Pip Text Message

Sounds like they are covering their backside heavily there and not committing to any course of action.

I just bombarded UC with medical stuff (wife went further and mailed them her entire medical records....was like an old school phone book plus named her specialists) and they decided on that basis they had enough.

I get ADP as I'm in Scotland and they at least base their decision primarily on medical evidence but I know PIP is different and some say designed by a us medical insurance company.

I know it's hard but try to stay positive (I was a nervous wreck before I got my ADP and LCWRA decisions, though I constantly live in second guess mode in case someone misconstrues one of my good days for my normal and labels me a 'fraud', just as bad is ADP says "no need to worry about taking a holiday everyone needs time away " but the DWP "You only need to worry if we find out you are having the time of your life in the sun " - which means you don't even want to try) so I get what your going through.

Is this a review or initial application?

Hear hear claps

they design it to be deliberately vague in order to be as off-putting as possible and it's enlightening to read the manual their assessors work to (on UK gov website).

The veritable annoyance that comes through in the writing style in addendums regarding decisions of the court and tribunals that have overridden the DWP interpretation of the rules is barely constrained, almost "if it wasn't for those pesky judges" "apply it this because and only because we have to comply as much as we disagree with it"

The rumour I have heard is that an American insurance giant basically drew this whole system up, using their "delay, deny, defend" model - in a nutshell take as long as possible to process the claim, deny the claim, defend your decision to deny as far as possible Inc through the courts, the reason being to put off as many claimants as possible and create as many obstacles to qualifying as possible.

HOWEVER they still have to set out their rules and rationale....so hold them to it, base it on how you are 50% of the time, always highlight what causes you pain, consider "would I have to do xyz if I didn't have this health condition?" / "What do I do to adapt to my health issues" along with can I reliably do this i.e. if someone said "let's go and do this" could you right there and then or would you have to do xyz before or would it depend on your symptoms, if you did it would it worsen your symptoms or leave you unable to complete other activities due to pain and fatigue. They don't mention this on the form often but it's hidden in the criteria in their manual.

If you ever have to have a face to face again (and hopefully you don't), take as much time as you need, don't push yourself, make it clear when you are in pain (don't resort to British stoicism), if it's going to leave you too tired to do anything else etc then make that clear, if you are mentally distressed make that clear also .

That's something to make clear right there to them - due to pain, fatigue and also due to the side effects of my pain medication I have had to give up work as I couldnt safely get there and trying to work worsened my pain and fatigue resulting in me being chronically exhausted and struggling to complete tasks I needed to - I had to skip cooking dinner from fresh and eat something prepared and frozen despite preferring to cook from fresh / I like to be immaculately turned out but I just don't have the energy to iron my clothes which causes me anxiety, distress and frustration at not being able to do this reliably