Saving up pip

Sncjw

Hi all.

So I get pip both rates enhanced. I the money to pay for extra energy costs that are due to charging my equipment, paying for tech that could help me, pay for taxis if I am unable to use the public transport as I get mobitily for unable to plan a familiar journey as it can be disrupted and I can't hear the announcements over tannoys and what is the best option to do. I try and find the up to date information on my phone but is not always possible to find if I don't have signal underground. I am prepared to pay for any replacement equipment but it is usually covered by the manufacturer. I pay for the extra cost of insuring the equipment as advised by the hospital. 

I work full.time.so.i don't get any other benefits. It wasn't to do with the money why I got pip it was to do with getting extra help and support when I visit places as you need pip to get the help. The money does come in handy espically now. 

So I know they don't usually check what your spending the pip on which I haven't had in my first time I got it. This time I got moved to enhanced for mobility on the reason I can't plan a familiar journey. 
I feel a bit guilty saving it up but if I have a child I will be buying specialist equipment to help me hear the child especially at night as I can't use my hearing equipment at night. 

If I were to save up and use it to pay a lump sump towards my home when it comes to renewing a mortgage deal is that bad of me to do that. I want to feel safe in my home and know that I won't have to move or lose my home that is adapted to my needs..I won't miss a mortgage payment but it's just in case I do lose.my job but it's very unlikely. 
I don't want to be like bragging I have this money and we are ok especially right now.

Thank you 

HillStreetBlues

PIP is your money and you can spend it on anything you want, or save  as much as you want. (you're not on income based benefits so saving isn't an issue). It really doesn't matter what anyone thinks.

tacpot12

It is ok to save up your PIP and use them either for additional equipment (or to replace items of equipment you have bought before and which have worn out), and to pay of the capital of your mortgage. 

PIP was designed to help with the long-term costs of disability or illness, and therefore a degree of saving was envisaged in its design - long-term costs don't arise evenly every month, or even every year. Making adapations to a home (or buying a sophisticated wheelchair) can be very costly, and therefore it is reasonable to borrow the money to make the adaptions and to repay the loan from PIP. This is certainly ok. 

PIP was not intended to buy your house for you, so using PIP to pay the part of your mortgage that is not related to adaptions is not strictly in the spirit of PIP, but there are no rules that say you cannot do this. I also think it highly likely that you, like many in your situation, underestimate the true cost of your disabilty, and are subsidising it with your income from employment. I'm inclined to think that a very thorough analysis of your spending would show that you are using all of your PIP to help withyour disability, and the extra you have to pay your mortgage with is actually coming from your earned income.

I would strongly recommend you go ahead with paying down your mortgage with whatever savings you can accumulate. The DWP will never look into whether the money came from PIP or your earnings as the rules don't allow them to do so, so you don't need to analyse your spending any more than you already have. It was interesting to hear how you spend your PIP.

Sncjw

I am deaf and use a cochlear implant. If the insurance were not to pay out I would have to pay for the implant to be replaced as they upgrade them every 5 years and if you lose or damage it and the hospital replaces it the 5 years clock starts again. If I bought the replacement myself the clock would just continue until the upgrade is due. 

I am also thinking of needing equipment for when I have a child too more than what a person without a disability does. 

peteuk

PIP is designed to assist you in independent living,  it as previously stated does not imply how you spend it.  Id reasonably expect you to use it for powering medical equipment,  run a car etc but it is entirely up to you how you spend it.