PIP - new claim

[justdoit43]

I'm new to the forum and PIP and am hoping someone can help me understand the claim process a little better

I applied for PIP in June and had a text following week to say ATOS had received my forms, but 9 weeks later i have not heard from them or had any assessment booked. Do I need to call them or chase it up, really anxious about the whole thing and had to reduce hours at work due to condition so could really do with knowing.

@SquirrelSoShiny ok thankyou :) got my assessment this week.
just worried because i manage to work 18hrs ( at a push they will not let me :(
also hope they dont tell my worse as my manager does kerp anything to her self :( and its a private thing c

@hopelessromantic1234 did u get it ? X

I would ring them again and chase, post is so rubbish at the moment that it’s possible you e missed a letter.

Anyone get pip for cancer diagnosis?

I've got secondary breast cancer, but I'm not expected to pass any time soon. I can do everything for myself and that includes personal care.

I'm just totally knackered from my medication and all the fluid in my lung which makes be breathless.

The BCN said it's worth a shot, but I don't know. I don't fancy being interrogated on what I can and can't do!

I used to work for a large cancer charity doing PIP forms for people with cancer. PIP is not awarded based on a diagnosis, it only looks at how your illness affects you in relation to the PIP descriptors - washing and dressing yourself, mobilising, cooking a simple meal, managing your medications and treatments etc. . Some people qualify under special rules if prognosis is under 12 months but thankfully it sounds like you won't qualify on that basis. However you say you are fatigued and breathless so if those activities make you breathless and it's a struggle to do them then I think it's definitely worth applying. They should consider not only whether you can do the activity, but whether you can do it repeatedly, reliably and within a reasonable timeframe, so if breathlessness and fatigue mean that things are taking you ages, you have to keep stopping to rest etc you may well qualify. It is also important to include as much medical evidence as possible, hospital letters etc. If you are having Chemotherapy which causes side effects then also explain those. For example if you are at risk of infection and can't mix with others and need to check your temperature regularly and someone has to be with you to make sure you are ok at the times when you are particularly at risk of infection then explain all that. Good luck.

@Babyroobs wow, Thankyou so much for that really helpful and informative reply. That's really made me think about how this diagnosis is affecting my life, given the oral chemo I'm taking each day.

You are right, I've not been given a time frame to live, but equally I do have to stop tasks and rest quite regularly. At the end of my chemo
cycle, when my neutrophils are low, I'm at risk of infection and need to take my temperature regularly. M

I will get myself to my nearest Maggies centre i think, to see if they could assist.

Once again, I appreciate your helpful reply.

@Babyroobs when should i find out on the decision? X

I work full time and get it although this time around had to go to tribunal so dont let that defer you

@mrsbyers ok thankyou! Glad you get it :) do u mind me asking what conditions you have ?
i asked for my report the day after and still isnt here. Im so anxious. How long did it take to get your decision letter ? X

I had my assessment on 17/01, text to say they are awarding me pip on 29/01 and back payment hit my account 01/02. Official decision letter arrived about a week after that

@CantStandMeow oo thats good :) i had my assessment on Tuesday the 6th i hd a text an hour letter saying my assessment was sent to dwp . So hopefully on monday i get the text x

Fingers crossed for you. It was a big relief to get the text! My letter wasn't very accurate which I was surprised about but not worth the hassle of going back to them

Always check if you think the delay is unreasonable. DWP and ATOS have a habit of losing stuff. They lost all my sons additional sheets when I submitted his claim

@Happyher i rang dwp and they said it was sent on the 7th . So i hope so xx

@CantStandMeow yeah exactly, no point if it will effect you getting anything. Do u mind me asking what conditions u have ?
i have long covid , pots , endometriosis, adenomyosis, migraines and Trigeminal neuralgia. The lady didnt know anything about some of those conditions. I dont think she was a health professional. X

Can anyone share their experiences of the assessment which comes with claiming PIP? That scares me a lot.

Thanks.

@Enigma52 hi there!
i done my assessment last week, i was sooo nervous! They lady said she is t here to catch me out just to go over medication and how my conditions affect me day to day.
i got upset as talking about how rubbish it is, how ive dropped to 18 hrs a week. Its such a struggle. She wasnt saying much but listening. She said im typing all this out. Whether she wrotw the trurh who knows. Im hoping she was genuine. Because this is my 5th year with ill eas and i need helpx have u applied ? X

Assessors are all health professionals.

The assessor will just ask you questions based on what you wrote on the form. They may clarify medications, treatments etc. Assessments are still mostly being done on the phone. They may ask you about work, your day to day life, whether you can go out alone etc, how far you can walk, whether you need any aids.

@Babyroobs she asked me about symptoms . Then she said what symptoms do you get with pots then. And thats just what i described. also she asked me what each medication is for? Surely she should know what yhey are ffor x

What job do you do?

@Babyroobs admin in a home and speaking with residents about things they need from the family etc x

Oh bless you ( and I don't mean that in a patronising way😊) I've just read your conditions and they sound awful
to live with. I hope you get some payment from PIP? You deserve it!
When will you find out?

I've got secondary breast cancer and the medication I take is fairly brutal. I take it every day and I've got to try and work 5 days a week soon! So I'm
going to apply next week.

Best of luck 😊🤞

@Enigma52 im so sorry to hear that :( you should definitely apply!

also she asked me if i get bad side effects from medication! So for u , u could say yes! Stops you doing xyz!
i really hope you get it also! You deserve it 🤗
thankyou, ill keep you updated it i hear back soon.
i had my interview last Tuesday, and apprently when i rang for my report the person said around 2 weeks i should hear. I feel so nervous. X

Let's hope we both get awarded something then. Living with health conditions isn't easy and that should be recognised.

Please keep up updated.. would be good to hear how you get on 😊