To think 7.7cm x 3.7cm size boxes are a ridiculous size for the PIP review forms

[B0x3s]

Helping my daughter. Many sections have 5 lines of 7.7cmx 3.7cm space. It’s a ridiculous size for anybody to try and cram any amount of evidence in let alone those receiving a disability benefit.

If it’s a condition that requires regular hospital attendance, I have found discharge letters very useful (and assessors have told me they’re useful). Mine always list my conditions and medication as well as reason for attending hospital. In one trust I get given discharge letters from inpatient stays as well as A and E, in another trust I have to wait for A and E to send discharge summaries in post which also list tests eg x rays, injury eg broken tibia and treatment eg immobile for xx time etc.

so it’s worth making sure your trust/s give you these if they don’t already, also for follow up after routine out patient reviews.

That’s frustrating considering how hard it is to get letters from GPs. 😫Also my helpful dd ticked the no paper preference so we’ve had a fun few days trying to find things from emails etc. it’s so difficult when they’re over 18 and have conditions that make things difficult re choices, communicating in meetings, organisation etc.

It’s a whole other thread as to excacly why the fuck we have reviews for something that is obviously lifelong and sadly progressive. I find filling out the forms very depressing @B0x3sso please try and save a “treat” for yourself once theyre in the postbox. It’s a horrible thing to have to do.

Oh I will be, a very large bottle of 🍷 and a more relaxing Easter weekend with this done is my goal. This weekend has been entirely taken up by this and dd is completely overwhelmed and anxious about the whole thing.

On the app the letters sent from HCPs or summaries of visits in letter form, to your GP are often available as downloads, those are fine. Its just screen shots of encounters, conditions, investigations and prescriptions that are not as there is not enough identifying information in them.

How would she feel about you being her appointee? Obviously I don’t know your specific details but 18 is a hard age in lots of ways, even 18 yr olds (argh I can’t think of thr word) without disabilities, would struggle to deal with the PIP system.

I’m filling it out in the 1st person and under dictation from her, pulling it all together so she isn’t carrying the stress - I am! But it’s still really overwhelming for her and a nightmare. Over 18s with a shed load of conditions who ban you from everything don’t help themselves! I’m trying not to scold or lecture about keeping paperwork and communicating in appontments. The system isn’t made for young struggling new adults.

Just put ‘see attached sheet’ in the boxes and write/type on a separate sheet of paper. What I wouldn’t do is start the answer in the box and continue on a separate sheet. Some, not all, don’t bother properly reading the extra information and just make the decision on the what is directly on the form.

Definitely send the EHCP.

Some referral letters absolutely are helpful. Like so much of the evidence, it depends on the content. Some cover functional restrictions and support required and that is helpful.

The GP should not be charging for copies of notes. DD can request these from the GP but don’t delay sending the form. Copies of notes are different to letters, which they can charge for.

@itsgettingweird I suspect you completed the form before review form has changed or DS had a light tough review form.

Really! God I’m confused now. So put it all on additional sheet. I was doing half and half but don’t want to if they don’t read the rest!😭

Type all the answers on separate sheets. At the top of each sheet put the PIP page number, the question number, your DD’s name and national insurance number.

Yes, unfortunately. Personally, I wouldn’t write half the answer to a particular question on the form and half on a separate sheet. If you write all the answer to the question on the separate sheet, you force them to look at the extra sheet for that question rather than lazily only go on what is on the form. It isn’t all staff but you don’t know whose desk it will land on.

Because they don't want to be sending out loads of extra pages for those that don't need them.
Many PIP reviews forms (not the initial application) don't need a lot of additional information.

They don’t need to, the actual PIP form is fine. A whole side of A4 for each. So much easier. After 4 years you’re going to have extra evidence. Another really stupid thing is the questions that are practically the same -Do you need supporting ? What do they do and how often? Then just below- Do you need help from another person? What help do you need and how often do you need it? It’s stupid!!!!

We never send evidence with a review but do state there’s an updated consultant letter of required dated X.

Most people claiming PIP have a lifelong disability and once assessed and awarded don’t need to keep proving their condition exists and affects them x y and z way. So all they want to know is any changes and they’ll ask for evidence if that’s required.

Do you prefer nothing in the boxes and all notes clipped to the back or starting notes in the box and the majority on additional paper clipped to the back?

There are two different review types now. The light touch review is very short, just a few boxes and usually a formality for those who have conditions that will never change or will get worse. Sounds like DS2 has that one.
The other review type is more similar in length to the initial application.

I wouldn't say most but perhaps that's the nature of where I was working. Most conditions related to chronic pain, fatigue and mental health which in theory could improve.

That will be more pages though and more pages is higher postal costs.

I agree it's tedious writing the same thing several times over but from an assessment point of view I think that will be easier for the assessor rather than going backwards and forwards through the form.

You’re adding it anyway.

You are - so your postal costs will be higher.
But the DWP aren't - fewer pages sent out is lower cost.

It comes with a pre paid envelope.

Its easier all in one place, however, we cant just ignore whats written in a seperate sheet, everything reported, if clearly labeled as additional information continued from AR1/AR2/PIP2 form has to be summarised in the first section of the report in the version i write. I dont do assessments, i do paper based reports for those unsuitable for a telephone or clinic assessment. So everything im using is the submitted evidence supported with shorter calls if needed.

I’d hate your job!😅

The review forms are daft. If nothing has changed since previous assessment, you can just wirte that. We have access to old forms and reports. Or you can just write since previous assessment further decline due to ..., i now require assistance from another person as .... But otherwise just summarise it across all the boxes rather than answer the individual questions if that makes sense. The more factual and concise you are the better. Cant do this activity reliably because X Y Z, require supervisions/prompting/aids due to A B C. Please review item 1 2 3. It so much easier to understand how a person is affected day to day than a huge page of specific examples which could be a 1 time event. You can include events that support change since previous, hospitilisation, now aids, new input from services etc But concise, factual, and showing why its like this majority of days is the best way to complete them forms. If that makes sense?

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