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Help with DLA to PIP

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  • twonker
    twonker Posts: 617 Pioneering
    Thankfully you have an updated letter from your GP. The DWP are unlikely to place much importance on a letter dated 7 years ago.

  • thespiceman
    thespiceman Community member Posts: 6,388 Disability Gamechanger

    Hello @Tonypiano777 Thank you for contacting the community. Sorry to hear that you not too good.

    I do understand having problems filling in the form. Have you got the booklet that deals with the form. Giving you some guidance. What to put in it.

    I do think one other suggestion to you was to contact CAB.

    They do help, advise and give good guidance. How and what is needed in the form.

    I do understand have some issues going out. I know this is hard for you. As a person with some similar issues especially memory loss. Due to addiction.  Plus mental health issues I am like yourself forgetting medical history.

    If you get you prescription on line. Meds delivered to you. You can down load your medical history from your Surgery website. You need to apply first.

    Do a rough draft on some paper. Related to your health history. What you can recall.

    I know many members have given you some practical advice and some solutions. To the questions that need answers.  On various posts.

    If you care to read through those. Might be useful. Take some notes.

    I do know also the main reason advise CAB because they have specialist members of staff who do this form filling in every day week to week. Constantly.

    I know this because have a friend works for CAB. He is an experienced, knowledgeable gent. Has been my mentor many years.

    He used to help me fill in forms now.  One time if I did not have support workers or mental health teams. With his advice use CAB.

    Please can I also suggest if nervous and anxious to go find some one to go with you. If you can.

    Does help with everything.

    All reassuring for one with anxiety and on edge.. Wish you the best what ever decision you decide to go for. Have mutual respect. As a valued member of the community.

    We are here as a community to help and point you if we can in the right direction.

    May I also add for a successful outcome. That is the main objective and focus.

    Please take care.

    @thespiceman



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  • Tonypiano777
    Tonypiano777 Community member Posts: 42 Courageous
    edited April 2019
    Thanks @twonker for the assurance. (This  7 year letter was, however, for. ESA claim , my welfare rights team helped  - and prompted me to get this letter from the doctor and I successfully won my ESA, and was placed in the support group.  All this though, however, was AFTER my ESA was turned down, and that i had to attend an assessment.  With being unable to go out, and attend these assessments, i finally, (after Mandatory reconsideration and appeals.) managed to get this sorted.  Though it took 6 months plus. And many visits to my home from my welfare rights team.

    Thanks. 

    @thespiceman

    Thnaks also for the. Assurance @thespiceman, as on bad days, mainly pre medication, but post medication too, i can hardly concentrate on anything. To make it clearer, although my comuncation problem is poor (that’s on the doctors. Letter too) im “better” at people speaking to me, than, say, having to read the exact same words. I can follow conversation - but only if people talk slowly.  I have to ask the to stop and repeat etc. 

    If i watch a film/documentary etc, or debate, it takes me 5 plus listens/views before i can take it in. I was fully aware of this communication problem when i had to collaborate with group meetings lasting many hours when caring for my brother, arranging appointments etc. I understand youve got problems too @thespiceman.  Thank you, much appreciated. 


    @CockneyRebel
    i do now recall the person on the phone mentioning DLA being taken in to consideration. Took me a while to remember that one though.  cheers. 

    Sorry for errors as on my phone here typing !

    EDIT: was does “flag mean” on the left sid of the post at the bottom? Not sure if its a negative or positive.  

    @Tonypiano777

  • CockneyRebel
    CockneyRebel Community member Posts: 5,209 Disability Gamechanger
    Flag is a way of drawing the attention of the Scope team to a post. If something appears in a post that is contrary to the guidelines of the forum, for example advertising or personal details, the the team can address it sooner
    Be all you can be, make  every day count. Namaste
  • Tonypiano777
    Tonypiano777 Community member Posts: 42 Courageous
    Thanks @CockneyRebel for the heads up. Now i click on it is see.  

    thanks @ilovecats for the extra info there. Ill just put what the doctor wrote then. (Chronic anxiety and agrophobia/claustrophobia).  In one box rather than add them speperately.  

