Pip evidence

ShaunH

Hi All 

I am after info on medical evidence for my pip tribunal,

I have written a letter stating why i think my decision was incorrect and what i think i should have scored, my GP has read it and wrote a letter stating that he strongly agrees with me and put a couple of pointers in there about my bladder and bowel incontinence, 

As I have had my condition since 7 days old and now 30year I havnt seen a specialist for some years now as there is not much more they can do for me, so in respect of evidence I dont have statement from specialist only from my GP.

I am thinking of writing to my GP for my medical records from years ago and picking key pointers out that show my drop foot, muscle waste, bladder and bowel problems so it all backs up what i have stated in my "how your visibility effects you" form.

I was just wondering if there is any point in doing this as it is spanning over 29 years, if not what else could i use? 

If it is a good idea to sift through 29 years of evidence how do i ask my GP for my medical records?

Thanks 

poppy123456

HI,

You can certainly request your medical records and it's free to receive digital copies of them. Any paper copies you want you will need to pay for those. To request them just speak to the receptionist at your GP surgery. When i requested mine quite a few months ago all i had to do was sign a form and they were then ready to view within 24 hours.

However, usually there's really not much in medical records that would be useful to send, at least there wasn't in mine. Usually medical records contain things like GP appointments, blood text results etc etc. Sending medical evidence that's 29 years old may not be used, unless you can get more up to date evidence to back it up.

Letters from GP aren't useful either to be honest because a GP very rarely knows how your conditions affect you against the PIP descriptors.

The best thing you can do is give some real life examples of what happened the last time you attempted that activity for each descriptor that applies to you. Mentioning any lies/contradictions that may have been told in the report, also won't help your PIP claim.

ShaunH

I just thought the medical records may show evidence i have incontinence of both bowel and bladder and drop foot then it will back up what i  said about using aids etc.

But thank you for your advice @poppy123456 and the link you have put on someone else's post "pip assessment guide part 2" is brilliant.

Thank you 

janer1967

Hello and welcome, as Poppy as suggested years of medical evidence probably wont even be looked at as it isn't about diagnosis more about how your conditions affect you. I would concentrate on real examples of how your condition affects you against the descriptors. I only sent off one letter from my specialist and my copy of my prescription, all the rest was detailed in my forms.

I hope you get the result you want and keep up the fight

mikehughescq

https://community.scope.org.uk/discussion/56365/pip-form-filling#latest

bekindalways

Hello @ShaunH

I would look at your medical records where medication was dispensed and also the troubles you have had.  The notes should show this.  In layman's terms, if you haven't seen your doctor much over the past few years, you may find it difficult to prove that your illness affects your daily life when it comes to the descriptors. It sounds harsh I know only too well. 

If you can, discuss this with your gp. Any records held by them will help but only to a certain point.  Yes, you may be able to prove you have an illness but it will in no way go to supporting an application for PIP.  You have to show that you cannot complete the descriptors 50% along with the other stipulations,

I know how you must feel right now,  many of those with a 10 year award will be in the very same position, specialists can't do anymore so they discharge you. Over the years and until you need help,the gp tends to be the only person who can support you.

Your gp should be able to help but that will be limited,  he or she can't say how you live from day to day.  Maybe people who know you can help by writing a supportive letter?

Either way from what you have said, you may have an uphill battle against the DWP .  I cant advise you...... I am not qualified to do so.  But I would, at the very least, get some advice from a qualified benefits advisor,  in person.

I wish you well and hope that you're ok.  Be strong xxx

cristobal

I just thought the medical records may show evidence i have incontinence of both bowel and bladder and drop foot then it will back up what i  said about using aids etc

@ShaunH - you're right - if a doctor has diagnosed incontinence then that's beyond dispute.

Unfortunately it's the second bit that is incorrect - a diagnosis is simply that and it will rarely (in my experience) 'back up what you say about using aids.'

You'll have to tell them that yourself, and give examples.

Best read the activities/ descriptors first (as others have said) so you know what it's about...

mikehughescq

bekindalways said:

Hello @ShaunH

I would look at your medical records where medication was dispensed and also the troubles you have had.  The notes should show this.  In layman's terms, if you haven't seen your doctor much over the past few years, you may find it difficult to prove that your illness affects your daily life when it comes to the descriptors. It sounds harsh I know only too well. 

If you can, discuss this with your gp. Any records held by them will help but only to a certain point.  Yes, you may be able to prove you have an illness but it will in no way go to supporting an application for PIP.  You have to show that you cannot complete the descriptors 50% along with the other stipulations,

I know how you must feel right now,  many of those with a 10 year award will be in the very same position, specialists can't do anymore so they discharge you. Over the years and until you need help,the gp tends to be the only person who can support you.

Your gp should be able to help but that will be limited,  he or she can't say how you live from day to day.  Maybe people who know you can help by writing a supportive letter?

Either way from what you have said, you may have an uphill battle against the DWP .  I cant advise you...... I am not qualified to do so.  But I would, at the very least, get some advice from a qualified benefits advisor,  in person.

I wish you well and hope that you're ok.  Be strong xxx

There should be no uphill battle here at all. This is, frankly, a routine PIP claim. Most claimants are not under any specialist or GP supervision on the date of claim. Unless DWP put your diagnosis at issue then there’s no need to prove the diagnosis. Their interest starts and ends with the consequences of the diagnosis. Unless your GP lives with you they will only be able to describe the sorts of issues they might expect a person with your health issues to have but not you in particular. 

As has already correctly been observed the key is anecdotal evidence. The stories if the incidents which occur when you attempted any of the points scoring exercises. I can’t do x because of y is just an assertion. I can’t do x because if y and here’s the story of what happened last time I did y is evidence.

ShaunH

Thanks everyone for help and support, im going to speak with my GP but im just going to go to the tribhnal make my voice heard and put all the facts and how it does effect me and just leaving in there hands not much else i can do from there going to try and get it out of my head untill the bundle comes and go over everything and make my case. 

Thanks