P.I.P. timescales...

Indie_Kid

kken2303 wrote: »

Hi Geordie girl,
Dont worry, I intend to fight it. I just have a few concerns over the wording of my letter, hoping it is good enough. Read the notification properly now as just skimmed it before and it is pure fantasy. Loads left out and things added which werent even discussed. One sentence talks about my daughter being able to eat and socialise at special occasions. Nothing at all was discussed remotely connected to 'special occasions'. 99% of the report is complete fiction. I will exhaust every route possible to get this overturned and am happy to help anyone else I can to do the same. Cant promise to know the law as this is my first foray into benefits but I am going to educate myself and pass on anything I think might be useful to others. Totally peed off with them which actually helps me fight back. Thanks so much for your support and know it is returned:)

Not being stupid, but have you checked that the name and other details on the report are that of your daughter?

kken2303

Indie_Kid wrote: »

Not being stupid, but have you checked that the name and other details on the report are that of your daughter?

There are other references which are definitely about my daughter but tbh it is only just over half an A4 page long. It is just pure fiction
as I said with details not even discussed. I went through it last night in preparation for the call back if it happens and was annotating every line with 'untrue'. How can they just get away with making it all up.
I am really frustrated especially as I spent some time in the company of the male from a couple who have both claimed and been awarded enhanced/enhanced. Both each others carers but he was laughing and said they knew how to work the system. He apparently cant walk the 20 metres but was at my mums house to do some house repairs and decorating. I walked with him to his car which was probably 150m away to carry some paint and he was quicker than me. I vented my annoyance at my mum after he had left to collect some more stuff and she said she knew how frustrating it must be when we have had a genuine claim declined. He is remotely connected to my family, step father of the daughter of my step uncle. I was fizzing when I got home (to my daughter in tears again, feeling really down) as it is probably false claimants like them who have made claiming so difficult for genuine cases. I almost went back to my mums and dragged him to mine so he could see the effects his actions are having.
Sorry guys, I know I have just super vented on you

kken2303

vonniemc wrote: »

Hi there everyone. Well my story begins with me returning from holiday last June and returned to work. Two days later I was struck with Encephalitis Herpes Simplex virus type 1 which is normally detected on the mortuary slab so I am a survivor. I was working full time up until this illness. I was in hospital for some time released and then admitted again.Adult Social services advised me to apply for PIP I did so in December 2013. I completed the appropriate paperwork and returned it accordingly. Then I waited but heard nothing. My daughter who deals with everything for me as I have been left with short term memory loss chronic headaches poor concentration and a weakness to my right hand side. I get confused easily so phone calls are a no no for me now a days. My daughter phoned DWP in March as we hadnt even received acknowledgement my forms had been received. They said they had received my form and I had to wait for an assessment with ATOS speculating that the time scale was 12 weeks the 12 weeks came and went nothing then told 16 weeks nothing next told 20 weeks then nothing after being told that it was then22 weeks my daughter wrote to our MP who miraculously emailed me two days later saying an appointment was in the post for the 24th June 2014, I went for the assessment which absolutely exhausted me lots of questions to answer and my brain cant cope too well with this now as part of it is damaged due to the virus. The Dr told me she would submit the report and I should have a decision with in the next couple of weeks, I had a letter on the 9th July to say DWP had received all relevant paperwork and would be in contact hadnt heard anything so today my daughter phoned DWP asking for an update on my claim. She was told the report had been received on the 26th June 2014 and this should have been dealt with within three weeks but nothing had been decided yet and now they were running two weeks over the allocated time the person it was in the critical stages now as they had went over the time allocated but gave no further information as to when the claim would be dealt with. I feel let down once again with the system.Yesterday I have received an appointment for Physio after 13mnths being discharged from hospital and I fear I wont be able to attend this as I dont have the money to pay out for a taxi and my family all work in the daytime, I am now reaching the end of my wits. Like everyone else on this forum I didnt ask to be ill and left with a condition. I wish for nothing more than to get up one morning and say I am off to work. I am totally devastated my employer medically retired me in March it broke my heart and I felt another part of me had been robbed as well as part of my brain. I dont know if this is helpful to others or have other people had a similar experience

Hope you hear soon, my daughters decision once with the DWP was about 4 weeks. My mum has severe physical problems and has a lot of hospital appts. If I am at work, the hospital send transport for her to and from. Sometimes she has a bit of a wait to get back home as they take groups of passengers together but at least it saves her getting the bus as our hospital is a fair distance from us. Another thought, can you qualify for a disabled bus pass? Our area operates the NOW card which gives you free travel on buses and trams etc. You only have to pay 50p if you want to travel before 9.30 am. Could be worth checking if there is a similar facility for your area.:)

vonniemc

Hi thank you for your advice unfortunately I can't actually plan a journey on my own with my short memory loss a taxi would probably be the best way for me to go hospital transport would be ideal but I don't know if I could cope with the hanging around I don't cope well around other people. You see after the illness I look in the mirror and see someone with a disability not me and I feel people do the same although been reassured I look the same before the virus I can't convince myself. I will just have to hope it gets sorted out sooner rather than later thank you I didn't realise when my daughters applied for this in December that it would take so long to sort out x

LL30

vonniemc wrote: »

