Pip assessment

I desperately need to get my son financial support with no pressure to go to meetings etc

Can you advise what benefits I can apply for (pip etc ) can these be mixed with other benefits ??

There are no sickness/disability based benefits that would no consequential meetings/reviews/assessments.

PIP & ESA - you are regularly assessed and re-assessed

ESA  Work Group - you have to also comply with directions from the JC+

ESA Support Group - there are no compulsory meetings etc bar the assessments and re-assessments. The JC+ will ask if you will volunteer for these work groups.

Even AA (DLA for those over 65) has a system of regular assessmenst and re-assessment.

Bev, how awful for you and your son.  Have you considered approaching your local authority about getting a social worker or support worker for your son?  I'm sure they would be able to help with the meetings or at least advise.  This makes me so sad when I hear of people who are experiencing genuine anxiety in social situaitons and the benefits system is process rather than people driven. You could also approach your local councillor and or MP to see if they can offer a letter of support?

I hope you find the help that your son clearly needs.

 You could also approach your local councillor and or MP to see if they can offer a letter of support?

I doubt that either of those can arrange to change the rules so that your son can be made exempt from assessments and interviews.

In fact I'm a town councillor and it didn't help my own case. The DWP called me a liar when I said that I had sent in two letters requesting a form to start the transfer over from DLA to PIP. I then telephoned them and they denied receiving either of the letters by which time the 30 days limit had expired so they refused to to allow me the chance to claim PIP and took away all of the DLA award!!

 

Thank u so much

I have made an appointment at docs Monday

But getting him through the door is another matter I'll update you all soon thanks to ya all

Bev, I hope you're coping OK and that your son managed to get to the GP.  I got awared a Blue Badge yesterday which will help me but still no news on getting any PIP.  I've now sent all my documentation from Occupational Health and my GP so I am hoping they give me something. I plan to employ a cleaner and pay someone to do the ironing for me.  Good Luck and good health

Hi don't worry I have my home visit next week and it was organized very quick, just do your normal thing because with disability you can't change your day, it would be like on the day they come I could walk, I so wish you will do fine I'm sure, your wife sounds in a bad way sorry, I don't know what I would do without my OH he has been brilliant for many years but lately he has been amazing, good luck

PS didn't they give you a set time, they did me, I think

Hi they said between 9-11 if that's a set time between them times I could be doing anything with my wife I can't expect her to be awake or not on the toilet etc I can't say what will happen from minute to minute never mind hour to hour . But I'm also scared as to if she will be here ..she goes to see the specialist on the 20th it's two days after they come to see us ..but what if come the 20th the specialist admits her to hospital due to the bleeding ? So?l that go against her ? She has many medical problems only getting worse since 1996 she started with neurologist problems admitted for IV steroids after showing brain swelling it's all down to long term steroids the other problems have got worse but she can't come off steroids it's stopping her brain swelling that could lead to vegative state of death ..that is also why life long on immune suppressants her body is fighting her brain and is why it's swelling . I have never been through this before and worry what is going to happen if they can't see what she is like if she is sleeping etc .. don't ma!e sense why she needs this medical I hear addicts don't get them ? This medical problem my wife lives with isn't caused by something she is putting into her body of her own doing ..she takes medication she couldn't live without fact the risk she has taking these medications alone is bad ..needing liver tests every three months to make sure she has no liver problems as the tablets can cause liver cancer ..but like the neurologist said it out ways the risk if she doesn't take them ..she has no option . Please keep us informed on yours please and very good luck next week .

Hi please can I ask a personal question what is your circumstances what medical reason ? Just wondering if they rush others through quicker due to the medical problems ?

