Applying for DLA to be looked at again.

My current, indefinite award, HRM & MRC was awarded some years. Since then I have learnt a little more! My then and current award was because ‘I am unable or virtually unable to walk’ and during the day, I need the help with my personal care from another person frequently throughout the day.

In 2012, after being placed in SG of ESA for 3 years-my esa85a advises ‘a return to work is unlikely in the longer term’ as I have ‘severe functional disability’. From the content of my ESA50 and added documentation, it is clear that the HCP dealing with my then ESA50 had made their decision with regard to Q1 of ESA50 as they further advised ‘Med3, ESA50 and medical evidence suggests that client cannot mobilise 50 metres repeatedly, within a reasonable timescale and unaided by another person, because of significant discomfort or exhaustion due to physical problems, mental health problems’.

As it is not yet know when indefinite DLA to PIP will take place, I am in 2 minds whether to apply for current award to be looked at again. I know it would be correct to do so (over past few years increased awareness and knowledge has helped) and did not give this ‘night’ part of application the time and consideration it deserved, at the time. I am wondering, however if the following would satisfy the criteria 'prolonged or repeated attention in connection with their bodily functions' through the night. The following has certainly been well over the previous 3 month period!

In addition to needing help to manage my toilet needs, and probably more worthy, would be down to the fact that for the majority of nights, I have what can only be described as ‘scratching fits’ due to my severe atopic eczema (this is only 1 of my chronic illnesses/disabilities!). I also cause myself injury due to ‘friction itching’ or more correctly, attending to impossible itching by rubbing my feet violently together! To explain this part further means that as I cannot reach my feet/lower limbs to satisfy impossible itching, I violently rub my feet together whilst wearing socks (which I have to wear), which results in weeping sores and bleeding. By this time and due to these movements, which can also occur in my sleep, my partner is always awoken.

I then need my partners assistance, at the very least, to attend to my lower limbs and feet. This would entail removal and changing of bloodied/soiled socks and, at times a change of pyjama bottoms. Steroid ointments & moisturisers also need re-applying. The reason for this, is that if no intervention or assistance took place at that time, this would cause further damage and help required when we were to awake in the normal course of events. As an example, my feet/lower limbs would need soaking, in an effort to lessen my night attire and socks sticking to my skin as a result of the weeping/bleeding. My feet would need further additional attention.

I know in my own mind (as friends have suggested) that this would, or should, satisfy the ‘prolonged attention in connection with bodily functions consisting of at least 20 minutes on every occasion’ but need help of others to advise. I also understand that my current award could be looked at as a whole and could potentially end in a lower award.

Again, it would also depend upon if my area were yet a live PIP postcode.

Many thanks.

francis1969 wrote: My current, indefinite award, HRM & MRC was awarded some years. Since then I have learnt a little more! My then and current award was because ‘I am unable or virtually unable to walk’ and during the day, I need the help with my personal care from another person frequently throughout the day.

In 2012, after being placed in SG of ESA for 3 years-my esa85a advises ‘a return to work is unlikely in the longer term’ as I have ‘severe functional disability’. From the content of my ESA50 and added documentation, it is clear that the HCP dealing with my then ESA50 had made their decision with regard to Q1 of ESA50 as they further advised ‘Med3, ESA50 and medical evidence suggests that client cannot mobilise 50 metres repeatedly, within a reasonable timescale and unaided by another person, because of significant discomfort or exhaustion due to physical problems, mental health problems’.

As it is not yet know when indefinite DLA to PIP will take place, I am in 2 minds whether to apply for current award to be looked at again. I know it would be correct to do so (over past few years increased awareness and knowledge has helped) and did not give this ‘night’ part of application the time and consideration it deserved, at the time. I am wondering, however if the following would satisfy the criteria 'prolonged or repeated attention in connection with their bodily functions' through the night. The following has certainly been well over the previous 3 month period!

In addition to needing help to manage my toilet needs, and probably more worthy, would be down to the fact that for the majority of nights, I have what can only be described as ‘scratching fits’ due to my severe atopic eczema (this is only 1 of my chronic illnesses/disabilities!). I also cause myself injury due to ‘friction itching’ or more correctly, attending to impossible itching by rubbing my feet violently together! To explain this part further means that as I cannot reach my feet/lower limbs to satisfy impossible itching, I violently rub my feet together whilst wearing socks (which I have to wear), which results in weeping sores and bleeding. By this time and due to these movements, which can also occur in my sleep, my partner is always awoken.

I then need my partners assistance, at the very least, to attend to my lower limbs and feet. This would entail removal and changing of bloodied/soiled socks and, at times a change of pyjama bottoms. Steroid ointments & moisturisers also need re-applying. The reason for this, is that if no intervention or assistance took place at that time, this would cause further damage and help required when we were to awake in the normal course of events. As an example, my feet/lower limbs would need soaking, in an effort to lessen my night attire and socks sticking to my skin as a result of the weeping/bleeding. My feet would need further additional attention.

I know in my own mind (as friends have suggested) that this would, or should, satisfy the ‘prolonged attention in connection with bodily functions consisting of at least 20 minutes on every occasion’ but need help of others to advise. I also understand that my current award could be looked at as a whole and could potentially end in a lower award.

