PIP tips

AndrewHall

HOW TO FILL PIP FORMS

Please note that whilst this is for PIP form filling only, the gist of most of these 8 points apply equally to DLA and AA form filling even though those are not based on points scoring. So, on point 1 and some others you can substitute the word “activities” or “activity” with the phrase “bodily functions... but not always

1 - Identify those activities you have any kind of issue with.

2 - Identify whether the issue is that you can’t do the activity at all; can’t do it reliably, can’t do it repeatedly; can’t do it safely or in a reasonable time. If any one of these apply to an activity then you can’t do it at all and it’s okay to say so. However, as well as ticking the box saying you either can’t do it all need help or aids, remember to say which one(s) of the above apply.

3 - Have a copy of the PIP points scoring system in front of you. The questions in the form don’t match the points scoring so it’s as well to be aware of this.

4 - For every activity you think you score points you need to think of 2 or 3 recent examples of incidents when you tried to do that activity. Describe in detail the what, when, where, who witnessed, what happened next etc. Don’t skimp on detail. It’s often better to type it up in Word first rather than write in the form. If it won’t fit then add extra sheets, remembering to put your name, NINO and the question to which the answer relates on each sheet. Alternatively, reduce the font and cut and paste the Word answer into the form. Note that doing point 4 correctly is far more important than supporting medical evidence in most cases.

5 - Use the extra information section to describe your conditions in detail; the specifics of the symptoms and especially how they interact. 

Also, if applicable, use it to spell out that you want an ongoing award and explain why e.g. your condition is degenerative, you’ve done all the adapting you’re going to do etc. If you don’t specifically ask for an ongoing award you will almost always get a short one. 

6 - Assuming your diagnoses are not in question and ditto the prognosis then ask yourself what gap in your evidence does medical evidence fill in terms of points scoring? If you can’t answer that then consider not sending it in. 10 reports all saying the same thing are no better than 1. Volume of evidence, especially medical evidence, doesn’t win you PIP and medical evidence is also not as helpful as your own anecdotes unless you are someone who lacks insight into their own condition e.g. someone with a learning disability or certain mental health conditions. Clarity and focus of evidence wins you PIP. 

7 - Whilst PIP ask for the form back in 4 weeks they will grant a 2 week extension without question if you ask. However, there is no actual deadline for returning the form in the legislation so that deadline can be extended if reasonable. What could be more reasonable than having a medical condition which slows you down? Ask for an extension as a reasonable adjustment under EA 10 if applicable

Regarding HCP Report 

Okay, this is very simple. You have become wrapped up in the HCP report to the exclusion of all else. It’s a common mistake; understandable but now you need to put it to bed.

1- you cannot prove a HCP has lied. Legally it is impossible and it will be to the detriment of your case if you persist. You can only show they recorded inaccurately. There is recording made so all you have is the typed report. Proving a HCP report gets you nothing. It debunks the credibility of the report and that’s all. Your entitlement is not decided by that report. It’s decided by the strength of your evidence.

2 - it is easy to forget but their role is not to repeat what you say verbatim (word to word). It is to assess and recommend. That means that it’s perfectly normal for you to assert one thing and for them to conclude something else. It’s not worth getting worked up about. It’s what happens in life every day. Two people look at the same thing and they either draw different conclusions or see different things. 

3 - make a note of 2 or 3 major things the HCP got demonstrably wrong and then put your report away and don’t look at it again. I don’t mean things where your opinion differs from theirs but things where you can factually and easily show mistakes e.g. if they say you are on no medication but you can produce a cashed-prescription. 

4 - forget the HCP report and go back and look at your PIP 2. That’s the evidence going up against the HCP report. Did you describe your health conditions or the consequences? It needs to be the latter, not the former. Did you address every descriptor in full? Did you give two real world examples per descriptor of incidents of what happened when you attempted each activity? Did any additional evidence, medical or otherwise, actually address the descriptors; address gaps in your evidence or did you just shove it in on the assumption that more is better? If you haven’t got the critical eye to pick apart your own case then get a friend who can. 

5 - forget the fact you were on DLA. It’s irrelevant at this point. Whilst the purpose of PIP is essentially the same as that of DLA they set about things in different ways and the rate of DLA or period of DLA award is of minimal help in securing a PIP award. Go back again to 4 above and get your own house in order.

6 - thinking they will contact your GP and MH support is a common error. They do this in rare instances but mostly you’re the claimant and the onus is on you to show that you’re entitled not them.

7 - support letters are fine but they would need to be directed explicitly to the descriptors else they’re of limited use. Unfortunately your MR, as I mentioned in my earlier post, has been directed to the weaknesses in their decision and not the strengths in your evidence. Your focus should not be on your conditions, but on the consequences for each of the descriptors. 

8 - If you’re going to obsess on anything then it needs to be your PIP 2 form and the weaknesses in that and getting your head round how you meet the descriptors. Start with https://pipinfo.net/ and give serious thought to which activities you cannot do “reliably”. Then go back to your PIP 2 and ask if your answers really met the threshold of explaining about reliability. If your PIP2 doesn’t mention anything about the reliability with which you are able to do those 10 activities of daily living then you have your answer as to where your claim failed and have a specific area to address going forward.

Award length

Ask for an ongoing 10 yrs award.  You have a lifelong or degenerative condition. So say so. You’ve had your conditions for more than a decade and you have been medically advised there is no cure. So say so. As you don't know where DWP's own award length comes from then it’s okay to assert that they have effectively made errors of assumption. So say so like this;  [Dear DWP, you made the decision on the short award period with no evidence to back it up. My circumstances merit an ongoing lifetime maximum award period. If you don’t accept that, please show me the evidence you relied upon].  See the UT case CPIP/1057/2018.

Alex_Alumni

Thanks for sharing these tips @AndrewHall they're very comprehensive!

I'm sure lots of members will find them very helpful and informative