Will Evidence Of New Cannabis Use Negatively Affect PIP Review

yyydelilah

My adult daughter is on the autistic spectrum with additional needs including a learning disability, epilepsy, anxiety and depression and type 2 diabetes. She has lived in 'supported' accommodation for the last 3 years. I have joined the forum, on the advice of a helpline person, to see if I can get some help with a PIP related question. My daughter has been receiving DLA and then PIP since she was 5 years old. We are currently filling out her PIP review form. She now smokes cannabis (non-prescribed) as she feels that it helps her immeasurably with her enormous anxiety and other issues. This is known to the health professionals in her life and is reflected in the supporting evidence that we are able to send with her PIP review form. The supporting evidence also includes other useful information, but I am hesitant to send it because of the cannabis references. Could it detrimentally affect her PIP claim? Her needs remain the same (in fact have probably increased) and her award has always remained the same, so I can't see why it would change, but I am concerned that it could cause problems. Does anyone have any experience of this? I would really appreciate any feedback that you have. Thank you.

Albus_Scope

Heya there @yyydelilah (loving the name) and welcome to the community!

Drug use, although illegal, is not a problem when applying for PIP, though the assessors will almost definitely question you on this. Does the drug use relate to any of the PIP descriptors at all?

yyydelilah

Hi AKR,

Thanks for replying to my post. One was the GP and it is just on my daughter's medical records that I printed off on a recommendation to send as suppporting evidence, as part of her medical profile I suppose you might call it, as she has recently changed GP practise. The other is from the epilepsy nurse, just a letter summarising the appointment with her where her use of cannabis was mentioned. It says 'Cannabis use is extensive', nothing more. Neither of these documents were requested and neither written as supporting evidence specifically. I don't know whether I need to send either really as they just include information about pre-existing conditions that the DWP already know about, on the whole. This is only a PIP review, not a new application. I haven't mentioned cannabis use at all in filling out the form. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

yyydelilah

Hi Albus,

Glad you like the username! :) Sorry, what do you mean by 'Does the drug use relate to any of the PIP descriptors at all?' Thanks for your help.

poppy123456

I don't see how it should go against her. With regards to the review itself, yes it's a review but it's advised that it's treated as a new claim. Please do not be fooled by the word "review."

Most people have assessments so she should expect one of those. When filling out please do not just put no change and no further information, even if there's been no changes. You need to give as much relevant information as possible.

Also include a couple of real world incidents of exactly what happened the last time she attempted 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.

For an additional evidence you're sending before sending it please look through it and yourself, is that useful? If it's not relevant to the descriptors then please think before sending it. Less if often more and sending multiple pieces of evidence all saying the same thing isn't helpful.

The only downside to reviews is the length of time they are taking and she could be waiting anything up to a year for a decision. Her current award will continue until a decision is made.

yyydelilah

Thank you to both of you @poppy123456 and @AKR, your feedback has been really helpful. I find this process very stressful, as I imagine a lot of people do and it's good to know that there are people out there who I can turn to for help.

carbow32

My daughter had cannabis use all over her medical evidence (ADHA and Autism). She was awarded DLA (going back a while now).

yyydelilah

Thank you @carbow32 that is very reassuring to know 🙏