Hi thank you for your advice unfortunately I can't actually plan a journey on my own with my short memory loss a taxi would probably be the best way for me to go hospital transport would be ideal but I don't know if I could cope with the hanging around I don't cope well around other people. You see after the illness I look in the mirror and see someone with a disability not me and I feel people do the same although been reassured I look the same before the virus I can't convince myself. I will just have to hope it gets sorted out sooner rather than later thank you I didn't realise when my daughters applied for this in December that it would take so long to sort out x

vonnie - I can very much relate to this. I led with my disability for about a year after I acquired it. It's a huge transition to go through, for which I went to counselling for in a bid to try and help me find some sort of 'acceptance'. In the end, I realised a few things:

a) 'Acceptance' was never going to happen for me, but I could manage 'adjustment'. Meaning that I can make adjustments to meet my needs, in order for me to continue with my life. I accept that I have to do this in order to retain a sense of me. This has not been easy, and can be frustrating (still) but if manage my own changes, and stay in control, then I have a better chance of keeping my identity as me, and not one of my disability.

b) (Linked) A very wise friend made me stand in the mirror and look at myself. She asked me what I saw. I said 'Me' and described myself. She said 'exactly'. Very simple, almost patronising, but very true. I am still me. Not my disability.

c) The more I practised saying what was wrong with me, the easier it became, and the less it became an issue for me. I am training in a person centred job, and I knew (and was concerned about) people always asking me what was wrong. I have now developed a light hearted way to explain it, and I'm able to answer questions succinctly so it doesn't become the conversation (in my line of work, people would much rather talk about me than them!).

Don't get me wrong, I still have wobbles. My whole sense of identity is disrupted, and the process of grieving can still be raw. I have panics about not being able to work full time. I hate that I can't chase my daughter, or teach her to ride a bike. But I can cheer her a long, and I love doing arts and crafts with her, which I am able to do. I was a dancer, but my ehlers danlos (previously asymptomatic but provoked by the arthritis) means that I struggle to know where my limbs and body parts are at times. I move awkwardly. I am no longer controlled in my movements. And my gait is terrible. To go from being so in tune with my body to this has been awful. It is like being in someone else's body. But if I look in the mirror, it's still definitely me. I won't accept that, but I'll adjust to it.

Not sure if any of that is useful. Or comes across as preachery type nonsense, but thought I'd share as your comment about the mirror struck a chord. Ultimately you'll move through the process at your own pace, and find what works for you. We all do things differently.

As for PIP, my assessment was 11th June. I've had no response either. Apparently the result is due any day. Or so they keep saying....

Take care xxx

vonniemc

LL30 thank you so much for sharing your experience and I will print this off as my short term memory bad so I can relate to this. I am sorry you have had to go through this awful ordeal. You obviously have a young family which saddens me so much. As you said there are other ways to help your children and encouragement is a wonderful thing. I to do arts and crafts. Although last year when I first became ill I couldnt concentrate on anything I used to be an avid reader but nowadays would take me a year to read a book ha ha cos I wouldnt remember the last part of the book I read I tried it was on the same page for months. Yes I laugh at myself I have to cos if I didnt I would cry. I have Grandchildren around me as I now have to live with my daughter because I cant be trusted to cook or anything! put the electric toaster on the cooker and turned the cooker on mmm it didnt survive. I put washing in the machine and forget to turn it on or classic is washing the same load up to three times ha ha. well at least we know its clean.My Grandchildren are 6yrs 5yrs 2yrs and 10mnths the eldest 2 know Nannie doesnt remember things to well and are very good reminders for me. Yes we adapt to life because we got to. I will look in the mirror one day and hopefully not see a stranger looking back at me. Thank you so much and good luck with your PIP I hope it goes well for you lovey xxx

kken2303

vonniemc wrote: »

Hi thank you for your advice unfortunately I can't actually plan a journey on my own with my short memory loss a taxi would probably be the best way for me to go hospital transport would be ideal but I don't know if I could cope with the hanging around I don't cope well around other people. You see after the illness I look in the mirror and see someone with a disability not me and I feel people do the same although been reassured I look the same before the virus I can't convince myself. I will just have to hope it gets sorted out sooner rather than later thank you I didn't realise when my daughters applied for this in December that it would take so long to sort out x

I can only add my vote to LL30's comments as they are spot on.
I was just aware that the hospital transport option is there for those who can or feel able to access it but it obviously isnt for you at this time. I hope that your claim gets sorted out soon. They are taking an awfully long time but it hopefully will be soon. Take care x

when_will_it_end

Hi all I had my f2f today. It took 5months 3weeks.
the lady told me Manchester had the shortest waiting times. I attended pall mall on king street.

good luck all x

Dandydoo

Hi everyone had my assessment today hooray and he said that he was going to put in a recommendation that I get reassessed in approx 2 years is that a good sign ? Any help great fully appreciated

marcus6

marcus6 wrote: »

Hi all,

I'm new to this site,

My PIP TRIP,

It started back on sept 2013 got the paper work sent back by the end of sept, at first i did not think on phoning ATOS but as time was getting on i was getting sick of waiting so i phoned ATOS up around june and got told they did not have a date, then i phoned them up at the end of june and ATOS said they had a cancellation and she asked me if i wanted it, she said it was in E london, i said yes i will take it, The assessment was for the 18th of Jul, That's 291 days or 41 weeks i had to wait for the assessment,

The layd that done the assessment use to be an ( Occupational therapist! )

Had the assessment, i have to say it went well,


I got a letter today saying the assessment report is done and its being audited, ( that was fast!)

so back to the waiting game, as its now in the hands of the PIP GODS

Thanks

UPDATE!!!

Hi all,

Just got of the Phone to ATOS, very nice lady just told me the audited has been done and its being sent to DWP today,

More waiting, but as least its on its last bit now..... not long to wait i hope.

Thanks