DLA to pip

[Graphista]

Currently managing this change. Have support from advisors but I'm a bit worried that their advice seems contrary to what I'm finding online and which some kind mners have given.

Ideally I'd like to see a sample of a COMPLETED form to get an idea of how much info is expected and what info/how things are worded but I'm really struggling to find one online.

Can anyone help/advise?

Contact your local CAB and they will assist you in completing the form and make sure your completed form gives the DWP the whole story of your daily life.

There is some very useful info on CAB website and there is a section especially for the transition from DLA to PIP and you can view the PIP points criteria too to see how the DWP make their decisions.

Don't have a local cab I'm out in sticks in Scotland. Have to say not found cab very useful in past but getting desperate!

Will try and find the info you describe.

I actually have someone supposedly helping with form I'm just a bit concerned they don't seem to want to include a lot of detail which seems contrary to much of the advice online

Could you ring them and get advice over the phone. Sorry if this is not helpful.

Yea sorry just looked at the page you recommended and it's very basic.

I don’t think seeing a completed form is going to be helpful because everyone’s situation is different and even forms that have less or more written on them may be awarded differently. I think it’s important to write as much as you can for each section but also look up the pip points system and it will tell you what they award points for.

(I receive pip standard rate, I requested a home assessment and was given one and was awarded first try without issue - I may have just been lucky)!

I do appreciate try responses but yea I'm not a fan of cab on benefits matters. They've massively let me down with wrong advice before (and I mean wrong not just inadequate) so I'm reluctant to take their advice

www.turn2us.org.uk/Benefit-guides/Personal-Independence-Payment-Test/What-is-the-PIP-test

@fairylea I understand what you're saying to a degree but I want to see how things are worded (I have some concerns over how my current advisor has worded some things but I'm also aware this may be due to "dumbing down" for those reading the form - which I wouldn't have thought necessary BUT the advisor is dealing with the assessors on a regular basis so maybe it is?)

"think it’s important to write as much as you can for each section" I answered the questions and she has basically "summarised" what I said but often only one or two lines? That doesn't feel sufficient to me

"but also look up the pip points system and it will tell you what they award points for" the difficulty I'm having is my claim is mainly on MH basis and as always the forms are STILL more skewed towards physical illness.

"(I receive pip standard rate, I requested a home assessment and was given one and was awarded first try without issue - I may have just been lucky)!" Glad that was the case for you. I'm very worried won't be for me. Agoraphobic so can't attend assessment but also a home assessment would be EXTREMELY problematic, gp supportive but not particularly vocal or proactive, community mental health team (which is who SHOULD be involved in my care and have the most knowledge) have let me down massively and I'm currently somewhat in limbo with them.

Have a look at benefits and work www.benefitsandwork.co.uk you have to pay for subs but it’s worth it. You need to go into great detail on the forms and match up what your writing with the descriptors otherwise you won’t score any points. Do you have medical evidence? You need to send everything- you can obtain drs notes under Gdpr which would have previous medical letters.

One or two lines for may be iknif they are succinct and fit the descriptors exactly but I’d be surprised. Can you give an example?

Rethink used to do a guide that was specifically aimed at mental health. I can’t think of what it was called but it went through the descriptors gave examples and so on.

I applied for DS2 (ASD) earlier this year.

I went into quite a lot of detail for each section, using the website that baldpate linked to.

I added quite a few continuation sheets as there wasn't enough space in the boxes.

DS2 was given a home assessment without me even requesting one. It surprised me because my DS1 had to go to an assessment centre when he applied a couple of years before.

Baldpate I've been avoiding subscribing to that service as I'm reluctant to spend at a time when I could soon face losing income but I'm beginning to think it's an investment!

I don't really want to give a verbatim example as too identifying but I could perhaps describe roughly? Or pm?

Rough description. The question about eating and drinking

'I have little appetite it is difficult to get out of bed to get food, I only eat once daily as I do not feel hungry and it's too hard'

Not only feels not enough info but the info given in my opinion massively downplays the issues (which are that I almost completely lack motivation to eat as I'm so depressed and even getting out of bed/leaving bedroom makes me anxious). It's also physically painful/difficult because of the physical condition which isn't even mentioned

I'm looking through rethink guide now and I'm now getting VERY concerned I'm not getting the right advice!! Yet I'm using the same agency I've used in the past for help with benefits claims and who served me well - but it has been several years. Seems the service has deteriorated!

"I went into quite a lot of detail for each section, using the website that baldpate linked to.

I added quite a few continuation sheets as there wasn't enough space in the boxes." My advisor has left some boxes completely blank!

Your second paragraph is better there is no where near enough info in the advisors words. The dwp will read that as Graphista eats once a day as she is not hungry at other times. Graphista can therefore eat and drink if she needs to.

