Hi, I'm Kbyles! Looking for advice, 0 points in initial PIP decision.

Kbyles

Good morning, Need a bit of advice. I applied for pip and been waiting a decision. Received a letter the pip award was declined and I received no points. I have a nerve sheath tumour and have been waiting for op for over a year, with Covid etc this has been ongoing. I also had a bit of a heart scare in oct and this has prolonged the op. I have been unable to walk or leave my house for over 2 years. I have unbelievable pain and the use of the leg is next to nothing. I have all diagnosis and had the telephone consultation and explained that my daughter and sister have been aiding me and doing everything for me for this time. I unable to walk freely around the house and not able to bath cook or clean myself. I am majority of the time led on sofa with leg elevated. I did get severely depressed with my situation in October and made a decision (which I’m sure you can what that was) I lost my job in October due to sickness I was working from home as OT at work made a decision to let me work from home for 3 years but due to sickness I was unfortunately let go. The decision today has hit me for six as not 1 point I do not know where to go next… pls give me some advice on this!! I had a feeling I wouldn’t be awarded as the telephone assessment lady stated “sounds like you just need money” she has disregarded nearly all of what I expressed to her and I feel like she has basically said I’m a liar. 

poppy123456

You can challenge that decision by first requesting the Mandatory Reconsideration. (MR) You should put this is writing stating where you think you should have scored those points and your reasons why. You have 1 month from the date of the decision to request this. With good reason if you're over this time then you do have 13 months but you need to tell them why you didnt request it within the first month. See link. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/appeals/mandatory-reconsideration-pip/

The most likely outcome of any MR is the decision remains the same because only about 23% of decisions change at this stage. If this happens you can proceed to Tribunal. Timescales for MR decisions is up to about 12 weeks.

Kbyles

Thank you. It’s so Much stress even being in this position my life has changed drastically and to have to do all this after months of waiting is a drain. But I will make the appeal and go to tribunal if need be. Just a lot when already down 😞

Cher_Alumni

@Kbyles Hello there and a warm welcome to our online community, I'm so sorry the initial PIP decision came back unsuccessful - you have our sympathy!

The process can add a layer of stress onto existing struggles, and I'd recommend you get as much support as possible as you move onto requesting a mandatory reconsideration - both from a welfare representative who you can find on the Advice Local website and your GP if you believe the situation is worsening your low mood. 

I appreciate it's hard, but I wondered if you could explain a little more about this decision:

I did get severely depressed with my situation in October and made a decision (which I’m sure you can what that was)

If you wish to speak privately with us about it, then please do email community@scope.org.uk so we can try and support you the best we can    

Please lean on us throughout this journey and know you can ask any questions so you don't worry unnecessarily. 

Just to let you know, I've amended the title of your thread and moved it to our PIP, DLA and AA category to help others find it and respond. Take care and best wishes.

Kbyles

I got so depressed with my situation that I chose to make a decision on living. Ended up in hospital for few days! 

durhamjaide2001

I'm not surprised after the situation that you have been in. 

nasturtium

Hello Kbyles

Like Poppy advised you need to now move onto a MR and put that in writing. You need to understand what each activity is about and explain whay you cannot do that activity according to the descriptors. You need to be able to complete activity reliably. You can get more information about the very important word "Reliably" here https://pipinfo.net/issues/reliably You need to be able to do all four of the reliably criterias to be able to complete an activity and score zero points. So if you cannot complete all four criterias then you should score PIP pionts but remember you need to explain why you cannot do that activity safely or repeatedly etc according to an applicable descriptor. You can find the descriptors here https://pipinfo.net/#activities

I have all diagnosis and had the telephone consultation and explained that my daughter and sister have been aiding me and doing everything for me for this time.

You can request a letter from both your daughter and sister to help backup your MR letter and claim. They will need to explain how they know you, how long they see you each week and what help you need and why you need that help. Also ask them to explain in detail why you need that help and what would happen to you if you did not have that help. Remember the word "reliably" and the for criterias you need to be able to complete. This would be good supporting evidence for your claim because it will show you need help and you are getting help and care.

