Where do I even begin?
According to this online self assessment PIP test (https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/pip-test-form) I've scored 16 points for daily living component and 10 points for the mobility component.
How accurate is that PIP test?
Also, I did apply for PIP several years ago but was unsuccessful, I think I actually scored no points. I'm not able to go to unfamiliar places on my own which I'm sure just that alone means I qualify for PIP, but even though I mentioned that I'm unable to go to unfamiliar places on my own and explained why, on my result letter she said I'm able to go to unfamiliar places on my own! She either must have not believed me, or if she did believe me, then that means she purposely lied.
So I want to apply for PIP again, and want to make sure I am successful, so before I apply to it for real, is there anything that I can read online that will help, any videos?
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The best thing you can do is seek help from local welfare rights with filling in the form.
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What does also go a long way to helping is medical reports that show what your difficulties are.
In fact, sometimes reports can overide what you are claiming - i said that my son had difficulty in unfamiliar places but was ok on practised, familiar routes. I ticked the box to say no psychological distress. I expected him to get standard mobility.
He got enhanced!
I sent off for the assesser's report to see what had gone wrong and the notes said what i had written was 'unlikely' given that he struggles with x, y and z. So the assesser had called his support worker and, between them, they seem to have come to the conclusion that my son would not cope at all if the bus broke down.
I couldn't argue with that at the time as the bus had never broken down. Since then, it has and he's coped fine. It has broken down twice now. His award is up for renewal this year so i will need to clarify he does not need the enhanced rate.
Anyway - yes, an official report will go a long way. It is often worth getting all your medical notes from your GP surgery (you are entitled to have the whole lot on request) as all the useful letters and reports will be there. Although older ones they do tend to chuck out and condense the gist of it into one or two short lines which isn't as good.
The other thing is if you have a support worker or carer that takes you out to unfamiliar places - that's a great name to have as a contact. I am sure pip take more notice of professional support workers' evidence than if it's just a relative who goes with you. (Just my thoughts though. I might be wrong there as they say they do value reports from those close to you)
If you can afford to splash out £19.95, i can highly recommend joining Benefits and Work site. If you join, that gets you a year's membership and you can download their fantastic guide which walks you through each descriptor step by step.
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How would I get a medical report to show I cannot get to unfamiliar places? Do I just explain my problems with traveling to a doctor and he will write me one?
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I can only second what people are saying here. The Benefits & Work site is invaluable. (I have membership).
Don't fill in a form without help.
Don't leave spaces blank, just write try & fill in something in every question relevant to your claim.
Keep a photocopy or scan (even if you scan it and save to say, a google drive)
Keep a record of every date of contact/ every bit of supporting evidence (or get help doing so)..
Send letter/forms etc recorded delivery, even even though there address is Freepost.
Use the extended time if needed.
Expect the DWP to lie.. They won't admit it but its almost certain they have internal 'targets' to deny claims.
Benefits & work free info is also a good place to start
https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip1 -
Well - i know things have been dire post pandemic but surely you must have been to your GP and at least been offered medications and therapies to help with this?
And of course if your issue with unfamiliar places is part of other cognitive/psychological issues you have, that will suffice. The reports don't specifically need to say you can't get to unfamiliar places - if you have a history of anxiety, that will be in your records. If you are learning disabled, that will be there too. If you have OCD history, it will be there.
I have just mentioned some possible non physical things there as, from memory, this descriptor does not consider any physical restrictions on travel.
So - if you have been unable to get to therapy appts due to their location, your GP will have all the records there.
I would think pip will want to see the action you have tried to take to manage your issues with this. If you have been at the same GP practice for a while (doesn't matter if you never see the same gp twice) there WILL be records of all the help you have been offered and reports on you.
If all this has come on more recently, you might want to try your GP and see if you can be helped first?
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I have spoken to several GP's many years ago about all sorts of issues that I have, I think I have spoken to a GP only partly about this particular issue back then, the issue has got worse over the years but I've never really bothered with getting any help with it as I've already had lots of therapy which hasn't helped and I'm already on medication, plus I'm okay with just driving to places that I am familiar with which are simple routes only, I don't need to go anywhere that I'm unfamiliar with and don't need to drive through complex road situations (oh how that would change if I got kicked off LCWRA). And if I didn't have a car I wouldn't be able to go out anywhere at all.
