Fibro and other ailments

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I completed my husband's PIP form and returned it to DWP by 25 August.  Received letter last night with appointment to attend Atos on 23 August.  I was shocked to get this so soon and I thought Atos had withdrawn their services or had been sacked.  My huubby is 57 (hasn't worked since he was 44) has fibro, cervical spondylosis, nerve damage down his right arm into his hand from his shoulder, degenerative disc disease lumber area, arthritis in his knees (although this does not prevent him from walking, although in pain), hiatus hurnia tinitus with impaired hearing (although he does not wear a hearing aid), concentration and memory problems (early onset dementia has been rules out by phsychiatrist)  and to make it worse, he is in denial - thinking one day he is going to get better and get back to work (he had his own barber shop but had to give that up).  I found it quite hard to complete the form as I am not the one with the illness.   I am now worried about this assessment as although they say that he will not be physically examined the assessment lasts 60 minutres - what on earth do they do for 60 minutes!   I am going to go through the form with him nearer the time of the assessment, but with his memory problems I can't see him remembering what has been put on the form.   I am now regretting submitting the form as I'm afraid this might trigger him being reassessed for ESA support group - I had to fight by going to the tribunal to get him into the support group for two years which expired in April 2014.  I know these are two separate benefits but I'm sure the departments must speak to each other, can't stop worrying neither can hubby.

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8 Replies

  • Posted

    Hi Lynn15036 Your local cab would of helped you with the form. my husband helped me with mine it took us 2hrs to complete as we took our time and kept refering back to the guide notes for reference. I had capita come out to me last dec she was a right jobs worth, and a right cow. what they do is go through the form question by question ask you the questions to see if you answear the same to what written on the form. she then asked me if I could put both my arms behind my back squeeze her fingers and bend over. I didnt bend over as have back problems and was getting over a slipped disc. I didnt sleep the night before I was on edge and tearful through the assessment. she didnt like it the fact my husband was present and kept saying to him he could go back to work. as he had taken an hour off to be with me. They also watch your every move. They are also know for writing lies. I had trouble remebering things as have memory problems my husband had to speak on my behalf at times.  she was here an hour in total. I had letter in the January tosay I had been awarded it but Im being reassessed next dec Im dreading it already.
    • Posted

      Hi Kaz, the form has already been submitted, that's what I was worried about that they go through each of your answers.   Did you answer everything correctly as it was on the form?.  The trouble is my hubby didn't fill the form in because he is unable to do this, so as he has a poor memory, even going through the form with him 10 times he won't be able to remember and will probably answer the questions differently to what I have put.

    • Posted

      I had reall trouble remembering what we had put and said, to my knowledge I did answear everything correctly but I had to relie on my husband to help me with answears as I was struggling to remember. Explain this to them about how your husband is memory wise you could have a word with your go and see if they would write a note explaining your husbands memory and that he may have trouble answearing the questions. I went to a memory clinic as my memory is that bad alzimers was ruled out its down to fibro our memory issues.I dint fill in my form my hubby did I didnt understand any of the questions. he just answearesd them going off on how I am and how fibro affects me on a daily basis. I would sooner be out working then claim anything, it was my gp that pushed to try for pip as she wount sign me fit for work.she said I will back you all the way and she did.

       

    • Posted

      Sounds as though you have an  understanding doctor Kaz.  Do you have anything else wrong with you other than fybro?   Did you get awarded for just one component?
    • Posted

      hi lyn15036  I have diabetes high blood pressure asthma angina fibro depression Ive had 2 strokes I got awarded motability and daily living. PIp need to know about all conditions you have when they started . we have to jump through hoops to get anything and its very stressful I found when claiming pip. I want to back out to work I hate having to claim anything. 
  • Posted

    Hi. So as with any disability benefit it as much about what your husband can and can't do as what his conditions are. Given that people with the same conditions may have better or worse symptoms, means you need to tell them what your husband can do or not for himself.

    Atos were only relieved of their contract for ESA not PIP they are one of two contracted for this along with Capita.

    That's incredibly quick. Still better than hanging around. When they come and see your husband, they will do a bit of form filling, checking details family address, identity, etc,They will have a laptop and will introduce themselves and tell you what they are there to do. They will go through different aspects socila, physical etc and go through the same questions that you have answered on the form.  You do have to be aware of them trying to catch you out, that doesn't mean you've got to worry about every answer your husband gives, but be mindful that if they say for example, do you socialise and your husband says yes, I meet with friends once a week, ensure he then says that he has to be taken there he can't walk far so they help him in, he has a special chair cushion etc. It's not unheard of for them to say, drives to see friends and socilaises regularly. Whilst this wouldn't be false it's painting a much better picture than the original description. If he has help with anything say that first, so if they say what about shopping, say, my wife has to drive and she does it all but i can lean on the trolley and walk slowly behind her, or I can't do the shopping because of pain, so my wife does it. Although they don't do a full physical exam, they do usually do some physical assessments, they will want to see him get up from the chair, move walk etc, what he can do with his hands,can he put his arms behind his back, what is his grip like and so on. Obviously the exam will focus on those parts that he says he has problems with, so if he can't walk they will check the power in his legs, muscle tone and that sort of thing. In your husband's case they will no doubt check things like loss of power in his arm with the nerve damage. I'm guessing he has problems with most eevryday things cooking,hygiene, toileting possibly. these are what they will be asking, so no different from the questionairre. Do you have evidence to support your claim, lab reports, hospital appts, consultants letters etc, this will all help. I know it's easy to say but try not to worry. Focus on getting your story straight. Make sure your husband knows what will happen.

    Rememeber above all else that it is what your husband can do for the majority of the time that's important. It's not that someone can't do something at all, it's that they are unable to do it as often as would be necessary. He may even be able to do somethings some of the time, but if he can only do it say 2 days out of the week because of pain/tiredness then he should be considered unable to do that activity.

    • Posted

      Thanks so much, that's really helpful.   I suppose having the assessment next week does get it over and done with but I'm not really confident that he will get the benefit but I'm not going to let that deter, I will appeal, and continually apply until we get the result we want as I know of some people who have been awarded and they get around just fine.   Yes, I've put all the medical evidence in but they ask not to put appointments etc in. 

    • Posted

      Yes they say not to put things in and say if they need to know anything, but it is as rare as hens teeth that they actually contact your GP or Consultant. I think they're default is "No" unless they know they've a good chance of winning outright on appeal. they will hope and presume that most won't be able to appeal either through ill health stress etc. I believe there are currently almost 60% of cases winning at Appeal for some benefits, i think it's too early for PIP cases but I wouldn't be at all surprised if that is the same. Good luck with it all and remember to stress what he can/can't do for the majority of the time.

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