Moving from DLA to PIP

ellyroo

hey!< i got the letter and forms from the DWP asking me to claijm PIP as now my DLA is ending, and this is kinda stressful and everything x_x and i really need advice.

I'm going to citizens advice maybe to help me out in filling this form, i tried the online PIP test thing http://www.mybenefitsandwork.co.uk/pip/index.php?state=done3
and i scored a 16 daily living component and a 4 mobility

again for reference I'm on the autism spectrum, and gosh i think the way i'd describe my autism as "spicy" (you know how they say aspergers is a mild autism, i must have spicy aspergers) as i went to a house viewing and i just... shut down ._.; , anyways, and i also have a muscle condition called hypotonia that sometimes sucks but eh.

So my plan is!

Tomorrow: (today) , Going to Citizens advice to help them fill out my form, and going to my GP to pick up my medication, and maybe asking them for some forms and info? do i have to make an appointment and stuff? idk ;-; .

I'm kinda all confused, so i came to you guys for help cause you guys are cool! and.. money savvy :Oc

UKTigerlily

I've just been moved over to PIP from DLA also. I generally call the Practice Secretary & ask for a supporting letter to be done, there is no need (usually) for an appointment as they have everything on file. Generally (IMO), it's better to get a letter from the Consultant who deals with the condition, as for me, the GP wanted to charge £20 but the Consultant doesn't charge & knows far more about it.

Having CAB help with the form is a good idea, then include as much evidence as you can . . . there're diaries online you can print out (or just write one) for a week, showing how your condition is each day. You can include letters, your prescription list etc

Good luck, and anything else just ask; i'm sure others will be along soon to help also!

poppy12345

When you ring DWP to start your PIP application off you can ask for your DLA file to be used as evidence.


You will need to ring CAB to make an appointment for help with the form. They are usually very busy and sometimes waiting times for an appointment can be a few weeks.


PIP isn't about a diagnosis, it's how those conditions affect you against the PIP descriptors.



I certainly wouldn't pay your GP for a letter to use as evidence because most GPs don't know how our conditions affect us. They will only know about diagnosis etc. Evidence should state how your conditions affect you. If you have your Autism assessment report then send that because they goes into a lot of detail (at least my daughters does)



When filling out the form you should put down as much detail about how your conditions affect you as possible.



If you need extra time to return the form then you can ring DWP and they'll give you an extra 14 days.


Here's some links for you to look at.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-assessment-guide-for-assessment-providers/pip-assessment-guide-part-2-the-assessment-criteria#daily-living-activities


https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/help-with-your-claim/fill-in-form/

Alice_Holt

Just to add that this PDF guide may be helpful (Useful Resources - bottom left on the page):
https://www.rethink.org/living-with-mental-illness/money-issues-benefits-employment/personal-independence-payment

You are doing the right things by seeing if your CAB can help you and familiarising yourself with the descriptors.

The Benefit & Work site has a very good guide on completing the PIP form, but membership is c.£20 pa.

A couple of tips:

a) Be aware that if you can't do an activity reliably for the majority of days - you should be scored as not being to do the activity at all. This is what B & W say:

"‘Reliably’ - the most important PIP word
It’s vital that, before you complete your form, you understand that just because you can carry out an
activity, that doesn’t mean you are prevented from scoring points for being unable to do it.

Guidance issued by the DWP states that you need to be able to complete an activity ‘reliably’ in
order for it to apply. According to the guidance, ‘reliably’ means whether you can do so:
• Safely – in a fashion that is unlikely to cause harm to themselves or to another person. (See the
‘Safety and supervision’ section immediately below for more on this).
• To a necessary and acceptable standard – given the nature of the activity.
• Repeatedly – as often as is reasonably required.
• In a reasonable time period no more than twice as long as a person without a physical or mental
health condition would take to carry out the activity.

Initially, the government refused to put this guidance into the regulations themselves. But after
considerable pressure it has been incorporated, although the word ‘reliably’ itself has not been
included. (See: ‘General definitions you need to know’ for the regulations on this).
The DWP guidance also states that ‘pain, fatigue, breathlessness, nausea and motivation’ will all be
‘key factors’ in deciding whether an activity can be done reliably.

So, for example, if you can ‘wash and bathe unaided’ you will not score any points for that activity.
But if it takes you hours to do so or it would be dangerous to leave you alone to bathe – for
example, because you might have a seizure - then you may score points.
Or if you could walk 20 metres once, but afterwards you would be so exhausted that you could not
do so again for hours or you would be unable to carry out other everyday activities after walking 20
metres, then you may count as not being able to do so..."

b) The boxes on the form aren't big.
It can be an idea to type up your responses on separate sheets of paper, reference to the form pages, put name & NI no on each sheet and firmly attach to the form. This also has the advantage of being easily amended to get to the final version, legible, and can convey a clear and consistent picture for the assessor / decision maker. (Don't be afraid to repeat yourself through the form about how your conditions affect the various activities.)
You could take your draft version to the CAB for them to review / suggest amendments, rather than having the adviser write the entire form for you at the appointment.

c) Think about including a letter from your carer / family member confirming the help you need with the PIP descriptors. Again this could be checked by a CAB adviser before sending to the DWP.

Good luck

[Deleted User]

I myself am in the process of being transferred from DLA to PIP, I returned the PIP forms on 10/05 they wanted them back by 23/05 i called on Monday (20/05) and they still hadn't got them but he did say they probably had but not scanned into system, I got proof of posting as I always do) he did say to tele again on Fri but that they allow a few extra days anyway, if they hadn't got them still by Friday they would send them out again, luckily as usual I did photo-copies....sorry I'm rambling as many of you know its a worrying time.

ellyroo

heya! i tried to go for a CAB appointment but they dont have one way until my letter is due in, i maybe can ask for an extension, but i'm tempted to try another CAB somewhere around to see if ic an get seen quicker?

NeilCr

ellyroo wrote: »

heya! i tried to go for a CAB appointment but they dont have one way until my letter is due in, i maybe can ask for an extension, but i'm tempted to try another CAB somewhere around to see if ic an get seen quicker?

Usually, you can only go to the CAB for your particular area.

In my experience the DWP are fine about granting extensions.

[Deleted User]

I used to form fill for cab, I always asked clients to get extensions due to our waiting list being so long. They'll give you 4 weeks straight away if you ring.

poppy12345

_shel wrote: »

They'll give you 4 weeks straight away if you ring.

They usually give you a 2 week extension to return PIP forms.

[Deleted User]

poppy12345 wrote: »

They usually give you a 2 week extension to return PIP forms.

Up until March thy always gave our clients 4 weeks! Perhaps they like scousers lol

poppy12345

_shel wrote: »

Up until March thy always gave our clients 4 weeks! Perhaps they like scousers lol

Maybe they do lol. For all my PIP forms and there's been 4, it's always been 14 days.