PIP appointeeship 9 March at 4:41PM in Benefits & tax credits 6 replies 175 views

The_IT_Fairy

DWP/PIP are driving me potty!

My sister currently claims PIP - no issues with that. She is unable to manage her own money and so her PIP is paid into a joint account she has with my mum (Mum has the only access, only card etc). As mum is getting older I'm trying to plan for the future and, as I'm absolutely not prepared to have my credit rating trashed by the fact my sister keeps getting herself into debt and having to be bailed out, I'm looking to become her appointee.

How the hell am I supposed to do this? I work full time so am never able to be in the same place as my sister when any of the PIP phone lines are open. And if I do have a day off then it's because I've already made plans of things to do which don't involve driving to my mum's house where my sister lives and sitting there on the phone for potentially hours. And that's assuming that my sister also has that day off work!

I've tried phoning two different numbers (new claims which is what they tell you to do if you want to find out about being an appointee, and the general enquiries number) today just to ask some questions and have so far been cut off 7 times. Are there any suggestions on how to actually get someone to talk to me? Are there any email addresses I can use? Web forms? Anything?

My mum is incredibly stressed because she has come across a letter from a debt collector for yet another thing that my sister hasn't paid which has brought this all to a head and now I HAVE to get this sorted out but it appears to be impossible.

Any advice?

toomuchinfo

Does your sister agree to you becoming her appointee? If she doesn’t then you won’t be able to be her appointee.

Appointeeship is given because the claimant is not able to manage their applications and money, not because they are bad at budgeting. 

The_IT_Fairy

She agrees. She's managed to get herself into debt 5 or 6 times because she doesn't understand that DR on a bank statement means Debit (ie overdrawn). And she doesn't pay bills because she doesn't understand the letters that come through the post. My mum has found a letter today saying that an Argos storecard debt (how did she get a storecard when she's only ever worked part time??) has been sold on to a debt collector and it's kind of the straw that's broken the camel's back.

My sister is autistic, has global developmental delay, epilepsy and non-specified learning disabilities. She doesn't live fully independently (and never will) and absolutely cannot manage paperwork or money. Mum or I have to complete all forms for her because they make no sense to her so she ignores them...

calcotti

Read this
https://www.gov.uk/become-appointee-for-someone-claiming-benefits

If you become her appointee you can then ring DWP without her being with you.

The_IT_Fairy

Tried that. The PIP new claims line has cut me off 9 times now this afternoon before I've even got as far as being in a queue to talk to someone. I find it hard to believe that, when EVERYTHING else run by the government is going online only (which seriously discriminates against people like my sister who does not/cannot/will not use a computer) PIP relies on you being able to get through on the phone after potentially holding for an hour. Not everyone has an hour to spare in the middle of a working day!

The rate this is going my mum and I are going to basically have to hand everything over to my sister and see if she survives. While mum has to pick up the tab for all the bills for the house they share because my sister will just fritter every bit of money she gets

toomuchinfo

At the moment there is no other way than you using the phone line. When you have filled in the forms you will have a visiting officer come to see your sister and you. This visiting officer will decide if an appointee is appropriate and if you are suitable. If you are appointed your sisters benefit will be paid into your account and you will be responsible for administering it.

poppy12345

If your mum is currently her appointee then you will not be able to be her appointee until your mum cancels this and removes her name. For this your mum will need to contact PIP to arrange it. You will then be able to contact PIP to arrange to be her appointee. https://www.scope.org.uk/advice-and-support/removing-an-appointee/