Transferring from DLA to PIP

Faeyra

Hi,

I've probably done the worse thing imaginable and googled others experiences with PIP claims. I'm transferring from DLA to PIP and completely aware that the claims are different etc and although my DLA was set indefinitely, that won't happen.

My main worry is that I did not provide any proof with my claim. I've read many stories of people getting letters from GP and consultants etc to go along with their claims. I was diagnosed with Chronic Idiopathic Rheumatoid Arthritis at the age of 4 and Uveitis at the age of 13 with losing vision in one of my eyes at 19.

My DLA was high rate for both as a child but my mum returned it at 13 due to my arthritis improving due to hormones etc. I then didn't claim DLA again till my early-mid 20's where I was awarded low-rate mobility for my vision loss.

I'm now 30 on Saturday and my my arthritis has got increasingly worse over the last 5 years, but I've always powered on. I see consultants regularly for my eyes and joints as I receive cortisone injections in multiple joints a few times a year.

My PIP assessment was today, it lasted approx 20mins. It was a home assessment which I did not request. I wasn't asked to do any movements - I did get up and walk to my kitchen to get her proof of a special parking permit for my university and then sat back down. I also was not asked what distance I could walk, even though I ticked "it varies" - which it does. I do not have any walking aids as I cannot weight-bare on my elbows due to severe damage. If I'm unable to support my own body, I would require an electric wheelchair. I answered all her questions honestly and then she was on her way.

Has anyone got any experience with PIP claims where they did not provide additional evidence? I was only in receipt of low-rate mobility but I have been advised that I should probably be getting more as I'm unable to take myself to hospital appointments and rely heavily on my car.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

poppy12345

Faeyra wrote: »

Hi,

I've probably done the worse thing imaginable and googled others experiences with PIP claims. I'm transferring from DLA to PIP and completely aware that the claims are different etc and although my DLA was set indefinitely, that won't happen.

My main worry is that I did not provide any proof with my claim. I've read many stories of people getting letters from GP and consultants etc to go along with their claims. I was diagnosed with Chronic Idiopathic Rheumatoid Arthritis at the age of 4 and Uveitis at the age of 13 with losing vision in one of my eyes at 19.

My DLA was high rate for both as a child but my mum returned it at 13 due to my arthritis improving due to hormones etc. I then didn't claim DLA again till my early-mid 20's where I was awarded low-rate mobility for my vision loss.

I'm now 30 on Saturday and my my arthritis has got increasingly worse over the last 5 years, but I've always powered on. I see consultants regularly for my eyes and joints as I receive cortisone injections in multiple joints a few times a year.

My PIP assessment was today, it lasted approx 20mins. It was a home assessment which I did not request. I wasn't asked to do any movements - I did get up and walk to my kitchen to get her proof of a special parking permit for my university and then sat back down. I also was not asked what distance I could walk, even though I ticked "it varies" - which it does. I do not have any walking aids as I cannot weight-bare on my elbows due to severe damage. If I'm unable to support my own body, I would require an electric wheelchair. I answered all her questions honestly and then she was on her way.

Has anyone got any experience with PIP claims where they did not provide additional evidence? I was only in receipt of low-rate mobility but I have been advised that I should probably be getting more as I'm unable to take myself to hospital appointments and rely heavily on my car.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

You should have provided evidence to support your claim because mostly they don't contact any modical professional. Letters from Consultants, GP. MRI scans, Diary written by yourself, a letter from someone that knows you well are all evidence that you could have sent in, it's most likely too late for that now. If a decision doesn't go in your favour you should send evidence with a Mandatory Reconsideration, if you need to go down this route.

PIP is about how your conditions affect you daily and not about a diagnosis. Did you get help to fill out the PIP2 form? This helps because those forms are very complex and there's a right and a wrong way to fill them out.

As you've already had your assessment you can ring DWP and ask for a copy of the assessment report. This will give you some idea what the decision will be because they mostly go with what's written on that report. Good luck.

Prinzessilein

Poppy has given you good advice.

Phone today and ask for a copy of the report...when I went through the DLA-PiP transfer earlier this year the DM simply copied the assessors findings word-for-word, so it gives a very good idea of how the decision will go.

You will then have a starting point for preparing for a Mandatory Reconsideration and possibly an appeal.

With the evidence , don't worry too much of some of your reports are a few years old....I sent a consultant report that was a good few years old, but because the condition is ongoing, the assessor (and DM) accepted it and referenced it when awarding me points.

best of luck

TOBRUK

Faeyra wrote: »

Hi,

I'm transferring from DLA to PIP and completely aware that the claims are different etc and although my DLA was set indefinitely, that won't happen.