    Thanks. 
  • Tonypiano777
    Tonypiano777 Community member Posts: 42 Courageous
    edited June 2019
    Hello everyone again.  

    I sent the PIP form off a month+  ago, and received a letter 2-3 weeks go from Capita (as well as other letters from them including text messages galore).  I am due for an assessment Monday morning, (i checked the box on the last page “request a home visit”. 

    Unfortunately, i wont have anyone with me to help me along (I have hearing and communication issues) my sister is on holiday, and just cant make it. I requested an appointment change, but the 21st June they gave me was also not appropriate for anyone to come. 

    So then, I will have to have the assessment on my own - Monday morning, and I’m very apprehensive about the whole affair,  what/what not to say, for fear of messing everything up. Can anyone please give me any pointers as to what to expect when he/she comes in to my house ?  I’m sure thy don't expect you to be  perfect at answering all the questions.  I was expecting help from family/friends - but thats now not to be.

    Thank you in advance.  

    PS: going to have to re-read this thread, as cant remember a a single word i wrote - nor the others.  Also going to read through my PIP photo copy over the weekend to keep the information I wrote “fresh” in my mind for Monday.  

     
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 53,345 Disability Gamechanger
    HI,

    Just answer the questions honestly. No one can tell you what you should or shouldn't say because we don't know how your conditions affect you. Remember that PIP is about how you're affected at least 50% of the time over a 12 month period, so bare that in mind when you answer the questions. The best advice anyone can give you is to just be yourself. Good luck.



    https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Benefit-guides/Claiming-Personal-Independence-Payment/Go-to-PIP-medical-assessment

    I would appreciate it if members wouldn't tag me please. I have all notifcations turned off and wouldn't want a member thinking i'm being rude by not replying.
    If i see a question that i know the answer to i will try my best to help.
  • Tonypiano777
    Tonypiano777 Community member Posts: 42 Courageous
    Thanks  @poppy123456 i will definitively take that onboard, as its easy for me  to ramble on and forget that its “how my condition affects me”  

    The letter is labelled  a “consultation” via the letter, not “assessment “ i assume they’re the same?  

    Thank you.  Will look at the links to.  The CAB link which helped me to fill the form in was very helpful.  

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 53,345 Disability Gamechanger
    Yes, they are the same. Good luck.
    I would appreciate it if members wouldn't tag me please. I have all notifcations turned off and wouldn't want a member thinking i'm being rude by not replying.
    If i see a question that i know the answer to i will try my best to help.
  • Tonypiano777
    Tonypiano777 Community member Posts: 42 Courageous
    Thanks @poppy123456.  

    Roughly how long is the consultation? As the time (11.45 am) would make it “pre-medication” for me (i take my medication 2 pm and 10 pm) so I’m likely to be more anxious when he/she’s here,  at this time meaning an earlier dose of medication(11.15ish )  would probably be necessary 
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 53,345 Disability Gamechanger
    There's no average time for face to face assessments. It depends how many questions you're asked. Some can be 25 minutes and other 1.5 hours.

    I'd advise you to take your medication as you always do.
    I would appreciate it if members wouldn't tag me please. I have all notifcations turned off and wouldn't want a member thinking i'm being rude by not replying.
    If i see a question that i know the answer to i will try my best to help.
  • thespiceman
    thespiceman Community member Posts: 6,388 Disability Gamechanger
    Hello @Tonypiano777 . Wondering how you are and everything.

    Hope every thing is positive for Monday. I know you are anxious, nervous do not know what to expect.

    All I can add is I am glad you have contacted the forum. Been given some excellent advice and guidance.

    Please can I also say just be honest and say how you are.

    I would just think remember and just try to be calm . Hope that gives you some reassurance.

    Focus on the positives not the negatives. 

    Wish you well.

    Take care.

