PIP

[newaccountwhodis]

Hi. New to the forum and PIP and am hoping some of the forum members can help me understand the claim process a little better, I applied for PIP in early December 2022. DWP told me that Capita had received my forms on December 9th. But i have not had a phone assessment scheduled yet. So i called Capita just to make sure everything was fine with my claim. They told me this morning that my claim "is in initial review" and that they "are requesting info from my medical contacts so they can do a Paper assessment". Is this a good/bad sign that my claim will be successful?

Thank you, that's really helpful. I'm on 4 weeks so far so hopefully not too much longer! X

Oh okay, that makes sense. Do you receive a text or letter to tell you if you've been awarded before you get the money if you have? Thank you for replying. X

@mrsfeatherbottom @highlandspooce
Thank you, that makes sense. It's all a bit confusing and trying to guess everything too which I know I shouldn't but the wait is hard! 🤣 x

Sometimes.
TBH I never did. I always got the letter first. But reading this thread tells me that a lot of people get their money first - and some get a text, not a letter. They've never texted me.
I hope it isn't too much longer for you.
Shebaduke (on this thread) waited several weeks longer than everyone else, but she got a good award eventually.

Hi everyone, how are you all doing?😊
I'm new here
Made a new claim on 14th March
Had my assessment today - 1st June
(For ptsd, mixed anxiety and depression)
So I now begin the waiting game 🙏🏼

Hi. Have you had a read of the thread?
I hope it won't be too long a wait for you.

@TheShellBeach Hello, yes I've had a read. Noticed a few people who have had really long waiting times. I've spent the last couple of months waiting for things (DLA & EHCP for my DS) and still awaiting outcomes so now just another thing to add to the list😩 but it's also been nice to read some of the positive outcomes 😊

Yes, just about everybody on the thread got an award.

I got my report through the post and the person who has done the report has changed what I said and made it as though I can do a lot more things than I can and not put in when I have told her about needing help with curtains things. I dont have a good feeling now about being awarded 😩. X

@Shebaduke had a similar experience but she got her award.

I know the DWP are masters of the art of writing complete bollocks but they do still give awards, even when they write a load of BS.
They did for me, actually. So don't be despondent.

Hi everyone
I am thinking about applying for pip but the process is making me really anxious

i have ptsd and anxiety from an incident for about 7 years , I work from home as a result of the anxiety. I don’t take medication and i find it stops me able to operate properly as I have a children but I am on the waiting list for therapy (again)

I wondered what the process is? When you apply how long does it take, will they contact the GP as my gp has written a letter etc. do you always get an assessment (I struggle to tell people about myself as I can’t talk about the incident

thank you

@Lodol

Have a look at the PIP descriptors and see where you think you fit. Contact citizens advice or welfare rights at your local council and get someone experienced to help your claim.

One bit of advice would be not to say you don't take meds because you have a child to look after, that will contradict if you say you can't cook etc.

Thank you, my Gp has wrote a letter to say I am not medicating due to numerous side effects will that contract still? They make me super sick

thank you

Hi there.
Have you seen the application form yet?

You need to say how your medical conditions affect the various PIP descriptors.

For example - your depression means you need to be encouraged to get out of bed and get dressed, or it stops you from socializing.

Medication per se is irrelevant. But a clinician's letter which states that your diagnosis makes your daily life difficult could be helpful.

Have a read through this thread, by the way.
All your questions will be answered!

I know it's quite long but everything you've asked is here somewhere.

Do find a welfare rights officer to help you complete the form.

As far as times are concerned, some people got an answer within 6 weeks, and others took many months.

All of us had an assessment.

I haven’t yet, I’m not sure of the process

will they contact my Gp or do I need to send evidence? Thank you

You need to send evidence and they will contact your GP if they need to.

Hi @Lodol
I had my pip assessment last Thursday (1st June) and they did indeed quiz me about why I was not taking Medication. I had be offered sertraline in the past and declined it. I focused my response on my concern about some of the listed potential side affects. One being heart palpitations and a rarer one being suicidal thoughts. I suffer from heart palpitations on occasion when I'm anxious, and on one occasion in the past I had suicidal thoughts, so my concern was about the Medication intensifying and putting me at further risk of things I've previously been susceptible to. I also highlighted my gps advice that there was no guarantee those things wouldn't be triggered in me.

My assessment came 11 weeks after my initial application which was done online, and yesterday I received a text message from the DWP saying that they had received my assessment report, and that I'd get an outcome within 4-6weeks

I don't know how likely it is that PIP will contact your Gp but (incase they don't and then turn round and say they didn't have enough evidence) I obtained supporting letters from everyone I could (ie health and well-being coach, counsellor, citizens advise advisor) and also sent them a copy of my medical report. I kept sending evidence via the online link as and when I received it, the last piece being only 3 days before my assessment.

There is a useful pip assessment guide on turn2us, and there is also a woman @adhdcareerwoman (ADHD/CBT practioner) who makes tiktok vids about pip assessments and she gives alot of what appears to be useful advice. But i can't be 💯 sure.

But hopefully some of this may be useful for you 🤞🏽🤞🏽

Also @Lodol my counselling had not restarted at the point I made my initial application, so by way of evidence I did send pip a copy of the email confirming I was on the waiting list, and then once I got the start date I did send them the letter which detailed the amount of sessions I'd be having and how often etc

@Lodol ring up the PIP enquiry line and get a form, then you'll see what you need to fill in.

It doesn't ask you what medical conditions you have and leave it at that. It asks you how these conditions affect your ability to carry out what are called the PIP descriptors.
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/Global/Migrated_Documents/adviceguide/pip-9-table-of-activities-descriptors-and-points.pdf

I'd strongly advise you to get help from a welfare rights person at CAB, your local council (if they have one) or a similar advice agency if there is one in your area.

The PIP form looks relatively straightforward, but underpinning it is a whole raft of legislation and case law. If you're not familiar with some of it, it's easy to trip yourself up with your answers on the form.

If you can't get help locally, I've heard good things about the information and help from an organisation called Benefits and Work, but I think you have to pay about £20 to join.

Yes.
www.benefitsandwork.org.uk

I paid to join it and it was well worth it.
The advice and guidance was stellar.

Hi everyone, I just spoke to PIP and they had not awarded me anything which I'm not surprised at as the lady who did my assessment had changed most of what I said and played it down so much!
I'm going to do a MR but how long does that take and what is the process if anyone else has been through that? Thank you x

Hi - you have to do a MR before you can go to a tribunal, but it's usually a tick-box exercise for the DWP.
They often give you nothing from the MR as well, and hope that you'll give up.

Anyway - get a welfare rights adviser to help you. There is also a lot of brilliant advice on here:

https://www.benefitsandwork.org.uk