Help with new PIP claim

[Mybrowsaresisters]

I have a bad back condition that causes me significant pain constantly. It’s got to the point that I am unable to do most things without the help of my dh. I don’t work, I had to stop because I wasn’t managing it. On top of the pain I get dizziness with it and wake up several times a night with pain. I never sleep for more than 2 hours without being in pain. I’m tired, in pain and miserable. My condition is lifelong and surgery isn’t an option sadly. My only treatment is constant physio and pain medication/injections. I’m going to try and claim PIP but am almost scared to due to the awful stories of how difficult and stressful it is. I’ve put it off for ages for fear of this. I have had a look at various info online and everyone says providing evidence is the key. I’ve seen a consultant a few times but now am discharged and referred to the pain clinic as there is nothing the consultant can do.

In terms of evidence I have and can send the things below. Will this be enough or will they just reject me on lack of evidence? Is there anything else I could send?

Consultant appointment letters
Physio appointment letters
Letter from GP confirming diagnosis
X-ray/MRI reports
Pain clinic appointments

Anybody know anything about PIP that could advise? I’m happy to fill the forms in correctly, just worried that I don’t have enough evidence to help.

Surely just fill the forms out honestly, submit your not insubtantial corroborating evidence, and see how it goes. I'm not sure you can do much more than that?

It's quite stressful to apply , the form is ridiculous and asks you the same questions in different ways. All I can say is that all they are interested in is HOW THE CONDITION AFFECTS YOU . The letters etc are evidence and useful but not the main thing they concentrate on . How does the pain affect you , how does lack of sleep affect you , what kind of help do you need and what exactly does DH do for you . Saying all this I think you should apply and I hope you're successful.

Your best bet is to get an appointment at CAB with someone who is trained in filling in these forms.

You've got 2 threads about the same thing!

It’s laborious to get the form and evidence in order but it’s not difficult. After that you just wait and, depending on the outcome, you may be successful or you may decide to appeal. Again, you just have to keep making your case as well and as clearly as possible.

You DO have evidence!

When you're completing the application you've got to put yourself in the mindset of your worse day and what normal daily activities you can't do because of it. The form isn't particularly based around what evidence you do or don't have - more about what you can't and can't do.

Ring up and get the process started tomorrow and if you do get awarded anything it will be backdated to that day.

I think I posted on your other thread - useful website for helping complete the application form https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip

That is all good evidence.

Fill out the form honestly for your average day (though if something that happens less frequently has dire consequences than that does need to be mentioned as on an average day, someone needs to constantly vigilant for - for example my young adult DS2 occasionally attempts to run into a busy road but he needs supervising every single time he goes out because of this) Give lots of examples to support your statements.

I had help from Macmillan to fill in mine- I could not write at the time either, due to numerous broken bones- but they were fantastic. If you contact Citizen's Advice they will be able to help you.

The key thing is you have to answer the questions to explain how your condition affects you and your daily life- it is focussing on what you can't do, which for me really upset me as it made me realise how little I could do. It's saying how you are on your worst day if it does vary from day to day.

Its not about putting a brave face on things, it's about being brutally honest with how difficult things are for you.

There's some really helpful guidance here from Citizen's advice: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/help-with-your-claim/fill-in-form-pip/

They don't really want to see appointment letters, but you do need to list names and contact details of health professionals you've seen and when you last saw them. A list of medication, what treatments, surgeries, therapies you've had and when you were diagnosed.

The thing to remember is if you're entitled to it don't miss out, it is hard to fill in but it will be worth it for you.

Appointment letters are no good, you need to send copies of the letters that your consultants/clinics will have sent to your GP after seeing you. I think the PIP form actually states not to send appointment letters

Thanks everyone so much. I did post it in another section too but posted in chat for traffic. It’s so daunting reading online about how they reject so many or try and find ways to dumb down your struggles. I have never claimed anything in my life and always worked, I haven’t worked for 2 years now due to pain and am only just going to claim but really didn’t know if I had enough to claim. I also almost didn’t want to because it is upsetting to admit to myself that this is my life now. Reading your replies now I think I should try and get it and hope they think I qualify too. You read so many horror stories about people who genuinely should qualify for it and get refused, and it would make me feel like shit if they told me they think its normal and no impact on my daily life that I can’t even tie my own shoelaces or wash my own hair.

