UK: Disability benefits (UC, ESA and PIP) - news and updates 2024 and 2025

[Sly Saint]

Just a reminder to those replying to this thread that it is not in a members only area and therefore public.

 

[Eleanor]

If you filled out a PIP form, what did you tick for the questions where you need to provide further information? For example, 'Are you able to cook and prepare food? - yes or no'. The answer is yes to a degree but it has an impact. I don't know whether to tick yes or no. I will be providing extra notes about the impact. Is it ok to tick neither and say please refer to additional notes?

What they're actually asking is can you do these things "safely and without difficulty", or "reliably, repeatedly, safely and in a reasonable time" (the exact wording varies between forms) - those criteria apply for every question. If the process was designed more fairly, the form would repeat those words for every question instead of just giving them once at the start.

So tick 'no', and then explain what makes it unsafe/difficult in the box that follows, or on an extra numbered sheet if you need more space.

 

[Kitty]

I am finding it depressing to have to write everything down as it is and not try and put a positive spin on it as I usually would when telling someone about it so as not to depress them!

Yeah, it is horrible. That's why I take my time over them.

 

[Kitty]

Just a reminder to those replying to this thread that it is not in a members only area and therefore public.

That's fine. It'd be a worry if people were talking about making things up or exaggerating their disability, but no one is. Just how to apply guidelines and the law the same way welfare advisers do, to make them work for disabilities they're not ideal for.

 

[MrMagoo]

>


Which ones please?

This was one of them

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6762b502ff2c870561bde779/UA-2024-001023-PIP.pdf

I use this site

pipinfo

NB this might be overwhelming if you’re not familiar with the law or PIP, for me I worked in court and had a little bit of experience, I don’t think I could have done it without that. This is welfare advisor at the CAB level work.

 

[JellyBabyKid]

This was one of them

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6762b502ff2c870561bde779/UA-2024-001023-PIP.pdf

I use this site

pipinfo

NB this might be overwhelming if you’re not familiar with the law or PIP, for me I worked in court and had a little bit of experience, I don’t think I could have done it without that. This is welfare advisor at the CAB level work.

Thank you

 

[MrMagoo]

I received my £150 winter fuel letter this weekend!

 

[Peter T]

My letter says £100, but gave no indication as to how it is calculated. Presumably having both the state pension and a work pension reduces the ammount.

 

[Kitty]

Might be useful for folk to look at how they work it out, to make sure it's based on the correct info:

Winter Fuel Payment

Winter Fuel Payment helps older people with their heating bills - claim form, how much you get, eligibility

www.gov.uk

 

[Kitty]

Ah – my letter's arrived now too. Marvellous!

 

[JellyBabyKid]

My letter arrived the day after the scheme closed last year, and had to get my MPs office to chase it up, so I have already rung the helpline.

 

[Kitty]

My letter arrived the day after the scheme closed last year, and had to get my MPs office to chase it up, so I have already rung the helpline.

It's automatic this year (except in Scotland, which has its own scheme), so as long as you qualified you'd be able to get it even if the DWP letter didn't arrive. Possibly delayed, but as there's no need to apply they couldn't disqualify you for not doing so.