You’ll score no points as there is no evidence there of the issues that prevent you from doing so and also the pain that you experience

You need to be giving examples as well - a diary is good and explain In detail why you missed meals over a week or so.

I’m not an expert but have just come out the other side of a tribunal for a relative.

Gov uk has the PIP assessors guidance in it which is enlightening if you have the time to read it.
In my experience the eating and drinking question and PIP seems to lean more to functional ability (despite what they say) so provided you can convey food to your mouth and swallow it then that’s good enough. the fact that it might be total shite that you eat and the same stuff everyday has no bearing BUT if you need encouragement and motivation or supervision to eat (or do anything) then you should say so.
They advise that you should provide as much info as you can when you make your first application rather than providing it later when you ask for a mandatory reconsideration.
75% of PIP claims that go to Appeal are subsequently awarded which is telling and I’m fairly resigned to claims being turned down at the start and then having to ask for a reconsideration etc.
If your claim is turned down always ask for the assessors transcript of the face to face assessment to help you put the reconsideration together.
Often the decision maker with their cutting and pasting of decisions will make mistakes that you can point out which helps.They should now ask if you want them to also consider your previous DLA information when deciding your claim.
I could ramble on about this but will stop now.
I have seen first hand the effect of all this on vulnerable adults and is so very frustrating.

I agree with asking for dla info to be considered alongside current information apparently the dwp are supposed to ask this when you claim pip but I’m not convinced that they do.

"The dwp will read that as Graphista eats once a day as she is not hungry at other times. Graphista can therefore eat and drink if she needs to." Yep that's how I feel it reads!

I am getting REALLY worried now! Fuck!

I NEED this persons help to physically prepare and submit the form what do I do?

The Rethink guide is good. This is the most useful CAB page:

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/appeals/how-decisions-are-made/

There's a link there to download the points and descriptors which can help you work out how to word your answers. For example, the taking nutrition (eating and drinking) question scores 4 points if you need prompting to eat regularly (whether or not you actually have this help in place).

Remember you have to be able to do things reliably - i.e. safely, as often as required, to a reasonable standard and in a reasonable time period, so you can use phrases like

'I cannot eat as often as required for my health because ...'

'I cannot safely manage my medication myself because ...'

Hope that makes sense.

If I were writing your 'eating & drinking' info on the PIP form, I would have been phrasing it along the lines of:

"My [name of the medical condition] means that I am frequently unable to eat. This is because my depression has affected my appetite to the extent that I have little or no appetite.

On a bad day I can only [describe a typical bad day]. On a better day I am only able to [describe what happens].

I need [describe whatever help/support you need/get] in order to be able to eat at all. Without this help I would [describe what happens when you have no assistance/support etc].

My [medical condition] means that I find it very difficult to access food to eat. This is because my depression affects me to such an extent that I find it difficult to motivate myself to get out of bed. Furthermore, my anxiety means that I struggle to leave my bedroom in order to get to the kitchen to prepare food.

On a bad day I [describe your worst days].... On a better day I [describe the difficulties you still encounter]

I need [describe what you need in order to be able to make it out of bed and to the kitchen].

My [medical condition] means that I suffer pain when I try to get out of bed/reach the kitchen/prepare food. This is because [describe the problems] etc

Then repeat with the description of bad days and better days.

The only blank boxes on DS2's form were the ones that definitely didn't apply to him, eg taking medication, and the one about being able to read.

I would avoid “better” and “bad” days instead write “ the majority of the time” and then describe the issues you have on your “bad day”.

Can you physically convey food to your mouth, chew and swallow? Can you cut up your own food? Do you need someone to be with you to keep try and safe when you eat? Do you lack the motivation to eat? Do you need to be encouraged to eat?

Jumping in on this thread. Had phone call with PIP people today as DS2 is changing over from DLA. Thanks everyone for any words of wisdom here.

pipinfo.net/#activities

I just had my PIP assessment today at an assessment centre.

I've got epilepsy, schizoaffective disorder, traits of borderline disorder & chronic depression.

My Occupational Therapist who I was referred to by the community mental health team attended with me.

I got help from a local disability charity (south of England) to fill in the form.
You need as much detail as possible & present everything as if it's during your worst day.
Also you need evidence from those involved in your care like clinic letters & care plans etc.

I have no idea how my assessment went, the assessor seemed pleasant enough but she could have been putting it on.

I'm just doing Flyingboy's. Fucking depressing. I got the CAB advice up and am constructing sentences in line with the criteria. They don't give enough time to complete stuff. Also I have no up to date medical evidence because if you are autistic, dyspraxic, dyslexic, have speech and language needs you have them and get on with it. He doesn't have medication as now he isn't in school his anxiety has dropped considerably and is working. But he still needs a he k of a lot of support.

Hate, hate, hate it all. Graphista. You have my utter sympathy and what he is going to do when I can no longer write or do this anymore.