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Pip assesment today... puzzled

Posted , 16 users are following.

RAwarrior
RAwarrior

Hi everyone.... I've suffered with rhuematoid arthritis for 9 years now - I'm 29, diagnosed at 20. It's never been under control, I have been through loads of biologic drugs, humiera, cimzia, enbrel, tocilizumab to name a few (sorry about spelling) all no improvement or reactions to them. Been on high dose mtx could not tolerate it even tried injecting it. Tried hydro whatever it's called and sulfasalazine no good. Currently on infliximab an trying just 2 tablets of mtx to see how I go. I've had no improvement yet but just infections after infusion like all other treatments I did. Also have patchy colitis, underactive thyroid and bad depression.

My wrists are fused I can not move them at all. A couple of toes also. My fingers are really deformed already, and my left knee has been swollen for 2 years. Fluid turned to gel so draining no good and steriod injections don't work. Struggle in every day to day thing, and my mobility is awful.

My joints effected are, toes, feet, ankles, knees, ribs/breastfeeding bone, shoulders sometimes, wrists, all fingers, neck and jaw when I'm bad.

As well as my infusion, I'm on :

Mst 60mg morning and night

Oramorph 10mg 4 x a day

30mg amitriptyline

Lansorapzle

prednisolone 6 a day

Diclofenac 50mg 3x a day

Sertraline 50mg a day

Mtx 10mg a week

Folic acid

Senna 2 a day

Ducosate 4 a day not sure of mg on last 2

Think that's all

Anyhow the reason I'm posting... Sorry for all the info wanted to give yous a quick background.

Today I had a pip assessment... the lady was lovely and it was not scary at all. I had been petrified, I had read on here they make you feel comfortable so you drop your guard if you have one. I was completely honest an just told her how I was didn't exaggerate as some people told me to.

She didn't really ask many questions or the questions I was expecting... like how many bad an good days do you have.

She was also putting words in my mouth kinda.. finishing my sentences.

When she had finished the questions an talk she said I would normally now ask you to do some things an would assess you on that - but I can clearly see how much pain your in an I can see from your joints how you are... and also the amount of pain relief your on tells how bad you are. So I am refusing to do that an I will state that in my report.

Has anyone else had a similar experience? Or have any thoughts on what the outcome could be. I've read a lot about them saying one thing to you an then receiving different things in your report.

I have suffered for years with this... an never applied for this after people telling me too.

I'm at a point now where I'm house bound an literally can not do much at all. I feel ashamed being out in pupil the way I walk because I'm a young woman. I just can't cope any more an hope I do get this now so I can get extra help.

Any advise or previous experiences shared would kindly appreciated

Regards

0 likes, 130 replies

130 Replies

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  • ivan17274
    ivan17274 RAwarrior

    Posted

    hi RAwarrior

    I'll try this 1 last time.posted b4 but no joy. opened letters and got what need. hope you having similar luck. 2 letters telling same thing. waste of money. I don't know sometimes... keep well stay strong. and remember it's their sh*t that smells. not yours. down with the lemon suckers!

    • TCup
      TCup ivan17274

      Posted

      Glad you got what you need Ivan - well done!
    • RAwarrior
      RAwarrior ivan17274

      Posted

      Glad you got what you wanted ivan. How long was you awarded for?
  • ivan17274
    ivan17274 RAwarrior

    Posted

    hi RAwarrior

    interesting you ask that. original letter said 2 years awarded. breathing space I thought. yesterday had amended letter. Nov 29th... this year. but they're giving me Xmas bonus of £10. how kind, i thought- now they have my undivided attention. how many lemons can I buy for £10 for them. I need to hug them. tell them I'm flattered by their attention. shucks I shall ring tomorrow and ask why for of their attentions upon me.

    I could right crush a grape. ivan

    • sukes
      sukes ivan17274

      Posted

      November 29th this year  -  they have to be having a laffffff
    • ivan17274
      ivan17274 sukes

      Posted

      sorry bout private message Sukes phones going haywire again. have get new one. driving me crackers.
    • TCup
      TCup ivan17274

      Posted

      Nov 29!!!! I am gobsmacked - that is the shortest award I have heard of!!!! Surely it is a mistake????  I would call to verfy as the shortest i have heard of is 2 years.  If they are correct then it makes the whole system look a sham.  The DPW are already way behind on transferring people from DLA to PIP.  I know of several people who haven't even started the transfer and now they are handing out shorter awards to givethemself more work!  There are so many people being reassessed for PIP before some have even been asked to apply!  Keep us informed Ivan and good luck!

    • les59996
      les59996 TCup

      Posted

      The award seems to be for 2 years but the DWP will want to re-assess 12 months before that date - hence November 2016?
    • TCup
      TCup les59996

      Posted

      depends what the wording is on Ivan's letter?

