Supporting Letter

Sprinter · February 3

Good afternoon, My first pip review is due soon following a two year award. Over the past year I have had to have a carer once a week to assist with shopping cleaning cooking and bathing. The lady works in a nearby Care Home. I approached her recently to provide a letter of support regarding my pop review. She said it would be pointless as she is not medically qualified and evidence from friends family etc are usually disregarded. Is it worth broaching the subject again or is she correct? Thank you for any advice.

Jimm_Alumni · February 3

Hi @Sprinter, letters from people who can see how your conditions have an effect on you are actually quite good evidence. While the person themselves usually knows best how a condition is affecting them, sometimes things can become so normalised there are ways the condition affects them that they don't even realise as it has become so normal.

Now, I cannot say how seriously the DWP can take such letters, but I know that at the tribunal stage of appealing they take such evidence quite seriously. I would say it can certainly help if it is someone who knows you well enough to know the effects your medical conditions have on your daily life and mobility.

You could try explaining this to her, but if she is adamant that she does not want to I would not keep pushing.

Santosha12 · February 3

@Sprinter I think the help she is providing you with is evidence that you need that help and is therefore potentially useful for you to have that in writing. I wouldn't push is like Jimm said however, if it were me I wouldn't then be happy but that's just me and I'm generally cynical. I say that because if she wanted a reference from you for instance, would you give it if it could help her, and why would you not. Sorry, not trying to throw a spanner in the works but just my thoughts.

Sprinter · February 3

Thank you for the advice,I may try a gentle approach as I think her support may help, however if she shuts it down I'll concede defeat.I was suprised she was adamant her input would be of no use to me.

Santosha12 · February 3

@Sprinter in your review I guess you're putting anyway that you receive this help. Maybe print off from bank statements evidence of your payments. I did that when i applied for PIP to prove I paid 5.00 a day (when i worked as a nurse) to pay in the visitors car park as very close to the entrance where I worked as couldn't walk as far as from the staff car park. As my lovely old dad used to say, there's more ways of skinning a cat than one. Good luck with your review too. Take care.

Jimm_Alumni · February 3

It may be that she feels like her input actually doesn't matter, when it does, or that it requires some kind of expertise on her part. When the only expertise needed in this case is knowing what you need help with.

Best of luck with it all @Sprinter

michael57 · February 3

it could well be that she does not want her name used as it could incriminate herself for earning and not declaring it just something to bear in mind if i am wrong please accept my apologies

Sprinter · February 3

Thank you all. Much appreciated

whistles · February 4

It could just be that she doesn't want to get involved.

But you should be able to prove you receive help by providing bank statements and receipts.

Please tell me that it isn't cash in hand without any evidence at all. So you get Direct Payment, that is also of support needed.

Supporting Letter

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