Hi, my name is Elizabeth85! I want to apply for PIP

Elizabeth85

Hiya. I'm hoping I can get some advice please. I'm want to apply for pip but I applied few years bk and got 0 points so I'm reluctant. I've got bad sciatica and adhd, anxiety. 
I claim carers atm for my son who's asd,adhd. 
Am I better stop claiming this if I want to claim pip. I don't want them to think I'm taking the mick and lieing about the problems I have. 
I've been on string meds for years but I haven't seen physio ect. I've had referrals made but I was never given an appointment. 
There's days I cannot move without being in so much pain. I've fell down stairs a few times due to the pain in my back and legs. The pain in the upper legs makes them jerk. 
They make u feel like ur scum at the appointment to get pip. 

Basically what I'm asking is how do I apply ect. Do I need to go to physio 1st so I have some evidence of back pain even tho I've been on meds for 17 years. 

Ty and sorry for going on
 X

Alex_Alumni

Hello there @Elizabeth85 and thanks for reaching out, there's no need to apologise I can understand why you're feeling reluctant to apply for PIP after an unsuccessful claim in the past.

Claiming PIP won't have an impact on other benefits as it isn't means tested. 

I'm sorry to hear the referrals haven't led to appointments for you, it sounds like you're having a difficult time managing things day to day. Did you know you can apply for a needs assessment which can provide extra support and care?

I'd encourage you to do this, and to speak with your GP if you're able, about chasing up those referrals for you. Do they know about your falls?

For support with applying for PIP from one of our advisors, you can call or email the Scope Helpline, or use the community here. 

When you apply you'll be sent a form with descriptors, about daily living and moving around. Try to think of examples for each, or times when you tried to do these and what happened as a result. Lots of people find it helps to keep a diary for a week or so, to help them explain what things are like each day.

You might also like to visit Gov.uk to access easy read guides on PIP, which I hope are helpful.

Please ask if you need any more help  

rebel11

Hi Elizabeth

Welcome to Scope Online,

The following might help too - https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/help-with-your-claim/how-decisions-are-made/

nasturtium

Hello Elizabeth85

You are doing the correct thing and seeking advice before you make you claim so you know what you are doing when you make your claim. My advice would be to type out all of your evidence before you make your claim because then you are not restricted to a set time or deadline and you can get all of your information and evidence together before you start the claim so giving you time to build a comprehensive claim and a better chance of a successful outcome.

Elizabeth85 said:
I claim carers atm for my son who's asd,adhd. 
Am I better stop claiming this if I want to claim pip. I don't want them to think I'm taking the mick and lieing about the problems I have.

You can be a carer and recieve carers allowance and you can also recieve PIP at the same time. A person with a mental health problem can be caring for someone with a physical disability and a person with a physical disability can be helping and caring for someone with a mental health problem by prompting etc. So you do not need to stop your carers allowance to claim PIP. You will not be seen as lieing because when you claim PIP you agree that all of the information you provide on the PIP2 Questionnaire form (how your disability affects you) is truthful.

Elizabeth85 said:
I've been on string meds for years but I haven't seen physio ect. I've had referrals made but I was never given an appointment.

PIP is not based on a diagnosis, treatment or on the medication you take it is based on the limitations because of your condition or disability to complete the 12 PIP activities Reliably << Very important word see more details about Reliably here https://pipinfo.net/issues/reliably and for the majority of days.

Elizabeth85 said:
There's days I cannot move without being in so much pain. I've fell down stairs a few times due to the pain in my back and legs. The pain in the upper legs makes them jerk.

I have highlighted "There's days I cannot move" because that says to me that your condition is not constant everyday and your condition "Varies" so if you said that on your PIP2 Questionnaire form then the assessor will see that and question how many days in the week or month your condition affects you doing the 12 PIP activities Reliably. When filling in the form it is a good idea to avoid using words like "it can" or "sometimes" because they are abigious words that mean you condition varies. If your condition does vary then it is a good idea to detail out on your PIP2 Questionnaire form how your conditions vary and how many days or weeks you have the problems. A good way to show this is to keep a disability diary expalining the paroblems you have completing the 12 PIP activities reliably according to the descriptors and explain what happened and what help you needed for example did you need to use an aid to do the task or did you need assistance etc. You can use your diary to build an accurate PIP2 Questionnaire form and you can include it with your form as evidence of your problems.

Elizabeth85 said:

Basically what I'm asking is how do I apply ect. Do I need to go to physio 1st so I have some evidence of back pain even tho I've been on meds for 17 years.

"Do I need to go to physio 1st so I have some evidence" in short the answer to that is No. The best evidence is your verbal evidence on your PIP2 Questionnaire form, a supporting letter from someone who knows you and sees you often and know the troubles you have, or a disability/mental health diary like I explained above. If you have medical evidence that describes your problems or confirms a diagnosis (not needed but useful if you can get it like a summary care record printout from your GP) can also be included.

I wrote a detailed reply (a bit like this one) to another post explaining how to describe your problems and describe your verbal evidence on your PIP2 form which is the most important part of a PIP claim in  completing the 12 PIP activities and a few links at the botton that you might find useful. If you do not have enough room on the form then you can use extra sheets you just need to include the PIP activity Question and number on each sheet so the assessors know what activity the sheet is relaited to. Also include your name, Date of birth and National Insurance number on every extra sheets you include with your form and copies of medical evidence (if you have any). Here is the link to my advice https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/680205/#Comment_680205

I hope that has been of some help and sorry for the long reply.

Nasturtium