Hi All,
Sorry about the last post BTW, I messed up and posted it and didn’t finish it lol!
I am looking for any and all advice about a PIP medical coming up very soon pls? it is for an appeal i think as they turned me down 1st time and as you all know , we really need this money for extra costs due to our disibility etc.
ty in advance
tc
Anna x
Hi Anna,
My one bit of advice, without actuallly going through the PIP medical process is to make sure that the person doing the assessment actually has a fair degree of knowledge about MS, I am still going through the DLA tribunal (pre PIP claim) and I know the medical opinion they gathered at the appeal stage, really didn’t demonstrate any in depth knowledge of MS and they just got hung up on the Remitting nature of the condition (concentrated on the best case scenarios as opposed to the worst case). If I was going through the medical assessment i would take a list in with me outlining what your baseline MS position is including what issues/limitations that you have with mobility and the care components. If you have a letter from your Neurologist/MS nurse I am sure that that would help. If they question the list you could explain that it is to ensure that you dont forget any important points and as such is mitigation for any cognitive/memory issues that you have with the MS. One final point if the medical includes questionning you, think carefully before you answer any questions just to make sure that you arent going to get tripped up!
Good Luck
JC
Hi sending my best wishes for the appointment.
JC has given very good advice,…things I would also suggest.
Are you taking someone with you? I think you would benefit by their support.
Dont let them rush you to answer or demonstrate and explain your answers.
Let us know how it goes. I`ll give you a cyber hand to hold hun.
luv Pollx
Hi Is it an appeal or reconsideration you are going through? The assessor / decision maker does not have to have a great knowledge of MS. They are looking at the things you can and can’t do. Just as a GP who refers you to a neuro doesn’t need a full understanding of MS (they need to know what you can’t do to refer you to a specialist for dx), an assessor or decision maker needs to know to determine the level of award. The issues come with the accuracy of the report and historically this has been an area of concern. You say its a medical for an appeal. I am unsure if they do this for appeals or reconsideration. The later is a telephone call with the former a face to face appeal. I wish you the very best. Neil
Hi Anna.
I have not long been for an “assesment” on my long journey towards the reward that is PIP!
I actually had my medical on 24th of April and am eagerly awaiting the decision!
I would have to say my assessor Helen told me was a trained nurse and had specialised in neuroligical care and as such seemed very sympathetic and understanding of my condition, SPMS (recently diagnosed).
I agree with Blossom! Have a good look at http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/ unfortunately they seem to be updating the site today so it is unavailable but keep checking! There really is good stuff there!
As for my assesment I went there and told the truth as I had described on the 42 page form I had previously filied out. I didn’t get the impression it was an inquisition, just someone trying to gauge accurately the difficulties I now face with my condition.
I did note that the centre I went to in Cardiff had limited disabled parking outside (in the street) and the “invitation” letter included about 8 pages of insructions on how to walk and catch buses from my home address to the centre despite my having stated that my walking was very limited and because of balance problems I cannot use public transport on numerous occasions!
Just in case I have requested a copy of my assessment from the DWP (as sugested by Benefits & Work) just incase it did not go as well as I seem to remember!
Good Luck!
and hope it all goes well for you!
Cheers Steve.
[quote=SUNSPIRITS]
Hi All,
Sorry about the last post BTW, I messed up and posted it and didn’t finish it lol!
I am looking for any and all advice about a PIP medical coming up very soon pls? it is for an appeal i think as they turned me down 1st time and as you all know , we really need this money for extra costs due to our disibility etc.
ty in advance
tc
Anna x
Hi Anna
Any assessment will only take record how you are at the time of the actual assessment. The assessors can only record what they see at the time. It is acomplete myth that how you may be on a ‘bad day’ is taken into consideration.
Good luck!
I got standard on both but at the time I had no idea I could have ms not dx yet going through it I have bad issues with mobility but it’s not about your condition it’s about how it effects you doing day to day tasks I went alone but I suggest you take someone with you. Good luck.