Blue Badge Already - PIP?

[antelopevalley]

I already have a Blue Badge for mobility. Should it be straightforward to get PIP? I can't face a long process to get it but will apply if it will be fairly straightforward.

No idea. Why do you have a Blue Badge? They aren't equal benefits.

PIP is a bitch of a process because it takes time and you often end up arguing with the DWP, but can also be a fair bit of money when you're in need of it.

The elements you need to go through in applying for PIP can be found here: www.disabilityrightsuk.org/personal-independence-payment-pip

Sadly it doesn’t work like this at all. Your best bet is to have someone help fill in the forms, if not there is a guide you can download (I think it’s about £2) that talks you through how to answer each question. It makes you think about how to answer and include thing you may not of thought of. Keep fighting, I know it’s daunting

Its not straightforward at all. You could have lost both legs so have a blue badge, but been refused pip.

Blue badge is for access. Pip is for day to day trouble with a lot of things. Having said that its always worth a try but be prepared for a big fat no.

also expect to be turned down and have to appeal unless you can’t walk 20 meters or self propel, then you can expect to get the mobility part ok but the forms are still a pain and not simple at all

I can't walk 20 metres without a lot of pain.
If it is going to be really hard I won't bother.

You need to apply, get help with the form as it is horrible. CAB are excellent.

My recent experience of applying for PIP is that it was a big pain for two occasions and takes far too long for them to sort but IS worth it.

Applied in September last year.
Get sent a HUGE form to fill in. Have a Google there are good guides out there that will help you write the most relevant stuff and stuff you might not have thought to include. it's a pain but worth doing well. Keep a copy for yourself before sending it off!
They contact drs etc for more information.
Had an hour long phone call roughly start of May. Basically the same as the written bit hence why you keep a copy for yourself to look over. Again have a Google beforehand, which will mention what's important to mention in the phonecall e.g. that you need someone else there during the call, that it causes you stress or whatever if anything is relevant to you.
Then just under a month later I received a written decision.

They have back paid me to the start of my claim. Also I don't have to claim again for a few years, yours might be even longer although I think they are silly about this as I've often heard people with no legs or a non changing condition like downs syndrome having to keep getting confirmation every few years that they haven't miraculously recovered overnight.

No having a BB is completely unrelated to a PIP application. Apply, but it won't be the straightforward process you are hoping for. It will be the same as anyone else applying.

In my experience it can help and it won’t do any harm not to use it as evidence that you struggle with mobility

so photo copy it and include it with your application )

get a copy of your most recent prescription and include that as well

I’ve helped several people in recent years get both high rate mobility and care with no refusal .

always photo copy the form and send it recorded

if you have a prescribed wheelchair get a letter from the doctor confirming this .

lots of the questions are often the same just reworded in a different angle

keep it simple

Thanks

That’s my situation. I also got the blue badge first. Then PIP. I was lucky that both were straightforward.

I didn’t even have a diagnosis when I was first awarded PIP, (although my GP was, of course, fully aware of my grind through the diagnostic process) but I was given higher mobility rate and standard daily living immediately without quibble, based on what I could and could not do. I’ve had a series of three year awards at the same rate since.

You might as well try. You might find it’s that easy.

They didn't used to contact your consultant or doctor, you used to have to provide all of the evidence so check to see if that has changed.
You would think that being disabled and needing help or gadgets would be enough, but it isn't. Its different from DLA. You need to score enough points to qualify.
Not being able to walk 20 metres without a lot of pain will give you some points but not enough, so think about other tasks you struggle with or are unable to do. They are only interested in a small number of tasks such as getting dressed, washed, or cooking.

There is a lot of info online so you can have a look before you commit;
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/help-with-your-claim/fill-in-form-pip/

Make sure you read through the points descriptors before you do the form ( www.citizensadvice.org.uk/Global/PIP%20descriptors.pdf ) .

That will help
you understand the point of the questions, so you’ll feel orientated and be able to answer without waffling.

Yes, I do think it is worth it. Once you have phoned up for your PIP 1 form, if you are successfully awarded any money it will be backdated to that point. It is gruelling (I'm doing someone's Review at the moment), but ultimately worth it for an award.

I find the Benefits and Work website very good: up-to-date and useful. There is plenty on there for free, or you can sign up for a user guide for about £15 a year (using the discount code on the website).

Not being able to walk 20 metres without a lot of pain will give you some points but not enough, so think about other tasks you struggle with or are unable to do. They are only interested in a small number of tasks such as getting dressed, washed, or cooking.

In point of fact, not being able to walk 20 metres without significant pain is absolutely enough on it’s own to get a mobility award. It’s important to describe the pain and difficulty.

Daily care tasks should also be described as they might, separately, qualify OP for a daily living award.

Not being able to walk 20 metres without a lot of pain will give you some points but not enough

I believe that would get 10 or 12 points in the Mobility 'Moving Around' category, so enough for an award - if (big if) the OP has supporting evidence, eg a letter detailing the disability (e.g. arthritis), copies of pain med prescriptions specific to the condition, letter from GP/OT/physio, etc. A lot of it is getting the 'bundle' right.

One of the points which gets overlooked is can you do the action Reliably, repeatedly and safely
I have CP and can only walk 20m meters myself, even after resting I could not repeat the walk again in a timely manner( slow due to spasm and intense pain) and the safety part, is that I risk falling
These apply even though I use a rollator outside
I have received HRM and HRC for 25 years( previously DLA)
It's so important to use the key phrases which fit the descriptors, and to include as much evidence as you can possibly get( even if that means paying GP)
They do not contact your sources for any reason, unlike ESA, which they do.
I'd apply for the form( you can gather evidence in the meantime) and ask CAB to complete it with you, which they will.
Good luck, and if they turn you down at first. That is not the end

Watch out for the assessment. In a face to face the walk from the door to the room is often more than 20m which discounts you immediately from the high rate. Also if you don't 'look' like you are in pain they will report that. I'm not sure what they expect people to do. With any luck your evidence will be enough or you may get a phone assessment rather then face to face.

One of the points which gets overlooked is can you do the action Reliably, repeatedly and safely

This is really interesting. I'm waiting for the Scottish disability payment to open up in my area before applying. I didn't even consider being able to repeat an action.

Thanks. It is a rare condition, so there is diagnosis and proof. I did not know that about the fact to face assessments making people walk more than 20 metres without telling you. I am not faking it so wouldn't be able to do it anyway.

But I do try and hide any pain, so must remind myself not to do this.

That’s true actually. The face to face was a ridiculous set-up and I was in pain but the assessors were great and kept saying “obviously I can see you’re uncomfortable, so I won’t bother asking you about that part..” and similar. I haven’t had F2F on renewals.

They picked up on the fact I was shifting slightly in the seat; even, but no don’t try to hide it.

The PIP backlog currently is horrendous so the DWP is keen to do as much as possible 'on the papers' or over the phone. If you can supply a good bundle of evidence, and link each item to your answers, you may not even need a face-to-face assessment.

A lot of claimants are clinically vulnerable anyway, so can ask for a telephone assessment. The Equality Act 2010 applies - reasonable adjustment.

As others have said, it is absolutely worth the effort.

One benefit may unlock others, too, it's like a chain.

A relative of mine had industrial injury benefit which I think unlocked a discount on council tax which in turn unlocked something else. I may have the order wrong, but the principle is correct.

Another relative was turned down for a war pension but overturned it at tribunal so as others have said, if you are turned down at first, it's not the end.