PIP Award review. Due Aug 31st. HELP!!

Dee78

Hello, 
I've recently received PIP award review form. Not come at best time. Very burnt out, and summer holidays supposed to be for recovering!
Any tips on doing it please? I was first awarded PIP in 2018. Got higher rate daily living, lower rate mobility without needing to appeal etc. 
But only scraped by each category. Really worried I will lose my PIP or be demoted. I don't understand, are they asking you to prove again that my life long disability still affects me, why are the boxes so tiny in the form, does that mean you don't need to write anything if nothing has changed? I have a short Citizens advice appointment coming up, but its not face to face. Last time they were so much help and wrote it for me.

It took me ages last time, and I submitted loads of evidence ,  loads of diagnosis letters etc. But this time, I don't have much new evidence, as it's been basically about managing what I have, and also less appointments with Covid. Also, my GP's husband has sadly suddenly just died ( another GP in the practice) So my practice is in chaos, and my GP (the only one I see) is on indefinite leave. So, little help on that front.
Thanks very much in advance for all your advice☺️☺️

wilko

@Dee78, hello and welcome, your PIP review is fairly easy but do not answer the questions with about the same ,I can manage, I am coping ect. Treat your PIP review as a first time application giving as much information and evidence relating to each descriptor that you have difficulty completing safely, repeatable and in a timely manner. Send with your review any up to date medical reports health professionals inputs you may have that will help your review assessment. Remember what you submit in your review will have to be justified at your assessment so make sure you fully understand your answers submitted.

Dee78

Thanks so much,  Wilko! Really helpful advice. Good thinking,  to treat my PIP review like a new application. So much more work, but if it secures me PIP again, and I am backed up with evidence, it is worth it!  I am a little worried about saying my mobility has got worse, and whether to aim for higher rate mobility. My specialist recommended a scooter for bad days, so Motability would be a help. But  if this triggers an assessment,  I'm worried I might loose my higher rate daily living.  I only achieved higher rate  by a small margin by scoring 2 in each section,  as I use  a lot of aids. Could this happen? I don't know if I should just be happy with the PIP I get, and not try to push it! 

calcotti

If the 31st August is the return date that came with the form you can ring PIP and request an extension, they will give you two weeks. This will give you a bit more time but try and post at least a week before date if possible.

Dee78 said:

I am a little worried about saying my mobility has got worse, and whether to aim for higher rate mobility. My specialist recommended a scooter for bad days, so Motability would be a help. But  if this triggers an assessment,  I'm worried I might loose my higher rate daily living.  

You should tell them how you are. A reassessment is taking place, the form is the first part of that process.

chiarieds

As advised, treat this review as if it was an initial claim, trying to give a couple of detailed real life examples of the difficulty you face for each applicable descriptor/activity. Just continue your comments on extra sheets of paper, putting your name & National Insurance number on each page. You say you have a lifelong disability, so see if any medical info you have backs this diagnosis, & ask for an ongoing award (reviews then are just every 10 years) too.