I receive benefits, and I am concerned about how the DLA is going to be replaced by the PIP.
I believe that the government doesn't recognise the impact that having no sight has on everyday life. And it is not simply a case of adapting after a certain number of years, I will always need support to live independently.
For instance, I can't just get in a car and drive somewhere when I like, so one of the activities I spend my money on is travelling to places. If this money is taken away from me, I won't be able to do this so easily in the future.
Furthermore, I don't think the needs of blind people are properly understood, because I am worried that I may not qualify for the new Daily Living component of the PIP. I also have concerns about the way in which my living skills are going to be assessed, as I am not sure how they are going to do it. Some of the criteria is a little vague, and could be expressed in more specific detail. For example, I would like to know how planning and following a journey is going to be assessed by assessors.
At the moment, I live at home because I can't afford to live away from home. My plan for the next five years is to try and find a job, but continue writing at home in the meantime as I have a degree in Creative Writing. I have found it easy to access information about the changes to DLA, because updates have been included in Vision magazine. I am also aware there is information to read on the internet, too.
When the change to PIP does take place, I hope I will continue to be kept informed about the developments. Most importantly, I hope I will continue to receive the money that I need in order to keep living independently for as long as possible.
Do you have any concerns about PIP payments? If you do, please leave a comment below.
You can read more about PIP payments on the RNIB website and money management.