I have got PIP review form, do I send them all new evidence?

Davey_H

Hi, my PIP review form has come and on it they ask if anything has changed?

Lots has changed with my medical condition and I have had lots of IV antibiotics over the last 2 years, which have not worked with my continuing chest infections.

I have got all the letters from consultant, explaining what I have had done and what course of action they were going to look at next.

I was even admitted into hospital for a 14 day course of a trial antibiotic, which also never worked I know this because I had a call from my consultant stating this.

I am currently waiting for this letter to come, but she did say she was not sure what else they could do for me to fight the infection and I might have to learn to live with it.
She said she would ask advice from one of the senior doctors at Newcastle RVI but as he was the one who suggested the last course she was not sure what the next pathway would be.

She said that she thought that they may suggest waiting to see if I can manage this as the Pseudomonas infection which is in my lungs, as is now resistant to everything they have tried.

I wanted to wait for the last letter from her as I feel that this might have the most weight in saying I will always be like this as it is life limiting.

I am already sending 6 other letters from her stating what IV injections they were going to do at home and then the outcome of them and I was going to include my hospital discharge letter, is this too much information??

HillStreetBlues

It's not what has changed with your medical condition (or any treatment),  it's about if anything has changed with the points you should be awarded. For example you could mobilise 45m  now can only mobilise 25m, nothing would actually change on the points you would be awarded.

Send in all relevant evidence.

Alice_Holt

As HSB says you need to tell them what has changed around the PIP descriptors.

Give full information and add extra sheets  - this is a helpful guide to answering the question (for both first PIP forms and renewal forms):
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/help-with-your-claim/fill-in-form-pip/

On the form focus on why and how you can't do the relevant PIP activities reliably on the majority of days because of your chest infections (and any other illnesses / disabilities), not your diagnosis. 
But do send in the medical evidence you have to hand.

Muttleythefrog

Agree with above advice and obviously you can send form and evidence together in the pre-paid envelope. At the moment they seem severely delayed in dealing with reviews so it could be many many months (over a year?) before you hear anything. But yes focus on what has changed if anything in terms of your disablements relative to the PIP activities... and if nothing has changed still make sure you detail your difficulties.

peteuk

I agree with the above, but dont disregard a letter because you think it contains treatment, look through them see if theres any other evidence that would help in a certain activity eg does a letter start having seen this patient who has severely reduced mobility due to X, but then goes onto say we’ve treated them 4 times with antibiotics with little to no effect.   Include this as it supports your mobility.

Davey_H

peteuk said:

I agree with the above, but dont disregard a letter because you think it contains treatment, look through them see if theres any other evidence that would help in a certain activity eg does a letter start having seen this patient who has severely reduced mobility due to X, but then goes onto say we’ve treated them 4 times with antibiotics with little to no effect.   Include this as it supports your mobility.

To be honest my consultant is very good with her letters, she always lists my medication, then talks about treatments that are planned and finally the results of the treatments and to be honest I've counted I have had 4 lots of IV's and the last one was in hospital for 14 days. She also says that my condition is getting worse and the infection is multi drug resistant. I'm only holding off sending anything in until I get the letter where we spoke 2 weeks ago about possibly just having to live with the infection as well and bronchiectasis.

On a side note I bought a motorised scooter to get around outside, but I have not mentioned that anywhere as it is not an aid to walking or anything like that, do you think I should not mention it as people still have to help me assemble it or get it out of the house?

Thank you all for your input it is invaluable, I have already changed some things I wrote down.

Spoonie_Turtle

Davey_H said:

peteuk said:

I agree with the above, but dont disregard a letter because you think it contains treatment, look through them see if theres any other evidence that would help in a certain activity eg does a letter start having seen this patient who has severely reduced mobility due to X, but then goes onto say we’ve treated them 4 times with antibiotics with little to no effect.   Include this as it supports your mobility.

On a side note I bought a motorised scooter to get around outside, but I have not mentioned that anywhere as it is not an aid to walking or anything like that, do you think I should not mention it as people still have to help me assemble it or get it out of the house?

If you think you qualify for the mobility component - or already claim it - then you could mention it in the context of your difficulties walking (i.e., you can't walk far so this is how you get about outside).  Also you can mention the fact you need help with it, just as part of a consistent picture of your difficulties overall.

Davey_H

Spoonie_Turtle said:

Davey_H said:

peteuk said:

I agree with the above, but dont disregard a letter because you think it contains treatment, look through them see if theres any other evidence that would help in a certain activity eg does a letter start having seen this patient who has severely reduced mobility due to X, but then goes onto say we’ve treated them 4 times with antibiotics with little to no effect.   Include this as it supports your mobility.

On a side note I bought a motorised scooter to get around outside, but I have not mentioned that anywhere as it is not an aid to walking or anything like that, do you think I should not mention it as people still have to help me assemble it or get it out of the house?

If you think you qualify for the mobility component - or already claim it - then you could mention it in the context of your difficulties walking (i.e., you can't walk far so this is how you get about outside).  Also you can mention the fact you need help with it, just as part of a consistent picture of your difficulties overall.

Thank you yes I already get the lower for mobility.
I really appreciate this, as it helps been able to bounce what I should or how I should explain things.