Mum's PIP review being asked one year on.

Sofia123

Hi all,


My mum, who is in her early 60s, suffers from chronic schizophrenia with moderate to severe visual and auditory hallucinations. She has had the condition for around 10 years, however it has gotten progressively worse and not better. 
She needs 24 hour surveillance and is unable to do most active tasks, including personal care such as bathing, by herself. She has carers coming home to help her get ready each morning and has been encouraged to visit daycare centre 3 times a week, most of the time which she refuses because her hallucinations make her feel very uncomfortable around people. She prefers her own company and is having loud conversations with "bad" people who are out to harm her. She is on a plethora of anti psychotic medications and is under the care of the Adult Mental health team.

In 2021, my dad applied for PIP on her behalf.  DWP awarded her high rate PIP last March 2022 saying it would be reviewed 4 years later. However, shortly after that my dad passed away from a sudden heart attack at the end of April. Both me and my brother became her carers and I do most of her tasks as we live with her. Yesterday, we recieved a PIP review form asking whether anything changed and to include evidence. How to I go about filling this in as I don't know what my dad wrote in the original PIP form? 

Regards

poppy123456

Sorry for your loss. You need to treat it as a new claim and give as much information as possible, without telling her life story. You should also include a couple of real world examples of the last time she attemped each descriptor that applies to her. Adding detailed information such as where she was, what exactly happened, did anyone see it and what the consequences were.

Were there any copies kept of the PIP form that was filled in last year? if so then you can refer back to those. If they weren't kept i would advise ringing to ask if they can send you a copy but the only problem with this is you may not receive it in time but you can certainly try.

Sofia123

poppy123456 said:

Sorry for your loss. You need to treat it as a new claim and give as much information as possible, without telling her life story. You should also include a couple of real world examples of the last time she attemped each descriptor that applies to her. Adding detailed information such as where she was, what exactly happened, did anyone see it and what the consequences were.

Were there any copies kept of the PIP form that was filled in last year? if so then you can refer back to those. If they weren't kept i would advise ringing to ask if they can send you a copy but the only problem with this is you may not receive it in time but you can certainly try.

Thanks, Poppy.  Unfortunately, we couldn't find any copies of the supporting evidence he sent. However, I did find the PIP award letter dated March 2022, which said that he sent reports from 4 professionals; one of them being her previous occupational therapist, and others that I guess are doctors, psychiatrists and social care workers.

However, when my dad passed away the occupational therapist came to visit my mum at home, to reassess her needs again. She thought it would be best that my mum was put to social services and under general care of her psychiatrist who called her for routine outpatient appointments at our local clinic ever since. She essentially put my mum on a care plan with a care agency. The therapist then discharged my mum in writing and said that she hopes a new care package would help my mum.

Who would I need to contact now for supporting evidence. Am I allowed to ask her care agency or her daycare providers for a report? How about her social care worker who recently came down and said he would be reducing her hours at the daycare because she was not going enough?

I have an idea how to complete the form but need help who I should contact for evidence in this situation.

Regards 

Sofia123

Btw would I be allowed to fill in my mum's PIP form on her behalf in third party? She is not able to understand the questions due to her lack of awarenes. Would I have to mention that in the PIP form that someone else is filling in her form on her behalf?

A few things changed since her last assessment...

1. her diabetes has worsened since last year, with doctors concerned that she ought to be on insulin but she keeps refusing due to her fear of needles. 

2. She has feet oedema which causes her moderate pain and swelling on some days and that no doubt prevents her from wanting to walk outside or walk to daycare. Although, my mum usually does not like being outside anyway, the foot swelling hampers the carer's efforts. 

3. She is also on the wait list for eye cararact surgery, and I'm administering her eye drops regularly. This means she can't see us properly in one eye and keeps rubbing her eye with a cloth, as she is unable to understand why we look blurry.

4. Recently diagnosed with anemia

Would I need to mention these things in the PIP review form ?

Hannah_Alumni

Hello @Sofia123

I am so sorry for your loss, my condolences. I am also so sorry to hear that your mum has been so unwell too. Can I ask, do you and your brother have support around you for you too? I hope the community can be a place for you to vent

I see Poppy has given some great advice. Yes you can ask her care agency for supporting help, as well as any medical professionals or other care providers. The 4 things you listed I would include in the PIP form, especially as they show she cannot administer treatment herself and has poor vision and ongoing health issues. Citizen's Advice has a page on help with your PIP review form that I think you may find helpful to read.