DLA and PIP

Hi, this is my first time posting on this forum. Please can you advise me as I'm very confused?
I am 43 and have been unable to work for the past 4 years due to chronic pelvic and back pain, fibromyalgia and M.E.
I am currently on ESA in the support group, and have DLA lower rate care and higher rate mobility. I have a car on the Motability scheme.
My ESA and DLA expire mid February 2014. I'm due to change my current car under the Scheme in October 2013 as I have had it for 3 years in October. However, I think I need to have at least 6 months entitlement to DLA higher rate mobility in order to change my car.
I don't know whether to just wait and see what happens, or whether to be proactive and ask to be reassessed for DLA now, so that if successful I can sort out changing my car under the Scheme in October.
Also will I be reassessed under the old DLA criteria, or under the new PIP criteria?
Many thanks for your help.

slk69 wrote: Hi, this is my first time posting on this forum. Please can you advise me as I'm very confused?
I am 43 and have been unable to work for the past 4 years due to chronic pelvic and back pain, fibromyalgia and M.E.
I am currently on ESA in the support group, and have DLA lower rate care and higher rate mobility. I have a car on the Motability scheme.
My ESA and DLA expire mid February 2014. I'm due to change my current car under the Scheme in October 2013 as I have had it for 3 years in October. However, I think I need to have at least 6 months entitlement to DLA higher rate mobility in order to change my car.
I don't know whether to just wait and see what happens, or whether to be proactive and ask to be reassessed for DLA now, so that if successful I can sort out changing my car under the Scheme in October.
Also will I be reassessed under the old DLA criteria, or under the new PIP criteria?
Many thanks for your help.

Hi s69,

For information on how long you need on an existing HR Mobility award to lease a Motability car, you should consult Motability :

www.motability.co.uk/

With respect to your other queries, you cannot simply request a review of an existing DLA award, unless there has been a change in circumstances with regards to your care needs and/or mobility limitations.

You would be required to provide medical evidence to support this.

If you look at the chart on the link below, you will see that after the 07/10/13, claimants whose fixed term DLA award ends before 24/02/14 will be assessed under DLA criteria, and will be invited to claim PIP at a later date

Claimants whose fixed term DLA award ends after 24/02/14, will be invited to claim PIP. :

www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/timetable-for-pip-replacing-dla-slides.pdf

bro58

Thanks bro58.
Will DWP contact me before expiry in February, or will the onus be on me to reapply when my fixed term award expires?

slk69 wrote: Thanks bro58.
Will DWP contact me before expiry in February, or will the onus be on me to reapply when my fixed term award expires?

Hi s69,

They should contact you 3 to 4 months before the end of the DLA award with a DLA renewal pack. (if expiry is before 24/02/14) or an invitation to claim PIP if expiry after 24/02/14.

There is a lot of information on PIP from the links below :

PIP Claims Guide. (2nd Link on page)

Other PIP information, including PIP Self Test

PIP Topic Thread in Spotlight Area


DLA from this link :

DLA Guides

&

DLA FAQ’s

bro58