DLA/PIP form, slightly unique scenario

Legacy_user

In 2003, my wife was infected with shingles to her face. The virus spread into her ear. She developed partial facial parylisis, distorted hearing, ie cannot recognise speech with multiple sounds around. More than that, the virus affected her left labyrinth which meant she underwent 99% loss of balance.

Her consultant provided documentation which states something like, "unfortunately this lady may never be able to work again as in my opinion, the position is permanent etc". I may not be using the words ver batim, but I'm sure I have.

At the time, ironically she was a warden of a sheltered housing complex with about 54 residents. She was pensioned off by her employer (Council) who ensured the property they provided, had a wet room, rails etc and on a bus route as we don't drive.

Both our married children lived in the South, after a couple of years they moved us to be near them. Soon after, rules changed and my wife was assessed and lost her incapacity benefit. Now the DLA /PIP form has arrived and we need to deal with that.

I need to assist her in/out of the bath/shower. In home, she uses furniture as grab rails to get round. In the garden she uses her walking aid or garden furniture to hold on to,
to prevent falling.

Since 2003/4 she hasn't left the house alone/unescorted and must have her mobility walker. There are days, thankfully not too frequently that her balance goes 100% and she has to return to bed. If this happens without warning when we are out, we need to taxi home immediately.

If I were to take her walking aid from her and she had nothing or no one to hold onto and ask her to walk, it is my honest belief that she would be on the ground in possibly less than six steps.

No doubt this scenario is new to you, so we will be interested to hear any comments before we embark on the phone call to PIP please.

poppy12345

There's a lot more to PIP that just mobility and washing/bathing. Have a read of this link, it will help you understand the descriptors and what they mean.

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


When returning the PIP forms, don't forget to send evidence to support your claim. They very rarely contact anyone for any evidence and the onus in on you to made sure it's sent to support the claim.


Expect to have a face to face assessment because most people have them.

WeAreGhosts

Here's the points system:
https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip/pip-points-system

System

poppy12345 wrote: »

There's a lot more to PIP that just mobility and washing/bathing. Have a read of this link, it will help you understand the descriptors and what they mean.

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


When returning the PIP forms, don't forget to send evidence to support your claim. They very rarely contact anyone for any evidence and the onus in on you to made sure it's sent to support the claim.


Expect to have a face to face assessment because most people have them.

Thanks for that, copied link and will read thoroughly tomorrow and will update as and when.

System

In my original post, forgot to include that my wife gets dla at the higher rate.

poppy12345

islandman wrote: »

In my original post, forgot to include that my wife gets dla at the higher rate.

DLA and PIP are 2 different benefits with different criteria. Please have a read of the link i posted, it will give you more understanding of the descriptors and what they mean.

System

poppy12345 wrote: »

DLA and PIP are 2 different benefits with different criteria. Please have a read of the link i posted, it will give you more understanding of the descriptors and what they mean.

Morning, I am going to print the links off this morning and read, prior to making the call. thanks.

PS, Oh my lord. Just had a quick browse.

poppy12345

The call will just be to start the claim off and your wife will just be asked a few questions, GP name, bank details etc. They won't ask any questions about how her conditions affect her.


During that call she can ask for her DLA file to be taken used for the PIP claim but more recent evidence will also be needed.



Once that call is done they will send her the PIP2 form "how your disability affects you" and that's where that above link will be useful.

System

Call made, questions answered, await correspondence, courtesy call to GP to let them know they will be contacted. As things progress, will update. Thanks for "being there" and responding.

poppy12345

islandman wrote: »

courtesy call to GP to let them know they will be contacted.

Sorry but this doesn't always happen. They very rarely contact anyone for any evidence. The onus in always on the claimant to make sure they send evidence to support their claim.