If you are on ESA and in the support group, then you are classed as as having a long term condition, well i dont think anyone on ESA knows about if they will be reassessed when changing over to Universal Credit as the change over for people on ESA is a few years away if i remember correct, Yes you will have to apply for PIP as all adults on DLA are being reassessed for PIP.

I can't believe they are just stopping DLA and then making us apply for PIP.

There is no automatic cross over.

This is just being done in the hope most people won't apply for PIP.

From what I gather everyone will be changed over to PIP by October 2017?

Logically, there can't be an automatic cross over. The criteria are different.

Why not? They could automatically put people on the rate nearest what they are getting now, and then call people in for reassessment while their payments are on going.

your DLA will continue until the have completed your PIP assessment so not sure what you are asking here

they dont wait til your DLA entitlement ends then start the process for PIP

I heard you only have 4 weeks to get your claim in once they inform you to change over. Although you can get an extension if you phone them up and have a good reason.

But like I said this should be automatic and they should call us in for an assessment when they are ready, not make us apply for a new benefit.

This is just to scare people off from claiming.

you get 4 weeks to send your form in and if you miss that deadline then yes they will stop your DLA but as long as they receive the form in time your DLA will continue until a decision has been made on your PIP claim

if they hadn't changed DLA to PIP and it was time for your DLA to be re-assessed the process would be exactly the same

But this is too sensible and you know it.

For the reason I was on DLA, I should be on enhanced daily living and standard mobility at least. Possibly enhanced mobility. I got 4 points on daily living. The only things that have changed are that I now have hearing problems and asthma and now take medication.

Effectively they do. DLA continues are their current rate until after they are reassessed.

But they don't automatically put us on nearest rate. I was on low mobility and mid care. I've lost the lot. Looking through the criteria, there's some crossover, meaning I really shouldn't have lost it. And I've not been cured.

The only meal I've managed to cook that I've not managed to mess up is pizza. Apparently, that means I can cook a meal. DWPs definition of a meal? Some meat, (or other protein) veg and potatoes. You can't give me some fresh food and expect me to make a meal out of it. Well, you could try. But whether it would happen is another matter. Heck, I couldn't even cook fish the other night. I tried, burnt it (the middle was frozen) and burnt a plate.

I was given a home visit because I can't get to somewhere unfamiliar unaided. But because I visit my parents once a week, (a 10 minute bus ride away to somewhere familiar) I've got no problems getting somewhere unfamiliar.

Before the assessment and initial decision, you continue to get DLA. If for some strange set of reasons everything gets delayed for a year, then you would get DLA all that time.

It is NOT about cooking a meal as such. It is the activities involved in preparing a meal. Eg opening a packet. Doesn't sound like you would have too much of a problem following simple cooking instructions regarding how long to cook things for.

From PIP assessment guide

IE No points

Oh, you're an expert on how my disabilities affect me then? So you know that I'm at risk of being run over because I can't always see, hear or judge the speed of traffic? You can't give me a map (or indeed, Google Maps) ad expect me to follow it. It just won't happen. Unless I'm already in said street and just need to walk up the street.

And actually, I do need help getting out from another person and I do use a mobility cane as was stated in my report. or do you really think at the age of 27 I really like having to walk around having to hold someone's hand just to cross the road?

And actually, there is criteria on cooking a meal. The 4 point criteria is the same as LRC DLA, which I did used to get before I developed other health problems and ended up on MRC. My vision (or lack of) also means that no matter how much correction you chuck at me, I am very unlikely to be to even read the instructions. Heck, I can't even make a cup of tea just by using a basic kettle. Unless I want to burn myself that is.

And if I've got no problems following instructions, then I wouldn't have been told at the farce that was my assessment that I needed to do something. Nor would I have an email from a friend of mine where he tells me that he does indeed speak to me in plain English because he knows that's all I understand.

You don't seem to have much in the way of visual or cognitive problems around here?

