PIP enquiry

Quinndog82

Hi, my sister recently has been awarded PIP based on her capabilities on moving around the house as she has a condition whhich affects her legs as they ulcer and she had breathing difficulties which at the time was diagnosed as congestive heart failure. She still has the same issues with breathing and moving around but her GP has now said she no longer has heart failure. Does she need to inform PIP that her medical condition has changed but her capabilities havent? Sorry for the long post! 

calcotti

PIP is based on how she is affected, not on her diagnosis. If the difficulties she has are unchanged she doesn't need to report anything.

Alex_Alumni

Hello there @Quinndog82 and welcome to the community, thank you for reaching out today. Just to help our members share their thoughts more easily, I've moved this post over into our PIP category. 

According to the Gov.uk website: 

You must contact the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) enquiry line if:

• your personal details change, for example your name, address or doctor

• the help you need or your condition changes

• your condition has worsened and you’re not expected to live more than 6 months

• you go into hospital or a care home

• you go abroad

• you’re imprisoned or held in detention

• your immigration status has changed, if you’re not a British citizen

I think I would first consider, does your sister feel like the help she needs has changed as a result of of what her GP has said?

Quinndog82

Hi, thanks for the update. No her support hasnt changed as this is just a change in diagnosis. The only issue is that she now is unsure why she has the symptoms she had when an enlarged heart and now her scans show no heart issues, but the GP has stopped examinations. 

Alex_Alumni

Okay @Quinndog82 thanks for explaining, is this something your sister could talk with another GP at her doctors about? Is she experiencing particular symptoms at the moment?

I would hope any GP would want to explain and address a patient's concerns as fully as possible. Is your sister able to take anyone with her to an appointment to help make sure everything is discussed?

If anything I've said is unclear, then please do let me know.

Quinndog82

Yes the GP explained but went about it the wrong way. Basically said she no longer had heart faliure and her breathing is down to her weight. Her weight is an issue as it was prior to her breathing issues, however her breathing issue took her to A&E and an enlarged heart was found. 6 months later a scan found no heart abnormalities and she was told 6 weeks after her scan that she needs to lose weight. She is happy she has no heart issue however her condition and capabilities havent changed since she went to A&E! The appointment was also over the phone and she hadnt been seen face to face in 6 months. Also has anxiety, depression and peripheral arterial disease which ulcerates her legs and are swollen and wrapped which he dismissed and hasnt seen! 

Quinndog82

I am going to arrange another appointment with the GP and go with her however she is at the point where she doesnt want to see a dr as she feels tbey wont help.
Her anxiety has gone through the roof and she feels she is comitting fraud with PIP as her heart condition has gone and needs to call them despite her capabilities being the same. 

Alex_Alumni

That's good @Quinndog82 and it is understandable that she's feeling so anxious. She'll have your support, and it's always worth raising any concerns in person if you can. 

She hasn't committed fraud at all, as you say her capabilities remain the same. If her daily living and mobility needs are still the same, then you do not need to notify the DWP of any changes. 

How much support is your sister receiving for her mental health at the moment, if I may ask? It might be worth chatting to her doctor about the impact of these worries about PIP, if she feels she needs extra support.

I hope I've been able to help clarify things for you, but let us know if we can help further.

poppy123456

Quinndog82 said:

Her anxiety has gone through the roof and she feels she is comitting fraud with PIP as her heart condition has gone and needs to call them despite her capabilities being the same. 

As PIP isn't about a diagnosis, if the way her conditions affect her are the same then there's nothing to worry about and nothing to report. She's certainly not committing benefit fraud.