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DLA to PIP

Posted , 4 users are following.

diane70947
diane70947

Hi,

i got my call from Capita yesterday and they wanted me to go to a f2f but due to my severe mental health and physical disabilities i asked for a home visit.  The woman on the phone said, "but you go out on a daily basis, don't you?"  As if i could!  I don't know what she was thinking of, but she agreed to me having a home visit.

However, due to my mental health i don't let anyone into my home and i don't have anyone to be with me.  I haven't lived here long and don't know my medical team well at all.  I am so worried. 

Any suggestions please as to discuss my actual health would appall the average person and i don't want to embarrass myself.

0 likes, 25 replies

25 Replies

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  • TCup
    TCup diane70947

    Posted

    Did you explain these difficulties on your pip form? eg you dont leave your home or let anyone in.  How do you manage shopping, medical appointments etc?  Do you live alone?

    Do you have a family member or close friend who could be with you for your f2f assessment.

    • diane70947
      diane70947 TCup

      Posted

      Hi, i did explain this on the form and sent in lots of medical evience too.  I will go somewhere familiar if someone has gone with me around 8-10 times first.  I can get in my car outside and go to the closer shops but can't get too much as i find it exhausting just pushing a trolley.  Neighbours will get me some things, but i don't have a relative anywhere near.  I don't realy want to explain about my severe mental health and Crohns disease in front of friends as i don't want them knowing how bad things really are for me.

    • TCup
      TCup diane70947

      Posted

      Unfortunately they will probably say that if you can go into a shop and see strangers then you can see an assessor.  They are pretty hard!  I have crohns and the nurse never brought it up.
    • diane70947
      diane70947 TCup

      Posted

      Thanks TCake,

      I suppose so, but my place is such a tip.  Omg, i  am being stupid and overthinking everything.

    • TCup
      TCup diane70947

      Posted

      If your house was spottles they'd think you could hoover, mop, dust and clean!  Better for you if it looks a mess cheesygrin I know it is hard - I never slept for days before my assessment so I went in with huge black bags under my eyes as well as blood shot eyes so my pale and tired look probably went in my favour!  Just be honest and stick to what you have already told them.  What level of DLA were you on?  I am on middle rate care and low rate mobility for my present DLA and just waiting to heard regarding my PIP.  I had my assessment 3 weeks ago and the nurse said I should probably hear in about 6 weeks.  The waiting time is just awful!

    • les59996
      les59996 TCup

      Posted

      Whatever level of DLA you were on has zilch to do with PIP - the two benefits assess things totally differently.

      DLA was all about how your disabilities in general affect your life whilst with PIP you have to ensure that what you claim your difficulties are fit exactly to one or more of the descriptors no fit - no points = no award!

      Incidentally I was on DLA High Mobility/Middle Care indefinitely (since 1995) and would have got nothing for PIP with only 4 points for Care. 

    • TCup
      TCup les59996

      Posted

      I agree with you Les.  I was just asking out of curiosity.  I am still so surprised they turned you down though - it is beyond crazy!rolleyes

    • diane70947
      diane70947 TCup

      Posted

      Am on high rate both. I think i will be suffering sleepless nights too.  Hope you get a fair result, TCake. 
    • diane70947
      diane70947 TCup

      Posted

      I got impression that Les didn't bother trying for it having looked at descriptors online, though i might be quite wrong.

    • TCup
      TCup diane70947

      Posted

      Thanks and you too!  When is your assessment date?
    • TCup
      TCup diane70947

      Posted

      I think he did as I have read his posts on other threads.  I think it is harder to claim PIP on mental health grounds sad

    • diane70947
      diane70947 TCup

      Posted

      It's the 3rd of August.  So plenty of time to get very worked up, lol

    • les59996
      les59996 TCup

      Posted

      I will not be the first and certainly won't be the last!!

      Overall the government want a 20% reduction of what was being paid out under DLA. Currently that is running at about 5%. So everything is being tightened up so as to reach that figure of savings.

    • les59996
      les59996 diane70947

      Posted

      No you are right.

      I tested myself honestly against the descriptors and could only find 4 points for Care only. Now If that is what I calculate I can't see the DWP being anymore philanthropic towards me and giving me more points out of the goodness of their heart?

      Hence I didn't want to enter the 'system' in the knowledge that the whole thing would be a waste of time. 

  • michael07265
    michael07265 diane70947

    Posted

    Hi there. You donot need to go into great detail about your mental health. Only how you manage to do whatever you do on a daily basis. When I attended for a mental and physical healrh assessment jt was quite obvious she never knew juch about the nature if my illness. And was only interested in what I could, and could not do. Like shopping, and washing myself etc. Do not let rhem convince you that you are capable of doing rhings that you stated you could not on your form. Stick to your guns.
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