I've decided to try to claim PIP. Anybody around tomoz to help me?

[Loopylou6]

Please it would be greatly appreciated

I Can try, you do have to be very aware how you word your answers. There are various organizations that have trained people that can help you with filling it in, so would check online in local area for benefits/welfare advice.

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/ i've used their guides which are detailed. The forum is useful and can see your not alone and aware of potential issues may face. You can find similar form guidance online, perhaps a charity related to your conditions which may give more relatable examples.

Its shit, unfair system. I went from zero points to award at tribunal, something like 60-70% cases are awarded to claimant but only around 30% take the case to court, the rest give up and I don't blame them life can be hard enough but its what DWP hope for to save £.
Admittedly the thought of having to do that all again is too much , though the tribunal panel were alright and I felt more listened to with fair questions than at my face to face assessment ( with covid its paper based with phone call )

Agree with pp, benefits and work provide invaluable guidance. Think it's about £25 to join. Best of luck.

Thank you both, I'll look into the links. I thought my form would arrive to day, but it hasn't, probably be tomoz

Citizens Advice website also has useful info on how to fill in the form:
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/

Get on to your doctors etc now before the form comes, ask each of them for a letter detailing your condition. These can take a while and need to be submitted with your form as they won't get in touch with them. Having a note of any appointments in the last year helps too.

Write your answers on paper before the form and make sure you keep a note of your answers to go over before any meetings or for filling out forms at a later date.

For the physical parts it's about what help you need for example do you have special pots/pill holders/bath aids. Do you need to set reminders on your phone etc.

Great advice so far.

Keep a photocopy of everything you send them.

Send everything Royal Mail tracked so you have proof of when and where it arrived.

Make sure you have a copy of their ATOS or CAPITA's Assessor's Report in case you need to challenge anything they have said. Expect to have to do so.

Persevere, appeal and appeal again.

Good Luck!

Get a local welfare rights organisation to help you fill out the form, your council might have one or try the CAB.

For many of the questions, the PIP claim form is more geared to physical conditions eg difficult in dressing.
If you're applying for a condition that has mental health issues as part or all of reason you're claiming, think carefully as to how you word your reply. Read the question carefully, and adjust your reply to what they are actually asking and what you can actually do given your condition.

I assisted my friend to appeal, she has very severe mental issues and always agrees with statements without thinking it through. In dressing, she doesn't ever dress appropriately and always applies layers and layers of clothing (as 'security/comfort') even in 30 degree heat she'd wear a jumper and coat and then overheat, so she does need help in dressing appropriately even though she can put clothes on. My friend always tries to appease people and supply the answer that she thinks is wanted not the actual answer (it's part of her condition) sadly she was well brought up so comes over as well spoken and intelligent. Most would have just assumed because she can physically get dressed that she doesn't have a problem with dressing - which was how she answered the lady at the original assessment, I and anyone else that knows her know we have to arrive 10 minutes before we are ready to go out to ensure she has not completely over-dressed for the weather and she needs a reminder to be sure she's remembered to pick up raincoat// hat/ brolly and wear footwear as appropriate to the occassion.

Tell them how your worst days are today my arthritis is giving me hell, dressing is painful bottoms ect things like that.

Hi everyone, thanks again for replies.
Yes I'm wanting to claim due to mental health issues. DWP have already decided after a phone call that I am unfit for work.

Yes to contacting welfare rights. Ours is through the local council.

PIP is not really about your diagnosis but how your condition affects you in relation to the PIP descriptors. So they will consider not just whether you can do something ( eg cooking a simple meal, washing and dressing yourself ) but the difficulties you have doing that . Can you do something reliably, repeatedly, within a reasonable timeframe and to an acceptable standard ? So if you can shower yourself but it takes you an hour and you are at risk of falling because you can become lightheaded and have to have another person around for safety , then you need to document all this and preferably supply medical evidence to back it up. So things like an OT assessment report showing you need a shower chair to be able to safely shower or grab rails, or evidence from your GP that you are in severe pain even walking short distances. If your condition is variable then you need to explain what happens on a good day , a bad day and how many days are bad days. You need to list any therapies and treatments you are having - physio, counselling, etc.

@Loopylou6

Hi everyone, thanks again for replies. Yes I'm wanting to claim due to mental health issues. DWP have already decided after a phone call that I am unfit for work.

Ok just seen you are claiming for mental health which is more tricky. Are you aware that PIP is not about whether you can work or not, as many people claim PIP and do work?

For mental health I would detail things like do you need prompting to cook a meal, do you need prompting to take medications, are you at risk to yourself, do you struggle to communicate to an acceptable standard with others and mix with others or does it cause you anxiety etc.

DWP have already decided after a phone call that I am unfit for work.

They vent really do that. I would be very wary of whoever told you this tbh.

Can't

@smoothchange

DWP have already decided after a phone call that I am unfit for work.

They vent really do that. I would be very wary of whoever told you this tbh.

Could be related to a different benefit like ESA or Universal credit maybe?

Could be related to a different benefit like ESA or Universal credit maybe?

It won't have any bearing on the PIP claim.

As PP, Your doctor will decide if your fit for work & supply note, for ESA/UC you'd put claim in to be assessed by DWP whether go into the Work group or Support group.

Work group are expected to have regular meeting with a work coach & do other stuff to prepare to return to work ( payment was same as if job seeker).
Support group they accept you are indeed unfit for work anytime soon & get left alone, they also get a higher rate of payment.

Its ridiculous that the work group where people aren't even medically fit to go get jobs are being penalised & expected to live on low 'motivate to work' payments that aren't designed for long term that comes with be being

DWP aren't great with MH conditions and lost case at high court for blatantly discriminating against those that may not be able to do a journey because have psychological rather than physical reasons.
They've also recently been pulled up on misinterpreting the law on the engaging with others descriptor so claiments only got 2 points not 4 and now have to repay those.

• often comes with being unwell & realistically you may well be less attractive prospect to employers too.

Have a look at www.a1benefitsupport.com you need to join via Facebook they have details on how to fill the firms and are free

Pay attention to the descriptors and answer accordingly. I don't work for the DWP but in an area where i've become very familiar with PIP.

I successfully helped my brother with epilepsy get higher rate mobility. Not managed care yet though, even after two goes 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️ I agree with others who say talk about your worst ever day. Remember if you go to an assessment centre or talk to someone on the phone, they’re judging you from the instant the call starts, they may sound friendly but they’re judging!

It's fine to talk about your worst day but you also need to explain how many days a worst day is. If on a worst day you can't get out of bed, but then on the day of your assessment you have a good day and make it to the assessment centre ( in normal times ), you are going to look like you are exaggerating your condition. So make sure you explain how many days out of the week a bad day is.

Good point.