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Hi, my name is Andywheels56!

Andywheels56
Andywheels56 Community member Posts: 45 Connected
edited September 2020 in PIP, DLA, and AA
Hello everyone. Been a browser for quite some time but I need a bit of advice. To cut a long story short I've been very fortunate and never had to claim for anything in my life. However, in April last year I suddenly developed ringing and loss of hearing in my right ear. Went to doc's who sent me to ENT, had audiology test and an MRI scan done. Then went back for another audiology test and was told I needed a hearing aid. Had 2 hospital appointments for hearing aid fitting and a tinnitus meeting on how to cope with the condition. Had to retire from lorry driving because it was pergutory on my hearing. Anyway's, I started the pip journey and just winged it as best I could and scored 0 points. Put in for MR and then forgot to send in supporting evidence and got a letter back saying same result, 0 points. Have since phoned dwp up and they have said send any evidence you have to us before the 4 weeks is up. Should I also start the appeal process as well before they have taken the extra evidence onboard. Any advice gratefully received,Thanks.
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Comments

  • janer1967
    janer1967 Community member Posts: 21,964 Disability Gamechanger
    Hi and welcome the the community

    I would start the appeal process as often they dont really go on the evidence unless it clearly states how your dily living is affected.

    If the evidence is just a diagnosis then may be worth starting. look at your report and see where you thin k you should have scored the points and why and use that to base your appeal. Give real examples of what happens when you try and do a task or if you cant do it why you cant

    There is lots of advice in our PIP section
  • Andywheels56
    Andywheels56 Community member Posts: 45 Connected
    Hi Janer1967

    I know your right about going straight to appeal. I have read the knowledgeable among the community say give real world examples of what happens when you try do an activity, but I really struggle  to convey this message to print. I live alone, with an 83 years old father I look after and I don't really go anywhere, do anything interesting really. So every activity centre's in the home.
  • janer1967
    janer1967 Community member Posts: 21,964 Disability Gamechanger
    Dont worry about that most of it is about what you do at home 

    Where do you think you meet the criteria ? 

    If you are able to do most tasks you may struggle getting awarded 
  • Ross_Alumni
    Ross_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,652 Disability Gamechanger
    Hi @Andywheels56, just wanted to wish you a warm welcome to the community :) 

    I'm glad you joined us. 

    I've moved your discussion to our PIP section so it will hopefully receive further responses. It also allows you to browse this section of the community for other relevant information from other users.
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  • Andywheels56
    Andywheels56 Community member Posts: 45 Connected
    The main problem is my hearing. Although I was prescribed at the hospital with a hearing aid for my right ear( with a masking noise on it as well) I find that I cannot wear it all the time. It enlarges the sound too much, if that doesn't sound too daft. Without the aid the tinnitus just gets worse. Also find I struggle to hear what people say i.e. tele, phone and anybody who calls. I often have to ask them to repeat themselves. This leads to a lot of anger and frustration. Night time is the worst. I have a white noise app  downloaded to my computer and I play that all night long. without it I just wouldn't get any peace at all. The tinnitus has had such an adverse effect on my life that I avoid going anywhere I know is going to kick it off. Noisy places where their are lots of people, traffic, even the sound of of a boiling kettle and its on top note.
  • janer1967
    janer1967 Community member Posts: 21,964 Disability Gamechanger
    You need to convey all this in your appeal look at the descriptors for example food prep mention the kettle communications finance and going out will most likely give you the most points 
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 53,357 Disability Gamechanger
    HI and welcome,

    PIP isn't about a diagnosis, it's how those conditions affect your ability to carry out daily activity based on the PIP descriptors.

    Night time isn't part of the descriptors. What is part of the descriptors is being affected by your conditions for at least 50% of the time over a 12 month period.

    Medical evidence is only good if it states exactly how your conditions affect you, if it doesn't then it's not of much help. What will help is your anecdotal evidence and the best person to tell them this is yourself. Those real world examples is what's needed. You should also state who was with you, with you were and detailed explaination of exactly what happened.

    Do be aware also that PIP isn't about your ability to work. People claim PIP and work.


    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.
  • Andywheels56
    Andywheels56 Community member Posts: 45 Connected
    Hi poppy123456

    Thanks for replying. The medical evidence I have is just the diagnoses. The meeting I had with the nurse from the tinnitus team at hospital was basically me talking about how it affected me. She did advise to use a white noise machine, relaxation techniques and yoga exercise. Could they be classed as aids. Hearing aid as well, does that count. 

