DLA to PIP for Epilepsy success

julie0302

Hi everyone,
My daughter turned 16 in November and I got the dreaded PIP letter. After doing a lot of research, making notes and creating a file, I started the application. It took me 3 weeks to complete. I wrote about her day to day life, experiences and included all of her medical notes. I found writing a draft first really helpful, as I could add more info over the days, as things would come to me. I also took direct quotes from my daughter and included those. The award letter landed yesterday. She has received enhanced daily living and mobility. My only gripe is she received top points where I thought she’d receive the minimum and maximum points where I thought she’d score low. Go figure!  I’m elated for her as I was prepared for a tribunal after reading so many stories about claims for Epilepsy being awarded 0 points. I hope this gives some hope to people who have Epilepsy. There are successful claims out there.  

calcotti

Well done. Your approach of preparing a draft and working on it over several days is a good one. Clearly understanding the scoring system is also sensible because it allows you to write to the marking scheme. (Much like essay planning for exams.)

julie0302

Thank you! You’re right, constantly referring to the marking scheme was helpful. I noted a lot of advice from this forum too, which was a huge help. It’s an arduous, time consuming task, but being organised with drafts and including real life examples, like story telling helped. I hope this post helps other people, as it’s a very stressful process to go through.

Alex_Alumni

Wonderful news @julie0302 I'm really pleased for you and your daughter

The process of applying for PIP can be stressful and demanding, but you certainly approached it in the best way. I'll always remember how nervous I felt when my own decision letter came through! But you've done the hard work and hopefully it will be a long while yet before a review happens.

Thank you very much for sharing, your post will be so helpful for our members to read.

Alex

julie0302

Thank you @Alex_Scope 😄
It feels like a mountain to climb with never ending questions, and the relief when I posted the form was a lovely feeling. And I was happy to forget it about it for a few months. 

The letter was sent in a white envelope and not the usual brown DWP, so I didn’t even realise it was the award letter. I’d of been quite anxious had I of known.
I’d spent weeks reading everyone’s experiences on here, in preparation, and felt the anguish. If this helps just one person, I’ll be happy 😊 

L_Volunteer

You are welcome @julie0302. It is the very least you deserve.

We understand that it can feel overwhelming and like never-ending questions but we are glad posting on the forum was a lovely feeling for you.

We are here to support you and thank you for your willingness to help other people. It is people like you who make the forum the supportive and friendly space it is.

Please let us know if you need our support with anything else or have any other questions 

julie0302

Thank you @L_Volunteer very much appreciated 😊

julie0302

Thank you @Teddybear12 😊

chiarieds

Hi @julie0302 - congratulations on your daughter's PIP award.

julie0302

Thank you @chiarieds 😊

julie0302

Thank you @woodbine I had a few of your answers and advice in my notes. Very much helped 😄

poppy123456

Great news! You took my approach of preparing a draft and then adding to it as and when needed. Taking your time and doing a little at a time is also something i do.

Just an extra thought, do you claim child tax credits or child element of UC for her? If you do and her DLA award wasn't high rate care then because she's now been awarded Enhanced daily living PIP, once the PIP starts you'll be entitled to the Severe disabled child element of tax credits and you will need to ring HMRC to report the changes or the higher disabled element of UC and you'll need to report a change of circumstances on your journal. 

julie0302

@poppy123456 You were my inspiration when I was preparing long before the form landed, so thank you, you helped immensely. I work full time, so don’t claim any other benefits, but thanks for the advice. I’ll be claiming the road tax element though. I do have a question. The sections she scored low on, do I challenge that? It seems they’ve scored her high for things that are absolutely relevant, but in my view not high scores and low or zero for others. 

poppy123456

You're most welcome, i'm glad my advice to others helped you. There's no need to challenge anything because she can't be awarded anything higher. It would be a complete waste of your time and their's.

As for scoring points where you think it should have been more, or scored for descriptors you think may not have been relevant, unless you totally understand the descriptors and the criteria for them, then it's easy to underscore and even over score. Very few people completely understand the criteria.

julie0302

Thanks again @poppy123456 sound advice 😊