in effect the phone call was the first part of the claim for PIP, they now send you a form, a bit like the old big DLA form to describe in relation to the PIP 'descriptors' how your health affects your daily life and mobility.

You get I htink a month to return that form and then once they receive it they'll usually call you in for a face to face meeting and decide based on what you wrote on the form, your face to face meeting and any other information that you sent them whether you're entitled to PIP and if you are which level for the two components.

probably looking at a couple of weeks before you get the form, and then a few weeks/month from returning the form to your assessment and perhaps a couple of months waiting for a decision.

Try not to let it get you stressed, it's not pleasant having to describe how things are but it's a means to an end and for me at least wasn't nearly as bad as I'd expected it to be

I have read that they are supposed to do a criteria check before they sent out the froms so the lady saying they will contact me has worried me a bit.

At the moment I only get mobility and have a mobility car I have ordered the next car and that's due in June. I have advised them and they said I can keep this car till a decision is made. I can't say I wasn't expecting the letter because most people are dreading it.

Thanks

Kimberley

Not sure what you mean by the criteria check. You've rang PIP to start your claim off, there's no criteria check. Post #2 tells you what happens next.

You'll need evidence to support your claim, as they very rarely contact anyone for evidence. You should send this (copies only) with the form that you return.

They will give a further 14 days extension to return those forms, if you don't have enough time but you'll need to ring DWP to ask for this.

Your DLA will continue until a decision is made on the PIP, providing your PIP forms are returned on time.

Most people have assessments, so expect one of those as well.

Here's a link to all the PIP descriptors, to which you need to score points for an award of daily living/and or mobility.
https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip/pip-points-system

Some info on the PIP form and process here:
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/help-with-your-claim/fill-in-form/
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/before-claiming/if-you-get-dla/

The PIP descriptors:
https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip/pip-points-system

Enhanced Mobility requires 12 points, i.e these descriptors for the Moving Around activity:
"2e. Can stand and then move more than 1 metre but no more than 20 metres, either aided or unaided. 12 points.
2f. Cannot, either aided or unaided, –
(i) stand; or
(ii) move more than 1 metre. 12 points."

There may be Daily Living descriptors that apply such as -
Needing an aid to shower or bathe (rails or shower seat)
To manage toileting (rails to get off the toilet safely)
To prepare food (perching stool / walking stick)
Aids to dress / undress (sock grabber).

This guide gives more info on aids and reliability:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/665635/pip-assessment-guide-part-2-assessment-criteria.pdf

This sits has a comprehensive PIP guide:
https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip

The next two weeks will be a good time to read up online about PIP, OP, and to gather all the evidence you have, nothing over 2 years old usually counts and they won't want appointment letters.

It could also be a good time to get either your consultant and or GP to write supportive letters if that might help. you could also think about trying to get an appointment with CAB or welfare rights if you need help.

When DWP say that evidence over 2 years old doesn't count, i'd send it, if you have a condition that can't improve. My conditions will never improve and i always send in all the evidence i have, even if it is more than 2 years old. I always back it up with more recent evidence too.

It's extremely difficult for lots of people to have recent evidence because we don't all see Consultants etc. The only person i see now is my GP because there's nothing more they can do for me.

Thanks for the advice I think I am just worrying that they will stop it before I even start. I have looked at the questions and most I need help with other then eating talking and toilet needs. I have recently had a esa assessment started before Christmas. The interview in person in early February and didn't hear any thing so decided to ring on Wednesday and they said I would be staying in the support group for 12 month even when the last assessment was 4 years.

So I am not very confident now when it comes to pip.

Thanks
Kimberley

Your DLA won't stop providing the PIP forms are returned on time. It will continue until a decision has been made on your PIP. If you need an extension for the PIP forms to be returned then you'll need to ring DWP as already stated. They will happily give you a further 14 days extra.

ESA and PIP are different benefits and one doesn't affect the other. People claim PIP and work. Just make sure the evidence is sent with the PIP form and don't rely on them contacting anyone for evidence because this rarely happens.

I have been going back to pain clinic and had another mri scan done recently . I only really have a consultant from the pain person and a physio therapist. I don't see my orthopedic consultant any more because he said he could not help me till I am older and my Dr has recently retired so asking them for advice wouldn't be helpful. Will that be enough

Thanks

Kimberley

I would send as much as possible. You can ask your GP if there's anything in your medical records that you can use, there maybe a charge for this.

When you have appointments, aren't you sent a copy of the letter that's sent to your GP. All of my past appointments i'm all CC'd into the letter, so that i have a copy too.

