DB Openhand Magazine_June2017

All About…
Personal Independence Payments
Challenges: Blue Badges
Glasses on a pile
of paperwork
At Deafblind UK we want to
ensure that as many people
as possible can continue to
receive the help they need.
We have closely monitored
the development of Personal
Independence Payments (PIP),
this is some of the latest. Since
October 2015 following a slow
national roll out programme,
all existing Disability Living
Allowance (DLA) claimants aged
16-64 are being invited to make
a claim for PIP.
The new assessment system
is based on 10 activities for
a daily living component and
two for mobility. The benefit
payment received is based on
points scored in each activity,
the points are given based on
which descriptor your needs
match within that activity.
What Happens Next?
It is not possible to predict when
you will be invited to make a
claim for PIP but the roll out
is now national. You do not
need to do anything, your DLA
payments will continue until you
are invited to make a PIP claim.
Once you apply for PIP your DLA
payments will continue until you
have been assessed and given a
PIP award decision. However, if
you do not make a claim when
invited, your DLA will end.
If you are between 16 and 64
years old and a new claimant,
you will only be able to claim
PIP rather than DLA, whilst
those over 65 can only claim
Attendance Allowance.
The delays in the roll out
mean that the September
2017 deadline for England
and Wales and the December
2018 deadline for Northern
Ireland may not be met.
Under the recent changes,
it may be more difficult to
obtain a blue badge as these
require a score of eight or
more in the “Moving Around”
activity assessment within PIP.
This activity considers whether
you can physically walk but
does not consider whether
you need assistance such as
a guide or a guide dog. There
are other ways to qualify for
a badge but this will require
other evidence of need, such as
being certified as severely sight
Those currently registered with
this scheme may be affected if
they do not meet the criteria of
the PIP mobility assessments.
Anyone who is not awarded
the Mobility Component in PIP
with enhanced points are no
longer eligible for the Motability
scheme. Motability is offering a
one-off package of transitional
support. At Deafblind UK we
impaired. If you only claim
Attendance Allowance, which
has no mobility component,
additional evidence will always
be needed to apply to your
council for a blue badge.
A man using a red
and white cane
The Motability Scheme
are currently investigating
the impact of this and will
publish updates over the
coming months.
Details are correct at the
time of writing.
A piggy bank
If you are experiencing difficulties or
would like to talk to someone about
20 Open Hand
the changes, please get in touch.
Open Hand 21