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We want to hear from you: please tell us about your experience of the online community.

Hi, my name is Fifi82! Help with multiple benefits needed please.

Fifi82

Hi I'm new here, I have applied for PIP following a major accident causing a head injury that left me with life changing issues.
I have had amazing support from a private counselor, doctors at my local practice, the community neuro team, the mental health team, the physio team and a neurologist at my local hospital. I went to citizens advice and a friend who have helped me with filling in the PIP form, and I must say that the answers to some of my questions were on this Web site and it has been amazing and invaluable. I had my pip assessment by telephone nearly 2 weeks ago and the lady was really lovely and I had someone with me and I needed a couple of breaks and the assessor allowed the person with me to answer some of the questions regarding medication later in the call as I was really struggling. I am hopeful that this website can help me further when we look to other benefits to support me. And likewise if I can give any advice or support to others I would love to do this too based on my experiences to date.

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chiarieds

Hi @Fifi82 - & welcome to the community. It's good to read how much support you've had following your head injury; much needed I'm sure. You also sound like a very positive person, & so an important member of that team. I'm sure your experience will be able to help others

Pleased you had a lovely PIP assessor & someone with you for support, as that all helps. I look forward to seeing you around the forum.

Albus_Alumni

Hiya @Fifi82 and a warm welcome to the community. How're you today?

Thanks for sharing your experience with the PIP assessors. It can be so different between people, but I'm glad you got one of the more understanding people. If you need any further advice, just shout, we're all here to help each other.

If you wanted to just have a chat with people, or play any of the many games we have going, head on over to the Coffee Lounge category.

Fifi82

Hi @Albus_Scope, thank you so much for your reply. I've been having a few down days of late and the weather is pretty miserable today. My get up and go has got up and left a couple days ago now. That's when the anxiety comes back in and then you try to search things online, you read some things that give you hope and this forum is one of those places to find that hope. Quite often anxiety is caused by the unknown, so by people sharing their experiences it makes it easier to see the way through. I also requested a copy of the report which they are sending out. Hopefully that will give me some reassurance once I get that as to what I should need to expect next. I'm still working my way through the website and will definitely visit the area you mentioned. Thank you so much for your warm welcome. As nothing is dated and I can't see when some people's experiences were from ill put the dates on the ends of my posts just to help those timelines when it comes to pip.
I applied for PIP late July, by phone and got the paperwork sent to me and filled back in with a lot of evidence by the end of August. I had my telephone assessment on Sat 21st Oct, that was following two rearranged calls because they had sickness and cancelled me twice during that week. I got a text to say the report was received on the Monday 23rd.
I rang on 30th Oct and requested a copy of the report and they sent this with no hesitation and said I should receive it in 7 to 10 working days.
I joined this forum today on the 2nd Nov 23. My ssp runs out just before Xmas, I was advised to get my esa claim in three months before this date which I have done and not heard anything since. I have also applied for industrial injuries disablement benefit but we are not sure if I will get that. And we will look at my partners hours after Christmas when we evaluate everything as she works full time and does too many for us to get universal credit. While we have had no money helping us for 5 months now she is doing all the hours she can to help support us both. Fifi is the name of one of our cats, and I am a male and you can call me whatever you like!

Albus_Alumni

Haha, OK well I'll stick with calling you @Fifi82 for now as that's much easier for everyone.

Sorry to hear the weather is getting to you though, I often find the SAD starts kicking in about this time and it can get really draining. So you're not alone there.

You should be able to see dates on posts on a PC or Mac if you check just below the posters name on the left hand side, hover the mouse over the time and it'll show the date. I'll have to check on how to do this on a phone though.

I'm not familiar with the Industrial injuries benefit unfortunately, but I'd recommend giving ESA a quick call and see if they can update you on your claim there. But I'm happy to move this post into another more benefits related category if you'd prefer not to type things out again? We've got some amazing regulars who are super knowledgeable with all things benefits. And we're all here to support you if you need it.

Fifi82

Hi @Albus_Scope, and thank you so much for your response again. Yes that would be brilliant in case anyone else may have had experience with this sector of the benefits section that would be really useful.

I have just checked on my android phone, in Google Chrome as I use this if I click the three dots in the top right corner and look for the setting to enable "Desktop View" it gives me a webpage version which allows me to see all of the details you mentioned which is brilliant.

I will definitely put on my calendar to call ESA tomorrow and see what's happening since I've heard nothing yet.