Future appointments letters with dates aren't classed as evidence. You can write a diary for yourself. This is classed as evidence. A letter from someone that knows you well, your carer, if you have one. A printed list of all current medication. I would start to gather that evidence ASAP, rather than wait for the forms to arrive through the door.

I understand that although you knew that this was coming, you can't help but worry, as I went through it last june.
Poppy has given you excellent advice here:
I had an ESA assessment end of March last year and then received a letter in May as you have, to say my DLA would be ending and would have to apply for PIP.

I didn't phone them, I just waited for the PIP information and form to arrive - this arrived in June. On the letter, when you receive the PIP form, it states that you have a month, from the date on the letter, to send the form back.

I did not have evidence under 2 years old. As you said, my consultants had signed me off as they could not do anything further, I did however attend pain clinic.

I was then contacted stating that a face to face appointment had been made beginning of August at my home. Three weeks after that face to face appointment I received a letter stating that I would be receiving PIP, both mobility and care.

I personally didn't read up on any descriptors, how many points etc as I felt that just filling in the form, even sending letters as evidence (which were over 5 years old) and adding extra information I felt was relevant on a separate paper, referring to each question where I needed to explain/elaborate on and give examples. I certainly didn't look online about others' experiences before sending the form back, as you will read more negative comments than positive, because people are more likely to post if they have been unssuccessful - which is natural.

As poppy says, keep a diary that you can refer to as this will help you with the form and further information. I sent in all information I thought was relevant, no matter if it was a few years old.

Do not assume that they will contact anyone, GP, consultants etc to get more information, as they may not. It is important that you refer to everything on your form and 'further information' on a separate piece of paper.

Please don't think that you can't get evidence just because you haven't recently seen a consultant or your GP has recently retired. There is nothing to stop you making an appointment to see the new GP, explaining that you need to make a PIP application and asking for a GP report or statement to include. Your history will all be on computer, so your GP retiring shouldn't be a problem.
You can also contact your orthopedic consultant's secretary at the hospital where you last saw him/her (ring the hospital main number, and ask for the consultant's secretary). Ask them to send you a report stating that your condition can not improve since your last DLA application. Send that statement with a copy of your evidence from your last DLA application.
You should also be able to get some sort of report from the pain clinic, or whichever dept has asked for your MRI scan.

I accept it's annoying having to make contact with the authorities to get this information, and some will tell you how busy they are, but the information is get-able, you just have to be politely assertive, stress that you need it.


Please don't panic. Once you have set your PIP application in progress your DLA will continue to be paid until the PIP decision.

Unfortunately it's nothing like the old DLA form - your now expected to put a lot into the extra information instead as part of the actual core questions. This is where people often slip up and get zero points because they missed something out.

I did the DLA form twice, as first time I missed one single sentence out and got zero points.

The ESA form is designed to make you slip up because you have no idea what they really want to know.

Make sure you get as much help from Benefit Advisors/CAB as you can so you word the form right and include everything. I ended up typing 20 pages and working about 30 hours on the form from start to finish to make sure I put everything relevant in it that I could.

Hello thank you for all your reply. I have received the from this morning and I contacted the cab and can't get an appointment with them for another 3 weeks. I have till the 10th May even though I rang them on the 13th.

So I am going to have to attempt it myself or ask for extra time. But I want this done as soon as possible. I hate the waiting and worrying constant about it.

Another question I am on anti depression tablets for anxiety and depression but haven't seen a doctor about this for about 10 years. Honestly got fed up with repeating myself every time I went to a different Dr. Do I still include this.

Thanks

Kimberly

You can send a printed copy of your current medication, but you will need other evidence tp go with it, as previously stated.

Are you saying that you have been issued repeat prescriptions of anti-depressants for 10 years, without it ever being reviewed ??

If that really is the case, then I'd urge you to go back to the Dr just to discuss that point alone.

[QUOTE=Kimberley1234;74182635]Hello thank you for all your reply. I have received the from this morning and I contacted the cab and can't get an appointment with them for another 3 weeks. I have till the 10th May even though I rang them on the 13th.

So I am going to have to attempt it myself or ask for extra time. But I want this done as soon as possible. I hate the waiting and worrying constant about it.

Another question I am on anti depression tablets for anxiety and depression but haven't seen a doctor about this for about 10 years. Honestly got fed up with repeating myself every time I went to a different Dr. Do I still include this.

Thanks

If you decide to ask for extra time to complete the form then you should telephone them and [B]then follow up with a letter

There is a good link here with a template letter:

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/pip-resources/letter-confirm-claim-form-extension/

It has been known for DLA to stop because they say you haven't returned the PIP form so you need to get evidence that you were granted an extension.

Keep a copy of the letter and a receipt from PO to prove postage.