The whole situation is very complex, I find it so hard to explain properly (really struggled with forming this post) and what I've wrote here only scratches the surface.
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The online test doesn't seem to cover the whole PIP test as it's very short and I remember when I last applied for PIP I had to fill in many pages, so it seems the online test doesn't cover everything. So before requesting medical evidence for travel and social interaction, should I send off for the forms first and then when I get them I will then know if there is any other medical evidence that I'll need to get? Will I have enough time to get all of the evidence?
Or is there a better online test that covers everything?
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You have a few weeks to return the form, and can ask for a further extension of a fortnight.
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I was refused DLA in 2007 when I applied alone, but have never had a problem since getting help with the form.
The CAB benefits expert helped me the next time, weeks after I was refused, and then a Genetics Nurse has been my help ever since.
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Is contacting CAB the very first thing I should do then? Or do I need anything prepared before then? Shall I get the medical evidence first? The PIP form first? Can I fill in the PIP form online or is it paper based only?
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@Ross1975 Hi, I would contact CAB as there might be a wait for your appointment. And then apply for your GP/health records.
I had to fill in a form at my GP to get medical records in October. I was asking for period Sept 2020 to date. It was 540 pages 🙄 which got sent to me via email in December so took c 5 weeks.
I don't need it for my PIP review which I'm expecting to be from Aug 26 (awarded to Aug 27) but it's part of me just wanting to be prepared.
I also did a SAR (subject access report) at the hospital Legal Services dept via a form online. That took 4 weeks to get back (I had to chase them but they were helpful and emailed the pages to me) and it was just 22 pages from Aug 23 to date and it covered appts like physio, OT, Long Covid clinic.
When I had my PIP Tribunal (March 2024) I had submitted c 220 pages. They told me they had spent the previous whole day, going through it all (the Tribunal people) so guess what I'm saying is be prepared for it to be a lot of pages.
I had gone through all my papers before submitting so didn't include things they don't want (like appt letters) but I still typed up a sheet where I did list all my appts, that was 2 x A4 pages! Best wishes to you 🙏
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You can request the PIP form to begin with, then contact CAB for an appointment.
In some areas PIP offer an online form option, but this isn't nationwide yet.
Make sure any medical evidence is relevant, I also feel less is more as this will focus the assessment more than submitting reams of paper.
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"but even though I mentioned that I'm unable to go to unfamiliar places on my own and explained why, on my result letter she said I'm able to go to unfamiliar places on my own!"
If you had a face to face assessment, then she might be referring to going to the assessment centre. Just a thought!
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She visited me at home as I wasn't able to get to the assessment centre because of not being able to go to unfamiliar places.
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In this case, she must have lied, as usual. Disgusting.
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I'm only calm enough to drive because I only go on very simple routes to around three places I know how to get to.
If I had to drive somewhere I was unfamiliar with or had to drive though a complex road situation like a multiple lane roundabout or driving through a town or city centre I would be absolutely panicking and shitting myself, I wouldn't be able to think straight, wouldn't know what I was doing, and would very likely have an accident. I would rather commit suicide than go through this as I would find it that mentally distressing, not just in the moment but afterwards too.
If my car breaks down I would ring my break down service and get them to tow my car home and take me home too. Which is what happened once.
I do still worry sometimes about what if my car breaks down as it's still an uncomfortable anxiety producing experience, or what if I'm in an accident, but I have to risk this because the alternative (being completely housebound) would make me even more miserable, stressed, and suicidal and I would not be able to cope with that scenario.
No, my car is petrol. I make sure that once the tank is less than a quarter full I will then the next time I drive I will only drive to the petrol station to fill up rather than anywhere else and risk running out of petrol, if the station is closed that day then I simply don't use my car that day.
Yes, I do suffer from anxiety so bad that I cannot manage to go to an unfamiliar place, not sure why my medical records would have this evidence since I don't think I've ever spoken about that specifically to a doctor.
What I'm saying is the 100% truth and I will not defend myself again.
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