PIP all the way in Essex!

Jaycee2411

Hello. I waited a year before receiving an appointment for PIP assessment. I don't know where my head was at but I didn't query why it was in Essex. I live in London. I didn't think I had a choice, although I've been assessed by Atos quite a few times for ESA. so I know they have centres in London. This appointment was for end of January. As it came closer and closer I became more and more anxious thinking about how I was going to manage the long journey. (I have arthritis in my spine and a slipped disk. I can't sit or stand for longer than 20 to 30 minutes before the onset of pain in my back and hips, at that time I have to lie down. I must take the weight off my spine). I know I left it too late but after talking to a friend I rang the clinic on the Monday (the appointment was the next day) in quite a panic saying that I just couldn't go. The advisor seemed nice and told me they'd send out another appointment. If that one was still to far away then I would have to provide further details about my conditions so that they could consider a home visit for me.

I did not get another appointment. As soon as I saw the brown envelope, I knew. It was from the DWP telling me I was not entitled to PIP because I didn't go to the assessment.
The thing is, I didn't want to apply for it in the first place but I was on the work programme at the time and my job centre advisor persuaded me to apply. I actually left applying to the last minute too, heard nothing from them so assumed I'd been too late.
I suppose what I want to know is should I bother trying again? I always felt that I wasn't disabled enough in the right sense to apply and although I'd really rather just forget about it, I'm really annoyed at these tactics to make it harder to go to an assessment.

What do you think?

rogerblack

Complain about the lack of sending out another appointment.
Did, in the initial call, or any other contact with the DWP - you explain that you have problems mentally, or are likely to have problems with forms?

On PIP eligibility.
Can you - most of the time - get up and walk 60 meters at half the speed of a healthy person?
If you can - then it is unlikely you would be entitled on that alone to PIP.

Do you struggle with various tasks throughout the day - for example - are there any daily tasks that you can't do in under twice the time of a normal person, repeatably, reliably and safely.

For example, dressing, bathing, cooking.
(housework other than cooking does not count - as a general rule - only stuff that you would not normally do for a fit adult family member. You might hoover - you wouldn't help them get into the bath, or dressed)

Jaycee2411

Thanks for the reply rogerblack.
You see this is why I didn't want to apply in the first place. I don't think I'm eligible enough. I can walk 60 meters at half speed, faster even. My problem is being upright - standing or walking (and sitting) for more than 20 to 30 minutes, less than that on a really bad day.
I have to do hovering and washing up in bits. Hoover for a few minutes, rest, hoover, rest, etc.

I don't need help bathing, dressing, although it's not easy getting into the bath. I don't need help with forms. I do suffer from depression and anxiety. I would have included that in the application form.


I think I'll not bother with this claim. I doubt they'd think me eligible enough. Thanks very much for your help though.