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PIP form - can you print off typed answers?

W348

Thanks to those who have helped in my other thread, I just wanted to post this separate as I was unsure, and thought this might be something that others are confused by too.

Is it always recommendee to write answers in the form? Rather than mess my form up with mistakes I spent a lot of fime typing my answers and then later revisiting them to narrow the point down and make corrections.

I was wondering if I could just print all my answers off which I have titled all my answers with the question and Q number.

Or isnitnbest I just read from my typed up document and try and write this in fhe boxes?

WhatbI'd really like to do is go through t he form, get everything ticked thst I need to, sign it, fill in the short basics. A d then in fhe boxes where I have typed something, I thought I could write in each box 'Please check my typed answers in my included Answers print-off.'

Does anyone know.if that is an acceptable way of doing it, or is it always best to just write on fhe form regardless? I wouldn't want to risk it if it might negatively impact my chances.

I'm going to try and give my answers a once over in the coming days, and get pen to paper for the first time on the form, and just get fhe basics done and ticked off for now.

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Kizzie58

I type everything up cut out and glue with a Pritt stick into the boxes. anything that's too wordy I put my NI number on and put into the back with my edvidence etc

No one including me can read my writing so I have done this for years

poppy123456

I always type and print mine off and don't stick anything into the form. On the form I just write please see extra sheets for information.

Just make sure you state what question it relates to.

W348

Thank you those were the answers I was hoping for, that's one less thing to have to worry about.

OverlyAnxious

I typed mine up & printed them off as well. Left loose but did write name & NI number on each.

Meg24

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/118773/pip-form-can-you-print-off-typed-answers

I tried to answer in the other thread but my reply went missing again. I put all my answers on separate typed pages, always have. I add my name and NI number to each one and I tell them absolutely everything I can think of, as well as including a seperate letter from my Psychotherapist. I number the pages and in the PIP form I write which page the answer is on in the comments section of each question - "supplementary pages, page 4-6" etc... I usually send between 15- 20 pages of evidence in my own words and have always had my decision made on the papers without a face 2 face or phone interview (I request this as a reasonable adjustment due to the immediate risk to my MH & I send evidence from my therapist of this)

W348

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/873000#Comment_873000

Thankyou poppy for your advice, and to others who have posted. I wanted to keep bring the discussion back here now the form’s out the door.

I finally got the form finished and sent off. I booked a collection last night for Royal Mail Next Day Special Delivery Guaranteed by 1pm. I know they won’t look at it right away but I feel some relief to know it will be their tomorrow and a day before the stated deadline. Especially after the unhelpful person on the phone who refused to extend the deadline.

After a final once over and few edits I just rushed to get my form answers printed off, thought printer might be low on ink but had enough.

I then spent all night going over my GP emails and reluctantly decided to include one or two which mention specific concerns that are probably not necessary to share with PIP, but these do provide context.

In the moment I thought just let them have access to a few key email exchanges with my GP, so they can at least have a brief overview of why I am struggling so much.

I’m knackered, but feel some relief finally that it’s out of my hands.

I was careful not to bog down my form answers with unnecessary baggage. I tried my best to get right to the point and give examples. And left email copies there if they feel the need to dig deeper.

I’m really hoping I have done things right and explained it in a way that makes sense.

Now it’s just the nervous wait to hear back from them. Does anyone have a rough idea how long it takes to hear back after you send off a new claim form?

poppy123456

The form is unlikely to arrive with DWP by 1pm tomorrow, which I advised about that on your other thread.

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/119143/pip-claim-form-deadline-extension-refused

It could be anything up to a few months before you hear anything. You should expect an assessment because most have them. Paper based assessments are rare but possible. In total I would expect up to about 6 months from returning the form to having a decision.

Yes, it's stressful waiting but I'd advise you to concentrate on something else while you wait.

W348

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/878193#Comment_878193

Ok thanks, I can’t control when they get/look at it, all I could do was get it to them at cost for as fast as possible service available to me. The tracking should show it as delivered by tomorrow - whether that helps me I am unsure.

