My doctor instead of writing a PiP support letter said no this surgery doesn't do them anymore

The most important thing are your medical records (MR) from your GP surgery. They are evidence that you were diagnosed with a certain condition. They show more info than any flimsy doctors' letter. Get them as early as possible, and also make a copy for yourself. If treatments are ongoing, continue to ask for updates. Medical records are normally not free of charge. It depends on your surgery what they charge you for it. Alternatively, you can ask for your Summery Care Record. This is a short-form of your MR. They are normally free of charge; also when you request further updates. Also bear in mind, that you have already given permission to access your health records after signing your PIP/ESA application form. There's a section where you normally sign to allow DWP to contact your doctors. DWP and Capita can phone your health care professionals anytime. Why the benefit claimant has to provide his MR in addition is something I haven't really fully understood yet. 

poppy123456 said:

PIP isn't about a diagnosis and a diagnosis is often not in question. Medical records often state the basics like diagnosis, treatment, medication  etc etc which again isn't useful.

Moga said:

Medical records are normally not free of charge.

This isn't correct. You can request your medical records free in the UK. https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/about-the-nhs/how-to-access-your-health-records/

Yes, it's true they should normally be free of charge, 👉 but ...

My MR were free of charge the first time I requested them. But GPs can ask for a fee if you repeatedly request them. My updated records would have cost £50 once I reached tribunal stage. I've read in other forums that some GPs charge up to £150 and more when you request MR. I tried to complain about this to the health care trust and to my GP surgery. As the complaints procedures were lengthy and too complicated for me to navigate, I dropped my complaints. The practice manager insisted that the surgery can charge the £50, and if I didn't like it, I could register with another GP.

Moga said:

There's a section where you normally sign to allow DWP to contact your doctors.

Yes there is on the PIP2 form, however, they very rarely contact anyone for any evidence. The onus is on the claimant to prove they qualify.

Moga said:

DWP and Capita can phone your health care professionals anytime.

OP is at Tribunal stage so this isn't relevant. Even if they weren't at this stage, they very rarely contact anyone.

What you need to do is give a couple of recent real world incidents of what happened the last time you attempted that activity for each descriptor that applies to you. Include information such as where you were, what exactly happened, did anyone see it and what the consequences were.

There are plenty of Tribunal threads here on the conmunity with lots of very useful advice. This thread here is just one of many. https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/87932/pip-tribunal-representation/p1

poppy123456 said:

Medical records are available digitally for free, not sure why you would need to repeadetly request them for this reason.

If you want paper copies then yes they can charge you.

Medical records are only useful if something in them states clearly exactly how your conditions affect you against the PIP descriptors. Most medical records just state the basics, which isn't particually helpful.

poppy123456
They are not digitally available where I live. Here, I have to request them in writing and pay for the paper copies.

Based on my diagnosis in my MR and associated symptoms, I linked them to all PIP descriptors and drafted my answers. I also read the ICD-10 (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems), used their descriptions and medical terms which best described my disabilities, and drafted my answers for the forms and assessments. 

chiarieds said:

Hi @Moga - as Poppy & Mark have said, PIP isn't about any diagnosis/diagnoses; you simply list them in your initial claim form, & they would rarely be questioned then or later, so why linking to the ICD-10 (now ICD-11) would be relevant, I'd question.

With any disorder, people are affected differently, & some people simply don't have a diagnosis, so PIP is therefore about any difficulties you face with your functional ability to perform any applicable activity/descriptor reliably the majority of the time; general info about any disorder is simply not needed.

In not only my opinion, but some Drs, the ICD simply does not encompass all that would be relevant to an individual. Speaking personally, the finding that one of my disorders is linked in some instances (statistics currently unknown) to another, the consensus by leading specialists is that this is being constantly evaluated, i.e. 20 years ago they thought they knew a little about both disorders, 10 years ago what was considered a lot  more, but are still learning....,,,

@chiarieds
PIP is not directly about diagnosis and disorders, but you still need to know all your symptoms and how they affect your mobility and daily living. The descriptions in the ICD-10 helped me a lot to describe my difficulties I face with my functional ability. They were the building blocks to explain and describe in my own words what difficulties I face with my functional ability; and if I can do them safely, reliably, aided or unaided, and so on. Of course, everyone approaches their PIP claims and assessments differently. But from my experience, it was still important to know every detail of my diagnosis and the symptoms associated with them. I've recently had my second assessment and felt much calmer and confident to tackle their difficult questions.