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Forum Home  →  Discussion  →  Covid-19 issues  →  Thread

New claims for Personal Independence payment /Attendance Allowance

BakerK
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Financial Inclusion - Housing Landlord Services, BCP Council

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I have tenants who have recently requested claim forms for PIP/Attendance Allowance . They would normally have a face to face appointment to receive help with completing the form . If the form is not completed until a future appointment can be made , will the benefit be back dated , if PIP/Attendance Allowance awarded ? I can assist via telephone with the forms but concerned regarding detail, evidence etc

Carolyn McA
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Adviser, Citizens Advice and Rights Fife

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If they phoned to request the forms, the claims will be dated from the date of the phone call. The deadlines for return of forms were extended to three months - you/your clients can check that this is still in force by listening to the recorded message on the PIP enquiry line 0800 212 4433.

Paul_Treloar_AgeUK
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Information and advice resources - Age UK

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We’ve been in touch with DWP about AA claim forms for similar reasons and they’ve told us this.

We asked about relaxing the rules around the 6 week limit to return the claim form for AA. DWP responded to say “With regards to the return of AA claim forms, we have introduced an immediate easement, to support flexibility on dates for returning claim forms. This will ensure no customer will be disadvantaged due to self-isolation guidance. To support us in delivering this change, we would appreciate if you could note the claim form advising there has been a delay in its return due to Covid-19, this will support and speed up the decision making process.”

Anjela Jones
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Welfare benefits service - Cambridgeshire County Council

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we are using the DWP online form to complete over the phone, but have an issue with saving and printing them as they are getting corrupted. Anyone else having the same problem?

Brian Fletcher
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Welfare Rights, Wigan & Leigh Carers Centre, Wigan

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Simplified PIP form is available at

https://digitalpip.lexisnexisrolfoundation.org/

Useful video about how to submit the form on the page.

Still that doesn’t help with evidence and we have been sending them out to client’s advising them to attach their evidence with form when they post. I considered submitting a GDPR request to the GP for medical notes and consultant or other reports. I dismissed the idea fairly quickly given that GP’s have got to be dealing with enough at the minute.

AA forms, we’ve just been doing the same as everyone else.

I did have someone ring up last week to complain I had spelled her name wrong after spending two hours detailing her needs :-)

 

[ Edited: 27 Apr 2020 at 03:09 pm by Brian Fletcher ]
Mike Hughes
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Senior welfare rights officer - Salford City Council Welfare Rights Service

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Brian Fletcher - 27 April 2020 03:04 PM

I did have someone ring up last week to complain I had spelled her name wrong after spending two hours detailing her needs :-)

Trying not to laugh.

I did an SDP challenge for someone. Involved a very tightly argued case set out over many pages etc.

Client came back and had highlighted every instance where I’d misspelt “separate”.

As someone once said, “whatever gets you through the night”.

Vonny
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Welfare rights adviser - Social Inclusion Unit, Swansea

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Paul_Treloar_AgeUK - 27 April 2020 10:06 AM

We’ve been in touch with DWP about AA claim forms for similar reasons and they’ve told us this.

We asked about relaxing the rules around the 6 week limit to return the claim form for AA. DWP responded to say “With regards to the return of AA claim forms, we have introduced an immediate easement, to support flexibility on dates for returning claim forms. This will ensure no customer will be disadvantaged due to self-isolation guidance. To support us in delivering this change, we would appreciate if you could note the claim form advising there has been a delay in its return due to Covid-19, this will support and speed up the decision making process.”

Has anyone received confirmation that the easement also applies to new DLA claims?

Den DANES
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DIAL Lowestoft and Waveney

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Brian Fletcher - 27 April 2020 03:04 PM

Simplified PIP form is available at

https://digitalpip.lexisnexisrolfoundation.org/

Useful video about how to submit the form on the page.

Still that doesn’t help with evidence and we have been sending them out to client’s advising them to attach their evidence with form when they post. I considered submitting a GDPR request to the GP for medical notes and consultant or other reports. I dismissed the idea fairly quickly given that GP’s have got to be dealing with enough at the minute.

AA forms, we’ve just been doing the same as everyone else.

I did have someone ring up last week to complain I had spelled her name wrong after spending two hours detailing her needs :-)

Can anyone use the digital PIP form as above ? Just checking there are no copyright issues.

Va1der
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Brian Fletcher - 27 April 2020 03:04 PM

Still that doesn’t help with evidence and we have been sending them out to client’s advising them to attach their evidence with form when they post. I considered submitting a GDPR request to the GP for medical notes and consultant or other reports. I dismissed the idea fairly quickly given that GP’s have got to be dealing with enough at the minute.

Given that it’s likely they’ll have to wait a long time for health assessments, I’ve considered the option of delaying evidence requests for now, until pressure eases, or they are called in, whichever comes first.

Obviously comes with the concern that DM makes a decision before evidence arrives, and I don’t know of any process around this, other than reminding DWP that evidence is forthcoming.

Generally prefer requesting supporting letters, over SARs, and this obviously gives you the option of saying ‘please respond when you have time’ (and chase if needed), rather than imposing strict deadlines. Of course some surgeries categorically refuses to respond, or insists on charging => SAR
Although, I’m also concerned that C-19 would be valid grounds for delayed responses to SARs…