Story: Chris Walker, Pitsmoor CAB
10th June will be the last day for adults to claim Disability Living Allowance (DLA) before it is replaced with PIP – Personal Independence Payment.
You can receive this benefit if you are under 65 and:
need help to look after yourself
need someone to keep an eye on you or protect you from harm
cannot walk very far before you feel pain
need guidance or support to go to unfamiliar places
DLA is paid at different levels depending on the person’s difficulties – from £20 to £134 a week.
Pitsmoor CAB is worried that the new benefit is harder to get so it is better to claim DLA before 10th June. The £20 level for people who need help for around an hour a day or cannot manage to cook a standard meal is being scrapped and it will be harder to get benefit if you need someone to keep an eye on you.
Attendance Allowance for people over 65 and DLA for people under 16 will remain as they are.
If you think you might qualify for DLA, we advise you to claim before 10th June 2013. You can ring 0800 88 22 00 for a form. Providing you send the form back by the date on the form, it will be accepted. Or you can claim on line at
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/eservice
Pitsmoor CAB can help with completing the forms or give information on the rules to help you fully explain the problems with walking or looking after yourself.
You can also ring Sheffield Adviceline on 0114 205 5055 for help.