Applying for PIP - is it worth it?

kez1234

tinkledom wrote: »

You are quoting DLA not PIP!


If PIP is easier, how then could it be that based on the PIP descriptors I might get a max of 4 points overall and thereby get no PIP award, yet I have been assessed many times for DLA in the past and I always have been awarded HRM & MRC?


So my suggestion that I could say that my knees are so painful that I cannot walk the max of 20 metres. would be acceptable to the DWP as evidence?
Doctors can't prove it one way or another if this is true and certainly could not confirm that due to what I say means that I can't walk anymore than 20 metres. I tell my GP that it is true, my knees are in a terrible state - should the DWP just accept my word for it arguing that it is medical science that is letting me down and it's not my fault that they can't find a diagnosis?


PIP is all about descriptors - descriptors - descriptors. (in my case I fit into just one of them which should give me 4 points)


You have to show that your needs and difficulties fit into one or more of these descriptors - that it! You may well have needs and difficulties that don't fit into any box - those don't count with PIP. It's for only those that tick the boxes.


Then you have to provide written evidence that this is in fact true.


Then you have to convince an assessor from either ATOS or CAPITA in a face to face assessment that what you have put on your claim form isn't a pack of lies and that there are no exaggerations involved.


Once you have done all three the DWP will decide if you have been telling the truth and if they find that to be the case, they will then decide how many points to give you for the descriptors that you have identified that you fit in.


That's it in a nutshell.

i suggest you read it properly i am not quoting dla at all that is for pip get it right

kez1234

and just saying that your knees are painful and you can't walk 20 meters is not enough, we could all say that get a letter off your gp, all evidence is vital

tinkledom

Morglin wrote: »

Most will have a physical assessment, but (to quote) 'not those with the most severe and evidenced disabilities'.

That is why evidence can be so important.

Capita, who I believe have contracts in the North of the country, are doing face to face, but because of the delays and the audits, procedures are being reviewed.

ESA started as face to face for everyone - but that idea was swiftly dropped, when reality kicked in.

Lin

Then I must be one of the unlucky ones as for all of my initial claims (3) for various benefits and most of my renewals (10 out of a total of 11 renewals) they have resulted in a face to face assessment with the DWP's Medical Services office.


IIDB (all six claims) - 1 initial and 5 renewals) - 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2004 and 2012


DLA the initial one in 1995, then renewals at 1997, 1999, 2001 and 2012. There was no face to face assessment in 2004



ESA the initial one in 2010 and the renewal in 2013

tinkledom

Morglin wrote: »

If you would care to read the PIP timescale thread, most of those applying for PIP have had favourable decisions, although they have taken a long time to decide.

Lin

You can't call that representative of the whole UK scenario!

tinkledom

TOBRUK wrote: »

at least you will not be spending any time filling out such forms if you are well enough to work - as you know their answer/decision without sending the form.

I only fill out claim forms if I know I have a better than 90% chance of success in getting an award made. Otherwise why would anybody want to spend countless days and nights filling them out if they though that they had little chance.
As I have said I have more important things to do with my time than sending off speculative benefit claim forms. The truth will always come out in the end when you have a face to face assessment. I pick the battles that I know I can win, not the ones that I will probably lose.


You mention ESA, I picked that battle to win. I picked the most relevant condition that I have that would see me get that result. I have many conditions that I could choose from as well you know as they are documented elsewhere on this site. You fight with your best weapon, not the weakest or the least understood.

tinkledom

kez1234 wrote: »

and just saying that your knees are painful and you can't walk 20 meters is not enough, we could all say that get a letter off your gp, all evidence is vital

That has to be the understatement of the year.


Yes get a letter off my GP. Of course I can get a letter off my GP - if I told him that my knees are bad, he has to believe that what I am telling him is the truth even if he doesn't know why they are.


So any letter from the GP will always be treated with suspicion by the DWP, it could well be nothing more than the GP reporting to the DWP what I have said.


That is why, the DWP do not place that much importance on what a GP says - they know that it is probably biased in your favour.

Even Councils that issue Blue Badges have cottoned on that GP's are likely to be biased. They now don't even ask for a GP report, preferring an independent OT assessment instead.

Indie_Kid

If you have a carer, get them to write a statement and if you have a care plan from social services, send that in. On the DLA form, there is a space for someone to write a statement. I wonder if the PIP form has this too?

tinkledom

Indie_Kid wrote: »

If you have a carer, get them to write a statement ?

I have actually heard of a husband/wife giving a statement as well as other members of the family.
Let's be honest what would you expect them to say? 'The wife/husband is telling a load of porkies?'

Of course they are going to support their family member or spouse.

If you want to get a statement the best person is probably an OT who has carried out an assessment and is part of the Social Services team.

Parva

tinkledom wrote: »

I only fill out claim forms if I know I have a better than 90% chance of success in getting an award made. Otherwise why would anybody want to spend countless days and nights filling them out if they though that they had little chance.
As I have said I have more important things to do with my time than sending off speculative benefit claim forms. The truth will always come out in the end when you have a face to face assessment. I pick the battles that I know I can win, not the ones that I will probably lose.

Spending a few hours answering forms for DLA and ESA with absolute HONESTY has meant that I am now in year 3 on the highest rates for both without ever having been to any medical. I am not afraid of the day the form to claim for PiP comes through the letterbox. I appreciate that at some point I may have to face a medical and I am fine with that. Sitting back and resigning yourself to the fact that you might lose so don't bother trying is a ridiculous attitude.

You mention ESA, I picked that battle to win. I picked the most relevant condition that I have that would see me get that result. I have many conditions that I could choose from as well you know as they are documented elsewhere on this site. You fight with your best weapon, not the weakest or the least understood.

My main ailment is likely enough to qualify me for PiP or (as currently) the highest rates for DLA and ESA but I also include details of a secondary ailment I suffer which whilst not related to the main problem certainly exacerbates it. Why would I not include details of that issue when it does have a big impact in my everyday life? Your best weapon is to explain ALL issues that affect your everyday ability to live life to the full, to omit this is foolish at best.

TOBRUK

tinkledom wrote: »

I only fill out claim forms if I know I have a better than 90% chance of success in getting an award made. Otherwise why would anybody want to spend countless days and nights filling them out if they though that they had little chance.
As I have said I have more important things to do with my time than sending off speculative benefit claim forms. The truth will always come out in the end when you have a face to face assessment. I pick the battles that I know I can win, not the ones that I will probably lose.


You mention ESA, I picked that battle to win. I picked the most relevant condition that I have that would see me get that result. I have many conditions that I could choose from as well you know as they are documented elsewhere on this site. You fight with your best weapon, not the weakest or the least understood.

I find your reply to my post bizarre. I agree with Parva:

My main ailment is likely enough to qualify me for PiP or (as currently) the highest rates for DLA and ESA but I also include details of a secondary ailment I suffer which whilst not related to the main problem certainly exacerbates it. Why would I not include details of that issue when it does have a big impact in my everyday life? Your best weapon is to explain ALL issues that affect your everyday ability to live life to the full, to omit this is foolish at best.

As Parva said, you don't 'choose' just one ailment, otherwise how are they to understand how your day to day life is affected?

Most of us here don't 'choose' to apply for ESA, we have no choice. If you are not well enough to work there is no choice whether to apply for ESA or not, it is something you have to do if you have no other income. You don't pick and choose, it is something you have to do. If you have more than one illness or condition you let them know if it is relevant, you don't just pick one!

You obviously don't need to apply for any benefit with your attitude, if you, as you said

I have more important things to do with my time than sending off speculative benefit claim forms.

if you have more important things to do with your time you obviously don't need the benefit.