How to complete the reapplication form

Jona
Jona Online Community Member Posts: 44 Connected
Im not even sure if its even called that...but when youve been awarded and its time to reapply again....Ive noticed the form is way way less convoluted than applying for the fist time... Most Q's ask..."Has anything changed"? Yes/No  Paraphrase.

The point is i feel more ill as time goes on....Spinal stenosis Fibromyalgia/M.E Component and other co morbids...but PIP then to focus it all on the Fibro..which was diagnosed 2011 and 2020 March a Quantative sensory test confirmation of nerve damage...

The point is,, someone fills in the answers as "i am experiencing the same symptoms" etc..... Does it follow logically, that the same award is applied on the reapplication? I know already that the quirky world of PIP can throw up some curve balls...but the form seems very stream lined and suggests by its wording that if they awarded you Enhanced on both counts before...and this application you are experiencing the same symptoms....does it follow that the same award will be the result?   I have no real clue as to what i need to fill in as its so different to a first time application....They must have some type of previous records on me(aka my first application) for them to refer back to..
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Comments

  • Jona
    Jona Online Community Member Posts: 44 Connected
    edited August 2021
    2woodbine said:
    Hi it's called a review and you are best to treat it as a new application giving as much detail as possible (you can use extra sheets just put your name and N.I. number on each one), you should also provide evidence if possible. Remember PIP isn't based on what's wrong with you but how it affects your daily living and or mobility.
    If they have given you a date by which to return it (they will have) you can phone them and ask for an extension and they will give you 2 more weeks, but try and get it back in the post 7-10 days before the due date.
    The Qs they have are succinct ie "Has your condition stayed the same"?    If i have to reply "Yes" on certain aspects...what more can i write?
  • Jona
    Jona Online Community Member Posts: 44 Connected
    edited August 2021
    My point is...Their Qs are "Are your symptoms the same"? So surely they must have a record of this?  to have even asked.... It doesnt indicate on the form to re-expound the symptoms that have remained the same...Its much more stream lined than before... I'll call Citizens advice and see if they know more about this form ?
  • calcotti
    calcotti Online Community Member Posts: 10,001 Championing
    edited August 2021
    General view is that you put Yes. I still have difficulties etc. and describe those difficulties as you would on a new claim.
  • calcotti
    calcotti Online Community Member Posts: 10,001 Championing
    Your reaction to the form is understandable. The form and the guidance notes that accompany it encourage you to respond, as you say, with yes no answers and only expand these answers when things have changed.

    However, the general opinion outside DWP appears to be, as advised in this thread, that is better to restate the difficulties you have even if nothing has changed.
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    As there's very little space on the forms i usually write " see additional A4 sheets, then give all the information needed for each descriptor that applies.
  • Jona
    Jona Online Community Member Posts: 44 Connected
    As there's very little space on the forms i usually write " see additional A4 sheets, then give all the information needed for each descriptor that applies.
    If nothings changed....they simply ask for a No...How can i further that ?
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    There's 3 questions for each activity 1/ Tell us if something's changed and when  2/ Tell us how you manage this activity now 3/ tell us about any changes to the help you need or the help you get from another person..

    None of the questions specifically ask for just a yes or no. If you answer with just "no change" you're almost guaranteed an assessment and there's no guarantee that you'll be awarded the same again. You shouldn't assume they will look at your previous award or anything related to it.

    To give yourself the best chance then you need to fill the form is as if it's a first time claim. A couple of real world examples of what happened the last time you attempted that activity for each descriptor that applies to you. What happened, where you were and who seen it/who was with you.

    See my previous reply as to what i do when filling out the review form.
  • Jona
    Jona Online Community Member Posts: 44 Connected
    edited August 2021
    Im in a pickle there, as i live alone....Zero witnesses to my issues! Other than OT when they realised i needed a bed raiser due to my issues....I'll collate as much evidence via them...ie all the equipment theyve needed to supply...As for witnesses...there are none...
  • calcotti
    calcotti Online Community Member Posts: 10,001 Championing
    Jona said: As for witnesses...there are none...
    You don't need witnesses. You are the one who best understands your difficulties, you need to explain them,
  • Jona
    Jona Online Community Member Posts: 44 Connected
    calcotti said:
    Jona said: As for witnesses...there are none...
    You don't need witnesses. You are the one who best understands your difficulties, you need to explain them,
    Thats what i thought, but Poppy said "A couple of real world examples of what happened the last time you attempted that activity for each descriptor that applies to you. What happened, where you were and who seen it/who was with you." end quote.   In real world situations...if one lives alone....theres no witnesses

