PIP phoned my keyworker. "Handle with care" case? No assessment needed? Text confirmation.

poppy12345

Ihatethinkingofusernames11 said:

I meant to change from ESA to UC before PIP decision came through as everyone has to move by 2024 and I would be slightly better off. I haven't changed yet due to anxiety, maybe triggering an assessment, f2f appointment etc.

You will not need another assessment when you claim UC. All reviews are currently suspended anyway.

Ihatethinkingofusernames11 said:

Maybe it's better switching from ESA to UC after PIP is paid anyway, as there will be a few weeks without ESA so I can use it instead of an advanced payment/loan.

When you do claim UC your ESA will continue for 2 weeks and then any Income Related ESA you're claiming will stop. If any part of it is contributions based, this will continue but be deducted in full from any UC entitlement.

Ihatethinkingofusernames11

Hi Poppy12345. Thank you.

I hadn't heard about reviews (same thing as assessments?) being suspended but was aware of the 2 week run on, with ESA stopping and it taking 5 weeks until first payment, leaving 3 weeks without ESA.

PIP (back)/payment could help bridge the gap without needing an advance payment for UC so may be the ideal time to change.

May I ask why reviews are suspended and until when? General backlogs/covid?

I'm in the support group for ESA but even so, I heard there may be a delay before they determine LCWRA and may be on basic rate until they do. Is that correct? 

If so is there a danger I could stay on basic rate for a while?

I know I hear strange things and have strange fears sometimes.
I may have already mentioned it but DWP told me I'd need another assessment but others (eg. CAB) said I wouldn't. One said CAB were outdated/wrong but said other things I knew weren't true.

I was also wondering whether cost of living payment counts as savings or not? I haven't transferred it to mum for the electric yet.

Apologies if I have asked/ mentioned some things before. My memory isn't great

calcotti

Ihatethinkingofusernames11 said:

May I ask why reviews are suspended and until when? General backlogs/covid?

Exactly so, backlog due to suspension of activity due to a Ovid plus an increase in the number of new claims. No idea when normal activities will resume.

Ihatethinkingofusernames11 said: I'm in the support group for ESA but even so, I heard there may be a delay before they determine LCWRA and may be on basic rate until they do. Is that correct? 

As advised before, because you are in ESA Support Group you will be treated as having LCWRA for UC. No assessment will be required. It can sometimes take a month to get the status confirmed properly - that is just an administration process.

Ihatethinkingofusernames11 said:

I may have already mentioned it but DWP told me I'd need another assessment

But that advice DWP is incorrect. Remember they are not advisers.

Ihatethinkingofusernames11 said:

I was also wondering whether cost of living payment counts as savings or not? 

CoL payments are ignored as income and capital for the recipient. However if you are getting the CoL but then giving the money to your mum then it will be capital for her.

Ihatethinkingofusernames11

Hello Calcotti. Thanks for replying.

I appreciate you confirming the questions.

Some things seem to be so obvious/ simple when they are explained.

Even I knew that some info from DWP was wrong such as 3 tiers for UC up to £1000 which I think he was possibly confusing with other things or combining two benefits.

I do struggle to understand the legal terms sometimes.

So that cost of living payment may just be disregarded for a while (unsure how long?).
I know PIP backpayment is for 52 weeks.

I'm still waiting on payment for PIP and the text was sent Thursday morning so has been 3 working days/ 4 almost now but hoping it may arrive soon.

I was panicking a bit as I thought maybe I gave them the wrong account number as my card only has the sort code on for some reason. I did record the call though (memory isn't good) and it was correct, repeated 3 times.

I hope I won't have to phone up about it.

Thanks

calcotti

Ihatethinkingofusernames11 said:

Even I knew that some info from DWP was wrong such as 3 tiers for UC up to £1000

Don’t understand what you mean by that sentence.