    @thespiceman


    Community Champion
    SCOPE Volunteer Award Engaging Communities 2019
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  • cristobal
    cristobal Community member Posts: 984 Disability Gamechanger
    @Tonypiano777 - I had my assessment at home. Based on my experience I'd advise:-

    Have a copy of you application form with you to refer to.

    I imagine you might be asked "how often do you do x" or " How many days per week do you do y" so if you can make a note of things like this on your application. E.g. I said I get tired a lot and had to lie down and was asked "How often" and I'd made a note in advance.

    Remember that you must be able to do things 'reliably' so if the assessor says "Can you chop vegetables?" what they are really asking is "Can you chop vegetables safely, as many time as is necessary, to an acceptable standard, taking not less than twice as long as an unimpaired person" 

    If you can't then say 'No' and the assessor will ask you why you can't.

    The 'reliability' criteria are a bit of a mouthful but I had them written down on a separate sheet in front of me.

    Hope that this helps...

  • Tonypiano777
    Tonypiano777 Community member Posts: 42 Courageous
    edited June 2019
    Thanks all for the extra tips and comments.  Will spend most of tonight,and tomorrow “revising” and seeing what i can say Monday.  With my sister not here with me though, it makes it more difficult though.  I Hope your 25 mins is  nearer the figure poppy12345  than the latter 1.5 hours 




     
  • Tonypiano777
    Tonypiano777 Community member Posts: 42 Courageous
    edited July 2019

    Hello all again.  PIP Assessment and Award”  


    Its Been a time since I last posted. Hope everyone’s fine and well.  


    I had my assessment just over a month ago, and it was about an hour long - or so (the HP* had an alarm to start/finish the assessment -it appeared). 


    The HP came a bit early and caught me “off Guard” as it were, and had to take my medication as soon as the HP came down my yard, so I was pretty well worked up At this time until my medication kicked in, which was over half way through my assessment (usually takes 30 mins for my medication to “take”) 


    And so we started with the usual questions/answers I’ve seen both here, and elsewhere, describing my day-to-day activities,  and in what way I’m affected by them etc. 


    I was very nervous/fidgety  throughout, probably more than I thought I would be TBH, and drank 2-3 glasses of water just during this one-hour visit. (Needed the toilet twice) 


    Anyway, the HP went through the bases (eating, preparing food and so forth) but kept backtracking/pondering over the bathing and shower element.  (Probably because this was my strongest case for daily living points - I don’t know  ?‍♂️), as the HP kept asking me if I use the hand-rail in the shower room for my balance, or to STOP me from falling. In effect I said “both” (severe balance can, and does cause me to fall (including dressing) unless I’m holding on to something - and I told the HP this).  


    It was when we got to the mobility that i felt i needed to put my best-foot forward (for want of a better phrase), as this was my “strongest part “ for gaining points. It was the getting-out/overwhelming distress part the HP was most interested in (or so I gathered).  And So it went on.... (no physical test’s /bending Down etc were needed, though with my severe balance problem I would have welcomed this to prove a point - but my nerves weren’t too good At this time and I started to get MUCH more anxious - though i tried to keep things real). 


    After the assessment I was told 4-6 weeks etc for the decision, and received several texts, letters etc, updating me on progress - and “we’ve received all the information to make a decision “ etc. 


    I received my decision  this morning (Friday 12th)  and was awarded standard mobility - £23.20, a loss of about £25.00 from my DLA  (planning and following a journey) I didn’t receive anything on “moving around”. 


    I didn’t get anything on the daily living components either, with 2 points being a total under all the categories combined.  I was Very surprised - if not disappointed here considering the effort i put in on my PIP claim-form. 


    Reading the “My decision” on my PIP award letter today, thus: 


    1. “””””You maintained good eye contact (heard lot’s about this on various media forums etc) without appearing anxious, agitated or tense””


    I couldn’t have been more anxious, agitated or tense. I was extremely anxious, agitated and  tense - and very nervous too -  and full of anxiety. I was also perspiring a lot, though the decider said “increased sweating wasn’t apparent”. My balance was very bad too - and yes, I get bad balance from sitting too.  