  • calcotti
    calcotti Online Community Member Posts: 10,001 Championing
    Jona said:
    calcotti said:
    Jona said: As for witnesses...there are none...
    You don't need witnesses. You are the one who best understands your difficulties, you need to explain them,
    Thats what i thought, but Poppy said "A couple of real world examples of what happened the last time you attempted that activity for each descriptor that applies to you. What happened, where you were and who seen it/who was with you." end quote.   In real world situations...if one lives alone....theres no witnesses
    Poppy was indicating information you can include, obviously if you're alone then no one was with you. The information you provide reflects your difficulties and your circumstances.
  • Jona
    Jona Online Community Member Posts: 44 Connected
    edited August 2021
    The process is extremely flawed...Its your word against theirs....  I even sent in a (not only diagnosis, but the very thing PIP want to see "symptoms")_ from a special lead nurse, who gave 2 A4 pages of my real world symptoms but they were ignored...Even though in the end, did get enhanced....this particular aspect of my claim was oddly ignored.... As youll likely know(as ive seen your name on here way way back and youre still on here) PIP is wishy washy on their decisions.  Eitherway....if my review claim isnt correct, i'll take it to tribunal as all of my conditions are factual and provable...but how do you fully prove yourself to someone who meets you for one hours thats a paramedic 
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    calcotti said:
    Jona said:
    calcotti said:
    Jona said: As for witnesses...there are none...
    You don't need witnesses. You are the one who best understands your difficulties, you need to explain them,
    Thats what i thought, but Poppy said "A couple of real world examples of what happened the last time you attempted that activity for each descriptor that applies to you. What happened, where you were and who seen it/who was with you." end quote.   In real world situations...if one lives alone....theres no witnesses
    Poppy was indicating information you can include, obviously if you're alone then no one was with you.

    Exactly this. Anecdotal evidence is still the best evidence to send because you are the only person that knows exactly how your conditions affect you.
  • Jona
    Jona Online Community Member Posts: 44 Connected
    edited August 2021
    Im calling OT,who provided me the shower equipment and bed raiser , the housing agency, that provide my gardening and bin collection(as i cannot walk with the bin) .The only flaw is i moved 2 yrs ago approx, and i lost a long relationship with my previous gp who knew me for 10yrs.... So when review app comes, i really dont have a current gp
     that knows me that well..plus with the covid...ive not had a face to face for over a year.
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    Even with your previous GP this still wouldn't be the best person to ask because they don't spend time with you to know how you manage washing/dressing/preparing food etc etc. Medical evidence is only good if it states exactly how your conditions affect you and most doesn't.
  • Jona
    Jona Online Community Member Posts: 44 Connected
    Even with your previous GP this still wouldn't be the best person to ask because they don't spend time with you to know how you manage washing/dressing/preparing food etc etc. Medical evidence is only good if it states exactly how your conditions affect you and most doesn't.
    So going back to my original point..As i live alone, it can only be me as the witness...there are no other witnesses..Living alone on many levels is a negative...especially i would say for filling in a form that asks for witnesses


  • Jona
    Jona Online Community Member Posts: 44 Connected
    Ps.....my old gp knew how the condition effected me...I knew her for 10yrs

  • calcotti
    calcotti Online Community Member Posts: 10,001 Championing
    Jona said:...especially i would say for filling in a form that asks for witnesses
    It doesn't ask for witnesses
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    The witnesses is just information that you could include, as advised previously. Obviously when you live alone then it’s not possible to have this. I live with my daughter but I don’t spend every minute with her and she has Autism and doesn’t really notice any incidents that’s happened to me anyway.
  • MarkM88
    MarkM88 Online Community Member Posts: 3,119 Connected
    I think witnesses is the wrong word to use. 

    Lots of people claim PIP successfully,  whilst living alone, they just provide what you have been told to provide and that’s 2 real world examples for each applicable descriptor.