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.

Pip is based on things you cannot do - if it's just mobility you may not qualify. Blue badges are issued by the council and is only concerned with mobility and it varies around the country as to who gets them (we were offered one for dd who has epilepsy for instance)

@antelopevalley

If it's hard I won't bother Is a silly attitude to have, it is a long form to fill out, but if you qualify you will be pleased, it's a fair bit of money for filling out a form and money you are entitled to. X

That's not true at all. OP may qualify only for the mobility element. It's highly likely someone who does will also score some points on the daily living component as well though.

This.

I was given high rate PIP (both mobility and care) as an ongoing award (no end date, light review after 10 years) with no assessment at all. They just used my form and spoke to my rheumatologist. Lots of people like me do get PIP easily first time round, we just don’t generally post about it so you only hear the horror stories. (I have lupus, Addisons, asthma etc etc, take 23 meds a day etc).

Please don’t be put off applying if you think you’re entitled to it. It makes a huge difference and is so worth it.

It's a bit of a chore but worth persevering if you think you qualify for it.
My husband helped me with mine as my brain doesn't work so well. He got a lot of help from this page https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Get-Support
I was awarded the lower rate for both elements which was incorrect so had to go through the process of appeal. Appeal failed probably because I was too ill to go to tribunal.
Next time I got called in for a face to face assessment I was awarded the higher rate for both. (My conditions hadn't changed at all)
Copy ALL the forms you fill out. I can't stress this enough.

If you take your time and be methodical you'll get through it ok. Good luck

I recommend the Benefits and Work guide, it goes through how to fill in the entire form, with examples and setting out the legal challenge. Well worth the subscription fee.

Also please do not use Fightback. They charge for their services. If you look up PIP groups on Facebook there’s one with about 66k members that is very good and the admins will message you and give you the exact same advice as fightback but completely free.

It varies hugely. I received my PIP award (indefinite higher for both components) without an assessment, based on just the form and evidence - so it can be easy. But it is often an absolute nightmare that requires going to tribunal. It would be unfair not to be upfront about that, I think.

Your diagnosis means nothing. Most of my conditions are diagnosed. I was asked what one of them was and told it's not that bad (I got a diagnosis because I was struggling) and the person who diagnosed me with that and a few other related things, is lying.

I personally wouldn't bother joining Benefits and Work. You can get a lot of the information for free elsewhere. (CAB, charities for your ondition, etc)

Agree with others about sending relevant up to date medical evidence to show the difficulties you have. My dh recently saw a rheumatologist who wrote a great letter saying he had difficulties undoing jars with lack of grip. DH is not applying for PIP but I read the letter and thought that is just the kind of Drs letter that would score someone a couple of PIP points. It's all about proving you meet the descriptors to score enough points for an award.

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.

This simply isn't true - it depends on whether you can do it reliably, repeatedly and safely. I am awarded higher rate mobility because I cannot do things safely or reliably. They are well aware of the things I can do mobility wise but they absolutely had evidence and examples from hospitals, GP and CMHT that demonstrated they were not done reliably or safely.

This simply isn't true - it depends on whether you can do it reliably, repeatedly and safely. I am awarded higher rate mobility because I cannot do things safely or reliably.

I mean it was in DH case. The paperwork stated he walked 23m from being dropped off at the pavement by the door into the office. I didn't know about the reliable, repeated and safety things otherwise I absolutely would have used it when going for the MR.

With regards to the form and a face to face assessment
Question and tricks they often do routinely are the following .

if you have mobility problem they will put you in the room that is as far away from reception as possible it will be more than 20 meters .
if you walk to the room even using a stick
they will pretty much fail you because that room is more than 20 meters away and you have just walked it .

if it’s on the phone they will ask stuff like so when you shopping to ASDA if you say you go on your own
They assume that you can get to the shop &walk around no issues with crowds and you can plan and follow a journey .

iThey will often ask you to get up on the medical bed in the assessment room
But if you do this they will pretty much fail you on being able to move from a standing to seating and then standing position ( which is one of the questions)

Other questions they often ask
do you have a pet ( in particular a dog)
if you say yes - they will assume that you can walk and plan a journey .
That you have no anxiety because you can go out on your own with your dog
That you have no problems with your mobility because you can walk a dog
They will also assume that as you must legally pick up dog shit . You can bend down , bend your knees stay balance and then pick up the Pooh
Then they will assume that you can stand up from a low bent position and straighten your knees

My advice say you have a Goldfish 😂

if they ask you if you watch tv
if you say Yes I watch Corrie
They will assume that you can sit in a chair for more than 30 mins with no discomfort.
and that you have no problems following a Tv story

So from this they will say you can sit in a chair in an office and work

if you go to the meeting and you are wearing clothes that have buttons, shoes that have laces and you are wearing make up
They will assume you have no dexterity issue with your hands .
As you can undo and do up buttons tie your laces and apply make up all with your hands

If you drive to the assessment from this they will assume that you can follow a map or a journey so no issues going out in busy areas .

If you get down to get in the car and stand up when getting out with ease . They will say no problems getting from a seated to a standing position

They will also assume that you have no issues with dexterity as you can use a steering wheel and can operate the car

If you have a small child / baby
They will assume that you can dress and undress them pick them up and carry them .

walk them to school and return ( and remember if you say you drive then you can do other stuff )

@Naurse
The 20 meter rule for mobility is the one they always try to catch people out on and as a rule they do catch plenty of people out on this.

However you are correct on being able to do stuff safely and reliably then they won’t fail you
But you need good solid evidence to back this up which is what you had.

Without that evidence you would have pretty much failed

And my niece and 2 of my friends also got it first time after I filled out the forms and I’ve also helped people who got refused it who then won it on appeal

@antelopevalley
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.

if you have a wheelchair that’s prescribed go to
any assessment with it

and remember it’s not about the diagnose
it’s how it affects your every day life
So be very descriptive about how it affects you

something like because of my illness xxx
it mean that I struggle to walk safely reliably and repeatedly. I get muscle spasms in my legs that mean I can fall over with no warning

or because of illness xxx I can’t get from a standing position to a seated position without assistance or reliably and safely
When I have tried I have fell over

Ok not these exact answers 😂but you always refer back to the illness and why it affects your ability to do XYZ

if you think of it this way it’s much easier to put the right answer on the form

@70kid Yes, that's the right approach to things. You almost have to 'learn the language' of PIP.