From the previous phone call my mother made the unhelpful call handler is aware it was going to be posted today despite the refusal of an extension.

Thanks poppy for your posts, it sounds like I don’t need to worry for a while now then.

Do you know if it’s possible to send in more evidence by email, or do I have to post out anything extra I might decide to add?

I literally ran out of ink printing off two GP emails I wanted to add, but luckily thought to print my form answers first. So think I got everything covered in my own words, though admittedly very little evidence. But it sounds like they primarily only care about daily living challenges, which no doctor or specialist can explain that better than myself anyway.

Many thanks again poppy, very much appreciated. You are certainly busy on here. I hope you make some time for a cuppa!

poppy123456

You're welcome. You will need to send any extra evidence by post because email isn't possible. Yes, I'm usually busy here but I do make time for myself, thank you. 😊

W348

Received DWP text today saying they got my form now - which is 1 day before deadline. That’s one less thing to worry about.

W348

Not had any further updates since they confirmed they received the form back as above post.

I am debating whether I should try and post in more evidence. If I decide to do that, I guess it the same address the form went to? Do I need to include a covering letter with that or just the usual NI number and name on every page of whatever I might post in afterwards?

I think that may cause a further delay to them looking at my claim. I am confident I answered the form questions as best I could and went into detail.

In terms of evidence I only include a GP fit note. I know this may not help much but it was very recent and has a diagnosis mentioned by my GP at the very least, which corresponds with my daily living difficulties outlined in the form.

I do have a hospital report from a few years ago which I don’t really want to risk posting out as it discusses some sensitive issues which ai know would help to emphasise my mental health difficulties.

My thinking is PIP don’t need that, they only care about my daily living difficulties and if I fit into their points - the reasons why I struggle are not really relevant to them. Am I right in assuming this?

I am dreading a potential assessment and hope they will just do it paper based, in the pst years ago I have been very ill during ESA assessments. I also mentioned this in my PIP form and that this was also the main reason I a valid putting in a claim for so many years.

I saw my GP recently and he said if they ask him for a report that he will mention my communication difficulties in this.

The sensitive hospital report I referred to which I did not send in with the form, I am hoping that’s not needed because I would rather keep that private. I am feeling rather confused and flustered with this though.

My thought process right now is it’s best to just leave everything as is and continue to wait. If the decision does not go my way I can then do a mandatory reconsideration and then decide if I should add this evidence with that.

It’s difficult not to think about this though, then it knowing is making me feel rather sick and exhausted. It’s not so much the wait that is bothering me, but more the not knowing if they will want me to do an assessment or not.

poppy123456

A fit note isn't evidence for a PIP claim and isn't usually accepted. What makes you think that they wouldn't want to see that letter that you've held back?

PIP isn't about any specific health condition itself, it's about how those conditions affect you. If that letter is relevant to the PIP descriptors then yes, I would have personally sent it. You mentioned it being rather private but in my opinion, if you don't want them to know about your health conditions then why are you claiming PIP?

The whole point of the PIP2 form is that you give as much relevant information as possible and include all relevant additional evidence. They very rarely contact anyone so please don't rely on them contacting your GP. Not sending that report if it's relevant could be the difference between needing an assessment and not needing an assessment because they have enough of information to write the report without one. Though it's rare for paper based assessments, they do happen.

It always confuses me when people send evidence that's not relevant and then not send evidence that could be relevant.

W348

Whether the hospital report is relevant or not, I don't really know. I just know that it has personal information that I am not entirely comfortable with being posting. My main reasons for applying are due to mental health issues, difficulties communicating and severe anxiety. The latter of which is mentioned in the included GP fit note. I do acknowledge that you are saying PIP won't consider this as evidence, but it at least contains a diagnosis from my GP - whether they factor it in or not, it can't hurt to include that either way.

I hadn't considered that the hospital report might assist me in potentially skipping an assessment. Perhaps I should send it in then. Do you think it's too late for them to factor this in?

