonie_Turtle

Deleted_User said:

What would You do?
Potentially missing out on almost £100 per week PIP

Advice from an agency would be best.  Either way, I would make darned sure I understood the PIP descriptors and how they are assessed, and work out exactly where and why I think I should score points - and in your situation, I'd need to be sure I should get an increased award - and also weigh up the likelihood of DWP agreeing*, thereby working out where to focus my attention most to make sure I scored enough points for the right award. 

*e.g. I should have scored for both mobility activities but I knew the journeys one would be a hard fight, so I did answer it properly but made sure my 'moving around' answer was the best and most thorough out of the two because it should have been a no-brainer (providing the DM believed me and didn't think I was making it up for the fun of it).  I also should have scored with some daily living activities where I got 0 points, but I knew those would be a hard fight so again focused more on the areas where it tends to be a bit simpler

You have to be absolutely certain, and you need to be aware that your DLA will stop once they've decided for PIP - which means that if they do deny your claim, you won't have the DLA income whilst you fight for PIP.

The links Alice_Holt has supplied should tell you everything you need to know

[If you have the brainpower for reading tribunal judgements once you are familiar with the PIP descriptors and process, https://pipinfo.net/ is good for a realistic insight of how judges apply areas of the law - and an insight into how DWP make decisions too.  It's certainly not necessary to read but if you have the spare time and cognitive energy it is interesting, and can help shed light if there are any activities where you are unsure which descriptor you should meet.  But if you are certain where you should score points for an increased award, that time and effort would likely be better used for drafting answers or even actually applying.]

Alice_Holt

What you can do is start to gather the evidence to support a future PIP claim.
Unlike with DLA, the DWP are unlikely to contact your GP / health professionals, so it helps a claim if you can include evidence.  You may also wish to include a letter from your carers detailing the help you need around the PIP descriptors.  

PIP is very prescriptive compared to DLA, and you need to fit your conditions and abilities around the PIP activities.
It may be advisable to get help with the PIP form, when you come to complete it.