I'm trying to fill in a PIP form and just cannot seem to get started

Simbaxxxxx
Simbaxxxxx Online Community Member Posts: 2 Listener
edited April 2022 in PIP, DLA, ADP and AA
Hello all I am new here and looking for any advice a I can find .I am trying to fill in a.pip form and just cannot seem to get started .I have severe depression and have.attempted suicide numerous times .any help would be.massively apreciated.i.e. Donna by the way

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  • Simbaxxxxx
    Simbaxxxxx Online Community Member Posts: 2 Listener
    Sorry I mean I am simba
  • Tori_Scope
    Tori_Scope Scope Posts: 12,464 Championing
    Hi @Simbaxxxxx :) Welcome to the community! It's nice to meet you. 

    Getting started on the PIP form can be really overwhelming. You're certainly not the only person to feel that way. 

    One good way to start is to take a look at the PIP descriptors (pipinfo.net), and see whether you can think of a few real-world examples in line with those. Have you tried doing that yet?

    Some people find it helpful to keep a diary of things that they struggle with in terms of their daily living and mobility, so that they can look back and use those examples as evidence. 

    It sounds as though you've really struggled with your mental health. I'm going to send you an email from community@scope.org.uk shortly, so please do keep an eye out for that :)
  • chiarieds
    chiarieds Online Community Member Posts: 16,867 Championing

    Give a couple of recent, detailed examples as to the difficulty you face for each applicable descriptor, i.e. when did it happen, where, what happened, did anyone see this, & were there any consequences to attempting/doing an activity?

    Say if you can't do an activity 'reliably,' i.e. safely, to an acceptable standard, repeat as often as one would reasonably expect, or if it takes you much longer than someone without a disability.

    Try keeping a diary for a week or so. You can either send this in with your form, or just use it for reference. Just complete a few questions at a time, & you can always add extra pages at the end. Just ensure you put your name & National Insurance number on each page. You can also ring the PIP enquiry line on 0800 121 4433 to ask for extra time to complete the form, & you will be given another 2 weeks without question. There can be postal delays tho, so post your form in good time. Keep a copy of everything, & get a free Certificate of Posting from your Post Office when sending the form off.

  • ShirleyW
    ShirleyW Online Community Member Posts: 353 Empowering
    Have you filled in any of the form at all?
    If you haven't then just start with the easy bits - all the facts like your name and address, NI number, your doctor's address etc.
    That will make you feel a bit better to think that you have actually done a bit of it.

    Then just take each question one at a time.  Write out on a piece of rough paper what you want to say first.  Then read it back to yourself to see how it sounds.  Ask a friend or relative what they think of your answer.  

    If you just concentrate on one question at a time - maybe one a day - or one in the morning and one in the afternoon - it won't seem quite as overwhelming.
  • AndrewHall
    AndrewHall Online Community Member Posts: 311 Empowering
    edited April 2022
    Simbaxxxxx said:
    Hello all I am new here and looking for any advice a I can find .I am trying to fill in a.pip form and just cannot seem to get started .I have severe depression and have.attempted suicide numerous times .any help would be.massively apreciated.i.e. Donna by the way

    I know how overwhelming the questionnaires can be. It is a deliberate attempts by DWP to discourage people from applying.
    Having said that, your request for the form is an application for PIP.  I have heard of several cases where people were called in for assessment without completing and sending back the form. 
  • chiarieds
    chiarieds Online Community Member Posts: 16,867 Championing
    Whilst the PIP claim form can indeed appear overwhelming, this, I presume is a personal opinion, 'It is a deliberate attempts by DWP to discourage people from applying,' which is totally incorrect. I also struggle to reconcile, ' I have heard of several cases where people were called in for assessment without completing and sending back the form.' One wonders why, if people didn't complete an initial claim form, they were, 'called in for assessment?'


  • calcotti
    calcotti Online Community Member Posts: 10,001 Championing
    edited April 2022
    chiarieds said:
    One wonders why, if people didn't complete an initial claim form, they were, 'called in for assessment?'
    I have heard of it happening. The claim is the initial call, the PIP2 is information gathering. Failure to provide information requested will generally result in a negative determination. However if DWP have reason to think a claimant is vulnerable they may, on the grounds of ‘good reason’, chose to ignore the failure to return the PIP2 and proceed to assessment.
  • charlie79
    charlie79 Online Community Member Posts: 330 Empowering
    I looked yesterday Atcham my carer had written on mine.  It looked like a essay.  She said she looked through descriptors then answered questions. But also took time. Make a drink put a movie one and do one question or page at a time. She photocopied blank form  and printed off 2 blank pages as a practice . Get a notebook write answers befor putting them on form and take your time.  
  • calcotti
    calcotti Online Community Member Posts: 10,001 Championing
    Or, if you prefer and have the facility, type your answers on a computer and print out making sure each answer is clearly referenced to the relevant question and that each page has your name and NI number. On the form itself you can then simply write ‘see attached notes” in each of the narrative boxes (you will still need to complete the tick boxes).
  • charlie79
    charlie79 Online Community Member Posts: 330 Empowering
    brilliant will tell her to type it out
  • Jo_2022
    Jo_2022 Online Community Member Posts: 295 Empowering
    Hello @Simbaxxxxx, It's lovely to have you join us on the community. Thank you for sharing your story.

    I am so sorry to hear about your depression, I can imagine it must be a lot to cope with. Yes, sometimes PIP Forms may seem complex and overwhelming.

    You might find it helpful to contact the Citizens Advice Bureau for support with filling in the form: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/contact-us/contact-us/

    Also, you might like to have a look at this link from the Scope website, with information about completing your PIP claim form: https://www.scope.org.uk/advice-and-support/tips-for-completing-pip-form/   
        
    Best wishes and take care  :)                      

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