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Hi, my name is Bleep187! Should I tell PIP about my hospital stay?

Bleep187

I have been battling bowl cancer and was awarded standard rate pip last sept I had to go into hospital over Xmas last year and was in there for just under 2 months I had to have my bladder prostate and various of other organs removed with resulted in me having a 2nd stoma bag being put in so I now have 2 stoma bags instead of just the one that they already know about. I don’t have any support but was told I should contact pip to tell them I was in hospital for nearly 2 month end of last year beginning of this year but I have literally been bed bound and been struggling with my health and mental health do you reckon they might stop my pip claim ??? It’s going through a tribunal because I am trying to claim high rate I am just really panicking right now that I might lose it all together obviously I can get evidence and have a lovely woman at maccmillian who said she will inform them for me I’m just sick of worrying can you give me abit of advice please thank you .

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OverlyAnxious

Hi,

I am sorry to hear about your recent experiences, there's a lot going on there.

Personally, after such a long time, I think I would not report the hospital stay now. Legally they should have been informed at the time, and your PIP payments would have been suspended after the first 28 days, then restarted again once you returned home. If you do report the hospital stay now, all that should happen is having to repay around one months worth of PIP which would have been overpaid at the time. I would not expect them to end the claim completely, although they may suspend payments while looking into it. There is no timescale for them to do that.

As many people will be on PIP while receiving advice and assistance from Macmillan, I would trust their advice on this situation.

Bleep187

shall I not inform them that I have had another stoma (urostomy) what about when they do a re assessment ???? I’m in standard pip but I am trying to get higher rate pip and it’s going to a tribunal so basically just leave it and don’t tell them that I was in hospital for 2 month I’m just scared incase they stop my pip when they do reassessment it’s not like the op I had has made my life any bettter if anything it’s a lot worse and have a lot more going off now just abit confused

OverlyAnxious

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1067815#Comment_1067815

I thought it was a tribunal, not a reassessment? The tribunal are making their decision based on your conditions at the previous assessment. They will not be able to make a decision based on new conditions.

If you need to add new conditions then you would need to make a change of circumstances instead.

Personally I would not notify them about the hospital stay after all this time. But legally you should. So it is your decision to make.

Albus_Alumni

Hey @Bleep187 and welcome to the community.

PIP can stop if you're in hospital for over 28 days, so this is a very difficult position. Legally you must tell the DWP of any overnight hospital stays asap.

Bleep187

I think I’m just going to leave it and not tell them worse case if they find out I will just say my mental health is really bad and didn’t realise I had to inform I don’t think they will find out though ???? It’s really stressing me out becoz I know it can get technical so I think it’s best I just keep quiet as I really can’t be doing with having my pit stopped. It would really mess me up because I am really not in a position where I can’t even work, so I really do rely on the money I’m not going to lie it’s made me feel suicidal because the thought of losing my Pip is affecting my mental health and I don’t support

Bleep187

and yes it is going through tribunal I put my claim in about 3 years ago and got awarded last sept still waiting for decision from Tribunal. I just wanted to know what is the best thing to do think I’m just going to leave it and not tell

Albus_Alumni

I'd be very careful @Bleep187 they may look at any recent stays by asking for your medical records from the GP. They do need your permission to do this, but by saying no, that could look mighty suspicious to them. So they could catch you out further down the line.

Currently you could argue you were not aware you needed to tell them, but by not telling them asap, that would be seen as fraud.

Otteline

For your own peace of mind I would inform them. I imagine you might have to repay 1 months' PIP. It will be easy enough to say you were unaware that you were supposed to inform them. I cannot imagine they would stop PIP for a simple mistake.

Albus_Alumni

It's worth noting, when they do ask for money to be paid back, they'll usually take a bit off your monthly award for several months, so it's not always taken in one lump sum.