Applying for PIP

[Starrrz]

Hi all!

ive applied for PIP due to my chronic illnesses flaring up and iva ehad to have lots of time off work. Unanle to work moore than i am .

ive applied, should i inform work and my drs?
i applied over 3 weeks ago and havent heard anything.
new to all this and not sure if i should be informing work and my dr.

thankyou all

There is a high chance pip will contact your gp but no reason at all to tell your employer unless you're planning on cutting hours/leaving?

PIP isn't connected to working so you don't need to tell an employer. You can claim PIP whether you can work or not.

You don't need to notify work.
And they would not contact your GP.
You will find lots of useful info on the benefits and work website. For variable conditions, chances are you'll be unsuccessful at first attempt but successful at appeal stage so bear that in mind and be determined!

@Comeonmommy ok thankyou, well no im not gonna cut down as i also do 18hrs max due to not being able to work anymore.
ok so they can inform the drs but i dont need to get get in touch with drs. Ive sent them lots of hospital letters etc. X

@FairlyNew ahh ok thankyou, ive never had help with money so wasnt too sure.
thankyou :) hopefully i can be successful with it x

@ThePartyArtist thankyou for your advice:)
oo ok! Ill make sure i push! Ive been like this for 4 years and im struggling with being unable to work more. X

When my health declined last year I had my GP write me a statement stating the state of my health and how it had rapidly declined and the consultant I was under and what they had reported to my GP from MRI scans. Also what medications I am on, BMI, weight, height and BP. You will need independent evidence because they really don't believe any words a person says without it. It's hard to get. Since the telephone assessments they don't see you so I think it's worse. Could you ask your GP for a short report because they will believe your GP? I paid £45 for my report but very well worth it because I was awarded lower level daily care and higher level mobility. I was in a wheelchair for a while until new medication started to work.

Without my GP confirming I was in a wheelchair on a telephone assessment I'd have had no way of proving it.

@caringcarer i was thinking of asking my dr as im speaking to him on friday regarding my medication. I will ask him that, i would pay that because i need him to explain how much i suffer! Thankyou for your help!

how long does it take for the date of your assessment to come through.? X

I got mine without having to appeal. I sent copies of all my appointments.

There's no reason to not want your GP to know I don't think.
Please be aware that PIP isn't designed to cover you for not being able to work, there's other benefits for that. PIP is designed to help cover extra expenses that you have as a disabled person. So, for example, if you use orthopaedic shoes then they'll cost you more, if you have a wheelchair then you need to pay for it, visual impairment may require extra glasses. Stuff like that. I don't mean that you have to spend it on those, but it's designed to try to level the playing field.
It's also devilishly difficult to get...

Your consultant letters should be included.

@FairlyNew i want them to contact my GP as he will tell them how much i go there and struggle. So i hope they do contact them :)
i struggle alot due to my conditions and autoimmune issues ive been diagnosed with. I lose alot of work. I have to have alot of treatmemts to get a bit of relief and i simply cant afford it.

@TomeTome ive sent lots of my hospital letters. I would say about 20 -30 could of sent more but if he contacts my gp they would send them everyhing and explain. I sent images of my heart rate hitting nearly 200 bpm when standing and my legs turning purple etc. I sent alot .x

Mine was about 7 weeks but I think the wait might be a bit longer now.

Look up the question they ask you and the points they award for each question. It will help you put down your responses in a way to match the criteria. It's helpful to state how you are and what you can do on a bad day, an average day and a good day and how often you have bad days.

Can I please ask how long you are given to reply once you received the application form? Thanks

The form is usually due back one month after you ring and order it, but then it can take 7-10 days to actually receive the form so it doesn't always leave a lot of time to get it back. You can ask for an extension if you need more time.

They only consider what you can and can't do in relation to the PIP descriptors and how many days you are affected for each descriptor.

Good luck

For many its a very long and draining process

@worldwidetravel2017 thankyou! Its such a shame as so many people suffer x

They wouldn't give it to me at the time but even since then ive had more urgent mris , more diagnoses etc...
One day il have the strength to try again but i dont have it in me right now

Not sure if your aware
But differently - if you consider yourself disabled / if you have a disability - theres a thing Called acccess to work grant
Can take 4- 5 months to sort
But they are very helpful

Only say you can do something if you can reliably do it - any day - any time of day - reliably

I think you just answer it absolutely honestly so if you can only do something 3 days in four just say that. I found PIP easier to answer than dla

@worldwidetravel2017 thankyou ao much x ill look into that :) x