Disability premium & PIP

Dear Gordon,
Just panicking now- sleepness nights & knawing anxiety re transfer from DLA to PIP. Currently waiting for the dreaded decision letter.
I have previously been awarded indefinite higher rate care, lower mobility mainly due to nightime care needs. Also ESA support gp & disability premium for severely disabled.
From what I gather I'm rather expecting to be downgraded to standard care & no mobility. Might be better or worse. I can only wait & see.

But does downgrading to standard care mean I would also loose severe disability premium? I live alone so this would be a massive hit (at least £80 a week in total I think?). I wouldn't be able to afford any care or travel costs.(I live in a rural area). My rent goes up next year but housing benefit won't so I'd have to use any PIP money for this unless I can get a discretionary payment.

I'm so scared. I've already lost my home due to bedroom tax.
Thanks.

Suzie, so sorry to hear of how the changes habe and are affecting you.
Regarding the disability premium, I previously received high rate rare and low rate mobility on DLA, and this wad reflected in my housing benefit.

Since change to PIP, I am appealing no care award and have my tribunal in January. My care needs actually worsened.

I wrote to the benefits office to inform them of loss of this income from Aug 2016 and to my surprise, it is still calculated with the disability premium.
This may be due to 2 factors a) I am age 60 and b) I receive a care package from Social Services from the same Council.

Can I suggest you phone or write to the housing benefit office to get an answer from them. This may at least releive some of the anxiety of not knowing.

If all else fails, go to ser your GP and request a referral to Social Services for an assessment of your activites of daily living and/or assessment from Occupational therapist.

I hope some of this info helps you and hope that life starts moving in a more positive direction for you soon.
Best wishes standswithafist

Thanks so much standswithafist. B&W are keeping me going.

I know I'm not alone in finding the DLA to PIP 'journey' unbearable. It has brought me to my knees & I can barely function. I simply can't go through this again. Its worse than my worse fears.
The system doesn't actually seem to work, it isn't saving anymoney, 5% success rate getting people into employment. Yet constant hounding , repeated assessments & errors, hurting people & costing NHS dear.

The worse bit is the villification & being unable to take any part in society due to fear of discrimination & hate crime.

Best wishes to all Susie