PIP and ESA after new illness diagnosis

villagegirl wrote: Thanks to your member guides I successfully migrated from Incapacity to ESA in December 2013 without a medical. I also receive DLA and haven't yet been contacted about PIP.
I have just been diagnosed with another serious illness, does anyone know how this will affect my ESA and DLA? Will I have to reapply for ESA and apply for PIP?
Many thanks

First of all it will depend on whether you were suffering from the effects of this new condition when you completed the ESA and PIP claim forms? if you were, then this new diagnosis should make no difference unless you feel you were underscored for it's effects.

If the symptoms are new or you feel you were not adequately scored for them, then you need to consider whether you would qualify for a higher award of ESA and/or PIP as a result?

If you are already receiving the highest awards available then you don't need to take any further action.

If you don't feel that you would meet the requirements for a higher award, then you don't need to inform the DWP as the change does not effect your current award.

If you feel you would qualify for a higher award then you can request that you are re-assessed, but you should be aware that the DWP are entitled to review your current award in full and whilst it is unusual, they can reduce it or even remove it, so you should be certain that the change is significant enough for you to qualify for a higher rate.

Have a look at our ESA Claim guide

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/help-for-claimants/esa

and our PIP Guide

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/help-for-claimants/pip

for further details.

Gordon