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Slipping through the cracks

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  • Jurph
    Jurph Community member Posts: 369 Pioneering
    Exactly! @Victoriad I looked at them thoroughly when I sent in my MR. I knew what I should get.

    They basically said that my grip is fine, therefore I'm fine. I feel like they thought I was making it all up.

    I'm off to a tribunal for it so I need evidence.

    I don't think I have a care package. I've never had any paperwork from them. They turned up twice, discussed my needs and got the housing to install the rails.
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  • Jurph
    Jurph Community member Posts: 369 Pioneering
    Thank you @Victoriad I get what you're saying. The CAB said something similar. I meet the descriptors to get both daily living and mobility at high rate. I won't be disappointed to get standard rate daily living.

    Because my illness fluctuates, they've only taken my best days into consideration and said the rest doesn't count.

    It was 0 points at assessment and 0 points after MR
  • whistles
    whistles Community member Posts: 1,583 Disability Gamechanger
    That was it for me. They decided I had no memory problems so no points on anything where you said you have.
    A memory clinic report would be useful but you don't need to show evidence apparently.

    @Victoriad they decided I didn't need prompting to take meds or be supervised. So I scored a zero. I wouldn't be able to do it reliably.
    It does seem that a bad memory is not in their criteria.
    Interestingly I was partially awarded DLA care because of my short term memory, there  was actually a question specifically in regards to that type of thing. That's now removed and I wonder because it's a known side effect without clinic reports its a zero. 
    Do not follow me, I don't know where I am going.
  • Jurph
    Jurph Community member Posts: 369 Pioneering
    The whole thing is really affecting my health but I'm enraged by the injustice!
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  • whistles
    whistles Community member Posts: 1,583 Disability Gamechanger
    Yes four for care, assessor gave me six though. 
    Do not follow me, I don't know where I am going.
  • Jurph
    Jurph Community member Posts: 369 Pioneering
    edited March 2018
    @Victoriad

    How can I apply for pip again if I've had it denied? I've only just sent off my grounds for appeal.
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  • whistles
    whistles Community member Posts: 1,583 Disability Gamechanger
    I need 4. The dm dropped the assessors 2. 

    Do not follow me, I don't know where I am going.
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  • debbiedo49
    debbiedo49 Community member Posts: 2,904 Disability Gamechanger
    @Jurph ive just joined this site so please bear with me. I was diagnosed yesterday by my gp with fibromyalgia after years of chronic pain and no diagnosis and pushing for referral to specialists with no joy as bloods were clear. Basically my gp just pushes meds. So I tried another gp and bingo! Any way your post resonates with me as I too have anxiety and depression and other health problems. I too have applied for pip for chronic pain and other health problems as I wasnt diagnosed with fibro. I got refused and zero points with the reasons being complete lies. Im at appeal. Im getting help from mental health charitable organisations with this as they suggested I apply. Otherwise I wouldnt do it due to past experience of Esa. Anyway have you tried self referring to your local charitable mental health service?  They usually provide help with applying for benefits as well as CBT. I self referred for CBT as my gp told me its quicker than nhs. I realise now years later I should have done both as I waited 2 years after that to ask for a referal to nhs mental health team. When you are applying for benefits I think it helps to be attending nhs or other services to get evidence to support your claim. That sounds cynical but its a hard world out there. I am now thinking about going back to these sources again for further help with anxiety and depression and CBT. I was advised to use citizens advice bureau or council benefits money advice team to help me with pip. So thry filled out the forms and deal with correspondence etc. Its making me less stressed about the process. I am not expecting an award but I must try. Now I have been diagnosed then maybe I can get more points. Im not sure. Have you tried your local cab or money advice team? Also benefits and welfare is a good website to look at with pointers on what to do. For me its just sinking in with the diagnosis but ive always thought it was fibro. I had a trauma 8 years ago which triggered my health issues and forced me to give up work. My body just rebelled against it. Its so hard to prove you have invisible ilnesses and its so unfair for us to be made to feel insignificant. Thsts why I am so grateful for the support I am getting now. I had to go get it though. Good luck and look me up if you want to chat.
  • CockneyRebel
    CockneyRebel Community member Posts: 5,209 Disability Gamechanger
    Anyone that has a flucuating condition ( and that is all of us ) should keep a diary so that an Average can be established. Whether you fluctuate daily, weekly or monthly, it is how you are affected for the majority of time.

    If you declare only your worst day, the HCP will delve around with questions and look for days that are better, then use this against you.

    If you only declare your best days and the HCP finds that you do have bad days , they will probably play them down in their report

    CR
    Be all you can be, make  every day count. Namaste
  • Jurph
    Jurph Community member Posts: 369 Pioneering
    Thanks for taking the time to reply @debbiedo49

    It's comforting to know I'm not alone!

