As you know I got pip forms I've tried everywhere to get help with them filling them in I've rang welfare rights they said I get a call back with in 2 days but they can help some but not others that's what they said I think I might take good suggestions off all you lovley peaple who are trying to help me and go on website Google and practice on paper before fill it in and if it fails try again thankyou all very much for you're good advice and suggestions I'm very grateful I live in durham
Germantara: As you know I got pip forms... - Lung Conditions C...
Germantara
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Hi I looked on turn2us website, CAB website and just googled "PIP guidelines" for my initial form. I had my review forms in October 2022 and still waiting for them to review it.... when I rang them they state "we're told to inform people it's around 6 weeks but we know its not" there's also a dummy questionnaire form you can complete which emails you the points based on answers. Ofcourse this score can change depending on how the assessor scores. I'll try add some links.
Thankyou
benefitsandwork.co.uk/perso...
citizensadvice.org.uk/benef...
Hope these help... x
Things that may help.....Incontinence...... because you cough. Incontinence at night so you may wake up coughing and need bed pads and incontinence pants at night.
You may feel anxious in the shower because the steam makes it hard to breathe. You may not be able to bath because it's hard to breathe because of the position of your legs squashing your diaphragm. Sometimes lung conditions give you clubbed fingers and you may not be able to pop out your meds so you might need help with that. You may feel anxious out on your own if you cannot find a seat when you feel breathless, it may make you dizzy when you get anxious. I use a three wheeler with a seat to push around when I go out so I have a seat......I also find it hard to bend down to put on my Sox n shoes because it squashes my lungs so I have help putting them on......hope this helps XXX be honest not too complicated. Photo copy your application form as it'll be some time before your interview, then you can recap because they're looking for inconsistent answers. Eg you can load n unload the dishwasher yet can't put on Sox......and helps if you DONT have pets.
You may need a seat in the shower, your husband might need to supervise because you get anxious and can't breathe in steam, he may need to wash your hair as you cannot breathe when your hands are above your head, he also may need to wash your lower legs and feet because again you can't bend over to wash them as it squashes your diaphragm. You might suffer bloating after eating and that might leave you breathless because your lungs cannot expand and you may need to sit down for a good half hour after each meal to catch your breath. That might lead you to only eating small meals like cereals and crisps if your husband is out. You may not be able to peel veg because of clubbed fingers, and you may feel dizzy standing.you may also need to hire a Moto scooter in town with hubby and take your three wheeler if your walking to corner shop to sit and rest every 20 yards but would never go to town without him. You might find your big fingers stop you from usin the three wheeler and you may become house bound especially of he's not in to put on your shoes...... You may want to talk to your boss about something called working well or HR department that also helps on the form. Take your time writing. Do one or two questions a day write a draft so you can add or take out bits. When all drafts are completed lay them all out read through for inconveniences then get hubby to write it all out..... especially of you suffer from finger clubbing. xxx
Thankyou so much its all very helpfull in fact extremely helpfull I appreciate everything I've never filled a form in at all I was stumped about it you mentioned things I didn't think about I'm so grateful to be honest I don't think about things I'm to use to sitting in chair my husband does alot and my daughter
There's things I didn't even think of you get so used to the new you you don't realise its not actually normal to feel the way you do..
You're definitely right got to be honest I've had copd for 5 yrs and still there's times I feel sorry for mysel and have maney a tear off what things use to be and now so different but I found this forum and I feel I have support cause I feel some peaple don't understand
It's really difficult as you have to break each question down and think how do I actually prepare a meal? Get washed? Do shopping? Do you have special gadgets because you can't use tin opener? Do you have shakes? How's dexterity? Memory do you manage to cook from scratch or micro meals? How does the shopping get in your house? Rely on someone else? Online shop? Can you put it all away? If you do all that how long does it take? Are you exhausted after therefore impacts on you doing anything else after? Does mood impact on everything or somethings? It's not what illness you have thsts irrelevant It's how the illness impacts on your daily living activities that is looked at. If you fluctuate complete a weeks diary and send that with your form as supportive evidence. If you have more bad days than good say so. If you look at those links i sent their really useful.
I did my own.do read up and enclose drs letters
it would be really useful to have someone to go through it with you. There’s things you just don’t think of. I’m trying to get my husband to apply for attendance allowance. He always says ‘I’m fine” driving me mad because I have to do absolutely everything for him!
I'm in the same boat. Men!
