PIP Evidence

charlywilson

Apologies if this question has been asked before... How much evidence should a person send?

My wife’s in the process of transferring from DLA to PIP. I read somewhere if you send to much evidence they don’t have time to read it and just call you in for an assessment. Elsewhere I’ve read, it’s good to keep a little evidence back in case you have to appeal.

My wife has advanced MS, is now bed bound and receiving palliative care for pain management. From home visits in the last 2 years we have 4 doctor’s letters and 3 nurse’s letters, do you think that is enough? I’m contemplating having a private Occupational Therapist visit, to complete an assessment and add to my wife’s evidence.

We also have a neurologist’s letter from 2017 that talks about the severity of her disability and that he doesn’t expect she will live more than a year (which she’s obviously exceeded) I’m worried if I use this letter, that if she gets a PIP award it would be relatively short, any thoughts?

Thank you in advance for your help.

wilko

Hello and welcome, as a MS diagnosed person in September 2016 had a PIP, then a year later my mobility had worsened so put in for change of circumstances and I was awarded standard care and moved to high rate mobility.for three years. Looking at your post I think the evidence you have and the fact that your wife is in the advanced stages of MS and I take you are having a home assessment or paper based. I would contact the local council regarding the OT but I don’t think it will be needed.

charlywilson

Hi Wilko, thanks for your reply.

She has other letters she could possible use, but they state that the doctors want my wife to go in hospital for system control; but we were told by a neurologist that as her immune systems so poor, that if she gets an infection it could prove fatal. I’m just worried the DWP will say we’re exasperating her symptoms by not letting her go in hospital and her claim for PIP will be denied

Chloe_Alumni

Hi @charlywilson. I hope the previous replies have been useful. Please do let us know if there is anything else we can do to help!

charlywilson

Hi  ilovecat, thanks for your reply and apologies for my late response.

Her cognitive ability is very poor and she has major processing problems, she can only manage one or two words and unable to string sentences together, when the palliative doctor visits it's near impossible for her to converse, they've wrote this in their letters so we should be OK for activity 7, 8 and 10.

She has blackout's and when she wakes hallucinates, which they think is the pain medication (morphine & ketamine) it happened once when the doctor was visiting, she woke up from a blackout, didn't recognise me started to cry out, scanning the room her pupils dilated.The doctor included all this in her letter, then wrote she needed to go in the hospice for symptom control, which I've already mentioned I'm concerned the DWP might question why she doesn't want to go in.

I also have my 30 year old son living with us, he has a severe learning disability and been assessed as having the capacity of a 2 year old, that's why I need to get the wife's PIP form right first time, as I haven't the energy of going through an appeal.

Thanks for your help and apologies for unloading my problems on you.

Charlie

Chloe_Alumni

Hi @charlywilson, it's okay! It sounds like things are pretty stressful at the moment and that you have a lot going on. You are always welcome to talk to us on the community. Are you currently getting an support caring for your wife and son?

charlywilson

Hi Chloe, My son attends a day care centre Monday to Friday, which is a respite for me and him. My wife’s doctor visits every 3 months and the specialist palliative nurse every 6 weeks. She also has the district nurses in attendance for ancillary prescribing and my daughter also helps, so I have enough support. I  have NHS continued health care available when she gets nearer her time.  

Chloe_Alumni

Morning @charlywilson, I'm glad to hear you have the support around you, both family and professional. I imagine it is still tough at times. Do you have any hobbies you do to relax?

How's the PIP application going?

charlywilson

Hi Chloe,  I'm afraid I don't have much time to myself. I also have the mother-in-law to shop for and sort out; she lives in sheltered housing, which means I have to get carers in to cover me for the wife so I can get out and about. 

I go jogging a couple of times a week when my daughter comes round.

On the  letter we received from the DWP it states my wife has to apply for PIP by the 10th September, so we still have a little time left. I have all the questions written out ready to go on the form so I'm hoping everything will go OK