I'm Not Sure What Category To Put This In - Pip

[emmie]

but i have a question regarding PIP, Personal Independent Payment benefit.
has anyone claimed it, or is about to, or seen the assessors and give me any tips, hints on what to say, do. I have a home assessment coming up shortly and am scared of what it entails. so if anyone knows what its all about, let me know, as i would really appreciate any help you can give me.

[emmie]

PIP is replacing DLA, Disability Living Allowance and so i have to go through this nightmare again.

[Theland]

My son is in his assessment this morning.
I have been through it too.
Don't be brave, tell them what you are really like on your worst days.
Don't walk more than you can without discomfort, as the limit for the mobility part is only 20 metres. Do less, much less.
Emphasise the help you get from friends relatives, to shop, cook, clean, laundry etc.
Best wishes. X

[Arrods]

Good advice from Theland - and don't give up.

To add to that, Mrs Arrods went to an appeals tribunal to get the higher allowance. The tribunal asked whether she really wanted to go ahead with the appeal as there was a danger that she could even end up losing the entitlement she had! This was because the tribunal had misread the length of time of her 'disablement' would you believe. (They didn't explain that at the time otherwise she would have pointed it out and continued with the appeal, so she agreed to adjourn the appeal while she reconsidered.)

She went back to the tribunal and, although it was 'scary', she won her appeal. Fortunately, she is better now and no longer needs the PIP.

Incidentally, I was watching a recent Select Committee enquiry and the DWP have apparently made changes to ensure that refusals are taken further up the line before they are actually turned down.

I wish you well and hope that the assessment ends up to your satisfaction.

[emmie]

thank you for your responses, the assessment will be at my home, and i have a welfare rights officer who is coming to listen and hopefully advise.

[emmie]

thanks Theland, it sounds nightmarish, but at least i have some support. I can't move without pain, sitting, standing or other. So walking 20 metres isn't going to happen, at least i will tell them that, i have numerous ailments not least osteo arthritis, in both knees, feet and to some extent in my hands, so life is proving difficult.

[AuntPollyGrey]

I have sat in with a few people as I volunteer. What you must not do is gloss over things and think if you can 'manage' that's ok -its not. They ask some very personal questions about your ability to perform toilet tasks and whatever you can do add a caveat that 'but it causes a huge amount of pain'. Make sure you have a list of all the Aids you have for mobility, preparing food and eating food. When asked if you can prepare a simple meal answer truthfully but if you have had accidents in the past doing this -such as cutting yourself or dropping a plate -then tell them this. If you have any anxieties about anything tell them this and how it affects you. All the assessors I've come into contact with are really nice, but they are just recording your answers, they don't make judgements, so make sure you answer questions based on the very worst day you could imagine -Good Luck!

[emmie]

Aunt Polly

thank you, very informative. I have something called bile acid malabsorbtion, which causes me untold problems with going to the loo. which has been constant for the past 19 months. I have doctors letters to prove what i say and hopefully they will take this into consideration.
i am not looking forward to it, as the last time i did this type of assessment it went to a tribunal - i won my case but left me with a massive breakdown which I haven't fully got over.

[AuntPollyGrey]

Emmie, Please try not to worry. Doctors letters are taken very seriously and what the Assessor is looking for is HOW these conditions affect your day to day life. They know you've got them but don't know how it affects you personally, so it is of utmost importance you get over to them how your conditions affect your daily life. Contrary to 'stories' they are not out their to trap you, but you must be aware that if you don't tell them all your difficulties then they can't report them. Without going into detail, my last 'sit in' was with a person who started telling the assessor all their conditions straight out of a medical book -the assessor was really kind and stopped them on a few occasions, saying, 'please tell me how it affects your day to day life.' So, like I said, think of your worst ever day and base your answers accordingly.

[jennyjoan]

I wish you well Emmie - just a line to say that a friend of mine who died two weeks ago with cancer - had to go through the PIP assessment a few years back at home too - she had the cancer. Anyway she was a big lady but they asked her could she stand on one leg. Absolutely preposterous. Just something to look out for. Good luck again.

[AuntPollyGrey]

…………..and don't forget to tell them about your anxiety and how it affects your day to day life. They take that much more seriously than they used to

[hereIam]

Good luck emmie xxx

[emmie]

Aunt Polly
i understand and will of course go through the 60 page form that i had to fill in, i kept a copy just in case

JJ
if i were to stand on one leg i would topple over. Preposterous if right.

[emmie]

that should read, is right....

[THECORBYLOON]

THELAND, you said, "Don't walk more than you can without discomfort, as the limit for the mobility part is only 20 metres."

Where does that come from? 

[emmie]

i walk with difficulty no matter the distance.

[Theland]

Their web site

[THECORBYLOON]

Do you have a link?