The 4 points for preparing food relates to needing supervision or assistance, and is therefore NOT the same as the "main meal" test for DLA. That was about whether or not you could perform various activities
Here's a link for the RNIB advice on cooking.,Would've expected you to have already sorted out any current issues. Who in their right mind even attempts to cook something on the basis of guessing when it might be ready, Eg when cooking a pizza, people will know how long to cook it for and NOT pick a random time for when it might be ready. If they had no way of knowing how long to cook it for, then they probably wouldn't even attempt it.
One thing that might be useful to know is that supermarkets tend to give the cooking instructions on their website.
Eg Tesco Stonebaked Thin Four Cheese Pizza 330G

It's actually about cooking from scratch, using fresh ingredients, so chopping, peeling boiling veg, grilling or frying meat/fish, using a hob safely etc. And having the motivation to do so!

If you can't see well enough to check you've got the peel off your spuds, or that the gas is alight, or the numbers on the dial of the oven, you can't cook safely or reliably and should get (I think - relying on memory) 4 points, because you need supervision.

In Tiger Rag's case, I'd also cite being unable to smell burning, and not being able to see or smell if something has gone off and become unsafe to eat.

Exactly.

The type of oven I have, is one where you set the timer. It doesn't have a hob because I can't safely use one.

Was hoping someone in here could shed some light on this.
I'm supposed to be going with my cousin to her reassessment for ESA, she sent the forms back in July. But has heard absolutely nothing since and its now November! She is still in receipt of ESA payments. I have said to contact the dwp but she is so terrified of the assessment she does not want to 'remind them'.

Sometimes they take forever, they will get back to her eventually. My sister ended up waiting 6 months for them to finally get back to her.

ESA interrogation tomorrow at 1pm. I have asked for it to be recorded but according to the dwp if I turn up and its not then I still have to have it. I also will be kicking up a stink if they ask me to go up stairs as I can't come down safely and quickly so they will have to find me a downstairs room.
I am expecting to be kicked off this one also like PIP. That tribunal is 6th Dec, which I am looking forward to being able to put my point of view on. I hope the dwp send another rep to this one, when my fight or flight anxiety kicks in I can be a wolf in sheeps clothing, I fight my corner.

Well I have just got back from it. It was recorded, just I had to wait an hour as the doctor wanted to read through my claim first and I had put so much information it took an hour.
She also stopped it halfway through and didn't ask me to do any movements as she claimed she could see I was in pain already. So stopped part through, not all problems disguised and not even asked to move any part of my body.
I am especially pleased about the non movement as I would be unable to move my arms today as the OA is being a pain in the rear.

So as it occurred today would waiting till next Wednesday, 16th be long enough to wait before I call and ask for a copy of the report?

The cynical answer to that one is that they have noticeably tightened up the mobility and care criteria (to reduce benefit costs to keep the Treasury happy) and so there's no direct comparison because these changes were basically designed as a cost cutting exercise.

There's advice about PIP here (including a self test) http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/per...ce-payment-pip and if people are unsure about filling the actual form in then it might be an idea to get help with that aspect.

Please excuse me qhile I bang my head against a brick wall...

I made a complaint to Atos and DWP. Not heard anything from DWP. Atos have told me to provide medical evidence. Lol, they mean the evidence I provided with my PIP forms. And the "nurse" actually backed up my claim that I'm partially sighted; but is still calling me a liar. Bitch.

Odd how she's saying one thing and my friend and I are saying another. Of course, he has no idea what he's talking about - he's only known me for 4 years.

For myself it helps to keep at the front of my mind that the condition or disability is not the important point. It is the impact of the disability on your daily life that matters. As far as the PIP claim that is.

Can anyone tell me if there is a time limit on how soon DWP have to reply to a pip reconsideration? I thought it was 28 day's but I have possibly got mixed up and it's the claimant who has to apply within 28 day's. It my Mums's case and I don't have the letter's to check back on at the moment.

There are two stages to the appeal, first the mandatory reconsideration (asking the DWP to think again) and then the separate formal appeal process itself. You have one month to ask for a mandatory reconsideration from the date on the letter (not from the date of receipt):

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/be...consideration/

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/be...y-to-tribunal/

I'd suggest getting external advice from any of the sources given earlier on in this thread if there's going to be an appeal.

You're right - it's the claimant who has 28 days. There's no time limit for the DWP, and it can take them several months.