I can only reply honestly to the questions and see what happens. I’m spending so much money on physio and other things too so it would be a huge help to me.

It completely depends on which assessor and decision maker you get unfortunately, there’s no consistency. I’m an ambulatory wheelchair user and unable to care properly for myself, I got the forms filled in by a professional, sent about 30 pages of evidence, and was given zero points. Given low rate care PIP after doing the mandatory reconsideration (still no mobility), so went to Tribunal where I was given high rate for both care and mobility without needing to say more than hello to them.The amount of money wasted with people needing to use tribunals is shocking and never mentioned! So it is definitely worth applying but unfortunately you need to be prepared to go further than just the initial application

The website suggested above (benefits and work) is excellent but the form filling is exhausting mentally as you need to talk in detail about all the things you can't do. I fill it for my daughter. Make sure you take care of your mental health and plan nice things like phone calls with friends to chat about something other than the form. I mostly bought cake 😳
Don't just fill the tiny box given, use extra pages and don't be afraid of repeating yourself. Keywords are reliably and safely. There's an option for a personal note to be added. Myself and my mum both wrote ones about how my daughter was before she got sick- driven, focused, excelling at school, lots of extra curriculars Vs bedbound etc.
I'd also use entitled to website and see what else you may be eligible for. If you have had to give up work certain benefits can keep up your national insurance credits etc, you may get assistance with getting to appointments as well as general living allowance (Universal credit) and hopefully placed in the group where no work is required. I felt that already claiming pip made that go smoothly and the form was very similar.
This is the safety net that is there for people in exactly your position, please don't be shy to claim..

Although medical evidence of your condition is important in supporting your claim it will have no bearing on whether you are awarded PIP. The claim and assessment revolve around on how your condition affects daily life. For example, you may need help dressing but if you can do everything else on your own then you will score low.
Your application should reflect your worst day. But be aware that assessment focuses on very strict criteria.
Despite my DH having a stroke and being left with both physical and cognitive deficits he scored zero on his assessment. We chose not to appeal it but may revisit it in the future if he deteriorates further. He is unable to work and due to our financial situation does not qualify for any benefits despite working and paying into a now defunct system that favours those who have never contributed, but that’s a different subject.
Take your time completing the form and seek advice. Don’t be tempted to focus on your medical condition, you need to look at how it affects you in a day to day basis. For the next month keep a detail diary of how it compromises normal activity, so you can reference this in your answers. Obviously it has no affect on cognitive tasks so you will score zero on some of the questions but may score max on the physical activities. They will compare answers to questions. If you claim that you can follow a sat nav but can’t plan a meal it will be deemed contradictory. Physical and cognitive statements in the different sections need to compliment each other. The questions are designed to catch you out.

Also be aware that if you have an extensive social media presence they will scrutinise it. Simple posts about lunch out or a walk with the dog will flag up when they check. It may be a good idea to do a bit of deleting or change privacy settings.

It’s a tough process and PIP is not the same as a benefit. It is paid to cover the extra costs that your condition incurs. If your application doesn’t support the need for extra costs it will not be successful. It’s not awarded as income. If you can’t give examples of the extra costs your condition incurs you score zero.

Has it affected your mental health? If so mention that as well and any meds taken. be prepared to appeal, just think of the claim as a step along the way that's what I did. Appeals are the real decision makers.

Appointment letters don’t count

Just send anything like that yeah. Some of it might get ignored but I just send everything that shows I'm under a certain team. They wouldn't want a statement from your GP or anything like that. Not from you anyway. Better too much than not enough!

I hope you get the award you're hoping for.

They don't want any appointment letters, but the ones generated from appointments are important. I only had those and my repeat prescriptions list as evidence, which prove my diagnosis (even though they say this isn't necessary), pain meds and that I'm tube fed.
I do have a lot of specialist NHS input. So far I've had the initial application. I've received enhanced on both elements each time with no MR or appeals. The first review the assessor came to my home without my asking. The last one I didn't even require a phone call before being awarded. It's not always the scary sxenarios I keep reading about. Both assessors I had were lovely.