Ihatethinkingofusernames11

Hello Calcotti. Thanks for replying

I was just saying that I remember phoning the DWP one time (their UC number) and the gentleman on the phone told me UC had 3 tiers a lower, mid and high tier where the highest was approximately £1000 which I knew was incorrect. 

I assume he was getting mixed up with benefits or was adding UC plus PIP possibly.

I have been paid now from PIP (Tuesday) so glad about that. I will wait for the letter and see if I'm right thinking I got what I think without a fight, but don't want to tempt fate and end up eating my words but I'm relieved and grateful.

A weird thing is my ESA is due today (Wednesday) and hasn't shown up yet and usually shows up just after midnight.

I'm unsure if it would maybe have been paid and included with the PIP but obviously it's a separate benefit so kind of strange unless it will clear later on/ in the morning.

Have you any idea if maybe that backpayment may have affected the ESA?

Thanks

poppy12345

Ihatethinkingofusernames11 said:

A weird thing is my ESA is due today (Wednesday) and hasn't shown up yet and usually shows up just after midnight.

It's not unusual for ESA to stop when you've been awarded a disability benefit such as PIP. It will just be an error. You will likely need to ring them to ask for a same day payment and your money will go into your bank before midnight today.

Ihatethinkingofusernames11 said:

Have you any idea if maybe that backpayment may have affected the ESA?

No.

Ihatethinkingofusernames11

Hello Poppy12345 thanks for replying.

I don't know why they would do that seems sneaky or like a trap almost.

Hopefully it won't affect their PIP decision if I phone. I'm having a slightly better than usual day today as well so I don't know whether they'll be thinking I sound OK but I have still put it off. I'm going have to try and phone now.

Have had the letter through and got what I thought very surprised I got enhanced for both without a fight and scoring less in areas I thought should have been the most. I'm glad I didn't just rely on those bits.

I suppose the ESA business may be a small fight and really don't want to phone them but happens to coincide with the PIP backpayment.

Anyway thanks 

poppy12345

Ihatethinkingofusernames11 said:

I don't know why they would do that seems sneaky or like a trap almost.

Nope, it's none of those. It would be the PIP award that caused your ESA to be suspended. Nothing at all to worry about, as i advised above.

Ihatethinkingofusernames11 said:

Hopefully it won't affect their PIP decision if I phone. I'm having a slightly better than usual day today as well so I don't know whether they'll be thinking I sound OK but I have still put it off. I'm going have to try and phone now.

Not sure why you would think that? Ringing ESA will make no difference to your PIP claim. Remember, just because you're now claiming PIP it doesn't mean you can't have a life.

Ihatethinkingofusernames11 said:

Have had the letter through and got what I thought very surprised I got enhanced for both without a fight and scoring less in areas I thought should have been the most. I'm glad I didn't just rely on those bits.

It makes no difference whether you didn't score as much as you thought you would have in some descriptors. You have a maximum award so scoring more points will make no difference.

Ihatethinkingofusernames11

OK thanks for that I appreciate it.

I think it may just be a manifestation of anxiety.

Catastrophising everything is a big part of things for me and possibly not trusting the DWP. Like maybe they would think I sound OK and can phone people up etc. even if it's difficult most days. That train of thought.

I sometimes think things are a trick or difficult to do purposely to put people off claiming things.

You are right, in the end all that matters is the total score in each component (unsure if that's the correct term) Daily living and mobility. One of the descriptors was higher than I thought but glad with 21 points for DL.

Just found out they were checking if I was entitled to Severe disability premium. Why they had to stop ESA to do it I haven't a clue (unless it's as that's the only way people ever phone them) and would have thought they knew I was living with family.

I already knew from this forum I wasn't entitled due to living with others.
He did say if they were claiming qualifying benefits I may possibly have been entitled under other circumstances but none apply.

I'm unsure why SDP is portioned out in this manner unless mainly it's to help those who pay council tax and live alone.

Edit:- probably shouldn't have written some of it so deleting 

Thank you for your help