To feel off about asking my GP for a letter?

[someoneneededyoubree]

It's to apply for PIP. I'm in a lot of need for it, I can now barely walk with pain.

But how do I ask for a letter to support my application?

I don't know what it is exactly. I just feel like a cheeky fucker. It's like I'm directly asking him for money I feel awful!

What do I even say? The whole thing fills me with a lot of anxiousness (I don't suffer from anxiety, but for some reason, this is making me feel anxious and a little bit afraid, a bit like jumping off a diving board).

What would you do? I really need evidence so I can't not ask.

Don't be afraid to just ask. You need the evidence and it won't be the first time they've been asked. There may be information in the practise somewhere as to the procedure which will help so you know better the possible charges and wait times. As for what to say, just put similar to what you have here, if they know why you need it they can hopefully ensure to include as much relevant information as possible to help with your claim.

I won't be going any further with my claim.

They want £60 to £80 for a letter. £27 for a 'list' type of letter.

I just feel so done. I can barely provide the evidence as it is.

How can they expect anyone to pay that?!

And what's worse, I have to put my request in writing, saying what I want included. I can't make an appointment just to speak to my GP about it

You should still apply for pip as they will assess you themselves.

We never include any letters with BILs forms as they say only include what letters you already have, don't request new evidence.

OP is it worth asking the CAB for some advice? If you're unable to pay for the GP letter, perhaps there's a way around that payment? Sorry, I'm unaware of your full circumstances, so I don't know if you're able to currently work or whatever (from what you've said it seems unlikely). I feel very sorry for you, it should be an easily accessible service.

Why have they asked for a GP letter? I didnt think they were standard anymore. I helped my friend apply a few months ago and she didn't need one, just had to have an interview and stuff and months of appeals but that's a different story. Is there no way you can apply without a letter?

Reading that back it sounds snippy sorry it wasn't meant to

You don't need a letter to support a PIP application and they shouldn't ask you to provide one. You claim as usual and if they need more info they will request (and pay for) a report from your GP.
Unfortunately this is not NHS work and GP's are slowly being drowned by these type of extra requests. A charge in standard now as this has to be done outside of normal NHS working time which is already excessive. So this work is done in evenings/weekends/days off. And so is charged. I don't know any other professional that work for free when they are supposed to be off.
I don't know why you feel this means you can't progress with your application

We were told by DLA assessor that we did not have enough medical evidence to qualify and we could ask GP and consultant for letters. However we should think hard about whether we should waste these important people's time and use up vital NHS resources just to provide us with letters.

Our tribunal is next week and GP, consultant and specialist nurse all provided stacks of evidence free of charge as they were all horrified we had not been awarded it at first application.

I only sent a couple of letters I received following hospital appointments when I applied for PIP. You dont need a GP's letter. It's doubtful they'll have much to add on top of specialist treating your condition.

I'm a medical secretary in a GP surgery and you can ask for your medical records for free (this has to be supplied under GDPR) which you can include with you PIP form. A secretary can print or copy these for you. For a doctors letters you are being charged for the doctors time (although we charge £20 per letter - in the North West) so £80 does seem a bit steep.

Just to add that you do need to put the request in writing for medical records.

Are you under the hospital for treatment? If so ask your consultant for copies of the letters they send to your GP. I use these as my consultant is my main treatment provider for my condition, sees me more regularly than my GP and knows more about my condition than my GP.

I’ve never asked my GP for anything for my PIP claim.

Hi I'm a Gp receptionist our GPS are not doing letters anymore they are just giving a basic print out which lists all your health problems. Are you under a consultant if so you can ask for a copy of any letters they have sent. The price for letters Is basically because it's extra work the Gp wouldn't normally do and they charge for their time.

Sorry to hear this is proving so difficult! Have you explained it's a letter for a PIP application (as opposed to a letter needed to go on an exotic holiday for example)? The charge does seem rather steep! I agree with PP: check whether the letter is really needed and try getting a copy of your records before shelling out.

@memorial You clearly don't know many teachers if you can't think of other professionals working for free

NCpuffin are you serious? Most GP's normal working day is about 12/3 hours long. We then do remote working results and admin at home. Along with CPD in our own time.
Letters like this are not included in the GP contract that is paid for in the NHS contract. So over and above all the extra work we are already doing "unpaid".
Can you just pop into your solicitor and ask them to run you off a quick letter?
And it's not just the cost, letter requests have frankly become absurd and completely unmanageable on top of an already unmanageable clinical workload.

If you have a diagnosis letter, send a copy of that together with copies of any other letters received from your consultant. The DWP will contact either your consultant or GP if they require further information or clarification. If I remember correctly a section of the PIP form deals with allowing the DWP to do this.

www.bma.org.uk/advice/employment/gp-practices/quality-first/manage-inappropriate-workload

I'm a CAB volunteer. Even though it's not essential, it is helpful to include evidence with your application if you can, to increase the chance it will be accepted without the need to go to mandatory reconsideration / appeal. (Although the PIP form asks for your GP / consultant contact details, in practice Capita only contact them in 2% of cases).

But it doesn't have to be a GP letter. PIP is about how your condition affects your day to day living. Consider keeping a symptom diary for 2 weeks recording how your condition affects you day to day. Focus on the areas the PIP form asks about e.g. preparing food, getting dressed, bathing, moving around, etc.

Do you have a carer, a partner or friend who can write a letter about how your condition affects you?

Requesting a copy of your medical records under GDPR (ie, for free) is not a bad idea as well.

Is there a charity focused on your condition? They might be able to help with specific ideas of what to put on the form. Some charities have advice on their websites.

And could you consider going to CAB or your local welfare rights unit at the council for help with filling out the form?

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/help-with-your-claim/fill-in-form/

Just get a copy of your recent records - about 2 years should be enough.

I only sent a couple of letters I received following hospital appointments when I applied for PIP. You dont need a GP's letter. It's doubtful they'll have much to add on top of specialist treating your condition

That's the thing. I don't have anything like that.

All I have is my GP

I'm a GP. it doesn't work like that. You apply, then they send me a form to fill in and the Dwp meet the cost directly. You don't need to pay for a supporting letter, your GP will put the relevant info on the form.

Sounds like a request for GP records is your best bet, OP?

Apologies, my last response came across as a bit rude What I meant was, I only see my GP for my condition. I'm awaiting an appointment for a rheumatologist because now my condition has deteriorated so much, my GP wants to rule out anything else again.

I'm a medical secretary in a GP surgery and you can ask for your medical records for free (this has to be supplied under GDPR) which you can include with you PIP form

Would someone please advise how u go about asking for my medical records? Who do I contact, and what would they include? Would they include correspondence between health professionals about me, and discharge summaries etc?

Sounds like @laptopdisaster has the answer! That's good news OP.

I'm no expert but can you get a copy of your medical record more inexpensively? That would include details of any conditions you have been diagnosed with.