Applying for PIP

[Topgunele]

Hi everyone. I hope you are having a lovely bank holiday weekend. I am looking to apply for PIP for Asthma COPD overlap syndrome. Does anyone have any advice, tips on completing the application form please? And has anyone been successful applying for PIP? Thank you ☺️

[JHutton1994]

Be specific in your answers and give examples and don't be afraid to lay it on thick. Instead of 'I get breathless when walking' say 'I get breathless after walking a short distance for example, I often get out of breath walking to the corner shop and back as a result I have difficulty getting out of the house.' Answer for your bad days not your good days. Don't lie obviously as that's fraud but as I say don't be afraid to lay it on thick.

[Topgunele in reply to JHutton1994]

Thank you for your advice, really helpful ☺️. Have just recovered from having a chest infection for 3 weeks which resulted in me being taking to A&E and staying overnight. I have now been referred to Respiratory clinic for follow-up, further tests and ct scan as when I was in hospital ct scan showed scarring/incidental nodules. So I have plenty of evidence regarding my condition, it’s just putting how it affects me into words now. Wishing you all the best 🥰

[Bingo88]

Good luck to you. I have. Asthma, Severe copd and c.k.d, and I also live alone and I didn't get it. I guess because I live alone and manage without help. I don't qualify. Brian

[Topgunele in reply to Bingo88]

Hi, thank you for your reply. Did you try appealing against their decision? I’ve read that there has been a lot of successful appeals. Think CAB, Age UK and others can help with appeals too. Wishing you the best 🥰

[Bingo88 in reply to Topgunele]

Yes I should have to be honest but I think because I manage on my own to do things I think it went against me. Good luck. Brian

[Topgunele in reply to Bingo88]

Hi Brian. Just because you live in your own doesn’t mean your condition doesn’t affect you. If it’s too late to appeal then may be worth doing a new application. Lots of people with disabilities live on their own, and claim PIP. Like others have said on here it’s more to do with how your condition affects you not what condition you have or who you live with. May be worth giving it another go and getting some help and advice from others on here, such a lovely community. Good luck 🥰

[Bingo88 in reply to Topgunele]

Yes I think I will do. Its been nearly 2 years now since I got turned down. So will get help and re apply. Brian

[armstrong2 in reply to Bingo88]

hi bingo88 you can reapply after 6 months have elasped but if you are over state pension age apply for attendance allowance ..l now get it indefinately because my conditions will never get any better

[soulsaver in reply to Bingo88]

Save yourself the hassle - if you're not already on it, you're not eligible for PIP if you're over state pension age.

You should apply for attendance allowance.

[Bingo88 in reply to soulsaver]

Yes to be honest. Yes that's what I applied for being a pensioner. And still got turned down

[hypercat54 in reply to Bingo88]

Its irrelevant if you can manage without help or not. The fact that you need help regardless is the main criteria. Its not the fact you can do something but being able to do it in a timely and safe manner.

If for example it takes you longer to do simple job ie washing up and it takes you half an hour to recover then you tick yes to questions like that and explain how it affects you.

That is the secret to getting PIP and AA.

[Bingo88 in reply to hypercat54]

Yes I told the lady all this and still got nothing. I even told her I had brought king size flat sheets to put under the duvet because of me not being able to change the duvet covers easily on my own anymore. Brian

[gingermusic]

As stated by J Hutton you have to fill it in thinking of your worst days do not hold back at all. I have been on DLA and then transferred to PIP for over 20 years having COPD you should definitely get it. Wish you well.

[Topgunele in reply to gingermusic]

Thank you for your advice, really helpful ☺️. Have just recovered from having a chest infection for 3 weeks which resulted in me being taking to A&E and staying overnight. I have now been referred to Respiratory clinic for follow-up, further tests and ct scan as when I was in hospital ct scan showed scarring/incidental nodules. I’m hoping this is nothing serious. So I have plenty of evidence regarding my condition, it’s just putting how it affects me into words now but advice on here has really helped. Thank you. Wishing you all the best too 🥰

[jessiem]

You get PIP because of how your condition impacts on your daily living activities and mobility - not because you have the condition. Google the PIP descriptors/ this will give you an idea. Also get someone to help you complete the form - CAB - Age U.K. or similar.