    It's the anecdotal evidence I am having trouble with, especially when most things I do are in the house and on my own.
    Only on a Monday when I go do the weekly shop for me and get my dad his groceries and pension do I ever really go out.


    Thanks for letting me know PIP isn't about my ability to work, but I really couldn't have carried on lorry driving much longer as I was becoming a danger to myself and other road users. I was having problems concentrating for long periods at a time and getting tired very easily.
  • Andywheels56
    Andywheels56 Community member Posts: 45 Connected
    Hi mikehughesq - was hoping you'd answer.

    Yes, I went to age uk first. The girl I saw there only thought I might score 2 points for communicating verbally, on account of the hearing. Pretty much that's all I put on the claim pack. Came back zero points. I just left it at that until the last minute and then asked for an MR. Didn't send anymore information and I got a letter back on the 27th aug - same result. Think I've got until a week mon to put an appeal in. Is it worth it or should I start the process again?


    After reading up on the subject and garnering more information, especially the other legal site you post on, I think I might score points in one or two other categories. They are - 


    1. Monitoring Therapy - Does a marpac dohm count as an aid to help me sleep. What about meditation classes or yoga for relaxation all prescribed by the senior nurse.

    2. Communicating verbally - Have real trouble understanding people especially when their is background noise. Sometimes the hearing aid makes things worse not better.
    3. Preparing Food
    4.Taking Nutrition
    5. Reading - Have read severe tinnitus hinders reading as is wonderfully documented.


    1. Planning and following journeys - Is a sat nav an aid. Cannot travel by public transport as it just sets the tinnitus offreally badly
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 53,357 Disability Gamechanger
    I wouldn't advise you to start another claim because using the same evidence you just used will very likely see another refusal and the whole process starts all over again. Even more so if you were advised by age UK that they they you would only score 2 points because that's not enough for an award.


    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.
  • Andywheels56
    Andywheels56 Community member Posts: 45 Connected
    Thanks poppy, I didn't think it was wise to start the whole thing again. The more I read up about pip the secret seems to be score a couple of points in as many descriptors as you can. The reason I was at Age UK was because the main lady their was doing my fathers attendance allowance claim, and boy did she know her stuff. Unfortunately they were too busy to see me so I was seen by her pupil who was just learning about giving advice.
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 53,357 Disability Gamechanger
    There's no "secret" to scoring any points. You can have a disability but if you don't fit the descriptors you won't score the points for an award.
    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.
  • Andywheels56
    Andywheels56 Community member Posts: 45 Connected
    My apologies if I have offended you poppy, I really didn't mean too. I meant to accumulate points. Maybe you could answer a question for me. Is the four weeks they give you, after a MR notice, set in stone to lodge an appeal to a tribunal. Or will the dwp give you a little leeway. The reason I ask is because I may seek advice from the welfare officer at Bolton council i.e. tell me if I have a case worth persuing.
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 53,357 Disability Gamechanger
    You haven't offended me at all. The 1 month is not set in stone, you have 13 months to request the appeal and it's nothing at all to do with DWP at that point. It's HMCTS for the appeal.

    Getting some further advice before you request the appeal is a good idea because if it's not possible to score enough of points then there's very little point in going any further.
    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.
  • Andywheels56
    Andywheels56 Community member Posts: 45 Connected
    Thanks Mike, that's well and truly burst the bubble. I told you I had no idea how to go about this. I seem to remember you saying something about somebody with severe tinnitus might possibly be able to claim. How severe does it have to be.


  • Andywheels56
    Andywheels56 Community member Posts: 45 Connected
    Can communication support come from a family member or friend ?  Or is it specialist support.
  • Andywheels56
    Andywheels56 Community member Posts: 45 Connected
    That would meet the criteria for Activity 7. Would that also be able to cross over into Activity 9 i.e. social support/prompting by same family friend/member. 
  • Andywheels56
    Andywheels56 Community member Posts: 45 Connected
    What about activity 1. A talking microwave count as an aid. Sound of pans boiling on the stove really sets he tinnitus off but I could live off ready meals. Got some really good ones in M&S. I suppose you could put in an easy to pour silent kettle as well. 
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 53,357 Disability Gamechanger
    It doesn't have to be specialist support. Mike has already explained the communicating activity. You also said that you ask people to repeat what they've said which indicates you don't need social support.

    I would definitelty get further advice, although you did that before you started your claim and age UK did advise that you'll likely only score 2 points, which isn't enough for an award.

    Unfortunately, you can have a disability but if you don't fit those descriptors you won't score the points for an award.
    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.
  • janer1967
    janer1967 Community member Posts: 21,964 Disability Gamechanger
    Its about the aids you actually use not what is available

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