We're all going to lose DLA

[Kate22]

Hi guys I’m new to this Forum came to it via a web link on the BBC Noticeboard. So hello to all.

I’ve been reading an old article: We're all going to lose DLA on the BBC Noticeboard and it has me confused, and worried. My situation is that my brother is 64 years old, and has been in receipt of DLA (High Care, Low Mobility since its inception, all due to a childhood condition but we needn’t go into that.

At 64 he’s in receipt of Pension Credit and because of his condition he has had a pretty poor employment record, in fact I suppose he has spent the greater part of his working life on benefits of one form or another and unfortunately this is his income stream.

Anyway I’m concerned for him having read that post and I’m seeking a bit of clarification. Let me see if I can phrase my questions precisely:

1. With the new shake up in the benefits system, how should that affect big bro. As mentioned he receives Pension Credit, DLA and I think some form of Income Support. Will these benefits all be rolled into this new PIP benefit that I’m reading about. Sorry if I sound a bit vague here but I don’t really know the benefit system.

2. The DLA seems to be a major concern. From what I’m reading it seems that when he reaches 65 next June that the DLA will vanish and he will receive Attendance Allowance but that that has no mobility component about it. While he receives the lower rate of mobility and the high rate care to loose £20 a week is a big knock. I should add that it’s years since he had a review and while his original award for DLA was ‘for life,’ that has now changed to ‘indefinite..’ Is this just a play on words?

3. Is there an age at which they don’t examine you to see if you are fit for work.Who would employ someone who has no employment record worth of talking about and is 64 years of age?

I’m trying to make sense of this for big bro so any advice you can give me will be greatly appreciated. I didn’t realize that sickness benefits were been targeted so much.

For the record we live in Northern Ireland if that makes any difference.

Many thanks for any insights you can offer.
Kate

[Stepheninleeds]

Yes they will be. He could be OK & not have any trouble. He will not lose DLA at 65 because he has it before then. He will have to be assessed for PIP, as we all will be, but he will probably be later on than the rest of us. Someome will post & explain it better than I can.

[Kate22]

He will have to be assessed for PIP, as we all will be, but he will probably be later on than the rest of us. Someome will post & explain it better than I can.

Stephen thanks for your reply, it is helping to ease our minds.

Find it strange though that an assessment for the PIP is given after retirement age if for no other reason than it clogs the system up! Still I suppose we are going to have to get over thinking about unemployment benefit AND sickness benefit and just think that they are all dumped into one big pot. Have I got that right

[Carneucopia]

Stephen thanks for your reply, it is helping to ease our minds.

Find it strange though that an assessment for the PIP is given after retirement age if for no other reason than it clogs the system up! Still I suppose we are going to have to get over thinking about unemployment benefit AND sickness benefit and just think that they are all dumped into one big pot. Have I got that right

More or less right in that Universal Credit - which starts to roll in next year - will cap all those benefits. But that won't affect your brother. He shouldn't be targeted for medicals for actual 'sickness' benefit now, as he is on Pension Credit. And he won't be in one of the first groups to be changed - either with his DLA or with his Pension Credit.
As things stand the whole change is likely to take until 2016, and thats even before they look at pensioners.
His DLA will eventually be re-assessed for the new PIP, and at that stage there is likely to be a face to face assessment. But if he passes he will keep PIP - and not have to change to Attendance Allowance. It will only be people who fail to get PIP and are pension age who may end up having to claim Attendance Allowance instead.
By the way if he is getting Pension Credit then he isn't getting Income Support any more. All PC is, is like IS but for pensioners. (I'm working on him being a pensioner by next year of course - when the changes begin - and when he should start to get his State Pension.)
Both DLA - and it's replacement PIP - are and will be paid tax free on top of any other benefits or income.
Things are changing very rapidly and rumours are flying around all the time about what might happen. A lot of rumours are just that, but please remember that not even the government has finalised all the detail yet, so what we think we know today can change!

[Stig]

A lot of rumours are just that, but please remember that not even the government has finalised all the detail yet, so what we think we know today can change!

Change is pretty much inevitable .What with the PIP trial due to start next year and they are still not finished with IB-ESA assessments and from what i can make out not even close to finishing if there are people ony just getting & some still waiting for their ESA forms to arrive The phrase bitten of more then one can chew comes to mind

(also guilty of trying to force through as many misery benefit changes before bthey are voted out )

[davewhit]

Change is pretty much inevitable .What with the PIP trial due to start next year and they are still not finished with IB-ESA assessments and from what i can make out not even close to finishing if there are people ony just getting & some still waiting for their ESA forms to arrive The phrase bitten of more then one can chew comes to mind

(also guilty of trying to force through as many misery benefit changes before bthey are voted out )

I have been on IB nearly 20 years had a review after about 10 redone for five years had another review for another 5 years 2 years into last review sent them paperwork to say exempt medicals on the dla and being blind rules so now have no review date when I asked about being moved a couple of times they laughed and said no idea as my area seems to be leaving exempt pca people till last but before the move was started they said we would be first as we had been left on IB the longest since the IB to ESA moved started some people I know have been moved and reviewed 2 or 3 times already its a joke

[MUD]

I have been on IB nearly 20 years had a review after about 10 redone for five years had another review for another 5 years 2 years into last review sent them paperwork to say exempt medicals on the dla and being blind rules so now have no review date when I asked about being moved a couple of times they laughed and said no idea as my area seems to be leaving exempt pca people till last but before the move was started they said we would be first as we had been left on IB the longest since the IB to ESA moved started some people I know have been moved and reviewed 2 or 3 times already its a joke

I'm blind and on IB, worked for 40yts, stopped work 2005, claimed IB, was sent IB50, told them I was blind and ezemrt pca or was it wca ? was told my next review would be in spring 2014, I am 65 years old, RETIRMENT date YIPPEE is Autumn of 2014,

I have heard norhing, No forms etc, and I am keeping my head down LOL

[davewhit]

I'm blind and on IB, worked for 40yts, stopped work 2005, claimed IB, was sent IB50, told them I was blind and ezemrt pca or was it wca ? was told my next review would be in spring 2014, I am 65 years old, RETIRMENT date YIPPEE is Autumn of 2014,

I have heard norhing, No forms etc, and I am keeping my head down LOL

its PCA exempt

[Stepheninleeds]

Glad to help Kate, if only a little. As I say, everyone said it better than me, lol. What we have to remember is that the changes are not for our benefit or for the benefits we will get, it is purely to save money. Everyone will be assessed for everything in the future, which means more costs & less money for us.

[MUD]

its PCA exempt

thanks, was not sure which one it was/is. don't suppose it matters now with all the changes taking place.