Hello
I am about to start filling in the dreaded form for PIP. It’s a new application, rather than a conversion from DLA.
I have just been retired from work on grounds of ill health and I was wondering if the reports that Occupational health sent to me and my former employers would be helpful evidence? Failing that, it’s a visit to my GP and then what do I ask her for?
Any advice is gratefully received.
Hello MrsFlute,
When I retired early and applied for PIP, I did include the reports from my employer’s OH department plus the written recommendation from the OH independent doctor who wrote to my employer recommending the highest possible retirement pension option.
I would recommend taking a look at the following website and using the self-assessment option for a PIP claim.
If your needs have been assessed by an Occupational Therapist, or you are following a course of exercises from your physiotherapist, then I would include any notes you may have from them. Alternatively, you can always request them.
I believe the DWP will contact your GP and neurologist as a matter of course, but you may need to check this.
On a general point, I would read the criteria carefully and reply with examples from your worst days.
Good luck,
Alun
Hello
Yes, include any evidence you have which supports what you are saying. Essentially, you need to consider the Activities and their Descriptors and include anything which demonstrates how you fulfil them. You get just the highest point value for each Activity that you meet the Descriptor for: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/Global/Migrated_Documents/adviceguide/pip-9-table-of-activities-descriptors-and-points.pdf
Any other evidence you have which supports your claim you should also include, this could be copy letters from your neurologist, letters from your MS nurse, physiotherapist, anyone else you see who you can ask to write a supporting letter. You can also include photos of any aids you use, I had pictures of my wetroom, showing the shower chair and grab bars and photos of my bedroom showing the bed rail and standing frame to help when I’m getting dressed.
I second Aluns recommendation that you join benefits and work. Their guides for members are excellent. It costs about £20 per year, but it’s worth it.
I actually disagree that you should use examples of your worst day, because if you have to have a face to face assessment, and it’s not your worst day, you will look like you’ve exaggerated everything. But make clear what you are normally capable of and what you are like when things get worse. The key to the Activities is that you should be able to do things ‘reliably, safely and repeatedly’. This means if you can walk 40 metres say, that you can do it again without a lengthy rest. And when you do it again, that you can walk safely and reliably (ie that you’re not at risk of falling).
Take your time with the form, write your answers out, then leave it a couple of days, reread what you’ve written and compare it to the Activities so you can make changes as appropriate.
Best of luck.
Sue
I have received a letter from Capita advising that I will be having a home visit next week. I feel strangely calm about it - my husband, on the other hand, is incredibly nervous - more down to the fact that he has a lot of photographic equipment here and worries that he should dispose of it. I did point out that it’s perfectly ok for him to have it as he’s a professional photographer and has to earn his living somehow! Wish us luck.
Mrs Flute, best of luck with the process. Alun and Sue have given you great advice, I certainly would include any independent OH evidence, the fact it is independent and by qualified professionals this will go a long way. Don’t assume your GP and/or specialist have been contacted at all, neither of mine have and to be fair to them, I am not important enough for them to spend time writing anything. Terms to use, reliably, safely, repeatable, and at a pace considered to be normal. If you can’t do these for activities, to them. Charlie