DWP visiting after submitting carer’s allowance claim

TheCheerleader

Hello all, my 26 year old son lives at home and has always received DLA and transitioned to PIP with enhanced living component as well as UC. I am his official appointee.

I have never claimed any benefits and stayed at home for the past 10 years when he finished school, relying on my husband’s wages.I began working last autumn but unfortunately because of my son’s complex needs I had to resign a couple of weeks ago.

I saw in Martin’s newsletter an article highlighting carer’s week and thought I may be eligible.
I applied yesterday and today received a text saying someone from DWP will be visiting in a couple of weeks. This has sent me into a spin, I looked it up online and it’s not usual if not requested and I am worried I will affect my son’s benefits by applying.

Has anyone any experience of this, why do they need to come?

huckster

Because of appointee status, they have to see Carer and cared for person. They need to complete forms and go through all relevant information with both parties.

TheCheerleader

Okay thanks, I have been his appointee for many years. He has a learning disability, I am not sure how he will understand the questions or whether he will agree to even engage.

poppy12345

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82056494#Comment_82056494

This doesn't usually happen when claiming carers allowance. The only time they would usually do a home visit is when you first request to become an appointee. The OP is already his appointee.

@TheCheerleader claiming CA will not affect your sons benefits.

huckster

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82056796#Comment_82056796

The only reason I could see a home visit being arranged is to check on information, to see if the appointee arrangement and caring arrangement is correct based on current circumstances.

As we know arranging visiting officer time can be very challenging, often with delays. And if the home visiting team have accepted the need for a visit, there must be a reason for this and not a mistake.

Perhaps for some reason DWP don't have appointee properly recorded.

TheCheerleader

Thank you Poppy that’s what I thought regarding being the appointee, I recently received a letter addressed to me from DWP extending his PIP to June 2029 so knew it wasn’t because of being the appointee.

I am very concerned about us being under scrutiny and feel pressurised. What are they going to ask us and what are they going to be looking for?
After carer’s week, I thought carers were being encouraged to claim what they’re entitled to.

Huckster, there are no changes to report other than I am applying for carers allowance.
It has made me want to withdraw my claim, even though I have always cared for my son and it’s unlikely, despite our encouraging him to do more for himself, that he will ever be independent enough to leave home.

NedS

Please do not worry or be concerned about this. Firstly, DWP visiting teams are not "benefit investigators", so there is no indication anything is under scrutiny or investigation. The DWP visiting team exist simply to meet with claimants at home where it may not always be possible for those claimants to easily attend at a jobcentre.

I agree with @huckster that the most likely explanation is that DWP do not have your appointee status correctly recorded on the system, hence the visit. So it's most likely an error on their behalf, not any issue with your claim or that of your son.

By definition, a child in receipt of DLA is required to have an appointee as they are considered unable to manage their own affairs. When they become an adult and transition to PIP, the DWP visiting team should visit to assess whether they still require an appointee or if as a disabled adult they are now able to manage their own affairs, and the appointeeship can be lapsed.

Some disabled adults will be able to manage their own affairs, others wont and will still require an appointee. Did you have a visit from the DWP visiting team to confirm your appointee status when your son became an adult and transitioned to PIP? If not, they have probably only just realised this oversight and hence the visit now. It's about protecting your son and ensuring he has the support he needs and that his interests are protected.

TheCheerleader

Thanks for your comment NedS I feel somewhat reassured. Yes, we had a home visit when I became my son’s appointee about 8 years ago when he was asked independently if he was happy for me to manage his money. We have had subsequent contact since then on two occasions:

There was a misunderstanding about 2 years ago when my son went to a days training event at the job centre that he was interested in, I was unable to accompany him and they asked him if he was ok to continue without me, he said yes and I was removed as his appointee.
He was then requested to attend the job centre unbeknownst to me, when he did not attend he was sanctioned and his UC stopped.
I received a phone call a year or so later asking why he was no longer claiming UC and we then had an appointment at the local office. I was told that I should not have been removed by them as his appointee, that he should not have had to attend weekly reviews because of his disability and he had his claim backdated.

We then had to provide bank statements last summer as he was above the £6000 savings threshold because of this, and a follow up phone call where I had to explain incoming and outgoing transactions on his account. The DWP were satisfied with everything and things have gone smoothly until my application…

I suppose unless I receive information about why there is a home visit taking place, I will try not to become overly fixated on it, as it’s all surmising. I will come back once the meeting is over and a decision is reached as it may help someone else looking for information and reassurance in the future. Thanks again for your time everyone.

TheCheerleader

Hello everyone, the meeting with DWP went absolutely fine. It was just an 8 year appointee review and after meeting my son all is staying the same.
I am also delighted that I have been awarded carer’s allowance, I had no idea I was eligible for this, nobody ever tells you.
It would really have made things easier in the past few years if we had been receiving it then, so a big thanks to Martin highlighting carers week🤩

NedS

@TheCheerleader So pleased all went smoothly for you, and thank you for providing an update. I'm sure Martin will be delighted to hear that you have benefitted from his highlighting Carers Week in the UK.