    • ivan17274
      ivan17274 TCup

      Posted

      hi.only me!

      this is what it says.

      the amount on this page apply from 6 july 2016 to 29 November 2016.

      yours sincerely blah blah.

      by the way 1 week back pay included.(my words)

    • RAwarrior
      RAwarrior ivan17274

      Posted

      Well that's shocked me... u didn't know they could that!!! And 1 week back pay?? Are you not owed more than that? I would assume with all the wait

    • ivan17274
      ivan17274 RAwarrior

      Posted

      funnily enough that didn't occur to me until I read it back to tcake in a post. I thought hang on they owe more than that but diverted from real issue.

      going ring 4ish.ill let you know asap. stay cool dude.

  • RAwarrior
    RAwarrior

    Posted

    Update everyone......

    Just revieved this text message -

    We've decided you qualify for Personal Independence Payment. You don't need to contact us about this. We will send you a letter with all you need to know. If you don't get this within 2 weeks please contact us. Thank you.

    Wooohoooo.... least I know now. Wonder what they have awarded.. an how long!!

    Can I ring and ask now??

    • TCup
      TCup RAwarrior

      Posted

      Yeah!  Great news though I would be like you and dying to know what awards and for how long.  I have seem many people talking about a similar text online and when they have rang up to ask for more info, they have not been told.  Always worth a try though!  Keep us updated!
    • TCup
      TCup

      Posted

      OMG The DWP must get a buzz out of making applicants wait!  All we seem to do is wait wait wait and it is torture for those who have little patience!
    • RAwarrior
      RAwarrior

      Posted

      7 working days from my assessment ain't too bad either. Hopefully you'll get some word this week TCake.

      No news is normally good news as they say.

      Xx

    • TCup
      TCup RAwarrior

      Posted

      That is brilliant!  Yes, postie just been and no brown envelope!  Fingers crossed I hear soon - if I was you I would give them a call!  You never know......
    • sukes
      sukes RAwarrior

      Posted

      Woohoo,  brilliant news, but why don't they just tell you what it is!!

      I like the bit that said "If you don't get this within 2 weeks please contact us"  how would you know for goodness sake lol

    • RAwarrior
      RAwarrior TCup

      Posted

      I have very little patience..... this wait has been dreadful for me haha. Just want it over with for a while... hopefully. Really they can not even tell you on phone. Booooo. I'll give it a try anyway an let you know.

      It's been 49 weeks for me from 1st phone call.... I shall see what they do an say about backpay. I'm sure that won't go smoothly x

    • TCup
      TCup RAwarrior

      Posted

      If you are transferring from DLA to PIP then I think they only start paying you PIP from the date of the decision.  Yes ring ring ring - you have to!! cheesygrin

    • RAwarrior
      RAwarrior TCup

      Posted

      Awww nothing again. You might get a text like me soon. My post man doesnt come till 11ish... they have obviously made their decision yesterday do you think? I revieved text at 8am. Maybe they posted letter yesterday.

      After me calling yesterday as well and asking for my report ay.... Maybe the decision hasn't been made then.

      I will defiantly ring today and try to get some info about it an let you know what they say.

      My fingers still crossed for you an that it's soon xx

    • RAwarrior
      RAwarrior sukes

      Posted

      Thanks Sukes... I know they should tell you on text what you get.

      Hahaha I think they mean if I don't get the letter in 2 weeks. I think it's mad the 1st text they sent me -

      We've now got all the info we need to decide your PIP claim. We will send you a decision letter once we've made our decision. Please call us if any details you gave us have changed. Thank you.

      The word "info" why do they just not put information. I find it crazy x

    • ivan17274
      ivan17274 RAwarrior

      Posted

      no answer on phone for me yet warrior. all systems go isn't it. getting exciting. don't take this as gospel but I remember reading a post from a guy waiting long as you. I'm sure he said starts from 14th week. don't know what part of my brain that's come from.

      anyway...think how lemons that could buy their staff.

      going ring again now...

      I know they're dying answer it.

    • RAwarrior
      RAwarrior TCup

      Posted

      No I not transferring.... a whole new claim for pip.

      I should of applied for dla years ago. Well in fact I did when I was 1st diagnosed, an received low care for 3 years. After that run out.. I didn't fill the forms out or bother. I've never been in the right place to do the forms... I've let so much slide over the years.

      Not any more!!! ????

    • TCup
      TCup RAwarrior

      Posted

      Hopefully you will get your pip backdated 49 weeks then!
    • sukes
      sukes RAwarrior

      Posted

      "Hahaha I think they mean if I don't get the letter in 2 weeks. I think it's mad the 1st text they sent me"

      Ooooops  I knew that redface

    • pam02338
      pam02338 TCup

      Posted

      They pay you from the date of your application, provided you returned it before the date given on the form.   However, remember that if you are already on DLA and changing to PIP, then your DLA is paid up until the date of your PIP decision.   If you end up with a larger award of PIP than you had under DLA, then you will get the difference between the two backdated to whenever you made the claim.  
    • Biggyinn
      Biggyinn RAwarrior

      Posted

      49 weeks OMG! Thats dreadfull!!!!

      I have difficulty concentrating 49 seconds ...how anyobe keeps it together that long i'll never know

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