Useful supporting evidence for PIP review?

honeybee1234

Hi all

I posted last week asking for advice on my PIP review form. I'm working on it now and wanted to check what extra evidence might be useful to send with my claim.

The evidence submitted with my original claim consisted mainly of letters containing the notes of my psychiatric appts. I'm under a CPN now and my mental health has changed since the original claim, for which I had a change of circumstance which was accepted. 

I have:

**A current repeat prescription list
**My most recent safety plan
**A supporting letter from my CPN, who is providing my current therapy
**A therapy support plan outlining the work we're undertaking in therapy

Have I missed anything obvious I could use, or anything else that would be useful? I wondered if a letter from my partner, who is also my carer, would be useful? He supports me with aspects relating to the descriptors I was awarded points for, eg supporting me with leaving the house for most things.

My points are for:

Prompting from another person to prepare or cook a simple meal - 2 points

Supervision or prompting to wash or bathe - 2 points

Dressing and undressing - 2 points

Prompting to engage with other people - 2 points

Needing another person for familiar journeys - 12 points

Thanks in advance 

Muttleythefrog

Evidence on the face of it sounds helpful although there is I think a risk with treatments that it could limit an award length as they feel you may improve through it. I would of course certainly not suggest you avoid treatments or therapies for that reason. In terms of letter from carer - possible or you can refer to the help they provide (and what happens without the help) when going through the PIP activities on the form.

If you agree with the previously awarded points or rather previous assessment report I'd be inclined to refer back to it as you go through each of the activities and again detail your problems (essentially like initial application) giving any updated examples that highlight your issues... whilst also stating up front 'no change in relevant disabilities' or similar. This is a strategy I'd use particularly if you are reporting effectively no change since the last decision... guide them agreeably to what they've previously concluded still applies. If there's been deterioration or new problems then obviously detail such relevantly. 

You probably won't need to re-supply evidence previously submitted but don't rule out referring to it where it remains helpful and accurate. 

Make sure to keep electronic copy of what you write on the form - can save a lot of time at future reviews. Many actually do their substantive form entries on printed extra sheets which they refer to in the form (that can be restrictive for space) which can save handwriting and associated problems and set you up for any future review or similar.

I agree with the advice you received on previous thread having just quickly read it. And yes I also agree with the posters who suggest writing simply 'no change' is a risky strategy.... it can save a lot of effort but over the years we've seen decisions changed leaving the claimant in a situation of having to again argue their case in reconsideration/appeal for what descriptors apply to them. I take the view that the process contains flaws and flawed people... rather like a supermarket trolley you need to actively guide it and complacency is not a clever idea if you want to avoid a mess.

honeybee1234

Muttleythefrog said:

Evidence on the face of it sounds helpful although there is I think a risk with treatments that it could limit an award length as they feel you may improve through it. I would of course certainly not suggest you avoid treatments or therapies for that reason. In terms of letter from carer - possible or you can refer to the help they provide (and what happens without the help) when going through the PIP activities on the form.

If you agree with the previously awarded points or rather previous assessment report I'd be inclined to refer back to it as you go through each of the activities and again detail your problems (essentially like initial application) giving any updated examples that highlight your issues... whilst also stating up front 'no change in relevant disabilities' or similar. This is a strategy I'd use particularly if you are reporting effectively no change since the last decision... guide them agreeably to what they've previously concluded still applies. If there's been deterioration or new problems then obviously detail such relevantly. 

You probably won't need to re-supply evidence previously submitted but don't rule out referring to it where it remains helpful and accurate. 

Make sure to keep electronic copy of what you write on the form - can save a lot of time at future reviews. Many actually do their substantive form entries on printed extra sheets which they refer to in the form (that can be restrictive for space) which can save handwriting and associated problems and set you up for any future review or similar.

I agree with the advice you received on previous thread having just quickly read it. And yes I also agree with the posters who suggest writing simply 'no change' is a risky strategy.... it can save a lot of effort but over the years we've seen decisions changed leaving the claimant in a situation of having to again their case in reconsideration/appeal for what descriptors apply to them. I take the view that the process contains flaws and flawed people... rather like a supermarket trolley you need to actively guide it and complacency is not a clever idea if you want to avoid a mess.

Thanks @Muttleythefrog and I'm inclined to agree about the 'no change' issue.

I do have concerns about submitting helpful evidence re: therapy. The fact is my symptoms are long-term and it's going to take more than this round of therapy to make a functional difference in my day-to-day life. I don't want to inadvertently give the message that my difficulties, particularly with leaving the house, will be better in 20 weeks. My CPN is very frank and realistic and her letter should be useful, but there's going to be more therapy etc after this.