And yes the SAD gets worse now with the darker evenings and probably even more so this year as we are trying to reduce electric bills by using the lights less. But I am hopeful once I am on top of the benefits and have an income coming in again that I can relax a little while I am still in long term recovery.

Albus_Alumni

No problem at all @Fifi82, I've moved your post to the benefits category and given the title a quick change so people will see what help is needed. They're a wonderful and knowledgeable bunch here, so fingers crossed we'll be able to give you all the support you need.

We also have lots of advise on saving money with your energy bills if you've not already looked at this section?

We will also have a few articles to post in the community this week on other ways of keeping the lights on and staying warm on a budget. So keep an eye out.

Fifi82

Thank you so much I will keep an eye out for that. At the moment we have battery powered sensor lights through the house! And rechargeable batteries, and we boil a whole kettle and keep a flask of hot water going all day to reduce that and wear warm clothes. Ovo is our provider and they have been amazing and helpful too. Despite the bad press they get. 🙏🙏🙏

Albus_Alumni

I'm very glad they've been supportive of your needs, that's always great to see!
I'm currently a fan of the "Heat the human, not the house" idea, so I tend to focus on keeping the front room warm, and then just make sure I'm wrapped up and wearing a nice warm hat.

chiarieds

As far as ESA goes then, as you probably know, it can't be paid at the same time as SSP. If eligible for ESA, then this should start as your SSP ends if your employer has provided a SSP1 form: https://www.gov.uk/statutory-sick-pay/eligibility

Fifi82

@chiarieds hopefully you might help with this part and might reduce the anxiety a little then.... I believe my ssp runs out on Dec 21st. But this may vary. My employer has been keeping in touch, when will they provide an ssp1 will it be after that final payment date or before? Or is that one for acas or dwp? Also, if they give me this form does my employment terminate automatically at this point? And is there a point might my employer decide to terminate my employment without my agreement?

chiarieds

From the link above:

If your SSP is ending your employer must send you form SSP1 either:

within 7 days of your SSP ending, if it ends unexpectedly while you’re still sick
on or before the beginning of the 23rd week, if your SSP is expected to end before your sickness does

So you'll need it beforehand; it won't end your SSP, the form is just to show the DWP, in your case, when your SSP will end. You can see the form here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1104889/ssp1-interactive.pdf

poppy123456

New style ESA will start the day after SSP ends. However, there will then be a 7 day "waiting period" before payments starts. So you may not hear from DWP just yet regarding this. To be entitled to payments you will need to have the correct NI contributions in the previous 2 tax years.

It is paid for 1 year unless placed into the Support Group. You will also need a fit note too and you must continue to send them until a decision is made on your work capability assessment.

Fifi82

Thank you both so much. If anyone has had any experience with Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit which we don't know alot about at the moment it would be really useful as the accident happened while at work. I cannot put to much information online due to the case involving parties. However any general information or any ideas of what they look for would be appreciated in advance of any decisions they make.

poppy123456

I'm afraid i have no experience or knowledge with IIDB. For this i'd advise you to get some expert advice from an agency near you. https://advicelocal.uk/welfare-benefits

Fifi82

Thank you so so much. That link will be invaluable in many different ways. 🙏 You are all angels x

chiarieds

I can only find fairly general info on IIDB, which you likely have already come across, but posting 'just in case'

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/industrial-injuries-disablement-benefits-technical-guidance/industrial-injuries-disablement-benefits-technical-guidance

Fifi82

Thank you to all for your help so far. I am wondering if anyone has any advice that might help me think a little more positivity this morning please.
I do intend to go to citizens advice today but not sure what they can actually do, I received my report from the telephone assessment on Saturday and it was really disheartening that the assessor had ignored important information in her report. She said that as I have passed a driving test (decades ago!) I could then read everything from signs and symbols to written information with no problem. I had to get my wife to help me read this letter and absorb it and that took 2 hours. She has put wrong dates in and completely ignored things and got an awful lot wrong on her assessment. Really questioning if she was actually alert throughout the call. My wife has provided me the long and short of the report and we did a form based on their answers and it shows I will only get standard rate for the care element, and I have received a text this morning saying I have been awarded pip but not how much or what I will get. I am anxious about the next few steps... Can anyone give me any useful advice? Can I call pip to question the report? Can I send in additional evidence or a supporting letter to identify all of the assessors errors? 🙏 Any help is gratefully received. Thanks in advance

Fifi82

Just to follow this up, I have spoken to CAB this morning and they are going to help me to appeal the decision once the letter comes through and have told me not to worry.