To be frantic with fear about PIP review?

[disabilitysux]

I was awarded PIP for 3 years with a review after 2. It's coming up fast and I'm terrified. I survive because of PIP and the extra Housing Benefit I get to pay the rent. I work part time.

Just so scared today because I know they will want to take it away.

OK, one of the things you have to do with the form, is not just talk about how you are with the PIP, but talk about how you would be without it.

Use the additional boxes - don't be afraid to type it out and attach separate sheets of paper, if you need more space.

Where appropriate, don't answer questions with "Yes, but... ", use "No, unless..."

So (this is just a made-up Q, I haven't checked the actual ones)
Q: Can you bath?
A: No, unless I have rested for most of the day beforehand. I currently use DLA/PIP to pay for someone to deal with cleaning the bath, so that I can rest enough to be able to bathe.

Yep, agree with the recommendation of Benefits and Work.

One of their suggestions is to keep explaining in very basic terms the way that your disabilities affect tasks.

So... "Because of the arthritis in my hands, I'm unable to dress myself without help."

They also suggest that if a thing is worth saying, it's worth saying several times. Don't be afraid to repeat yourself under multiple headings.

It is scary!! But. From what you've said, it sounds like you might even get an increase due to your worsening health. If you don't, then absolutely do appeal. Take someone with you to the assessment. If the assessor gets all pally with you, don't rise to it. They'll put down that you are amiable and 'with it'. Get all of your reports together, look up the criteria for PIP rates and write down and work out what you SHOULD be getting, then you know what points to make, and what you need to be sure that you get. Write a rough idea of what you want confirmed in writing and ask your GP to write a supporting letter. So, for example, ask for a double appointment if you can, and give them a rough outline that's relevant to you, your condition, and the criteria, "my patient cannot reasonably be expected to walk X metres without severe pain or discomfort, my patient has suffered for x long and shows no sign of improvement/has deteriorated" and so on. Accumulated pain and discomfort is something you can and should think about. So, if you yes can walk to the shop 30 metres away, but are in pain doing so - yes, you walked 30 metres, but a 'normal' person would be able to do this without any pain. If you come back from said shop and have to lie down with exhaustion, that also counts as not being able to do it. It causes too much pain and discomfort. Find all your medical reports, look through them and highlight points relevant to the criteria. Then write those points down in a list. Then write your covering letter saying, "I cannot do XYZ tasks, please see documentary evidence from doctor so and so confirming that this is consistent with my condition, and has been since insert date"

OP my partner had the same, when first applied for PIP from DLA, was awarded the lower amount, went to appeal and was awarded the higher for 3 years. Had an assessment after 2 years, was dropped back down to the lower amount. Asked for a reconsideration, decision not changed, so asked for an appeal. Before he was given a date for appeal the DWP called and said they had changed their minds and were putting him back up to the higher amount. Again, he has disability that only gets worse will never get better. It's so frustrating as the appeal process is stressful so I'm sure there are many people that don't bother, or are unable to cope with the stress. They did stop his award as soon as he had had the assement, but he got it all back when they changed their decision. It's hard and such an anxious time but make sure you get support and take it all the way if you have to. Good luck

Marking place, as I'm waiting for my form in the post.

A PP made a good point about the "brave face". I've been advised to answer the questions as if I'm on a "bad day" iyswim?

Seconding what mygorgeous said, the questions actually mean "Can you do X safely, repeated within a reasonable time, and without making your condition worse."

(I think Benefits and Work will give you the exact legal wording, but that's the gist.)

So answer the Qs as meaning that, not as "Can you do X at all."

Also, at the risk of being called a scaremongering dickhead or whatever it was, my personal experience has been that they actually stopped the award before informing me.

The letter came some days afterwards. It was just chance that it didn't cause direct debits to bounce before I realised.

This happened a few years ago, so it MAY HAVE CHANGED. So DON'T PANIC, but do check your account regularly after the assessment until you see the payment going in or get the letter confirming the award.

This will keep you abreast of things and you can immediately put in a new claim for the stopped Housing Benefit if necessary.

I'm sorry, it's all such hard work when you're least able to do it, isn't it?

Got PIP after tribunal then have had to go to a PIP review went to the DWP went to descion maker could not come agree so they sent it to the judge am confused why have they done that

@playonwurtz, I am seriously ill and didn’t get the correct award. I had to start the appeal process before they closed the appeal and gave me the correct award. I was moving on to PIP from DLA where I had no problems.

There is no doubt that there is an increase in incorrect decisions taking place, so it is not scaremongering. However, many do get the correct award so it’s not a given you won’t get it op. And also as you know, if you do not get the correct award, do appeal as success rate of appeal is high.

I sent my form back in dec. have a letter from my psychologist saying it would be detrimental to my mental health to go through F2F assessment.

If the send me for one I really don’t know if I would even go. It’s an awful system. Surely medical evidence should be enough instead of torturing people.

Good luck op, I hope your review goes in your favour.

I feel for you op I've sent my renewal form away this month and I'm dreading being dragged to a face to face

Hi. Ok. First thing, try not to worry. I know that's easier said than done and it's no help. You say you know they're going to take it off you - you know nothing of the sort. It's natural to be worried, honestly I understand. But things could go well. Reviews take months. You could worry yourself for months and it all be for nothing. Or, if it is bad news, youlll be in no position to fight it. The best thing to do is look after you. Eat, socialise, try and try not to worry. Worrying will not help anything. If you look after yourself, you'll be better placed if you do need to fight things.

If you do get disallowed at review, it stops right then.

How far into the process are you? I work with PIP and deal with queries daily. I know it's a frustrating and frightening system, and I'm more than happy to help. If you want to PM me with details I'll help however I can and give any advice I can.

The important thing is to get evidence. I don't know if you've done the review form, but either way it's all based on now. Any evidence from the time of your original claim won't be counted. I understand if you'll have this condition for life, but you still need evidence. You need to show that your condition affects your daily life in xyz way. The more evidence the better. They includes letters, reports, prescriptiond etc, you can't send too much.

In terms of the address to send it to. Ring up and ask them, there's different ones depending on where you live. Id have a look for you but I'm off til next Tuesday and really it's best to send stuff asap.

PM me if you like

I had my pip assessment just over a week ago, I have spinabiffida and now have arthritis in my spine all confirmed by mri scan I was awarded the standard rate of daily living allowance but nothing for mobility as I can walk at a slow pace with a walking stick for around 2 minutes before I have to rest because of pain, their words I walk at a slow pace with an altered gait, I also have been on meds for 6 years for anxiety but they was at all interested in this, but what gets me is on my award letter it stated I looked well wasn't anxious and looked well kept, but I was very tense and was visibly shaking because of my anxiety, but I'm angry as I feel they have labled people with anxiety and disability as dirty people, are we supposed to be unclean because of anxiety or disability.