Not sure where to put this, so placing it in familliar stomping ground for traffic...DLA to PIP.

[OrangeIsTheNewPop]

So...The Dreaded Letter came through.

I was awarded indefinite DLA about 1000 years ago. Now it's our postcode's turn for The Big Swap.

That 40 page form is horrendous! Also feeling crappy because I'm so independent, and it was headfucking to document- especially in front of DH (he filled it out for me) exactly how much help I need... we usually take the piss out of it (Oh, Orange could get lost in an alleyway, etc). Mentally draining.

Anyway, that's the "woe is me" shite over. Is anyone else in limbo atm? Can anyone give me positive stories about the process? And a ballpark timeline, please? I have all documentation to send off today- how long before the ball starts rolling? (Need to know so I don't trip up over it 😂😂).

What happens now?

Ps, I'm an absolute SWINE for unintentionally drip-feeding, so feel free to flame. Happy to give details etc.

[AllRoadsLeadBackToRadley]

Oops...timeline.

Two months ago- letter received inviting me to claim.

Two weeks to fill out form.

A week after I'd sent it back, they called offering me a "short notice" appointment- I get the impression thar they do this whwn someone cancels (maybe they offer it to the next person on the list?)

F2f five days later.

Last Tuesday- report received by DWP.

Saturday just gone- decision made, letter sent out 2nd class (not received as of today).

Also, if you request a copy of the report, you can "guess" whether it's a yes or a no, and how much, a little earlier. I went onto a PIP self test site, and input (inputted?) the same answers as the assessor ticked on the report. That's how I came up with the points number.

[AllRoadsLeadBackToRadley]

Update...

I received a copy of my report in the mail. The assessor waa very honest- even noted down that I was chain smoking due to nerves!

I've been badgering the DWP twice a week since my assessment. Even though my f2f was almost two months ago, they only received my report last week!

Anyway- I got it. Enhanced both. 19 points on care, 12 on mobility. This is with minimal "evidence" too. So there is hope.

I also asked about when I'd be paid. God it sounds complicated! I'm due in three weeks (paid last week). I'll get that as usual- plus ANOTHER payment on the 28th. Apparabtly I'm "owed" this due to the closing down of my DLA (nope, I don't get it either!). Then my PIP will kick in in August.

I don't want this thread to die. I obviously filled out the form in the "correct" way, somehow- so I now want to help others do the same.

[TheMonkeyAndThePlywoodViolin]

Often to be turned down for no reason too.

[TheMonkeyAndThePlywoodViolin]

This process is such a joke.
DD is still.on DLA but the last form took me months and already dread the next one in 4 years time. She has severe non verbal autism.

And people wonder why Tory voters can get a hostile reception on here? The hoops they are making people jump through are obscene.

[AllRoadsLeadBackToRadley]

I hear you.

[Akire]

No I can't talk on the phone anyway and it's to much faff getting someone else to do it. Last time carer did but I had to press hash key at various intervals to agree to her talking to them. Like what's point? If it wasn't me that's not any kind of security measure!!

It just be way to stressful I
Know I'm getting paid in 3 weeks so if any more it be bonus.

[AllRoadsLeadBackToRadley]

Did you manage to find out?

Mine is apparantly still wirh Capita, and will be sent over this week back to DWP.

[Akire]

Thanks. Still No clearly on if I just miss 3 weeks though, next months going be very tight!

[AllRoadsLeadBackToRadley]

What fab news!

I've just come back from a short break, so will call them tomorrow for an update.

[Akire]

FOUbd out today got my Pip! Was on med care -high mobility and got enhanced for both now. So so relieved. They give you the questions and what they graded you on so washing dressing is out of 8 and they say we have you 4. So easy to see where points are from.

Though am confused not payments as go DLA this week, due in 4 but says PIP due in 7 when it says it will be paid for previous 4 weeks. So hoping a get a smaller DLA payment for the 3 misssing weeks. As I'm sure DLA is already paid In arrears as it is. They did say something about getting one more on transfer if you were successful on transfer but nothing Ina ward letter.

Knowing DWP sent me out another letter saying DLA will stop x date. I was suprised that didn't have to fight hope everyone gets good results soon.

[JoffreyBaratheon]

Husband had face to face this week.

She asked a few questions that let's just say I could see where she was going.

"Do you use the internet?"

He said he did, a bit. So that will come out as "Has no difficulty communicating"...

VERY longspeech at the start designed to stop people thumping her. Pointing out she is not the Decision Maker, etc, just writing down the info. (The same info we already gave them on the forms).

She wasn't too much of a dick but I know the ones where people come out saying "They were lovely!" - the victims usually end up being stitched up the most. She was typing a lot, and did go back and add in things he'd said earlier that were relevant, but she didn't read back what she was writing.