Again, it would also depend upon if my area were yet a live PIP postcode.

Many thanks.

Hi f1969,

A good starting point would be to ascertain whether or not you are currently in an Active PIP Reassessment Area.

You should be able to do this by referring to The PIP Postcode Map : Here.

If you are, then the reporting of a Change in Circumstances (C in C) regarding your current DLA Award would result in you being reassessed under PIP qualifying criteria rather than DLA.

The next "Lot" of Postcode areas to become PIP Active is "Lot 3" (ATOS) and they become active from the 23/02/15.

So if your area was due to become PIP Active then, and you wanted to be reviewed under DLA criteria, you would have to ensure that you reported your C in C ASAP before that date.

After that, the next step in the PIP Timetable takes effect from October 2015 :

"From October 2015, everyone still getting DLA will be invited to claim for PIP. Claimants will be selected randomly rather than by area or age, although the DWP say that they will “invite claims as early as possible from recipients who have turned 65 after 8 April 2013, when PIP was first introduced.”

This will obviously include DLA Recipients with Indefinite Awards.

You may know that PIP qualifying criteria is very different to that of DLA.

With respect to "Moving Around", with PIP Mobility it is a lot more difficult to qualify for an Enhanced Rate Award than for a HR Mobility Award with DLA.

e.g. It is points based, the requisite distance is shorter, and there are no PIP awards for being "Virtually Unable to Walk" as with DLA.

It is up to you on whether or not to report a C in C, you can make a more informed decision once you are sure whether or not you are in an Active PIP Area, or you are about to be in an Active PIP Area. (From 23/02/15)

I would strongly advise that you also take our : PIP Self Test

Whilst also reading through our : PIP Claims Guide. (2nd Link on page)

You should also be aware that even if you managed to increase your current MR Care DLA to Enhanced Rate Daily Living PIP, that you would not be entitled to any back payment for the increase in money from the date of you reporting your C in C.

Your current DLA awards would remain in payment until 4 weeks after the date of your PIP Award Decision.

You should also consider that even though it is stated that current DLA Indefinite Award recipients will be invited to claim PIP sometime after October 2015, it could actually occur much later than this due to the back logs and any change of Government.

It is only a decision that you can make, the more informed that this decision is, the better.

In the case of DLA, See : Changes Of Circumstances For People Claiming Disability Living Allowance. around a third of the way down this page :

DLA Guides

bro58

TY Bro,

At the moment I am in 1 of the areas of the map that is still ‘white’ that you provided a link to. Are these areas therefore still working to DLA rules?

I have been following all aspects of PIP fairly closely specifically the test and descriptors, and until post GE2015, am trying not to think about this too much! I was probably one of the first to take self PIP test and read your guides regarding.

My main query was whether, in your (and other readers opinions) whether the examples of my nights described above, fulfil the ‘night time’ criteria. I understand, it is entirely down to me to decide whether I ask DLA to be looked again (dependent upon answer to 1st sentence!).

francis1969 wrote: TY Bro,

At the moment I am in 1 of the areas of the map that is still ‘white’ that you provided a link to. Are these areas therefore still working to DLA rules?

I have been following all aspects of PIP fairly closely specifically the test and descriptors, and until post GE2015, am trying not to think about this too much! I was probably one of the first to take self PIP test and read your guides regarding.

My main query was whether, in your (and other readers opinions) whether the examples of my nights described above, fulfil the ‘night time’ criteria. I understand, it is entirely down to me to decide whether I ask DLA to be looked again (dependent upon answer to 1st sentence!).

Hi F1969,

Does the Text Version of The Postcode Map help ? :

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/upl...ersion-jan-2015.docx

bro58

Hi Bro, my postcode is only referred to as 1 that ATOS will be dealing with, on the text version of map.

On the link/1st map you provided the only colours that are noted are-green, turquoise, lilac, orange, blue and pink. These colours appear on the map, as well as many white areas.

The white areas on the map, such as BT (Eire), FK (in Scotland) and BL, OL, SK and CW (all around the Manchester area are coloured 'white'. There is no guide as to what the white areas indicate on the map you gave link to. Are these the areas currently still under DLA rules?

francis1969 wrote: Hi Bro, my postcode is only referred to as 1 that ATOS will be dealing with, on the text version of map.

On the link/1st map you provided the only colours that are noted are-green, turquoise, lilac, orange, blue and pink. These colours appear on the map, as well as many white areas.

The white areas on the map, such as BT (Eire), FK (in Scotland) and BL, OL, SK and CW (all around the Manchester area are coloured 'white'. There is no guide as to what the white areas indicate on the map you gave link to. Are these the areas currently still under DLA rules?

Hi f1969,

Although the "White Areas" have been allocated to ATOS, they are not yet Active PIP Reassessment Areas.

A good indication of this is The BT Postcode although this is Northern Ireland (NI), not Eire.

PIP is not yet active at all in NI.

The Active PIP Areas are indicated by the coloured boxes to the right of the top of the map which correspond to the same coloured postcode areas on the map itself.

bro58