PIP Appication -

[heavenlypink]

Hello

My son currently receives DLA and I am (already) his appointee for this benefit. Last week I received the letter 'inviting' me to apply for PIP. After 20 minutes on the phone the form arrived this week. Can anyone advise how I fill this in (as in) do I fill it in as though my son is filling it in and say "I need help with ..." Or do I fill it is as his carer and say "P needs help with ...." and when it comes to signing the form is it me or him that signs it?

Also any advice/tips on actually filling it in, wording etc. My son has epilepsy, which has been a little haywire for the last 5 month, mild/moderate learning disabilities and Neurofibromatosis (NF1) which kind of explains everything! He is also currently undergoing an assessment for an EHC Plan - he did previously have a statement but slipped through the net in the change over period.

I have until 7 November to return the form - is it usually easy to get extensions to the deadline?

Hi, I'm not dd's appointee, but I filled in the form as me talking about dd. That way they knew dd was incapable of filling out the form herself. I think I signed the form then got dd to sign it also. Why do you need an extension to the deadline? - I found this form much quicker to fill in than the DLA form.

Good luck.

Thanks for your advice - my DS is 18 but form filling in is way beyond him

I'm wondering if an extension might be 'helpful' in order for me to include up to date letters - paed appointment next week, and also reports from the Ed Psych - who we are seeing during half term and she is also visiting college after the break

Tbh I didn't have much in the way of letters/reports for dd. She doesn't have a formal dx yet as such, yet she was awarded enhanced rate for daily living, nothing for mobility but we're going to appeal. I've been given this link on another thread - well worth a look, will definitely help you.

link

I'll take a good look through. I know from what I've read elsewhere it is all about how you word it and once I get my head round it I should be fine

Thanks again

It is quite easy to get an extension. You just phone up and say you need more time and they will give another two weeks. I think they understand that it's not straightforward and takes a lot of thought to come up with suitable answers, plus people work and (surprise!) have disabled kids to look after, so they are generally quite reasonable.

This is a useful guide to the way DWP works out the points entitlement for your application. You should form your answers around these to make sure you get the points you need.

Where an activity takes a long time, they will only award points if it takes twice as long as would be expected for someone without a disability, so emphasise how long tasks take and point out that it's longer than should be. Add in factors that can increase time - eg for cooking, my son's hypermobility means it hurts to cut up ingredients so he has to take breaks to recover. Sensitive eyes mean he has to wear swim goggles so they don't hurt (this counts as 'aids or applicances') but they still don't stop the sensitivity. Write as much as is necessary - don't assume they will understand or be familiar with the condition. You will need to describe precisely what factors of the condition prevent the task being carried out efficiently and to a reasonable standard.

If there is medication involved, write about factors such as having to medicate around food and any practical problems this might bring. Taking meds can cause considerable disruption to a person's day so make sure this is understood, especially if there are organisational issues to consider (eg with ADHD) and how much support is needed for day to day personal care.

Thanks I really appreciate any advice

I have done 3 (maybe 4) DLA forms over the years but this seems like a whole new ball game

I think as a parent you just become so used to your life being "different" that you just accept things and get on with it. Also as his difficulties centre on his learning disability it's really all aspects of day to day living that are effected to one degree or another but trying to explain it is hard.

At least with an extension I will hopefully have up to date info off the Ed Psych and can highlight some of her findings

You can state in Additional Information that you are awaiting updated reports from the EP and you will forward them when able. They may well make a decision without them, just in the knowledge that it is available, iykwim.

Another couple of questions .....

So for the professionals best placed to give advice, naturally putting paediatrician, should I put Educational Psychologist (meeting her for the first time next week) or college tutor who will have access to two years worth of information? Also I have met the specialist nurse concerned with his genetic condition but she has never met my DS. Would this be frowned upon and should I name the doctor he last saw instead?

Sorry if I'm being stupid and naive here Really wish I had a magic wand and/or a time machine

Bear in mind that the DWP know you are the parent of a 16 year old with a disability - they will expect that you are the main point of contact between them and the medical professionals who are involved in their treatment, so I would definitely include the specialist nurse. I always write an accompanying list of any enclosures and I'd write there that the nurse hasn't met him yet but you have liaised by phone or whatever. Then it's up to them whether or not they accept it.

Also, you don't have to limit yourself to two or three professionals. When I did my friend's earlier this year I listed every one he saw because they are all relevant. The DWP rarely contact them directly anyway unless there are doubts, but if you have written evidence they won't need to.

Don't forget the standard issue wine and chocolate that you use while doing child DLA forms. It's really not possible to do these things without them .

Too right QueenStreaky .... Only done my basic read through ticking boxes and I'm rewarding myself with a large Bailey's later

Thanks again