Good Luck

Nasturtium

Kbyles

Thank you. I did get letters from daughter and sister and my friend which was showing what they do for my physical needs and my friend it was just to relay how much my life and mental health had changed. I sent letters from cardiologists etc with all diagnosis on which included depression and medication he was also expressing that my blood pressure and heart could be die to the amount of pain I am in. There were at least 4 letters in detail from him but no consideration of even this unfortunately! 

Kbyles

Just feel she didn’t choose to believe me and went with zero because she felt I wanted money. Of course money helps I need some help with my day to day as I am a burden to my daughter and sister my daughter works full time and is at uni she actually works for <Moderator removed personal detail> and my sister
does all she can but has autistic son and I wanted to be able to get some help in to take some of the pressure off of them. Surely they are fed of up of me by now. That’s the biggest part that I’m most saddened about. Once I have the op I will have no use of my leg at all as nerve will be damaged muscle will die and will need a lot of after care In some cases 9 years I just wanted some help for now to get me through the worst.. 😞

nasturtium

PIP is not about diagnosis but about the activities and the reasons why you cannot complete the 12 activities reliably according to the descriptors. Understanding what each activity involve and what the descriptors mean is important because if your written evidence is not matching or concentrated on the descriptors you will not get points. Read the information on how to fill the PIP form from the CAB website as it will help you to understand what the activities are and the descriptors around those activities and might help you with a detailed MR Letter https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/help-with-your-claim/fill-in-form-pip/

You can also keep a 7 to 10 day disability diary explaining the problems you have each day in detail according to the activities and the descriptors. You can then use your diary to backup your MR Letter and it will help you to understand the problems you have each day.

If the above advice still has not helped then you need to get advice from your local welfare advice center. You can find then by putting your postcode in the seach box here https://advicelocal.uk/welfare-benefits

I hope this has been of help

Nasturtium

Kbyles

Thank you a diary maybe a good thing!! 

poppy123456

Kbyles said:

it was just to relay how much my life and mental health had changed.

They want to know how you are now and not the past. The best person to tell them this is yourself because you are the only one who knows exactly how your conditions affect you.

If you haven't done this already then you should Include a couple of real world incidents of exactly what happened the last time you attempted each activity that applies to you. Adding detailed information such as where you were, what exacetly happened, did anyone see it and what the consequences were. You should aim for at least half an A4 side of paper per descriptor that applies.

Kbyles

Ok never wrote specific incidents as I don’t really move off of the sofa anymore. I haven’t been out door in months and been unable to walk to local shop on 2 years. So didn’t think of incidents that’s occurred. Thank you 

JBS2022

As stated above check all the descriptors and make sure you will get enough points to get an award. The number one reason people are refused an award is not enough points/ claim form not completed correctly. Also if you attend an assessment in the future make sure you are extremely vocal about your difficulties, you'll be surprised how many people attend and just agree with everything the assessors say or just give one word answers and then wonder why they been declined.

Cher_Alumni

@Kbyles Thank you for providing some more of your story. I'm sorry to hear things got to such a low point and will be emailing you shortly, just to make sure we are supporting you as much as possible as you go on to challenge the decision. We want you as happy and healthy as can be.

Also, I've removed the name of your daughter's workplace from one post just to protect your identities and keep you both as safe as possible online. By the way, I'm sure your daughter doesn't view you as a burden and loves you deeply  I'm reminded of a quote I read recently, that said along the lines of - the stories we tell ourselves, aren't always true and I don't want you to forget your worth during these challenging times.

Take care and remember to keep an eye out for that email.

Kbyles

When she’s helping to dress me in the mornings in a rush I sure feel like it 😊 it’s hard just being a person that has to rely on others. Never been this way before. Thank you that was nice x

Kbyles

Thanks for input. I know we all have our individual issues and mine is not the most important just felt gut punched this morning but I will have to pull my socks up and get on with it. Thanks to you all xx

L_Volunteer

I hear how difficult it is to rely on others @Kbyles. Not least when you have never been this way before. 

Rushing sounds particularly difficult. Are there any other times or ways this could be done in less of a rush? I appreciate the practicalities of this aren't always easy.

It sounds really difficult that you felt gut punched. Thinking of you. We do all have issues but that doesn't take away from your own difficulties.

Please don't hesitate to let us know if there's anything we can do to support you, even if this is just providing a listening ear