PIP Review - Query regarding length of answers/attaching separately

mikhael1287

Hi All,

Happy New Year!

I've just received my PIP Review paperwork - my award ends in September. I can clearly see that we get approximately 8 very short lines (half of A4) to answer questions (some less). I would rather put please see attached and attach A4 sheets for each question. Is this common? Would one be penalised for doing so? I assume I can just write it all up on PC and print?

Considering we need to describe in detail, give an example of worst days, it appears to be discouraging us from doing so.

I suffer from Lupus which swells may hand - I typically use dictation software.

How lengthy are people making their answers? I can easily see an answer being perhaps half an A4 (to the point yet detailed).

Best

chiarieds

Hi @mikhael1287 - Happy New Year, & welcome to the community.

Many people do as you mention & instead print out their answers on A4 sheets; again as you say, about half a page is needed for each applicable descriptor/activity. Please identify the question you're answering, & put your name & National Insurance number at the top of each page.

Remember that PIP is about how you are the majority of days, so you should describe all of your days & certainly not just your 'worst' days.

Try & give a couple of recent, detailed examples as to the difficulty you face for each applicable descriptor, i.e. when did it happen, where, what happened, did anyone see this, & were there any consequences to attempting/doing an activity such as pain or fatigue?

Say if you can do each applicable activity 'reliably,' i.e. safely, to an acceptable standard, repeat as often as one would reasonably expect, or if it takes you much longer than someone without your disability.

You may find this helpful: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-assessment-guide-for-assessment-providers/pip-assessment-guide-part-2-the-assessment-criteria

OverlyAnxious

Hi,

I've always typed & printed mine. I don't know how common it is, but I have seen several other forum members doing it over the years as well.

Remember that the assessor has to read several PIP forms per day, so make it too long and they're going to miss things. Should be just enough to evidence any points made, without any extraneous waffle. Half an A4 per question should be fine.

Also be careful with 'worst days'. PIP is based on an average of 50% of days, so that's more important to cover than worst days.

mikhael1287

@OverlyAnxious Thank you so much. So simply ticking the appropriate box and putting please see attached should be fine? Do people normally attach 1 A4 for each question to keep it simple (not to fill in the whole page of course)?

mikhael1287

Sorry, when you say half an A4 sheet, do you mean for the whole section? E.g activity 1 - or approx half A4 sheet for each question within activity 1 (there are 4 questions).

Best.

OverlyAnxious

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1095755#Comment_1095755

Yes, that'll be fine.

I printed mine off altogether, not separate pages for each question. Just made a clear subheading showing which question each part was answering. (I don't know whether that's possible with dictation software).

OverlyAnxious

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1095756#Comment_1095756

You only need to fit one of those descriptors (the highest one for your situation), so one answer should cover all 4 questions for that section. Personally I would think that could be covered in half an A4.

If you're doing half a sheet for every individual question you'll end up with 20+ sheets and realistically the assessor isn't going to be able to take it all in.

Wibbles

Don't forget to warn anyone who you have put down to provide written evidence (hospital consultant, GP, Physio etc) that you have done this - so if they receive a request from DWP, they will not be surprised…..

mikhael1287

@Wibbles Thank you. I'll include a full health statement from my GP which includes how it effects me. They were kind enough to give a complete summary during my initial pip application 4 years ago. This time, I've requested one in anticipation. Best.

luvpink

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/143317/pip-review-query-regarding-length-of-answers-attaching-separately

Hi

I completed the form as required and I attached seven extra pages explaining how my disabilities affect me.