GUIDE: How to apply for PIP

suzy_sugar2005

So after all the research I have done I've come to realise that people are being rejected because they dont recieve the correct evidence to support your claim. They dont recieve this because they fail to let people know that although we provide them with our health professionals details they do not contact them. They are only allowed to do this at a Mandatory Reconsidertaion stage. This then causes months to years of unecessary torment for people applying to await an outcome. 

So when first applying for PIP you need evidence to support how it affects your daily life. You can get this by applying to the relevant professional whether it be your doctor, local mental health team or police and social services. It can take upto a month for them to give them to you. It is this evidence you need to reflect how it affects you. If you do this at the first stage of your application there will be no need for a MR if your evidence backs up your claim. 

I hope this helps and good luck everyone

wilko

@suzy_sugar2005 , it looks to me that all the research you have done is in vain. PIP as you have researched is a benefit to help with your daily activities in relationship to the PIP descriptors, it is not about your disability, diagnosis or the amount of medications you take or the medical evidence you submitted with you PIP application form. The questions you answered in your application form clearly ask you to state the whys and why nots of why you can or cannot preform the daily activities referred to in the application form as the PIP descriptors. No amount of medical letters evidence will let the assessment assessor know how you manage or cope doing the PIP descriptors in a safely, timely and repeatedly manner. Only you you will know this not the GP or other health professionals who can advise or give an opinion of how it might or may effect your abilities to preform the descriptors.

cristobal

@wilko - I agree, but maybe it just needs to be clarified a bit?

 "evidence to support how it affects your daily life" as @suzy_sugar2005 refers to needs to be just that - not "this person has arthritis/ diabetes etc" which is a diagnosis and of little use.

Instead something like "as a result of his/her condition he/she is unable to bend sufficiently to be able to do 'x' and I have advised them to use an aid/get help etc"

It's a specialist area for which I don't believe many GP's are trained

suzy_sugar2005

Oh I am so over the PIP thing right now. I have just found out that when I had my psychiatrist appointment and got my diagnosis all my medical history was not took onto consideration. When I specifically told them my records are in 2 different names. I also have written proof that they were told about it from my support worker calling to clarify it. So basically have been given the wrong treatment 

suzy_sugar2005

Putting me on a waiting list for stupid PWP when I am in desperate need of a care plan 

April2018mom

PIP is a mess.
I dread my own renewal date next February. I will have to reapply for it again. For my son I have decided to let him tell them what spina bifida is and how our day to day life is impacted. That is my new backup plan for all future renewal claims.
I painfully described the condition and how specifically Logan is affected by his disability. I made photocopies of letters etc and mailed them with the application form last time. But we went to tribunal before they respected me as a good mom.
My son’s amazing social worker helped me type up a letter for my appeal.  

suzy_sugar2005

@wilko you try proving that at times I behave erratically and drive dangerously putting myself and others in danger. How will I do it?? I will show my reports of all incidents logged which I have quite a few. That will show that I am susceptible to becoming overwhelmed to the point where I lose the ability to function normally. 

@April2018mom
I wish you all the best in your appeal. 

April2018mom

suzy_sugar2005 said:

@wilko you try proving that at times I behave erratically and drive dangerously putting myself and others in danger. How will I do it?? I will show my reports of all incidents logged which I have quite a few. That will show that I am susceptible to becoming overwhelmed to the point where I lose the ability to function normally. 

@April2018mom
I wish you all the best in your appeal. 

Thank you!

April2018mom

P.S are you really 14? 

suzy_sugar2005

No haha that is the year I set up my email address so I'm just used to using that username now 

MikeFromLFE

PIP is undoubtedly a mess -= but it's a mess we are stuck with.
I successfully worked with my wife to get PIP for her - and my conclusion after looking at far too many forum posts, YouTube videos, and various rants is that many people don't understand that the process isn't about what illness you have, but it is about what you can and cannot do.
There does seem to be an attitude that says "because I have xyz condition, then I must be entitled to PIP" - that's not how it works. You need to show that you can, or cannot do, certain daily living tasks - end of! There is no link - in the PIP process - to your condition, illness or disability at all!
Certainly at the assessment you need to bear in mind your 'worst days' not your 'average days', and never put on a brave face (although equally I don't think sobbing, or tugging at heart strings works at all).
It's a stupid system designed to grind people down, it's a system from the attitude of the Workhouse, but until pressure changes it - work work with it!

suzy_sugar2005

@MikeFromLFE
Couldn't agree more. I think it is needed the evidence to support the effects of it but the problem for me was no one ever explained it to me that way and I just presumed like many probably do, that my health professionals would be contacted 

poppy123456

They very rarely contact anyone for evidence, even at MR stage. If they are going to contact anyone it will be before the the face to face assessment takes place.

filling out the forms is not about using the right or wrong words, it’s just explaining with as much detail as possible and using a couple of examples.

suzy_sugar2005

@poppy123456

It's about telling them how it affects me your right. I just didnt understand how it affected me an now I do an I'm more scared than ever. Hard to describe the affects when I didnt even understand the symptoms. I'm now fighting for the right treatment and getting the support I need. 

I hope my MR will be a good outcome now I understand more and can tell them better. I do know I'm eligible so the waiting game is killing me but focussing on my treatment is keeping me going