Hi David like your wife I have a list of ailments which I mentioned in other post above, I claimed low rate DLA before and have managed OK because most days I could be relatively pain free but now I'm in a wheelchair and in constant pain so was advised by my physio to apply for pip, will see how it goes and on the day they will see what was put on the forms and all the xrays, reports etc so they can please there selves cause I'm sure they will any way, ring them and tell them you need a time due to your wife's incapacitaty and explain why, just got my OH to check. Mines at ,12

Don't know why we got a 2 hour slot but maybe it means coming at 9 leaving at 11 ? But what ever they can find us how ever we are ..I'm really fed up with the system already reading horror stories ..I have a good mind to stop being her carer and let them pay for somebody else to come in us careers are saving them thousands and I always worked as a fire officer until I had to give up mainly to do with my wife but also I am not good health myself after having bypass in my legs and false artery put in and been told I could eventually have to have my legs off but I claim nothing s I look after my wife and wouldn't be eligible or have to fight for it which I can't be bothered with ..please can you model us updated on how your medical goes ..but then again they probably act all nice but what they out on paper is another story .

Sorry my predictive text on , meant to say keep us updated on your medical,

Yea will do, I'm sure or I'm hoping that the horror stories are in the Minority and we will be lucky and get someone who is honest in there appraisal, they don't make the decision but they do obviously influence it, I cannot understand how one person's opinion can be enough, hopefully its the physical problems that will guide there comments.

Hopefully yes, if it's obvious in front of them they can't lie ..all I can say they must be medical geniuses to know about every illness and how that will affects people's lives ..Has if they have no idea about the illness then how can they say how it would? But even the top specialist have certain areas they work in and don't know about others . What qualifications have they got ? My wife sees many specialists ..her neurologist for one every 6 months , etc and if he knew everything about other illness's she has it would be so much easier than seeing all she does .

As far as I can see, there not experts in any illness and its not so much what you are diagnosed with its how it effects your life on a daily basis, its up to our medical professionals and the reports they give us and of course ourselves to explain how we manage "or don't manage" on a daily basis.

Try not to worry as the outcome will be the same no matter how wound up you allow yourself to get.

One piece of info I have heard mention a couple of times is its OK to record the interview, yes it is but I now know you need to give them prior notice of this and it needs to be recorded on a machine (not laptops etc) that can produce a CD that has to be given to the assessor so both have a copy.

You can take notes or someone can for you.

Not sure recording it will make much difference on the outcome and I don't need to take notes ..I'm just worried for my wife and how she will take going through a medical ..but hey ho I guess it needs to be done and nothing I can say or do will make any difference to the upset my wife will be feeling people judging her on her illness . It's all wrong goes to show tell lies you get help be truthful you get s**t on

If it comes down to making a decision based on the assessors report or medical evidence from the GP or consultant - the assessor would win hands down. Why? Because both medical professionals are unlikely to be able to give an opinion on how your difficulties fit the relevant descriptors. They will describe the diagnosis and how the condition is being treated but PIP is not based on that information.

People get a good result when they can demonstrate using independent verifiable evidence that tells the assessor (and the DWP) exactly what your difficulties are and more importantly, how they fit into the PIP criteria. 

It's really never changed if you look at it in full ..the only difference is most have to have a medical assessment and fill in a bit longer form but the questionnaire is more or less always asked the same questions ..so looking at it from that point of view not worried what so ever and feel a little calmer now ..it will get those able to get off there ass back to work and those really ill help . Good thing in a way I think .

I totally are David, I have claimed low rate DLA for about 9 years and was told to claim for higher rate about 6 years ago and to be honest didn't think I would have been eligible as I could still walk, if I had the choice to be mobile and pain free or get thousands per week I would choose the pain free and mobile choice the same as I'm sure your wife would, maybe its sad that there are those out there who don't really need it and those that do who very sadly don't get it

That's annoying ..I know people who have less ailments than I have yet claim. Money I know this system is all wrong and hopefully this makes people who deserve is get it and weed out the others ..I care for my wife at the moment as I am able but in the future ive not long had a Peripheral artery bypass and degeneration of spine ( old age) -but claim nothing but I've been told this bypass could last 5-10 years and I could end up with both my legs off ..then it would be either care home for my wife or them paying a dam lot more for somebody to come in and look after her ..