I’m fortunate compared to many but having looked at applying for a disabled persons railcard and found I can’t without a PIP award letter.
Having looked at the Benefits and work website and used their PIP tool I would only be eligible on the lower rate mobility.
I use a walking pole when going out as my left leg is weak, sometimes collapses and I get foot drop as it tires. The criteria is can stand and walk over 20m but less than 50m unaided.
Can anyone suggest how likely I am to be successful? Or have made a similar claim and how it went. I’m put off by the numerous horror stories that come up.
Would this be likely to require a home visit and if so what does this involve?
Usually I try to be positive but I get the impression that this counts against us on Pip assessments
Mine arrived about a week ago. The first form doesnt ask for much info at all about your illness, just what illness you have. The nxt form I think will be the one which asks about how the illness affects your ability to do stuff. Im sure you will have come across it but there is a booklet somewhere on this website about applying for PIP and its quite useful I think.
You should definitely request a reconsideration. Do you know if the DWP got a report from your GP? Or from anyone else? Did you provide evidence of your walking distance, including time and of course, remembering the mantra repeatedly, safely, reliably, timely.
This is a guide to reconsiderations, or of course benefits and work, the CAB and even the DWPs own advice guides.
If you didn’t already have some kind of evidence regarding your walking, get some. This could take the form of a letter from your GP, physio or neurologist.
If you had a physical assessment, did you get a copy of the assessors report? This should indicate what they thought about your walking. And thus gives you a starting point if they made a mistake.
You are required to ask for a reconsideration of the decision before you can formally appeal it.
Best of luck. Don’t forget, the decision isn’t set in stone. You can make them change it.
There are many guides to applying for PIP. You should definitely make a claim but go about it in the right way.
There is a website which provides excellent guides to applying for PIP (and ESA). http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/ They do charge for membership (about (£20) but it’s absolutely worth it. Their guides are up to date and correct, you can trust the information contained to be updated every time there’s a change to the rules. And being the DWP, they like to play with the rules.
The application form is long and will take time to complete. Make sure you meet the deadlines the DWP give you, include examples to illustrate your answers, provide evidence from relevant professionals (GP, MS nurse, physio, neuro, etc). Ensure you keep a photocopy of the completed form and any evidence you send, and post it recorded delivery, ignore the second class prepaid envelope they give you with the form.
I was on the lower band of PIP for 3 years, £55 per a week I think, then about 8 months ago I reapplied due to an increase in symptoms over the last 2 years, I had a home visit to be reassessed and was then awarded the higher rate for mobility but nothing for the care side.
My weekly payment increased to £104.
The letter said this was only fixed for 3 years because “your disability and needs may change within this time” .
So I’m guessing another review will be on the cards.
I’m not sure if my newer application, 8 months ago was before or after our not so caring Government decided to mess with peoples lives, who already struggle day to day !!
@ GOVERNMENT…
YOU CANT FAKE MS FOR GOD’S SAKE, AND IT’S WITH YOU FOR LIFE, NOT 3 BLOODY YEARS !!!
it is likely you got the 3 year award as they thought you daily living needs may increase not because your mobility will get better
anon
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Hi there Anon,
I can see where you are coming from, but in all honesty, if these people think like this why have they altered the PIP criteria to make it even more difficult to be able to claim, EVEN with having written confirmation of your life long illness from the MS clinics, neuro’s, GP’s and other care professionals ???
It’s simply a scare tactic to try and warn off people from claiming these deserved benefits.
You only have to read the many many postings there are, on this site alone, on how people are scared of these reviews, and how stressful it all is.
Nothing but a scare tactic by a bullying Government.
Exactly as Bob clearly describes, the criteria AND targets are obviously set BY THE Government, who then “train” people to become overnight professionals and judge how MS affects people in their day to day needs.
It’s diabolical how confirmation from neuro’s, GP’s and MS clinics that show written proof that you have MS and how it affects you can be dismissed by someone who turns up with a lap top and roll’s off questions from a list determined by someone sitting behind a desk all day.
I’m not worried about the actual assessment, my gripe is that the Government has altered the criteria to be able to claim PIP, so therefor the assessors will now be able to find it easier to reject a claim even if the person with MS has all the paperwork and backing of their whole MS team & GP.
I actually feel very sorry for the poor buggers who have to get up every day and give assessments for benefits or make decisions on benefit claims. People have such varying health, care and mobility needs, even within the same broad diagnosis as MS and these people are expected to be able to not only judge how you, with your widely differing needs, fit in to the various criteria, but also to meet targets of how many assessments / decisions per day.
I wouldn’t do their jobs that’s for sure.
I save all my ire for those buzzards who have little or no understanding of what it’s like to
have an incurable illness / health condition
be unable to care for oneself
be unable to walk / walk far / often
make a claim for benefits
live on the pittance that they deem sufficient for our needs
live with constant worry about benefits
have to try to understand the ever-changing rules.
For me its all on the government. And Blairs New Labour were no better than the present government. And Corbyn is a well meaning believer in socialism who stands no chance of being voted in to power. To me, the problem is that there is no electable opposition in this country. Exactly the reason why Trump got in in the US.
And that’s my political rant for the day / week / probably year.
Just save your understanding and forgiveness for this people who have to administer the bloody benefits. They don’t make the rules, they just have to understand and implement them. And in my experience, you’re not going to find many of the DWP staff administrators of PIP (or most other benefits) who agree with the rules they are having to implement. (Or who voted for our current government!)