Can the infamous PIP be seen as a pesky seed in a bad apple? Every time PIP, the replacement for DLA, is mentioned it seems to invoke reactions either of worry, confusion, exasperation or all of these.
I recently approached a local benefits advice service and asked them what is set to change as a result of the reform. I queried things such as the content of the claim form and the general structure of PIP. The team of staff at the advice centre, despite two of them having attended a day's training concerning the matter, were still very much bewildered by it all. They said the questions will be roughly the same and concerning the same aspects of daily living as found in the DLA application form, but it all seems a bit "wishy washy" right now and nothing seems set in stone.
More to the point, there was a deep concern among advisory staff and claimants that, potentially, some current claimants receiving the higher rate mobility component of DLA (and, for some, middle rate care), which they rely on so heavily, look like being at risk of losing their payment when all current DLA claimants are reassessed for their entitlement to PIP.
I believe that this is where much of the concern is stemming from for people with sight loss during the reform, especially as RNIB have campaigned so hard to fight our corner for the higher rate of mobility.
DLA can help towards the payment of, for example, assistive technology (software and hardware), braille materials or equipment, journeys made by taxi in cases where a person is unable to travel independently and many other such essential extra expenses that sighted others do not have to spend to carry out normal everyday activities. If such expenditure is covered by DLA, it puts disabled young people on a more equal footing with their peers.
A good example is the extra cost of a specially adapted computer when compared to an average laptop. Extra expense is required to enable accessibility just to be able to do basic functions on the computer,. However, even then, accessibility is limited to the capacity of, for example, the screen reader.
A degenerative eye condition also requires continual adaptations which means different pieces of equipment and software are required at different stages of a person's life to enable them to live as independently as reasonably possible.
Being informed of what questions will be asked when applying for PIP, who can support and advise you and how to make the questions applicable to your own subjective experience can significantly improve the chances of being assessed fairly.
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What have you heard about PIP? Do you have concerns? If so please comment below.