    The last sentence of the decider in my PIP letter today said: 


    “””“I cannot consider awarding you PIP for any help you need for anything not covered by the DLMA (daily living) including sitting down to dress etc””””  (which I wrote on my form by the way) 


    Well, its because of my severe balance problem I have to sit down to dress - so why wasn’t this taken into account ?   - and lots of other things I've not mentioned, but been going on now too long (very sorry) but a full two-pages (A4 prints) of “additional information” I sent WASN’T even uploaded on to the HP’s laptop, as when I showed it, the HP said: “”I Don't have that (letter) here At the moment, but I think the DWP will have it on their system - so don’t worry ”’” (though when I was taking notes about this, the HP seemed  agitated, nervous even - and I picked up on this - and the HP  said repeatedly:  “””Its, OK, its OK - , I’m sure we’ll find it”””  - with a “nervous” frown (I wasn’t alone) 


    There’s more to be said but had an hour to spare.   Thank you all for your helps, and I’m very grateful to have received what i have done, even if I am on a weekly loss of <£25>. It’s something we have to deal with. Right? 

    Thanks for all the help you've given me, much appreciated.  

    TonyPiano777

    (*HP = *health professional )

  • thespiceman
    thespiceman Community member Posts: 6,388 Disability Gamechanger
    Hello @Tonypiano777   Thank you for sharing with the community what you have been through.

    You mentioned the loss of money from your award. You could appeal that decision if you wish to.

    Do a Mandatory Reconsideration with reasons why. I believe there is a time limit usually a month need to reply.

    More on our website.  

    The problem is if you did appeal then you they look at the whole award. You might lose more points.

    Sorry to tell you that. I know myself.  My own circumstances. 

    Every time I had a assessment a report has found some misinformation or this was not included.  I know it does start asking your self the questions what is the point of my self getting the information if it is not included.

    What is important to you is the award can you live with out an extra £25 .

    One final point what is important to you, peace of mind and reassurance you need from the community.

    I know when have gone through assessments need the words of some one who has been there.

    Know do not wish to think about going through that again.

    Until the next time then I know what I need to do.

    That does help by the way . Once your done one then it is continuous and you know what to expect.

    Never easy.  Being doing this a long time.

    Please if we can help with anything else please get in touch. Be happy to be supportive.

    Take care.

    @thespiceman


    Community Champion
    SCOPE Volunteer Award Engaging Communities 2019
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  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 53,345 Disability Gamechanger
    Hi,

    Sitting down to dress... the question here is whether or not what you sit on is classed as an aid or not.

    For the purpose of the PIP assessment, aids and appliances may be everyday objects, but whether they are considered as aids in any particular case depends on how the claimant uses the object compared to how (if at all) it might typically be used by someone with no relevant impairment. Where the object would usually or normally be used in the same way by someone without any limitation in carrying out the relevant activity, it is unlikely to be considered an aid or appliance, for example sitting on a bed whilst getting dressed or using a pan with a rubber-grip handle when cooking. In those instances where claimants make use of such items, they should be scored as being able to complete the activity unaided.

    You need to score at least 8 points for an award, so before you request the MR if that's what you're thinking of doing you need to look at the PIP descriptors to where you could score those extra points. You only scored 2 points, so you need another 6. It's highly unlikely you will score any points for dressing and undress for using the aid. There's 10 daily living activities in total is it possible for you to score points in another activity?

    I'd advise you to spend some time to look at this link to give yourself more understanding of the descriptors and what they mean.

    If you do decide to request the MR then you need to put this in writing, stating where you think you should have scored those points and your reasons why. Adding 2-3 real life examples of what happened the last time you attempted that activity for each descriptor that applies to you.

    Request a copy of the assessment report, if you haven't received it already but avoid mentioning any lies or contradictions that maybe in that report because they won't be interested in any of those.




    I would appreciate it if members wouldn't tag me please. I have all notifcations turned off and wouldn't want a member thinking i'm being rude by not replying.
    If i see a question that i know the answer to i will try my best to help.
  • Tonypiano777
    Tonypiano777 Community member Posts: 42 Courageous
    edited July 2019
    Thank you @poppy123456 and @thespiceman for the replies. Much appreciated.  

