Local councillor issues warning about benefit changes set to effect people receiving Disabled Living Allowance

A a local councillor has issued a warning about benefit changes set to effect people receiving Disabled Living Allowance.

Derry City and Strabane councillor Paul Gallagher said that there was mis-information being circulated surrounding the changes.

The Strabane based councillor said people should take advice before undergoing the new process.

Cllr Gallagher said: "Folks a wee bit of important information around benefits, DLA versus the new PIP. There is a lot of mis-information floating about like people using the word transfer as if it's just a matter of moving from one benefit to the other. This is wrong and it gives the impression that both are the same and it's just a case of moving over," he said.

"The PIP application is a total new and different process, assessment and scoring matrix. Most cases I've dealt with,are people are failing to meet the new criteria so it's certainly not a transfer which can give people the wrong impression and can lead them to fail if they lack the understanding and take the process for granted.

"Seek out advice before tackling this NEW process if you are on DLA and you are called forward to apply to PIP. Please share it's going to affect someone you know."

PIP (Personal Independence Payment) is the benefit that’s gradually replacing DLA (Disability Living Allowance). If you’re on DLA and are 65 or older on 20 June 2016, these changes won’t affect you (you’ll stay on DLA and you don’t need to worry about PIP).

If you’re getting DLA at the moment, you will be contacted at some time between December 2016 and December 2018 and asked to claim PIP instead. This will happen even if you have a ‘lifetime’ or ‘indefinite’ award for DLA. Current DLA claimants between the ages of 16 and 64 will be randomly selected to claim PIP.

You don’t automatically swap from one benefit to the other. You’ll get a letter in the post from the PIP Centre to tell you that your claim for DLA will end and that you’ll need to make a new claim for PIP.

Many people on DLA will qualify for PIP but it isn’t guaranteed, and it’s possible that you’ll get a different rate than you do now.

You don’t need to do anything until the PIP Centre writes to you.