PIP1 Form Application

Hi, I can't help with any organisation but as far as asking for extra time you should.  I got two extra weeks which seems quite normal initially.  Sometimes they'll give a further two weeks but just phone up, get the two weeks, and take a bit of the stress off yourself.  If you get it done before that you can still send it but taking the worry away briefly will help you focus.

Hi Sallie,

First of all I would give the dwp a ring and ask for some more time. It shouldn't go against you I wouldn't have thought.

I had to apply on my sons behalf and with pip, it's more about how things affect you on a daily basis.

I filled out the form but also added 13 pages of additional notes going into great detail about firstly his diagnosis and secondly how these things affect him daily.

I then wrote out the questions and answered them on the additional notes in more detail than I was able to on the form as they don't really give you enough space to do so.

Any medical notes/ reports etc that you have send those off with the form and additional notes too.

i don't know what else I can advise really, other than be thorough and don't leave anything out.

Good luck with everything.

Dawn.

Hi, Age UK are really good at helping with these forms, so i heard. I'm not in that age group as yet so have never used them. You can get their number if you google "age uk"

As for extra time to complete the form please ring them and they'll happily give you a couple of extra weeks. This will take the stress off a little.

Evidence can be anything from a letter from your GP, a list of all current medication and even a letter written either by yourself or from someone that knows you well. Consultant letters, Occupational Therapist reports but ideally these should be less than 2 years old. As clearly stated on a recent PIP form than i filled out. PIP awards are maxium 10 years with reviews being 1 year before a current award is due to end. Good luck and hopefully you'll get some help from age UK.

Hi I am sorry to hear about all yout problems.  There should be a disability centre near you and they can visit you if you are housebound.   They are experts at filling in the form in so have a look in your area for one.   I don't think asking for more time would affect your claim.  Good luck with it.  x

Hi Sallie, the advice you've already had from other people is good, do ask DWP for extra time, it shouldn't count against you, and do try and get help, either if there's a disability support organisation, or CAB. There's a national Crohn's disease organisation, are they able to give you help? Also, do put PIP into a search engine, there are some good guides, from CAB and turn to us, they explain what the different criteria are, a nd what you must need hep with to score points, it is all far narrower than DLA. 

above all, stay as calm as you can, put down as much detail as possible. If you are called for an assessment then consider asking for it at home, they can do this if you are limited in your mobility, and make sure you have someone with you, for support, and to act as a witness, as often the assessor is not very accurate in what they write down.

hope all the advice you have had is useful, and good luck

Does your GP have your records on a computer or are they still on paper?  If they're on a computer you can ask for a copy of them all and the maximum they can charge is £10.  If they're on paper the maximum is £50.  If they're mixed you can ask just for the electronic records and will still only be charged £10 - this is what I did and I got over 10 years of records.

If you ask for a letter to support your claim they sometimes charge a lot more but you might find something useful in your records.  I got mine and I had letters that my GP had sent to consultants, discharge letters from the hospital.  Blood test results.  Medication lists.  I found out the dates when each condition had started.  I asked for mine on a computer disc so I was able to search very easily.  Some surgeries print them out instead but it could be worth speaking to them about this.

The link below explains the charges and the process.  It says they have 40 days to provide the records but it's unlikely they would take this long.  

http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/2635.aspx?CategoryID=68&SubCategoryID=160