Appointeeship

I'm looking for guidance as to whether I could/should become my son's appointee for PIP (renewal claim submitted in June, still waiting for a response). There is very little information out there and I'm not sure whether he fits the DWP brief of needing to be "mentally incapable or severely disabled".

He is 21 and is housebound apart from medical appointments, as he has CFS/ME, PoTS and chronic migraine. I always fill in his DWP claim forms (this time he just signed as he wasn't able to read it) and deal with all admin on his behalf (including unofficially managing his bank account).

Whilst he is mentally capable of managing his affairs in theory, he tires extremely quickly and can only manage phone appointments in around 20 minute sessions. He presents as initially very articulate and competent but assessors will not see that it will take him days to a week to recover from any interaction.

He is very keen to do the right thing and does not want to claim for anything to which he is not entitled - including having an appointee. My fear is that a full-blown PIP assessment would be detrimental to his health (we have only had phone assessments so far) and that, if need be, he would not cope with any appeals process.

Any thoughts? Thank you ...

Thank you. My problem is that there is very little information out there on this and it is unclear to me what the DWP thinks might qualify as "severely disabled" and I was wondering if anyone had any direct experience of this that might help.

Jen

Thank you. He got higher rate on both daily living and mobility last time so surely would qualify BUT can present as highly able for short periods of time. I would like to start looking at ESA for him but I'm feeling constricted by not being able to act alone for him. He is happy for me to be his appointee but only if it is the right thing to do. Any refusal of application would be likely to put him off applying for stuff to which he is entitled ...

When you apply they will interview you and your son to check that the arrangement is suitable, so you will be told if it’s not the right thing to do. I have been appointee for my daughter since she turned 16, and I recall the interview being fairly brief and informal. If you’re already completing all your son’s applications for him and he can’t do it himself that’s a good sign that being an appointee is appropriate.