Help filling in PIP forms

LisaHSm

Hi, I'm Lisa. I am trying to find someone local to me in the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire to help me with my PIP form before 15 March

Sam_Alumni

Hi @LisaHSm
Welcome to the community, we have lots of information about PIP here and the CAB have a great guide to filling in the forms.

I also found the Gloucestershire CAB site here who may be able to help

steve51

Hi LisaHsm

It’s Great to meet you this evening.

Please please follow the great info that @Sam_Scope has given you above.

If you need any help/support afterwards please please let me know.

LisaHSm

Thank you Sam_Scope and Steve51. I will be contacting CAB today and hope to get to see someone soon. I will let you know how I get on. 

LisaHSm

Not sure if the snow meant the CAB was shut as they haven't got back to me. They aren't open very much anyway but the snow obviously affected things. Do I keep chasing them up and waiting or do I get on with filling the form out myself in the hope I get PIP awarded anyway?

Pippa_Alumni

Hi @LisaHSm, sorry to hear this. Have you tried them since? If you don't manage to get in touch, the link provided above by Sam (CAB's advice on filling in the form) is great- really detailed and clearly explained!

LisaHSm

CAB outreach worker is coming out tomorrow to help me fill out my PIP claim. I will update you after she has been. 

LisaHSm

Liz from CAB came and filled out the form for me. I must have been more nervous than I realised as I felt a huge wave of relief over me when it was finished. She helped me with a few other issues too which has been great. I had been dreading this day for so long that I am glad it is out of the way for now

Alex

That's great to hear @LisaHSm, well done!

joyclyn

Happy for you hope all goes well

LisaHSm

Had a letter today. I have a PIP home visit next Friday. Any advice for me please?

CockneyRebel

Hi Lisa

The hardest thing is to be yourself. Most of us with long term conditions have coping mechanisms which hide our disabilities to some extent. Just for that day you must become disabled again so the assessor sees you as you are, if you hide the assessor will not see the real you and cannot make the right assessment.

Read through your PIP form so you know what you put
Make no special effort on the day, stick to your normal routine
Take your meds as prescribed
It is up to you which room you have your assesment in
The assessor does not have the right to look around your home and probably won't anyway
Have your ID ready
If you can, have somebody with you
Assessors have a habit of coming early
They will watch every thing you do, how you hand them your ID, how you sit, how you stand.

We are all used to giving positive answers
Q "How are you?"
A " I'm fine " even when you are not

Be aware of the yes questions
ie assessor " Can you cook a simple meal ?"
Answer " Yes, but I need a perching stool as i cannot stand for long "

If you answer as above the assessor will stop listening  at " Yes............."
instead try
" No, but if I  use a stool to sit on I can  "
When you answer "No..........." The assessor has to listen to what you say

HCP are often  asking how long can you walk not how far. 1 or 2 minutes does not sound much but very slow walking is measured as 45 metres per minute

Have a look at the B&W self test

http://www.mybenefitsandwork.co.uk/pip/indexxx.php

I am sure others will add more advice

Good luck and do let us know how you get on

CR