It's good to explain a worst day but you don't base all the answers on a worst day as that could be once or twice a month and PIP is awarded on how you are for the majority of days. To score points on a descriptor you need to be affected for 50% of the time and the assessors are very good at questioning on this . So best to explain if a condition is variable and explain how you are affected on the majority of days.

Dont send the originals of your medical evidence because DWP does not return them. Send scans or photocopies.

Id get an appointment with a local advice centre. They will help you with the application and what to put it in it. They'll give you an idea with how many points you'll get too.

Id start with going to the CAB for advice but then I would take their answers and elaborate on them.

I have filled out numerous PIP forms and the ones with full information have always come back with the amount that "should" be awarded.

If you can get your medical records from your GP. You might be able to get some more medical evidence from what they are holding.

Google the PIP descriptors and points awarded and see which you score on. Answer honestly for the majority of your days. If you try and say you cant do x ie use the toilet without help, and it isn't a barrier of your condition then the rest of your answers will be looked on with suspicion (in my experience only)

Are you on medication that only a GP can prescribe? That also helps.

Send in all the medical info you have. There is room on the form regarding medical appointments and future appointments.

You can also Google the government guidelines to what they have to accept as an answer. I think its something like Government guidance for PIP. This gives the framework for filling in the form.

The standard that compares you to a "healthy" person is to an acceptable manner, repeatedly, in a reasonable time and safely.

They will also lie on reports if you aren't careful so make sure you state clearly what help you get to carry out any task.
Eg my mum has severe arthritis and cant cook any more. Her assessor stated as she was a good weight (about 12 stone) she could obviously cook - my retired Dad does all the cooking and snacks.

I have a similar joint disease and cant cook - I am slightly underweight, no remark was passed about my ability to cook and I scored the points.

Repeat yourself constantly. Take each question as if its new information you are giving them. I usually type my answers out and staple to the page with my name and NI number on each page.
Give much more information than the box allows.

Keep repeating the mantra of reliability, safely, acceptable standard, reasonable time.

Know your distances. If you can walk then know exactly how far you can. Again on my mums assessment they said she could walk 25m from her car to her front door into the living room. The actual measured distance is 8m.

If you use any mobility aids let them know, including how and why you use them. Tell them about all and any help you get.

Be a through as you can and you will be ok

Its a hard and daunting process but broken down it's not too bad. Be kind to yourself as you do it as it is mentally difficult.

Sorry this is a bit muddled but was literally a brain dump of PIP info

Thanks again everyone all of your responses are so helpful and there are things I hadn’t thought of.

One question I have is about the aids I need to use. I see online that it says you need to evidence this with OT report. I haven’t ever had OT involved and have just got what I needed myself. How do I evidence this? For example I use a walking stick, I have a chair in the shower, I have a rail in the bathroom, I use heat pads like they are going out of fashion, I have had to buy a new mattress, a new armchair etc as mine were not supportive enough. But I have bought all those myself.

I don’t have any letters in my nhs app from my spine specialist, do I contact them and explain I am applying and ask if they could write me a letter or would my xray and scan results that show my diagnosis be enough?

It was all discounted by DWP when DH put in his first claim, it was about 10 years ago now. He reapplied about 18 months later after having the OT and physio for aids and adaptations. We already had a walk in shower but the OT was able to note that it was required rather than a choice, same with physio and walking stick/crutches. He had them already but they were able to confirm on paper that his assessment concluded he needed XY and Z. If you just buy them yourself you still need medical evidence that they are a requirement.

You will be asked for contact details so it won't hurt to give your specialist a heads up that you have included theirs in your form but have no specific reports to submit. "bad back" is one of those things an assessor might double check as it covers a variety of issues.

It’s about how your condition affects you. For example, they’ll ask you about whether you can wash and dress yourself. If you put, because of my back pain, I find it too painful to bend down and tie my shoes that will be a big fat 👎

Whereas, if you put because of severe back pain which lasts for xx hours a day I require someone else to tie my shoe laces. If there isn’t anyone to help me then I am not able to go outside as I can’t go out barefoot. This means that I’m unable to go and buy food.

This is fairly simplified but hopefully you get the idea.