PIP renewal

catell

Hi everyone
Thank you in advance for reading and any advice received. Apologies for the long post.

I have both physical and mental/emotional disabilities.

I was changed from standard care and higher mobility of DLA to to standard for both categories in PIP in 2017. The reason i was awarded standard for mobility was i could drive a car (a motability car). I had to give back my motability car and have been without a vehicle since, which has made me  more isolated and anxious to go out alone. I didn't understand the reasoning behind being able to have a motability vehicle then being penalised for being able to use it but I accepted the decision as was too scared to appeal the decision in case the decision came back even worse.

The decision back in 2017 also falsely stated that I attended assessments alone but again was too nervous to challenge the decision.

Due to covid my award was extended from October 2021 to July.

 I work 12 hours per week under Permitted Work Rules, working flexible hours from home doing simple admin work. 

I completed and returned my renewal form in September 2021, detailing that my health had worsened and have been diagnosed with an additional physical condition since last assessment in 2017 and now have face to face tomorrow morning. Since i returned the form, my anxiety and depression have worsened to the point where i cannot/do not want to leave house, talk to family, never mind strangers, my medication has changed and i am in regular counselling. I have writren an additional list of things that have changed since i returned my form to present to thrm  tomorrow. Will they take these additional details into account?

Of course, I plan to be entirely truthful but I'm also just so confused about what they take into account when it comes to working and driving. Any advice would be grateful on any of these points would be really appreciated
 

poppy123456

Hi,

The "driving" about being refused because of this is a classic copy and paste reason. However DLA and PIP are two completely different benefits with totally different criteria. Some people who originally had high rate mobility for DLA didn't mean they would have been entitled to Enhanced mobility PIP.

During your assessment tomorrow you need to tell them everything. You should avoid just saying yes and no and try to give a couple of real world incidents that have happened to you that last time you attempted that activity for each descriptor that applies to you. Include information such as where you were, what exactly happened, did anyone see it and what the consequences were.

People do work and claim PIP but if the work you do contradicts the reasons why you're claiming PIP then yes it can go against you.

Tori_Scope

Welcome to the community @catell Many people get confused about PIP, so you're not alone in feeling that way. I hope that poppy123456's comment has helped you to understand that a bit further. Do you have some real world examples prepared?

Since i returned the form, my anxiety and depression have worsened to the point where i cannot/do not want to leave house, talk to family, never mind strangers, my medication has changed and i am in regular counselling.

I was concerned to read that your anxiety and depression have become worse. It's good to see that you're getting some counselling, and that you're able to access some medication, however. Are those helping you to manage your anxiety and depression at all? 

As you're struggling to leave the house, I just wanted to check whether you're able to get the essential items that you need in, such as food? 

catell

Thank you so much for replies. I do have a wonderful family who are willing to help whenever they can but all work full time, have own families etc plus mum has tecently been diagnosed with alzheimers and has physical limitations herself and feel completely useless not being able to help out in that regard much so try not ask for help as I would rather any help be directed her way. 

Can anyone answer the question whether they would take into account some notes I've made regarding what has changed in 6 months since my form was completed and returned or will thus be disregarded? 

poppy123456

catell said:

Can anyone answer the question whether they would take into account some notes I've made regarding what has changed in 6 months since my form was completed and returned or will thus be disregarded? 

Yes, you just need to make sure you tell them everything during the assessment. Remember to include those real world incidents mentioned above, that's the most important thing, if you didn't add any when you completed the form.