    My GP suggested the same about self referral. I referred myself early January. I'm on the list but it's another 3ish month wait.

    Like you, I've had it for years without explanation. I had a trauma and glandular fever around the same time so I suspect that was my trigger. I was only diagnosed in October.

    It's hard to find evidence to prove I struggle when all medical evidence shows no physical signs.

    The assessor dismissed mental health completely (she was a mental health nurse!)

    The CAB helped me with my appeal. They've been great but are very overstretched.

    ----------

    @CockneyRebel

    I was completely honest. I do keep a diary and tried to show it to the assessor - she said she didn't need to see it.

    I have bad days for pain a few days a week, and bad days for fatigue a few days a week. So bad that I'm house bound and can't do anything for myself.

    The DWP took this as having 'pain and fatigue 2 days a week' and therefore it's less than half the time and doesn't count. The merged symptoms into just one.

    The ignored my other days completely which I explained in detail.

    They implied I have 2 bad days then I'm the picture of health for the other 5!
  • whistles
    whistles Community member Posts: 1,583 Disability Gamechanger
    Victoriad said:
    Hello @whistles
    I would revisit the reason for the assessor giving you the 2 extra points and check against the descriptors so that if you missed this out in your application form for PiP, stick it all back on the form again.

    Usually from reading the posts on this forum it is the assessor that everyone is complaining about......

    I would have thought the assessor carried more weight in deciding the veracity of what you are stating on the application forms.


    I had a good one and he agreed with the forms in that instance.
    It will be looked at again at the review. I can't deal with the stress and the MR date has gone.
    Do not follow me, I don't know where I am going.
  • CockneyRebel
    CockneyRebel Community member Posts: 5,209 Disability Gamechanger
    HCP's and DM's often ignore a lot of evidence including diaries but tribunals will read everything.
    A tribunal looks at all the evidence available  to HCP and DM .If they find that it has been available at an early stage and it is relevant but not taken into consideration, they don't take kindly to it being ignored. If a good solid case has been presented it is wasting their time. There are some cases that the tribunal decides on the evidence before the formal hearing.

    CR
    Be all you can be, make  every day count. Namaste
  • whistles
    whistles Community member Posts: 1,583 Disability Gamechanger
    Jurph said:
    Thanks for taking the time to reply @debbiedo49

    It's comforting to know I'm not alone!

    My GP suggested the same about self referral. I referred myself early January. I'm on the list but it's another 3ish month wait.

    Like you, I've had it for years without explanation. I had a trauma and glandular fever around the same time so I suspect that was my trigger. I was only diagnosed in October.

    It's hard to find evidence to prove I struggle when all medical evidence shows no physical signs.

    The assessor dismissed mental health completely (she was a mental health nurse!)

    The CAB helped me with my appeal. They've been great but are very overstretched.

    ----------

    @CockneyRebel

    I was completely honest. I do keep a diary and tried to show it to the assessor - she said she didn't need to see it.

    I have bad days for pain a few days a week, and bad days for fatigue a few days a week. So bad that I'm house bound and can't do anything for myself.

    The DWP took this as having 'pain and fatigue 2 days a week' and therefore it's less than half the time and doesn't count. The merged symptoms into just one.

    The ignored my other days completely which I explained in detail.

    They implied I have 2 bad days then I'm the picture of health for the other 5!
    Depending on how you look at things. 
    I could say if I had a standard good day based on the average person, I wouldn't be in warden supported housing in the first place. I am here because I don't function as the average standard person to start with.  :)

    Do not follow me, I don't know where I am going.
  • Jurph
    Jurph Community member Posts: 369 Pioneering
    HCP's and DM's often ignore a lot of evidence including diaries but tribunals will read everything.
    A tribunal looks at all the evidence available  to HCP and DM .If they find that it has been available at an early stage and it is relevant but not taken into consideration, they don't take kindly to it being ignored. If a good solid case has been presented it is wasting their time. There are some cases that the tribunal decides on the evidence before the formal hearing.

    CR

    I hope so. Thank you for all your advice over the last week. I'm trying to get as much as possible together while I'm waiting for my bundle. Thanks to you, I know the process and won't have any surprises. 

    Hopefully I can get help with my anxiety while I'm waiting for the date.
  • Jurph
    Jurph Community member Posts: 369 Pioneering
    whistles said:
    Depending on how you look at things. 
    I could say if I had a standard good day based on the average person, I wouldn't be in warden supported housing in the first place. I am here because I don't function as the average standard person to start with.  :)

    I think it's why these sites are so important. Anonymity makes it easy for us to talk to one another about our problems without the fear of being judged.

    I suspect I couldn't say what I posted here in person to anyone. It's great to be able to do.

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