She knew upfront he was hearing impaired but still spoke a mile a minute (I told her to slow down. She didn't).

It was held in this nice, new, NHS clinic thing - total waste of public money. Can't imagine what that's costing them to rent.

She said 6 - 8 weeks presumably before he's given the 'Dear John' letter.

If we weren't going through some other major shit in life at the moment, that would hae been horrendous but on the current scale of things - barely a blip.

She said she was a nurse. OK for husband, I guess but that would have been utterly inappropriate for son with autism.

[Akire]

How are we all doing?

[Akire]

Had letter today thought looked promising but just from mobility scheme saying they exist. Love to get one but I would need to put down large deposit for wheelchair accessible van and pay lot adaptions to drive. Kind of defeats object when mobility only caters for very low adaptions or relies on you having 10-15k to pay.

I know they do loans but very strict now have to need car for work or education or urgent medical appointments so unless I win lotto never be in position to save! Plus UC and housing all consider savings over 6k so even if I was half wa saving towards it they deduct it off other benefits!

[AllRoadsLeadBackToRadley]

No worries! Sorry I've been a bit quiet- Mumsnet Mobile was SERIOUSLY playing up on my phone yesterday.

If you need a "catching out" session- ie, picking apart ecerything you say and prepping answers, I'm happy to help. DH did this for me the other day. I hated him for about an hour afterwards- but, boy, was I prepared!

I called the DWP yesterday and asked for a copy of the report when they received it. When that arrives, I'll share bits of it. I'm lucky- a photographic memory allows me to recall every word of what I/she said without even referring to notes, so it will be an interesting comparison!

[NurseyBernard]

Thank you AllRoads I will have a read through later.

[AllRoadsLeadBackToRadley]

www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-assessment-guide-for-assessment-providers

I've been trying to post this all day- is Mumsnet broken?

[NurseyBernard]

AllRoads I would be interested in the PDF guidelines please, if you could point me in the right direction I would be grateful.

We have been granted a home assessment for my son who is moving from DLA to PIP as he turned 16 in February. I'm not even sure if he will speak to assessor, what happens if he doesn't does anybody know?

[Groovee]

I was 17 days after my F2F getting my award. I opened it and couldn't believe the new award as I expected nothing.

[AllRoadsLeadBackToRadley]

It stank in our stairwell too. Try not to worry- ours didn't even react!

[HelenaDove]

It was bloody overpowering I could smell it as soon as i got back from doing the grocery shop.

Even with all the rain.

[HelenaDove]

About turn today and we have been granted a home assessment.

Just have to wait for a letter to confirm.


In other news i came home to the stench of the neighbours weed.

I hope they wont be thinking its us. We dont even drink, We are both teetotal Ive never been drunk and DH had his last drink in the 1970s.
Drugs have never interested us. We are willing to undergo hair tests if necessary.

[JoffreyBaratheon]

Wanking, they're so inefficient they drag their heels whether it's a yea or a nay. In fact, IIRC, my husband being turned down flat took even longer than my son getting Enhanced, at the relevant stages.

[AllRoadsLeadBackToRadley]

There's a list floating about somewhere ehich details conditions which would be offered a home visit. VI was one of them- but so were things likr anxiety, dementia, ED, (off the top of my head). I'll try to find a link.

Also floating around is a pdf with guidelines for assessors. Amazon Bastard Kindle won't read it out to me for some reason, so I don't know how good it is- but I could pass the pdf on if someone can tell me how to do it?

For those of you who are In Limbo now, like me- I'm trying to deal with it by thinking that there's nothing I can do now. I've mentally "handed it over" and for the last two nights I've slept better than I have since the beginning of April.

I will bug call the DWP every Monday. I don't care how snotty they get with me.

Is anyone in the middle of filling out their forms? I'm far from an expert- but I eill help in any way I can. I've had to do a shitload of research, and, although a big part of that has been about PIP fot VI people, a lot of other stuff has been soaked up too. And you'll be keeping me distracted 😂

[Akire]

I got home visit after GP report so
Hopefully yours will do the same. Ring up and point out their error given 2 days isn't enough time for
Doctors to write back and for
Them to Give it their considered response.
I didn't have to fight for mine I was
Really suprised.

[WankingMonkey]

Thank you Unweave. Six DAYS? Fuck a moose!

When I was denied ESA it took 6 days for them to tell me that.

A cynical side of me thinks if you are going to be denied they would tell you sooner where if it is increased or continued payments then it takes longer...

Which makes me a bit hopeful for my recent assessment which was 3 weeks ago now and I have heard nothing yet...