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What evidence is good to send in to PIP?

charlotte84

Hello all, I’ve seen a few posts regarding gps letters are no good. My question is what actual evidence is good to send in to pip then as my mri results came back yesterday and it was confirmed I have degenerative and bulging discs and also arthritis in the facet joints. Thankyou x

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Comments

janer1967

Hi and welcome

The best evidence is your own giving examples of what happens when you try to do the tasks

Or reports front people who see you doing the tasks like family or carers also reports from ot or physio

You can send mri results but all they do is confirm diagnosis which isn't really in debate

charlotte84

@janer1967 but don’t the dwp need some sort of evidence of my illness as they can’t just go on family and friends support letters I’m sure. Thankyou for your reply

Emilyb81

Basically doctors letters can only confirm diagnosis? They don't spend enough time with you to see you struggling with the descriptors? So a letter is better from people who actually see you on a regular basis and help you to do those things? And examples of how you can't do them safely etc? Have you seen the document about it all? The things they look at? (pip I mean?)
Because pip isn't given based on what illness we have it's for people who can't do the descriptors or struggle to do them? So someone can have a list as long as they like of confirmed illnesses but still may not get pip? And someone can have say asthma like me and they have never had an attack they just struggle to breathe in certain situations? Where as I can't walk 2 meters because I have asthma? So they can't go on the actual illness because they affect different people differently? Hope that's not confused you further! Xx

Emilyb81

Basically they need evidence from people who have seen you try and fail to do those things? Or that have helped you? Because it's not about what we have it's about what we can or can't do? ??

Emilyb81

Have you seen descriptors hun?

charlotte84

Thankyou so much @Emilyb81 for your message yes it does make sense you really explained it to me well, I’m not very good see at understanding things but your message was fab. Thankyou so much x

Emilyb81

It took me weeks to get my head around this stuff @charlotte84 it made no sense at first but once I saw what they are actually looking at I saw what they would find helpful to see evidence wise? So il post it so you then have it if you haven't seen it before.... Sorry if you have xx

Emilyb81

It took me weeks to get my head around this stuff @charlotte84 it made no sense at first but once I saw what they are actually looking at I saw what they would find helpful to see evidence wise?
I tried to upload it but it's saying I'm not allowed to in this category? So not sure if someone else is able to help please?

Emilyb81

Il try again

Emilyb81

Oh no sorry I knew I should not of said anything sorry if I have made things worse now! ??‍♀️?
I do think that our own examples are what's needed I just thought getting support letters from people who help us was good too! Turns out I still don't understand this stuff lol sorry ?
I didn't mean to say the wrong thing don't want people sending letters in because I said so? It's very hard to know what to do on here as honestly I reply to things if I have been through them myself and offer advice based on what I have done but it has been wrong so maybe I should just stick to asking for help rather than trying to give it ???‍♀️
Anyway hope my comment can be taken down somehow? And sorry for giving wrong information... Intentions were good honest!

calcotti

Emilyb81 said:

Oh no sorry I knew I should not of said anything sorry if I have made things worse now! ??‍♀️?

You haven’t. Mike is simply pointing out that, as with all evidence, you need to look closely at what ‘support letters’ say in relation to your actual needs before you can tell how useful they are.

So, for example, if you have a support letter from your mum saying she cooks an evening meal for you three tomes a week you need to explain whether on the other four nights you cook your own meal or whether you are unable to cook and only have, say, a bag of crisps. Saying do not rely on evidence from others is not the same as saying it is never useful.

All evidence needs to be looked at in the round.

Username_removed said: Evidence from other people can be useful if directed to the descriptors but often it can do more harm than good. That’s because people often have help from others which is limited by the availability or ability of that person. The care you get may not reflect the care you need and in fact might fall well below it. So, relying on what other people say risks underplaying your needs.

janer1967

@Emilyb81

We know your intentions are good and you are trying to help

Everybody's personal experience and opinions are welcome
Some members are more experienced in certain areas that's all

Myself and others have learnt so much being here and still learning

The importance is that members get information to help them

charlotte84

@Emilyb81 no I can’t see it hun but Thankyou so much for trying. You no when I get my daughter and dad to write a letter how should I tell them to like write it and who is the letter addressed for xx

Ross_Alumni

There's nothing wrong with what you said @Emilyb81, there's no need to feel bad about it at all and I hope the comments from other members have reassured you

As mentioned, sending in a supporting letter written by a health professional or other individual is absolutely fine, as long as the information contained is useful and of relevance to the descriptors.

Emilyb81

Thank you @calcotti I understand what Mike is saying and I know its right ?
I just don't mean to give wrong advice I tend to march ahead and say things meaning well but in this situation for example I have maybe not thought it through fully? I would just hate to think someone has been steered in wrong direction even partly because of something I've commented? So for that I'm sorry? Also it (my phone I think?) keeps telling me nobody has replied to a post so il say something because don't want them sat thinking they're being ignored and then it turns out other more knowledgeable people have in fact already given advice so I look as though I'm speaking over them lol I think it's all taking some getting used to in general? I have a rubbish phone and that's getting fixed today so hopefully some of my problems will be sorted! I have very low self esteem as you can probably tell from my reaction? I tend to take things extra personally! What I really mean by my post before that's came out wrong due to me being an emotional wally is I need to hold back more and let other more experienced people help not saying I won't reply to people etc but I am going to try and not jump in so quick ??? so all good! Thanks peeps xx

Emilyb81

Thankyou @janer1967 ? and @Ross_Scope ?? as I said above I am learning its amazing how much since being on this forum! About benefits etc and about myself! Pretty cool ? and @charlotte84 have you Seen the descriptors so you know what kind of thing is helpful and not? I don't know why I can't post it I've tried several times ??‍♀️ I know the people above have the list and explanation of it all? It was probably the most important thing I've got from the forum so far I had never heard of them before! Unfortunately I found out about it all too late after I'd already been told no

but I know now so it helped loads with my MR application! Wish I had found out before! ?? Xx

Emilyb81

God I cringe at myself sometimes I am so over emotional! Reading my post again is another example of what I'm saying? I should hang back a bit before I type ???‍♀️??‍♀️? oh and I say sorry too much see? Always learning ?

charlotte84

Aww @Emilyb81 you haven’t said anything wrong hun it actually helped me understand. Don’t put yourself down ? im thankful for your advice xx