The Green Paper Discussion (the document link is here too!)

Hi (again!)

So - just purely from my own personal experiance, I was on ESA in LCWRA for a few years, I never considered applying for PIP because a) I thought I couldn't and b) didn't want to risk loosing my ESA.

I had a social perscriber who encouraged me to go for PIP. There's a lot of (often intensional) confusion about it and stuff that I didn't understand. PIP is not an out work benefit so you can get it if you work or not. It's also one of the few benefits that's not means tests - so essentially it doesn't matter how much or little you've got in your bank or savings etc if you are disabled you can apply.

PIP is specifically to help disabled and sick people with the extra costs we all face simply because we have disabilities/illness so for example home adaptations, for counselling due to mental health, higher energy and water bills (if we can't stay warm, if we have inconteince issues), a lot of people don't have the energy to cook/prepare food so ready meals etc and just to live a life of dignity.

So for me, PIP ended up being my absolute lifeline. Due to personal circumstances I was put in a position where I very suddenly and wihtout warning had to be able to afford all the household costs and utility bills solely by myself. I would not have been able to pay my bills without PIP, forget food etc. You can definately have it while having ESA - and for me personally my ESA went up too because I got the higher rate of PIP (which honestly sounds like what you should qualify for from what you've said)

That said, the PIP process is long. SOme areas are now allowing your to fill out PIP online but it's not nationwide so check at the govt website if they offer it via your postcode.

You ned to reques the form be sent to you - you can't just download it. My social presriber got me an appointment at citizen's advice and they helped me through the phone call to request a PIP form - they will ask some questions about you and will then send the forms out to you. You can get help with this phone call.

The form is 50 pages logn. Now some of that is just basic details or questions on one sheet so not a full 50 pages you have to fill out. You'll need to probably do it over several days. You have a deadline of when you need to hand it in - try to get it back a least five working days before that and send it first class and recorded delivery.

I used various youtubers to help me fill it only, mainly Charlie Anderson as I had to do it by myself, but you can get someone to help you or fill out the form on your behalf - if they fill it out for you they just have to say so.

The key is go into as much blunt and explicit detail as you can. It's not just about what you can't do or struggle to do - talk about how your disabilities and illness effect you hour by hour, day by day. Go into blunt, brutal detail about what life is like for you - this will include very personal stuff about hygene, incontenience etc - you have to be explicit - you can add extra pages to sections.

You will need to include medical evidence if you have any - so this can be things like any reports you have about any conditions you have, any specalist you see etc. Don't send them appointments as they don't consider them. Ask people who know your conditions/struggles to also write a letter or report. Either download your GP records online and include them or request a hard copy from your GP and they should send that, include that in the form.

It's all about understanding what PIP is really asking you and how they allocate the points that is key. After you get the form off then there's quite a long waiting period, but you will then most likely get an appointment with an accessor.

This terrifies people, terrifies me. In your circumstance if they don't offer one I would request a phone appointment, or maybe at your house. You have this right for 'reasonable adjustments' under the Disability Act 2010.

What really helped me is before you send the form off take a photo of every page of your PIP form with your written answers, save on your phone, upload to a laptop or something and email the photos as attachments to yourself. Before the assesment have the photocopes of what you wrote because there's a 2 month gap and you won't remember your answers and will need to. I was lucky my assesor was kind. Some are not. I think one thing that helps is the amount of detail you put in the form the more explicit you are the less questions they can ask. Also the evidence will paint a picture too.

It's about re-framing how you think of your disability. For most of us it's normal life and we don't think of all the coping mechanisms and things we have to do e.g. I have a poor memory so I have to have a pill box for my medication that is classed as an 'aid' because it helps you remember to take your medication. I also have alexa remind me to take my medication, to take laundry out, to remember to eat etc - those are all aids. If friends and family have to remind you to do things - have to coax and persuade you, put that in and how often. It's all the things we forget about the hoops we have to jump though, that we need to be close to a toilet and privacy if we have inconteince issues - the time and energy it takes to clean ourselves or if someone has to do it for us.

For me it was absolutely the right thing to do. I know not everyone is in the right frame of mind or has the energy, ability to do it. It's enable me to have counselling and pay my bills. There are people who can help you through the PIP process - another reason I'd say go to the GP and ask for a social perscriber because they can help you. But the youtube vidoes made a huge difference.

Also - and I'm being purely petty here, but think of it this way: if the govt suddenly gets a huge influx of people just on ESA who apply for PIP, that is going to slow down absolutely everything for them and give them a big headache trying to sort thorugh it all, plus they can't change the law this year re PIP and basically will have to honour any existing claims and they tend to give PIP for a few years of more - it would be just deserts if you get PIP in the midst of this and they have to pay you.

You're welcome, I'm sorry it was so much info! I would strongly consider applying for PIP.

So my assessment was over the phone thank God. I think it was about between half an hour to an hour. Also one extra piece I forgot was if it makes you feel safer you can ask that you record the assesment (just use a recording app on your phone) as this tends to make assesors (the less empathic ones) behave better - also it's not your word verses theirs.

I was lucky I got a kind woman. I just cried afterwards and cried when I got PIP.

I'm looking at putting together an electronic booklet/pdf guide about applying for PIP if people want I'll try to knock out within a few days that will hopefully include a bit more detail and advice of things I might've forgot but also in bitesized bits.

Just take care of yourself, OK? Please be kind and gentle to yourself - body, mind and soul (sorry if that's cheesy!)