ESA and PIP - Evidence?

Lips_and_Lashes

I recently had to leave my job due my chronic illness (it is a neurological physical disability) and I believe I am entitled to ESA and PIP.

I plan to apply for both on Monday via telephone but I wondered what paperwork/evidence do I need to start my claim?

I know I need a sick note which is not a problem, does it need to be a continuous one (I don't even know if these exist), one for a month, 3 months?

I believe I need as much evidence as possible, what is this? I plan to write a dairy for a week of my symptoms/daily life. Do I need to get my GP, Neurologist and Ophthalmologist to write a letter? Does this cost? Is a personal statement or statement from my mum, who I live with classed as evidence?

What other forms of evidence do I need?

Help and advice is much appreciated

help4help2013

you need to get as much medical evidence as you can to support you claim for the benefits your wanting to apply for

believing your entitled to them is a different story though my advice would be get your GP to sign you off if you cannot work due to your illnesses GP can give you one month or a /3 months sick note if they choose too this is what you will need to claim ESA and you will have to continue to send the sick notes in until you have been assessed and placed into either the SUPPORT group or the WORK RETAILED ACTIVITY GROUP if the DWP feel you meet the requirement for the benefit you do have to meet the criteria for ESA to be placed in either of these groups which is done by a points scoring system

send in all supporting medical evidence about your conditions in with your claim you can send in supporting letters from family members who see how your illnesses effect you if you want to

as for PIP you dont need to send in sick notes for this benefit as you can get it if your working but as stated above send in all supporting medical evidence about your conditions this benefit is based on the amount of care you need on a daily basis and how your mobility is effected just having a condition does not automatically make you qualify for the benefit . the time scales for PIP at the moment are very long i know people who have waited 12 months for just an assessment date and then a further 4 months after that for a decision so be preprepared for the time length ESA is also taking a lot longer than usual some people are waiting over the time set out for assessments too

Lips_and_Lashes

Thanks .

I know that I should be entitled to ESA/PIP but whether I get it or not is another thing. I've seen (on the internet) a lot people who need it get turned down, having to appeal etc.

My neurological condition is a life changing and life long illness which has hugely impacted on my every day life.

My GP has already signed me off but I didn't know if a certain kind of sick note was needed for ESA.

I cannot think of any other type of supporting medical evidence, if anyone can then please let me know!

pmlindyloo

The first thing to remember is that these are two quite separate benefits so do your research via the internet and have a thorough read of the descriptors for each.

Any medical evidence is relevant. Your GP should have been sent all the letters from anyone you have seen so ask for copies of these. Some GPs charge, some do not.

It is not so much about your condition but how it affects you so sometimes a GP's report may just talk about the condition and not about how it affects. if you have a good relation with your GP they may be willing to write some helpful comments with regard to the descriptors for each.

If this isn't possible then a community nurse/paid carer or similar could write a letter for you.

Any health professional that you have seen is evidence.

Google is your friend here. There is a lot of helpful information. If your medical condition has a name (sorry that sounds silly) then google and see if there is a charity/society that could help you prepare. or CAB or a welfare officer.

I'll start you off: (it's about appealing but still good information for an application)

http://www.advicenow.org.uk/advicenow-guides/problems-with-benefits/turned-down-for-dla-aa-pip-think-youre-not-getting-enough/what-do-i-need-to-do-before-the-hearing-html,641,FP.html

bll78

Hello,

Firstly I hope you are getting on ok with your diagnosis and the change to your lifestyle.

As other people have said ESA and PIP are very different benefits. I am not an expert on ESA so I'll leave that to others. PIP is not an out of work benefit you can claim PIP whilst working it is about the disability and it's effect not anything to do with income. For PIP as well as having had the issues for 3 months and be expected to have them for another 9 months, the questions are around how your disability effects you not whether or not you can work.

Personally I have found GP's useless at commenting on this, although others do find them a help. If you ask for letters you will be charged, and they may not contain what you need.

What you will need is your prescription list (assuming you are on meds), the contact details of all the medical staff involved in your care as you'll need these for the forms. I have always submitted my hospital letters in which my Neuro's have written to my GP about my examinations, test results, issues I have etc..

The thing to remember with PIP is the diagnosis does not mean eligibility the effect the disease has does. So to prove this I have still never been diagnosed after 15 years however I have huge amounts of test results, examinations etc... which prove there is an issue and I was awarded DLA (now PIP). I also sent my OT and neuro-physio assessments as they give detail of the issues I have day to day and the adaptations I have in place.

You need to describe how you are on good and bad days and how often you have bad days. One thing just for note if you say you need help to do X lets say get in the bath, they may ask why you don't have a bathlift. They will score you based upon you having the adaptation if it is of reasonable cost and makes sense even if you don't actually have the adaptation.

If you're unsure seek advice from DIAL, CAB or somewhere similar. You don't mention what condition you have but they may have a dedicated charity which can help.

Good luck with it all

TELLIT01

To make a claim to ESA all you need is a certificate from your GP. Period it's for is the GP's decision although until you have been on ESA for 6 months the longest period which will be accepted is 3 months on one certificate.
You can self-certify for the first 7 days but as there are now 7 'waiting days' before you qualify for ESA you won't get any payment for a self-cert period.
Assessments are supposed to happen in the first 92 days but that doesn't always happen. You don't need specialist reports at the beginning although these may be helpful when completing and returning the ESA50 form which is where you detail the incapacity situation.

helping_hand2014

any supporting medical evidence is always best to send in even at the start of your claim once you receive the ESA50 questionnaire.

like others have said in this thread and you have been given some great advice by the first few posters its not about what conditions you have but how they effect you on a daily basis this is where people usually go wrong with PIP.

people seem to think that just because they have a certain condition or conditions then this means they will automatically qualify for the benefit but as 100s of others have learned this is not the case

below is a link to the PIP points scoring and descriptors


http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/wales/benefits_w/benefits_sick_or_disabled_people_and_carers_ew/benefits_personal_independence_payment_e/benefits_the_pip_assessment_e/pip_activities_descriptors_and_points.htm


good luck and all the best

TELLIT01

helping_hand2014 wrote: »

any supporting medical evidence is always best to send in even at the start of your claim once you receive the ESA50 questionnaire.

Yes, send supporting evidence with the ESA50, certainly don't send it with the initial medical certificate when your claim starts. This information is required by the medical assessors not by the processing office. If you send it in early it's likely either to be returned to you or 'filed' and never see the light of day again.

[Deleted User]

as well as supplying and evidence you have,completing the forms as fully as possible also helps,after all the dwp aren't clairvoyants

Lips_and_Lashes

Thank you for all your fab advice!

I have Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension - increased pressure a round brain/too much spinal fluid/constricted blood vessels. There isn't a known cause, cure or specific treatment.

I take medication and hoping to stay away from brain surgery for as long as possible.