personal independence payment, first time applying.

Kitty777

Hello!!

I am hearing about personal independence payment for the first time, after a friend of a friend said that they get it (a long with other things I guess) and it pays for their living costs..

I suffer from severe dyslexia, anxiety (diagnosed with psychologist reports) and also autism (although I can function to an acceptable level a lot of the time).

I have been through the 'check list' of things they score online, and I scored 19 on the daily living part and 10 on the mobility section. I am unsure what this means, and I understand that is me marking myself but I do struggle day to day...just never knew this was there to help!!

My questions are this :

I do work full time, in a job I enjoy and I am good at it...however, many things bring stress that probably wouldn't cause stress to someone else. Would working full time be an issue for this benefit?

Also, my partner lives with me and helps me daily. He does all of the budgeting of the household, prepares a lot of the food (as I have a habit of almost slicing fingers off...) he helps with the timings etc too, but most importantly he helps with any journeys that I take on the bus, car and train...I don't think I'd be able to go out the house without him!! Would he be able to have an input in the assesment?

Has anyone else been on this benefit for the same conditions as myself?

Also, we have just recently moved house and not yet changed doctors surgeries, will this be an issue as they ask for my doctors address? Will they need to contact them?

Thanks!

pmlindyloo

Last point first! Doctor's evidence for the application of PIP is extremely important so you should make finding your new doctor a priority particularly as I believe it takes some time to transfer your records.

Although looking at the PIP descriptors is useful there are a number of other factors involved.

I suggest you do two things - read this link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/449043/pip-assessment-guide.pdf

It's very long so start at page 75 and then another time go back to the beginning.

Although it is a guide for the assessors it does give you an idea of what they are assessing.

If then you think you are eligible then make an appointment with CAB (choose one with a benefits specialist) or a welfare advisor and ask them for help with your application.

In the mean time I suggest that you start keeping a diary of your days. This should be very detailed and say the time of day (obviously!), what you are doing, how you are doing it, how long it is taking, whether you need help from an aid or a person and how you are feeling when you are doing the activity.

Working does not mean you cannot be eligible for PIP but some of your work activities MAY clash with what you are claiming in your application.

Sorry, I forgot that you are severely dyslexic. You could write up your diary on the computer/get your OH to do it for you and get your OH to help you with the link if needed.

Visiting CAB or a welfare advisor will also help to give you a better understanding of the assessment on a face to face basis.

Indie_Kid

pmlindyloo wrote: »

In the mean time I suggest that you start keeping a diary of your days. This should be very detailed and say the time of day (obviously!), what you are doing, how you are doing it, how long it is taking, whether you need help from an aid or a person and how you are feeling when you are doing the activity.

Sorry, I forgot that you are severely dyslexic. You could write up your diary on the computer/get your OH to do it for you and get your OH to help you with the link if needed.

If the OP gets someone else to keep the diary, it's possible they will write things that the OP will not have thought about writing down.

teddysmum

I have to compliment the OP on the grammar, punctuation and spelling in their post, as it is much better than in many posts by people who don't have dyslexia.

NYM

Hello Kitty ! (:D...just wanted to say that...)

Kitty777

teddysmum wrote: »

I have to compliment the OP on the grammar, punctuation and spelling in their post, as it is much better than in many posts by people who don't have dyslexia.

I should hope it is, I have computer programmes to help with that! :P

tomtontom

You say you can't go out without your partner, do you work together? You're not safe to use a knife but you can drive a car?

Be careful overplaying things on your application - you end up contradicting yourself which inevitably means your claim will fail.

Kitty777

tomtontom wrote: »

You say you can't go out without your partner, do you work together? You're not safe to use a knife but you can drive a car?

Be careful overplaying things on your application - you end up contradicting yourself which inevitably means your claim will fail.

My partner came with me twice to work when I first started, sorted out all my train times for me (they are written down even now) and still now I ask him during the day for the train times home.

I can drive a car, but I can't park and struggle sometimes with spacial awareness...my car has driven about 5 miles in the past 2 weeks...

I just thought it would be worth a go applying - nothing to lose

GlasweJen

surely you can park though? didn't they cover that in the driving test?

cliffandsue

GlasweJen wrote: »

surely you can park though? didn't they cover that in the driving test?

No need. Cars today are fitted with automatic parking. My daughters' car parks itself. She drives past the spot she wants to park in and the car does the rest.

10pence

cliffandsue wrote: »

No need. Cars today are fitted with automatic parking. My daughters' car parks itself. She drives past the spot she wants to park in and the car does the rest.

You can't use that to pass the driving test though. All manoeuvres have to be manually completed.