Pip gp consent

js26 · September 2020

just in process of filling out pip form. I have attached various supporting medical info from consultants etc regarding my health. On the form it asks If I give them consent to obtain further info from.my gp. Seeing as my gp has never been really supportive in the slightest with my benefits etc if I select no on the form is it likely to go against me, I rarely speak or see my gp as my health is being dealt with specialists.

Chloe_Scope · September 2020

Hi @js26, it's really rare that they would contact your GP for more information because it is up to you to provide everything to support your case.

Is there a piece of info missing which you believe they could contact your GP for?

poppy123456 · September 2020

HI,

They very rarely contact anyone for any evidence, the onus is on you to make sure it's sent to support your claim. Whether you give your GP details is entirely your decision. Although they may think you have something to hide.

When filling out the form though i will advise you to put as much information as possible about how your conditions affect you. Then add a couple of recent real world examples of what happened the last time you attempted that activity for each descriptor that applies to you. You should also add who you were with and when and where it happened. This anecdotal evidence is the best you can send because medical evidence very rarely states exactly how your conditions affect you.

Good luck.

janer1967 · September 2020

Hi and welcome to the community @js26

Is this your first claim for PIP and also what makes you think your GP isnt supportive with your benefits has something happened to give you this opinion

Like the others have said they rarely contact GP its on you to supply the evidence and if you have consultant input then that should suffice.

However I do tend to agree that it may look like you are trying to avoid them contacting your GP

mikehughescq · September 2020

DWP decision makers really don’t have the time to consider on an individual basis whether you might be hiding something. It’s not something which enters the thought process. They don’t care either way unless your form strongly suggests a paper assessment around mental health.

What’s more relevant is what your consultants say. I don’t mean that in a positive way. Consultants can give a diagnosis but that’s irrelevant as DWP never dispute that unless a dispute falls into their lap. They can give a prognosis but again is it so obvious that no-one would be disputing it? They might describe symptoms but are they yours or just a general description of what a person with your health ought to experience? They can repeat what you tell them but is that medical evidence or just adding credence to what you say? They can outline a history of treatments which can be very useful but after that? None of their answers will directly address the PIP activities or specific descriptors. They don’t cook with you or bathe with you or read or shop with you. On that basis take a cold hard look at their evidence and ask what specifically it says about points scoring activities.

Neither your diagnosis nor your symptoms get you PIP. Two people with the same conditions can have the same symptoms but can have very different experiences of them in terms of what they can functionally do. That difference is what needs to be articulated and you do that with real world full on detailed anecdotal examples of when you attempted each activity you believe score points on.

The only possible reasons to disclose GP details are

- if the matter goes to appeal, where the lack of GP info will trigger an adjournment and a request for GP records.
- where the GP is the person you see most often.

Cher_Scope · September 2020

Hi @js26

Has the information you've received helped? Good luck with your PIP claim, let us know if you have any more questions.

Pip gp consent

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