PIP aim help please
Posted , 5 users are following.
I suffer with bipolar and eppilepsy and for some reason a year ago i applied for PIP but scored a 0. They never gave me an explination at all. I took my mate with me as I dont like to leave the house un aided incase I have a fit or run infront of a car and so on. she asked how i was in my fit state and my bipolar.. no affence but how the hell do i know so my mate spoke for me.. the asseser then told her to shut up. I habve left this a year and now re applying for PIP. My question is why on earth and no one understands as to why I was turned down the first time.
0 likes, 8 replies
sarah87162 stacey45027
Posted
What did you score 0 on? Was it communicatjion or mobility?
You really have to think how your condition affects your daily life
They are not interested in how many complex conditions you have but how these conditions affect you.
If you feel you need someone with you for support it may be better to get someone from a local Welfare Rights group to represent you.
I did this many years ago My representative said to me "If they ask you a question and I think it is best you do not answer that question I will say to you that you do not have to answer that question."
That is very different to having a friend with you who simply answers a question for you. Hope this is helpful and makes some sense.
Take care and keep in touch
Sarah
SteV3 stacey45027
Posted
It is very easy to score "0" on a PIP Claim... without knowing what actually caused it. In most cases claiments let themselves down by not filling the application correctly, you may think it looks okay but really you need to view the form from a carers perspective, they will know what you can and cannot do.
Just filling in the claim by yourself in a few hours will probably lose your case before you start. Once you receive the form, do not just fill it in as fast as possible!!! Take as long as you need, it is not a race - the form needs to be filled in with plenty of content, and by this you need to go in to it, as much detail as possible.
Doctors and Consultant, write down there names and what they speecialize in, also include how often you see any of them. Prescribed medication and how often they are taken. If you attend hospital outpatient appointments - include what they are for, injections, medication checks, etc.
You state you suffer from Epilepsy, as this been checked by an Epilepsy Specialist and a Neurologist. Is it just Epilepsy you suffer from or Functional Episodes as well (these are similar, but have 28 variations!). A Functional Episode looks like a Epileptic Seizure apart from no electrical pulses are affect your brain, your body shuts down you have no control over the seizure, you can hear people talking, but you cannot communicate at all. I suffer from both and sometimes I am hospitalized depending on the length or how bad the seizures are.
The PIP Application form really needs additional empty boxes, I cannot stress this part out enough, make sure if you need additional paper add it and attach them, the more detail, the better. If it takes you a week to complete, it does not matter - what matters most is you fill it in on how disorders/disabilities affect you, everyone is different, hence why a question on the PIP form may sound stupid or repetitive it is not, it is worded differently for a reason - each person would fill the part in differently.
Once you are happy with your application, check it a few times just in case you missed anything off. By the way, Epilepsy Seizures have many variations - if left too long unattended, you can be left with brain damage, you should have a gel which your doctor can prescribe to help bring you out of a seizure, this can help if paramedics have been called but not arriived, it is administered orally.
I hope that gives you a better idea about the application form. One other thing, don't just tick boxes with a Yes or No, put an explanation why you stated Yes or No, this gives the DWP more to look at in your case.
If you have had any adaptions done to your home via DFG's (Disabled Funding Grants) then list them, if you are on the LifeLine Connect system and wear a Red Button on your wrist, then this needs to be listed. It connects you in an emergency to 999 services if you've had a fall, or a carer is not with you at a time when you need them.
Regards,
Les.
anthony97723 stacey45027
Posted
2 great replies already please read them they contain excellent advice that you should follow.
Just to add that individuals who are claiming PIP on Mental Health grounds, would normally fill the "prompting" or "assistance" options in many of the descriptors for PIP including Meal preparation, Taking nutrients, Washing Bathing, Dressing/Undressing, Budget decisions, Communication and even needing someone with you for mobility reasons.
You have to explain why your MH and Epilepsy require you to have prompting or assistance when completing the tasks.
stacey45027
Posted
myra22 stacey45027
Posted
stacey45027
Posted
myra22 stacey45027
Posted
take care x
SteV3 stacey45027
Posted
How often do you see any Neurologist or Epilespy Specialist? Both these people, including your own doctor can help you obtain various aids or adaptions to help you.
If you go through your own GP they can get District Nurses to come and visit you, and will go though various aids that they can provide upto a certain amount, but I think the limits on them is Hospital Beds, if you have major problems getting up and dressed in the mornings. With me, that is about 45 minutes to an hour. My Doctor ordered my Hospital bed, it has been a good help but I have some days I can't even get up using the remote control. My wife phoned the District Nurses to find out if there was anyway of providing rails by my pillows, so I can pull or push myself around. It is not easy, both my legs ankles, and feet are swollen, hence I have pain from a slightest touch.
Larger aids are dealt with by Adult Care Services which should be a department in your town's council offices. They provide people with Occupational Therapists, whom can provide you to numerous people that can help you with larger aids under Occupational Team Grants (usually under £1,000), or refer you to Disability Funding Grants (up-to £5,000). Some grants require you to be on certain benefits, but these vary on your condition and requirements.
My Doctor asked me if I had ever applied for a Electric Riser/Recliner Chair, I said no, and had no idea of whom i would approach. I had to get my Occupational Therapist to back me up regarding having a progressive disorder, She gave me a form for a charity to fill in, my wife completed it and returned it to my O.T. to send on to the charity. There are many charities around, but certain items they will not fund, or they will question the use and it will fit the person's property. They would provide me with a top figure of £750.00 towards a chair, so there seemed a lot. But it is not when you start looking for chairs of this type, some can be £2,500 or more!!! The trouble was these were retail store prices, hence 'high-overheads' which is added to the chairs. So, I took the alternative route - the web, and online shops only, not high street stores. I found one for just under £600.00, I thought perfect now I need a quote. Many people do not know this, but items for use by a disabled person is Exempt from VAT, in the UK. So, I had to take off the VAT then add £70.00 for a 2 Star Delivery (Basically 2 guys to deliver and assemble it for you), in total it came to around £563 - I was happy, it was what I wanted and confirmed the details with the company on the phone, they sent me a quote with a VAT Exemption to fill in. The charity, questioned the price and size, because they thought it was cheap and wanted to know if it was large enough. So, I had to inform them that I went to an online store only, the chair itself was Leather and top of the range, and the Retail price in a high street store was £1,300 inc VAT and no delivery charges. It took all in all about 6 months to get all the paperwork done, then they granted the full amount, which surprised me, because of all the questions and why it was so cheap, even though it is guaranteed for 2 years and is dual-motor which are expensive to buy in the shops!
It is really just knowing how stores differ from the high street and online - there is a big difference, which many people do not realize.
VAT Exemption Number
There is one thing I get asked many times and that is how do find your VAT Exemption Number - If you are disabled and have a vehicle then you are entitled to an EU Blue Badge, on this document is your VAT Exemption Number - it is the easiest way, to get without contacting and answering many questions over the phone.
Regards,
Les.