PIP application

[sunshine5997]

My neighbour suggests he needs to apply for a PIP payment, he asked me to help as he isn't sure.. neither am I!!
What's the process please?

Phone for an application form, which he needs to complete as honestly as possible citing 'on my bad days I can do xyz'. Send it off and wait for an appointment. At the appointment they go through everything him, be be warned they will turn everything against him if they can. Then wait for the decision. Appeal if necessary.

Be warned it is a gruelling process, and is very hard on you mentally.

He needs to have had care needs/ difficulties for at least 3 months and expect them to last for another nine months. PIP looks at the difficulties you have with eating and drinking, cooking a meal, washing and dressing, budgeting, communicating, managing medications and therapies, getting around and how far you can walk. it's not a quick process and can take months to get a decision. There is a 60 page booklet/ questionnaire to complete then usually an assessment unless he can supply overwhelming medical evidence of difficulties in relation to the descriptors.

There's no point him just describing a bad day without explaining how many days are bad days. If he only describes a bad day then on the day of the assessment he is having a good day, he isn't going to be believed unless he describes how his condition varies. If he is applying for mental health issues I would advise maybe getting a charity or CAB adviser to help with the form.

There's lots of info online, but he needs to need quite a lot of help in specific areas. There's a guide online to help people decide if they are likely to be eligible

A large number of people who later get PIP are originally refused - something like 80% of people who appeal to tribunal win the case. If he needs help applying then he could go to Citizens Advice - they are helping fill out these forms on a daily basis so will be able to help him complete it and advise what best to put in his circumstances.

I helped a friend apply for PIP for their DC when the DC turned 16. (The DC had been on DLA since infancy, but at 16 that is stopped and they are told to apply for PIP.)

It took days of intensive research, collating documents and reports, and typing up and printing off the answers. (There's not enough space on the form.)

The Benefits and Work website was extremely useful.

This DC was assessed on paper only because of the severity and type of disabilities. Otherwise you/neighbour can ask for a home visit if travelling to an assessment centre isn't possible, but you have to give reasons.

The whole thing was fucking horrendous. I wouldn't do it at that level of intensity again for anyone other than a very close friend. I'd direct them to a charity, although how do charity staff have the time? Awful system, just awful.

Google to see if there are any charities that help people with whatever condition he has as they may offer help. They will know what needs to be said where. You want to help him as much as possible. If you say the wrong thing it could make him not get his money as there are ins and outs of these things we regular people don’t understand as we dont work at the benefits place. He needs professional help sadly. You can help him find it or go down the CAB.

I help a lot of people to complete PIP forms ( charity ). We allow a one and a half hour appointment. Most get awards with the correct medical evidence supplied.

It is mainly based on the face to face assessment anyway.