Pip

paulamaria

Hi everyone it has been a while , I was on here before, which I got amazing help and got 10 year award for pip standard care, I received a letter from pip this morning saying I could be owed money form 2017 to 2021, they have asked me to answer questions about social interaction, I’m not especially good at wording things so if anyone can help it would be greatly appreciated 

paulamaria

plus is is this for the care or mobility? My brain is frazzled getting the letter 

poppy123456

This is related to daily living part and engaging with others face to face. Before the changes some people only scored points for needing prompting. ( 9B 2 points) When the changes took place in 2016 it was decided that those that needed "social support" rather than prompting should have scored 4 points. (9C)

See link. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-changes/social-support-changes-to-pip-law-from-6-april-2016

Whether it was possible at that time will depend how your conditions affected you during that time. Therefore the question is, did you need prompting or social support?

paulamaria

Hi poppy hope your keeping well, yes I needed support I didn’t leave the house without my father or one of my two sons, and only left the house if I actually needed too appointment etc 

paulamaria

Plus I got 11 points on the care first time around then same in the MR

paulamaria

Good morning, I rang pip this morning to see if there was a update on the reciew for social support, got told my claim stays the same which is no surprise as I never get a easy time with pip, the man said I can appeal which I am going to do as I do believe I fall under the new rule, as I don’t go anywhere without someone with me, my question is what supporting evidence can I send for the appeal? Will letters from my 2 sons be sufficient? Any help would be appreciated 

Squeakypips

paulamaria said:

Good morning, I rang pip this morning to see if there was a update on the reciew for social support, got told my claim stays the same which is no surprise as I never get a easy time with pip, the man said I can appeal which I am going to do as I do believe I fall under the new rule, as I don’t go anywhere without someone with me, my question is what supporting evidence can I send for the appeal? Will letters from my 2 sons be sufficient? Any help would be appreciated 

paulamaria said:

Good morning, I rang pip this morning to see if there was a update on the reciew for social support, got told my claim stays the same which is no surprise as I never get a easy time with pip, the man said I can appeal which I am going to do as I do believe I fall under the new rule, as I don’t go anywhere without someone with me, my question is what supporting evidence can I send for the appeal? Will letters from my 2 sons be sufficient? Any help would be appreciated 

I think you should win this. (Partly because I think I should win for the same reasons!)

The meaning of "social support" has been dragged through in tribunals. It's one of the sections of the descriptors which was badly written in the first place. Actually the whole lot was incompetently written imho...

At one time they insisted that Social Support meant professional support, then they used a phrase like "trained or experienced", then they decided that a member of your family CAN could be classed as Experienced, because they've been doing it and they know you well. If "just anyone" would do then that wouldn't count.

I don't suppose a "Health professional" has been involved, to assess this specifically, but a GP could really help if you are taking any anti-anxiety meds. Do make it clear what they are. DWP don't know much about meds, in my experience. They might even say you aren't on a high dose, which is sílly - that could be because you don't like the side effects, but they don't ask for reasons.  So yes, get a letter from a couple of your family members who help you. Recounting bad experiences which "give the family  member great concern for your mental state", might be appropriate.

The DWP need to be clear that you would not be able to undertake the activity without that "Experienced" social support, and that of you were to do it without, the effect on you would be "Overwhelming", and/or "distressed/distressing".

Treat them as not very bright (because they aren't); use the same words they do, give them examples, the medical condition and the disability.

With a friendly GP, I had a chat then sent her a message digitally, "so that she could copy and edit quickly and easily". Of course, cut and paste was the quickest for her to do   ̶ she pretty much put what I wrote on headed paper and signed it, so the buffoons at the DWP couldn't really argue. If your GP really wouldn't be expected to have direct experience of you being out and about and having the difficulty, you could suggest that she uses a phrase like "This difficulty is entirely consistent with the condition for which Mrs XX is being treated".

The way the PIP criteria are written is bonkers - the higher parts of section 9 imply that someday someone might say "If I ever meet anyone alone I take them by the throat and do damage". C'mon!!

Sorry for rambling, hope some of it helps.

paulamaria

Thank you so much I appreciate it, I will take on board what you have said, my experience with pip hasn’t been great , it’s just so unfair you have to fight so much for what you deserve to get , I’m waiting on the letter from them and then I will gather my info and post it off, I will update when I hear anything, fingers crossed 🤞 for us both , 

paulamaria

I rang this morning and it’s with a case worker currently , has anyone appealed this and had a positive outcome?