Sometimes peaple say there allright and don't relize how much another person does there was one post which more or less said we forget what normal was cause now we living a new normal way off life with our conditions I thought that is so so true when life changes you get use to your new normal it's made me think and look at myself at the great support I receive doing things I used to do but no longer do I've had great support from this forum and very grateful
Yes so true. It so changes everything when you can’t do the things you once could do. And it’s upsetting. That’s why you really have to think about it when filling in PIP/AA and the million things that need to be mentioned about how it’s truly effecting every corner of everyday life,
Yes thankyou I'm more aware now about the forms I just couldn't seem ta think bout what should I say and that but with fantastic advice I'm getting clued up but trying ta get help from citizens advice age UK welfare rights its a no go they are bogged down I can understand that cause peaple are struggling paying bills keeping roof over there heads so all these places are probly trying to help other s and help filling in forms won't be priority but I'm thankfully for everyone's posts
Hi just remember when your filling out your forms its not the actual illness they take into account its how the illness affects you on a daily basis on what you are unable to do plus on how far you can walk without getting breathless
Not the time to be the brave little soldier when filling out the forms. Always describe your worst days, never your best.
I will thankyou I've had great support from everyone I'm so over welmed with joy that I've found support or just to be listened to I've had copd for nearly 6 yrs and no one to talk to and the one who I did they just said nought wrong with ya or ya short breath in the mind so I never been able ta talk or get suggestions off anyone
Hi, just got mine refused, but there are useful tips on Google. Good luck 👍
You'll get it in the end, when a more sympathetic person assesses you. Perhaps I mean empathetic. In the book Blade Runner robots are detected because they have no empathy- I sometimes wonder how some of the people I've met would get on. xxx
I think you would be best to have help filling out the form, either cab or welfare rights. Even if there is a long wait for an appointment it will save you the stress and time in trying to do it yourself with possibly being turned down and having to go through it all again. I had help from cab to apply for attendance allowance and I could see that I would never have answered the questions in the right way. I was successful thankfully.
Couple of things that helped get mine and my wife’s attendance allowance along with blue badges. A letter from a consultant to you and your GP naming your conditions, also in my case I have a rollator and a wheelchair which are community funded i.e. provided by the hospital. We also mention extra handles in the bathroom and the stair lift and anything else you use to help around the home, riser recliner chairs are another good one. If it asks you how far can you walk unaided outside, the answer is I can’t I always use a walking aid or mobility scooter. Good luck and you can always appeal if you don’t get it first time.
Hi Biker88 Some good responses for Germantara, one to add to the walking is are there any other issues that impact on your walking and the rule that says does walking cause deterioration in your health. In my case it makes pain worse. And a common phrasing your walking has to be normal as someone of similar age to yourself. In my case I need two hands to hold a cup and still spill it but no one takes that into account, they consistently emphasize the distance you are able to walk don't they? PIP and other disability funding is intended for help towards all disabilities that impair your daily living activities. No one has ever thought about the ability to walk requires more than just walking a short distance on the flat , unaided. It requires you to be able to surmount steps, bend your knees, see where you are going, have upright posture, full lung capacity and to be able to bend if you drop your stick. Hope these help the person posting.
Yes first time. Nevermind I know its hard to get
Hi Germantara I filled the pip forms in myself and had a guy call with me and he told me there and then I would get pip. I was told to fill the form telling how I am on my worst possible day. From you get up in the morning with a feeling of dread because my feet are too sore to put on the floor to the walk to the bathroom with shuffling feet then find my hands are so sore I can’t wipe my bottom. My wrists are so sore I can’t lift the kettle. On my worst day I can’t walk more than 20yards. Forget the odd good day they are few and far between. Good luck x
Thankyou I struggle every morning Iwade up coughing my lungs up breathin terribly take my inhalers oo nightmare to be honest I sleep down stairs and watch tele every night cause can't sleep cause coughing plus it wake husband up I was sleeping in spare room cause I thought it was better but it wasn't to honest I only put my clothes if I have to go out other wise in pajamas but I have got great advise and to be honest I've never had to fill a form in
Everything you've just said here put in the form about not getting dressed, sleeping downstairs, insomnia, relentless coughing at rest or on movement? State which. Last few clinic letters you have put copies in with form. All acts as supporting evidence. There's no rush just do a bit at a time as can be mentally hard as you have to look at how your life is impacted by illness so can be deflating but look at it as a stepping stone to enable you better support for better quality of life. X
Hi, when you have filled in the form, before sending it off, make sure to keep a copy for yourself.
contact age concern they should be able to help you preferably by filling the forms in for you
Hi I appreciate you're suggestions but I did called age concern citizens advice and welfare rights they were trying to get to help everyone but they admitted they were struggling and I did understand that but I've had great responses from everyone which I'm very grateful I rang and got extension on return date for form that given me more time
I have just submitted my pip form. It is mammoth. I followed advice and did it a bit every day and added loads of pages to itemise how I am impacted. It took ages and I found it stressful. I am fully prepared after all that to have my claim rejected and have to appeal. I know someone who can't leave his house at all and can't get out 9f his bed without help from family and they rejected his application. Seems to me there may be an unwritten policy to reject in the hopes we'll give up. I won't. Can I just say thanks to all who have posted on this thread, as it was a huge help to me in completing the form. You're a great bunch and this community is such a solid support. So grateful.