At the time before posting the form off my printer ran out of ink after I finished printing my typed answers and including some print-offs of GP emails. But I wasn't feeling overly confident that the hospital report was totally relevant anyway, and I was pushing my deadline very close for returning the form. I do think the hospital report might explain the reasons why I have these mental health difficulties, but are PIP really interested in what I think has caused my difficulties. It's a rather sensitive matter and I was hoping to avoid needing to post it over to them, I explained my difficulties in the form of course in great detail. I suppose I didn't want to include the report because I was worried it might get lost or something.

I don't know, I'm so confused. I know you're trying your best to offer advice and I appreciate your help. I'm just paranoid about sharing too much sensitive info by post. I want them to have everything they need, but I don't want to go overboard and over share, if that makes sense.

W348

Thankyou Poppy, I'll try to have a think over the weekend. I need to dig up this and any other reports I might have to hand. If I decide these might help me avoid an assessment then it would be worthwhile to include them. It's the thought of posting this report that makes me feel physically sick at the thought of it leaving my hands. While I'm out of ink I suppose I can just post them the report that the hospital provided me, rather than sending them a copy. I can always just take a photo of it on my phone or scan it to keep a copy for myself that way.

W348

I couldn’t find much googling about sending in evidence later. I think it would be the same address that I posted the form to? I presume it’s best to also include a letter of sorts to try to explain this.

I’ve got two hospital reports to hand that I can send in as evidence. I am just trying to type up a coherent covering letter to explain why I have decided to send these in late.

I couldn’t find much googling about sending in evidence later. I’m still unsure if these reports are relevant. The reports themselves refer to physical issues, but it’s more the impact this has on my mental health that is the primary difficulty - not the issues in reports.

They will have had my new claim form back for 4 weeks come this weekend. I was worried if I start sending in more evidence now that this might cause a delay.

I do vaguely recall listening to the phone conversation when family member called for me to start the claim process. I think I recall something being mentioned about PIP accessing my medical records and having to agree that they can do this. I think this might have been why I was initially less inclined to include evidence. Most of my focus was with explaining things in my form answers and sharing with PIP a few of my email exchanges with my GP, to show as examples of communication methods.

poppy123456

You can send more evidence at anytime but you need to make sure you put your name and NI number on everything you send.

Yes, they will usually ask if you agree to them contacting anyone but they very rarely do this. As for accessing medical records then that's even more rare and not something they would usually do. The onus is on you to prove you qualify, not their's.

W348

My GP phoned today regarding writing a report for PIP, they contacted him. I know from reading on here that this is not common. Is this something I should be concerned about?

I’m worried about possibly having to try and speak at an assessment. He did note that he will put my communication difficulties in his report but said they might still want to do an assessment.

Regarding evidence - I did manage to photocopy my hospital reports and write a difficult letter further explaining the impact of the content of those reports.

Thanks poppy for the push here, I think I needed to understand that posting in my own evidence is necessary, even if they implied they can access my records.

I tracked this delivery and it’s showing as delivered today. I have not had a text from PIP though like when they previously confirmed they received my claim form.

I’m a little worried that I may have left it too late and they may make a decision or potentially give me less points if they don’t have that evidence on their system at the time of making their decision.

I’m not sure if GP’s email their reports to PIP or post them, if sent by post then I probably have enough time for my evidence to be factored in.

W348

Relieved to see my above comment is finally showing, for some reason it didn’t show yesterday.

Anyway, another update as of this morning. I have just received a DWP text to say a professional is looking at my claim and will contact me for appointment if needed.

I hope they got my evidence in time, it shows as delivered yesterday but how long it takes them to get around to opening it and adding to their system / get in the hands of the person looking at my claim… I don’t know how long all that takes.

Relieved to see progress but obviously rather worried now and expecting they might want to talk to me. I know I’ve gave every possible relevant detail I could, so hopefully that won’t be required of me to speak.

brian1958

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/872997#Comment_872997

ask for the form to be sent to you via email

Rachel_Scope

HI @W348. Your comment may have been incorrectly picked up by our spam bot which is why it may not have shown up straightaway. It happens sometimes but we'll always approve comments that meet our community guidelines 😊

I'm glad they're looking at your claim. Do you have anyone that could help you if they do require a phone call?