    Thanks for your kind words and thoughts @thespiceman.  I did consider the possibilities of things going wrong on my MR/Appeal etc, and think I’d better just “leave things”  as they are.  However, my welfare rights team have sent me a letter (via my request, although I wasn’t sure what letter Was going to entail) its an “authorisation to act”   On their behalf. (Two letters actually, which differ slightly).   

    It has a pre-paid envelope and says things such as:

    1).Date of decision —/—/—/
    2).Benefit awarded from —/—/—/
    3).At a weekly rate of £####
    4) Backdated amount.  £####
    5) Benefit refused ————-(please tick) 

    6)  My claim was successful/refused (please delete as applicable)
    7)  I get an Extra—————Per week 
    8)  I received an arrears payment of £—————-
    9) I was told my result of my claim on —/—/—/
    10)Authorisation to act.  

    So, I’m to send ALL my PIP letter (7 pages) that came yesterday, and as I gather, they will Check the form thoroughly to see if ive been awarded the correct amount, and at the right/wrong rate etc.  

    Can i live with the £25.00 loss? I “can”, but it doesn’t make easy reading though, when totalled for a year (£1,300). I hear many stories on the news saying things  like “we’ll be hundreds, of pounds worse off each year” etc - but you never think its going to happen to you! Here i am ?

    @poppy123456

    I filled the PIP form in almost religiously from the CAB guide that is linked here https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/help-with-your-claim/how-to-claim    

    Things like (quote from-their site) You should probably tick “yes” if:
    • you need to sit down while preparing or cooking - a stool or similar counts as an aid.

    And there are similar related suggestions of which to put down on your form.  Maybe DWP/HP’s don’t necessarily follow these guidelines and overlook them? Don't’ know.   But Zeros across the board (save one) seem a bit harsh.  

    I got 10 points for my mobility component (moving around) and written on the letter I received yesterday was thus: 

    Moving around (scored out of 12)  - 10

    “You cant undertake any journey because it would cause you overwhelming psychological distress “

    And thats pretty much it as far as points go, save 2 points for “Communicating”

    You need an aid or appliance to be able to speak or hear”

    I am an hearing aid wearer, so that was probably the 2 points awarded here.

    At the end of the day, I’m fine with it, as i could have be refused on all criteria, and I’m  aware many people in unfortunate circumstances that receive NOTHING ?

    Though i did read (possibly on these forums not sure) that :
    “You cant undertake any journey because it would cause you overwhelming psychological distress”  Will award 12 points in most cases ( i read)   ?‍♂️

    Thanks for the links too. Much appreciated.  

    PS: it says on the letter: “””I can award you the standard rate for an ongoing period”””  which is how long? (Roughly) 

    and also: “””We will contact you while you’re getting PIP to see if your needs have changed and to look at the amount you get This will be after 9th June 2029.”””

    So 10 years for before they contact me? ?‍♂️

    Thank you All @Tonypiano777
  • thespiceman
    thespiceman Community member Posts: 6,388 Disability Gamechanger
    Hello @Tonypiano777   Thanks for your reply. 

    I know my own personal circumstances.  Also been aware of some of our community struggling and striving constantly to get the required points.

    I know myself this as well.  The most important aspect I think is to look at this the assessment as a learning experience.  Knowledge is the key here.

    Make notes or retain  relevant information either from links provided by @poppy123456 or anything forms or information booklets.  For reference purposes.  

    Always useful to use and benefit from.

    Wish you the best. 

    Take care.

    @thespiceman


    Community Champion
    SCOPE Volunteer Award Engaging Communities 2019
    Mental Health advice, guidance and information to all members
    Nutrition, Diet, Wellbeing, Addiction.
    Recipes
  • Tonypiano777
    Tonypiano777 Community member Posts: 42 Courageous
    Thanks once again @thespiceman for kind words and help. Much appreciated.   

    All the best. 


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