UC and PIP

leftholdingthebaby123

My neice is 19 this month.  She has been ill for at least 2 years.

She has been diagnosed as anorexic, her BMI is 14.8

She also has a heart condition where the heart pools with blood. It's commonly known as Pots.  She has panic attacks and often faints.

She is also massively depressed and although she is nearly 19, she has the brain of a much younger person.

She doesn't know what she's doing with UC as they have got her down as job seeking, even though the GP has provided Fit Notes.

She has a PIP Application but can't fill it in.

Her mother is taking her to a specialist appointment next week as she needs to put a supporting letter on her UC Portal. How does she claim Support Group on UC?

Who can help with the PIP Application as Citizens Advice have said they have no appointments. 

As a family we are very concerned about her and want her to have the financial help she is entitled to.

These documents are overwhelming her.

Please can someone signpost us as to get the help in completing the PIP Form and the correct pathway for UC.

Thank you

HillStreetBlues

For UC  has your niece had a work capability assessment?

Spoonie_Turtle

First thing to check, has she submitted any fit notes to UC?  She needs to have reported a health condition; if she hasn't done that already it's really important she does it as soon as she can.

You say she 'has the brain of a much younger person' - if she is not capable of managing her claim, she should have an appointee to do that for her, someone who is capable of understanding (capable of learning) the sometimes complex processes of benefits.  I don't know how that's done but others here can advise.  

First thing though is to make sure her health conditions and fit notes are on the UC system - that can be checked by looking at her claim online to see exactlywhat it says.  Her work coach should set appropriate commitments for her that do not include job searching.  They should also refer her for a WCA 28 days after reporting her health conditions.  If either of those doesn't happen, others here will be able to advise what to do.

poppy12345

leftholdingthebaby123 said:

Her mother is taking her to a specialist appointment next week as she needs to put a supporting letter on her UC Portal. How does she claim Support Group on UC?

For UC that would be LCWRA and for this she first needs to go through a work capability assessment. (see Spoonie's reply)

When claiming UC you're classed as a job seeker until a decision on your WCA says otherwise. It's a work coaches descretion whether they turn off or reduce work commiments.

For help with the PIP and WCA form (when it arrives) see link and it will tell you what advice agency is local to you. https://advicelocal.uk/welfare-benefits

Alice_Holt

Re PIP - there are some useful guides online. These may be helpful:

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

https://www.mentalhealthandmoneyadvice.org/en/welfare-benefits/pip-mental-health-guide/

https://www.potsuk.org/managingpots/https-www-potsuk-org-managingpots-disability-help-2/#pip

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1092461/pip-assessment-guide-part-2-assessment-criteria.pdf


When completing the form be aware of the importance of "reliability" and "majority of the time" (modified by the risk of harm) -

This is what Benefits & Work say on reliability:

"It’s vital that, before you complete the PIP test, you understand that just because you can carry out an activity, that doesn’t mean you are prevented from scoring points for being unable to do it.

You need to be able to complete an activity ‘reliably’ in order for it to apply. According to the guidance, ‘reliably’ means whether you can do so:

• Safely
• To an acceptable standard
• Repeatedly
• In a reasonable time period, no more than twice as long as a person without a physical or mental health condition would take to carry out the activity.

So, for example, if you can ‘wash and bathe unaided’ you will not score any points for that activity. But if it takes you hours to do so or it would be dangerous to leave you alone to bathe – for example, because you might have a seizure - then you may score points.

Or if you could walk 20 metres once, but afterwards you would be so exhausted that you could not do so again for hours or you would be unable to carry out other everyday activities after walking 20 metres, then you may count as not being able to do so."


Also the risks associated with her heart condition may be important to point out on the form. See: https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/news/2017/april/risk-harm-need-not-be-‘more-likely-not’-when-assessing-pip

Particularly around the cooking / preparing a meal and the washing and bathing activities.

Her depression may mean she needs "prompting" for many of the PIP activities, struggles with face to face engagement (and forming / maintaining social relationships), needs help with budgeting, etc. 

The most comprehensive guide is on the Benefits & Work site, but membership is c.£20 pa.
https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip/pip-self-test


If you do need an appointment to complete the PIP form, then it could be worth waiting until your local advice charity has a slot with an experienced adviser, but then as past the PIP deadline - payment (if successful) will be made from form receipt rather than the date you ordered the form.

leftholdingthebaby123

Thank you all so much for your help and advice. I am going to copy and paste the replies and send them to her mother who is trying her best to help her. I spoke to her mother today and she told me that the GP has advised that he will continue to supply Fit Notes and is writing a letter to support her application's as she's in no fit state to work which is really kind of him.

Just one more question please, my neice and her mother live with the mother's Nan,  is it possible to claim housing and council tax benefit for the girl? Her Nan is retired and her mother works. I expect an adviser at the council will be able to advise on this.

Once again,  thank you all so much.

leftholdingthebaby123

HillStreetBlues, no she hasn't had a WCA.

Spoons Turtle,  I agree I think it would be a good idea if her mother applies to become her Dwp Attorney. 

poppy12345

leftholdingthebaby123 said:

HillStreetBlues, no she hasn't had a WCA.

Spoons Turtle,  I agree I think it would be a good idea if her mother applies to become her Dwp Attorney. 

Just so that you're aware it's called an appointee, not an Attorney. https://www.gov.uk/become-appointee-for-someone-claiming-benefits

For PIP appointee they need to be contacted to ask to start the process.

For UC a message can be put onto her journal to ask and they will sort that out for her.

calcotti

leftholdingthebaby123 said:

Just one more question please, my neice and her mother live with the mother's Nan,  is it possible to claim housing and council tax benefit for the girl? Her Nan is retired and her mother works. I expect an adviser at the council will be able to advise on this.

She can't claim Housing Benefit, any help with rent is included within UC. However she cannot claim help with rent unless she is named on the tenancy agreement. Similarly she cannot claim Council Tax Reduction unless she is named on the bill. If she pays rent to her nan she cannot claim for this.

peteuk

Also worth noting, as she has a PIP questionnaire, her PIP claim is in process.  Although I believe there is currently a back log of applications, the application can still proceed without the completed questionnaire.  So she my be called for an assessment without returning it. 

If she’s unlike to cope with the form, then she’s unlikely to cope with the assessment, so may benefit from an appointee.

poppy12345

peteuk said:

Also worth noting, as she has a PIP questionnaire, her PIP claim is in process.  Although I believe there is currently a back log of applications, the application can still proceed without the completed questionnaire.  So she my be called for an assessment without returning it. 

I realise you used the words "can and may" but just so the OP knows, this doesn't apply to everyone. If there's a mental health marker on file then yes the application can proceed without the forms being returned.