1. The Headlines Disability Living Allowance (DLA) will be replaced for disabled people in the 16 to 65 year old age group by Personal Independence Payments (PIP). Employment & Support Allowance (ESA) will continue to replace Incapacity Benefit but there is a subtle change the method of assessment. This has not been much publicised. The way claimants appeal against decisions has also been changed

2. DLA/PIP Anyone under 16 and who were over 65 on the 8 April 2013 will continue to be paid DLA. As children approach their 16 th birthday they will need to claim PIP. All other sick and disabled people must apply or will be reassessed for PIP, those with long term DLA benefits will not be asked to reapply before April 2015. Briefly PIP is paid in two elements a daily living component and a mobility component.

3. PIP Daily Living Component Daily Living Activities: 1 Preparing food 2 Taking nutrition 3 Managing therapy or monitoring a health condition 4 Washing and bathing 5 Managing toilet needs or incontinence 6 Dressing and undressing 7 Communicating verbally 8 Reading and understanding signs, symbols and words 9 Engaging with other people face to face 10 Making budgeting decisions

4. PIP Mobility Lower rate: Planning and following journeys. Very much the same rules as DLA Higher Rate: Moving around. Very different rules than DLA but still can link to the Motability Scheme No automatic qualifications and the main way to qualify is for claimants who cannot walk more than 20 meters…

5. PIP Rates Daily living component Enhanced rate £79.15 Standard rate £53.00 Mobility component Enhanced rate £55.25 Standard rate £21.00 The same rates as DLA, but lower care is lost.

6. Employment & Support Allowance If necessary Atos assessments will go through a mandatory reconsideration The mandatory reconsideration will be undertaken by the DWP so they will have the final decision An appeal can only be made after the mandatory reconsideration

7. Appeals On decisions made on all benefits after the 28 th October 2013 there is a new way to make appeals First there is a mandatory reconsideration Only then can our clients apply for an appeal New form, the SSCS1 Appeal application made direct to the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal service John Stevens – Frontline Debt Advice