My main worry is that I did not provide any proof with my claim. I've read many stories of people getting letters from GP and consultants etc to go along with their claims.
.....

Hi Faeyra,
As someone who has gone through this process in the past few weeks; transferring from DLA to PIP, I completely understand your worries. It is a very stressful time just waiting for that brown envelope, and all sorts go through your mind - your worries of what if is natural. It is a horrible time.

I've probably done the worse thing imaginable and googled others experiences with PIP claims.

You are probably panicking more because you googled and read about others' experiences with PIP claims. I do think that you would find more negative claims than positive ones, as people who have negative outcomes are more likely to write about it. This will make you feel more stressed. I made a point of not reading about others' experiences, as I knew it would worry me even more.

Has anyone got any experience with PIP claims where they did not provide additional evidence? I was only in receipt of low-rate mobility but I have been advised that I should probably be getting more as I'm unable to take myself to hospital appointments and rely heavily on my car.

I filled out the form without any help from someone else. As others have stated, it is not about any illness or diagnosis, it is how it affects you. I didn't provide additional evidence as such, but for one letter that was a few years old from a previous GP, and didn't have any written evidence from someone who knows me well. I did mention the health professionals, consultants I have been seeing, but I did not ask anyone for any letters or reports to back up my claim.

However, I didn't just tick boxes, I did write (on extra paper) a great deal about how it affects me - related to the questions asked. I didn't look at others' experiences, nor did I look up at how many 'points' or whatever they give, or how it worked, as I really didn't think it would be helpful.

My PIP assessment was today, it lasted approx 20mins. It was a home assessment which I did not request. I wasn't asked to do any movements - I did get up and walk to my kitchen to get her proof of a special parking permit for my university and then sat back down. I also was not asked what distance I could walk, even though I ticked "it varies" - which it does. I do not have any walking aids as I cannot weight-bare on my elbows due to severe damage. If I'm unable to support my own body, I would require an electric wheelchair. I answered all her questions honestly and then she was on her way.

I also had a PIP assessment at home (beginning of August) which I didn't request. The health professional who did the assessment was here over an hour. I find it odd though that the person doing your assessment didn't ask you any questions regarding your movement, your walking, and any difficulties you may have with your mobility, as this is one part of the PIP (mobility) form.

She asked me about any 'aids' I had to assist me, such as grab rails etc. How long it took to get dressed, and how I managed to do things. All aspects of my day to day living. I had put on the form that I took approx 20 mins to get dressed, but she said to me that she was putting in her report that it took around 30 mins! She asked me about how I managed to make a meal etc. Every question on the form I am sure she covered.

Although the person I had at my home was very nice, I'm sure she was very 'aware' and alert to every movement I made, all the while she was here. She even asked me, as she was leaving, where I was (which room) when she rang the door bell - I never thought about it, but, she was obviously 'timing' from the time she rang the door bell to the time I answered the door, because she said when I replied, that it gave her an idea of how long I take to walk a certain distance!

She took in everything. With the 'mobility', she said that they have to ask people to do movements (as shown firstly by them) to see how they perform. She showed me what they expected me to do, such as standing and lifting up on your toes etc but said that she didn't want me to attempt any of them. She said she wasn't going to write that I had refused, but that she knew I wouldn't be able to do them as she said that I would fall.

I didn't have any barriers, or worries about the assessment on the day of the face to face visit, I really didn't care, as the assessment took place 3 days after I had buried my father. So for me, the way I was feeling, it really didn't matter to me at all. To be honest, the whole assessment is a bit of a blur.

I was surprised however that 4 weeks after my assessment to receive their decision, saying that my claim for PIP was successful, and awarded the enhanced rate for help with daily living, and enhanced rate to help with mobility needs.

So, I would say don't worry about it too much yet. I never asked for a copy of any report. I was worried, ofcourse I was, but if the decision had gone the other way, I would have asked for the report and how they came to the decision, and written for reconsideration.

When I was on DLA and I had disagreed with their decision in the past, I requested their report and then written why I disagreed. It is stressful I know too well - as one who has in the past been to two tribunals.

Sorry for the long post. Good luck, and hope things work out for you

room512

My OH recently swapped from DLA to PIP and didn't provide any medical reports or evidence from medical professionals. We filled in the form on our own and he had a face to face assessment. He had the decision last week and gets more than he did on DLA (he has mental health issues). I wouldn't say it was stress free but was not as bad I feared it would be (for him). We did ask for a copy of the report but have not received it.