New Claim - Help, I don't know what I'm doing :(

Hoogle

I suggest getting this thread back on topic not fair on OP to have to go through personal opinions of each other.

The truth is we are all here because we have experienced our own DWP dealings or that of family/friends. no 2 cases are the same. We are people that have had our own negative/positive experiences and we are sharing them online.

All things that are said in these kind of threads should be researched nothing should be taken as fact unless it is posted by an official DWP Agent. Even in a personal case I have with medical treatment advice from 2 specialist in the same field couldnt be any more opposite 1 advising risky surgery 1 advising medication with minor surgery. SO just I would assume with the DWP they have general guidelines to work from but they will have their own experience and decision making process.

Danday

elsien wrote: »

Then I'd like to add my first hand experience of working with people with mental health diagnoses and no physical disabilities/illnesses who are successfully claiming DLA/PIP on the basis of the difficulties their mental health causes.
No-one here can categorically state whether or not the OP will qualify. That doesn't mean they shouldn't try and they have a stronger chance if they get expert advice from CAB or a local advice agency.

Just to finish, I have yet to understand what the difference is between having the likes of CAB complete the forms (volunteers in the main) and filling them myself. The CAB or indeed any other organisation knows nothing of me, my past or current problems. If it means having to sit down and tell the helper what I can and cannot do then they write down what I have said, I can do that for myself and save hours of my time. I have only had someone help once - the DWP who sent someone out to see me when I claimed Pension Credit five years late. It was like having a tape recorder recording over an hour of my wittering trying to remember everything with a complete stranger writing down what I was saying. In fact that claim was poorly constructed by the DWP agent as told to me by the Pension Service, I was informed that they had not obtained the relevant evidence of savings etc at the time. This I had to do myself.
I can't say that I am impressed with people who are complete strangers who have little time to spend with the claimant beit the CAB or the DWP try to understand the complexities of my difficulties.

Danday

Hoogle wrote: »

I suggest getting this thread back on topic not fair on OP to have to go through personal opinions of each other.

The truth is we are all here because we have experienced our own DWP dealings or that of family/friends. no 2 cases are the same. We are people that have had our own negative/positive experiences and we are sharing them online.

All things that are said in these kind of threads should be researched nothing should be taken as fact unless it is posted by an official DWP Agent. Even in a personal case I have with medical treatment advice from 2 specialist in the same field couldnt be any more opposite 1 advising risky surgery 1 advising medication with minor surgery. SO just I would assume with the DWP they have general guidelines to work from but they will have their own experience and decision making process.

I agree and it is each to their own. If you want the definitive answer you should talk to the DWP. We all have our experiences good and bad.

Hoogle

As for someone filling out the form for you or with you I to do not like cab for it unless you get lucky. But hard to get an appointment and they are not usually specialist in your medical conditions, however they may have contacts that are so if your stuck and have no clue then by all means use them.

My main reasoning for getting someone with experience to help you do the form is because they know the "buzz words" and hopefully an understanding of the questions better than someone inexperienced in filling out a form to the criteria. Of the top of my head here is a question I balls upped on for pip not exact but summed up,

Can you prepare and cook a simple meal
yes

I took the meaning off taking a microwave meal and microwaving it as per instructions

The actual question should be Can you prepare ingredients like potatoes wash and peel them unaided, weigh out ingredients following a recipe and cook an edible meal for yourself.

That is what my specialist told me it should be read like obviously being 2 totally different answers

above is a summed up example may not be an actual question just going on what someone explained to me whilst filling out my form.

NeilCr

Danday wrote: »

I agree and it is each to their own. We all have our experiences good and bad.

I agree too.

On the off chance you are still with us OP this is worth a read and will clarify some inconsistencies earlier in this thread

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/carers-allowance/

In particular the 35 hours or more rule and the fact that you can get CA if your partner gets the daily living component of PIP - either rate.

With regards to the CAB. I can only speak for our branch. We have volunteers who help with PIP forms regularly. We also have one who has received additional training which he has imparted to us. It is not a rushed process - clients are given specific appointments following an initial short interview. We are used to doing them and know the sort of questions to ask clients to elicit the correct information. Personally, I usually find it useful if the partner or spouse is there, too - it's surprising how often their view of the impact of the health issues differs from that of the client

Anyway. I wish you well - whatever you decide to do