[Topgunele in reply to jessiem]

Thank you for your advice ☺️. I may try CAB, I’m too young for Age UK 😂….i have lots of evidence for my condition now, especially after being in hospital for it, but like you said it’s about how it affects you. I’ve got the PIP descriptors, thank you ☺️. Wishing you the best 🥰

[B0xermad]

Hi I have pip, and I have asthma bronchiectasis and copd all overlap and it took a while to get it but persevering and putting your worst days and what you can't do rather than what you can do down on the form and how you are impacted by your conditions are key

[Topgunele in reply to B0xermad]

Thank you, that’s really good advice, really helpful ☺️. Have just recovered from having a chest infection for 3 weeks which resulted in me being taking to A&E and staying overnight. I have now been referred to Respiratory clinic for follow-up, further tests and ct scan as when I was in hospital ct scan showed scarring/incidental nodules. So I have plenty of evidence regarding my condition, it’s just putting how it affects me into words now. I guess I can use some of this as example as I’m still recovering from the hospital stay and infection both physically and mentally. Totally floored me, never felt so ill and weak. Taking a day at a time . Wishing you all the best 🥰

[B0xermad in reply to Topgunele]

Don't rush take it slow and time is the way to recover

[Axolotl1]

You can subscribe to this website that has specific “helps” with templates and advisory notes for different conditions. I found them a great help even though I was already good at filling forms in. The full membership is £19.95 which is worth it in my opinion. benefitsandwork.co.uk

[hypercat54 in reply to Axolotl1]

There are also sites which are free where you can get advice and a mock PIP form to see how you would get on.

[Axolotl1 in reply to hypercat54]

The one I mentioned above is free with lots of helpful resources. You only have to pay if you want the more in depth advisories and templates. I strongly recommend this as I went from just the freebies (which were very useful), to to dedicated health issue 'helps.' They don't just give mock PIP forms but actually give different scenarios according to the individual's health condition; also what not to put and why. It certainly made a big difference to my situation. Knowing what to put and what not to put is vital as you can end up tripping yourself up. I.e. saying you can't do something, then further in the form you say you can do something albeit slower, but it contradicts what you have put previously.

[Coachtrip]

HelloI would strongly advise you to seek help in completing the PIP form which is quite complicated.

Citizens Advice Bureau has alot of expertise in doing this and know the best way to present the information.

They understand what the DWP are looking for and will use descriptors which refer to each question and how the points are awarded. Also they can help to point out things to include that you might not think as important because it's just how you cope on

on a daily basis.

Medical evidence such as hospital discharge reports and reports written by your consultant gp, physio etc should be included to support the application.

I am a volunteer for CAB and we help many clients with such applications. I am also a carer for someone with breathing difficulties.

I do not know where you live but I suspect it is outside of Scotland where I am. PIP here has now changed to Adult Disability Payment.

You can Google Citizens Advice Bureau which will direct you to a local branch.

It may take a little time to get an appointment

but getting the help is worth it as the whole process can be tiring when you are unwell.

Good luck.

[katieoxo60]

On a light note be sure to have two pens, its pages and pages of similar questions for each health issue. What ever you do don't just say yes or no . From your reply below I feel you know the emphasis has to be on how it effects your daily living. If you take drugs , how they effect you too, remember how far you can walk depends on how far you can walk without being breathless , in pain or needing to stop. Breathing can deterriorate with exercise too , so can pain worsen. I can stand but not without pain and even bending causes breathlessness. So make a diary of daily activities that are effected to send with your form . Good luck with filling it in and fingers crossed for you getting it.

[Karenanne61]

I found it to be quite overwhelming as I was having to focus more on what I can't do than what I can, the absolute opposite to what I usually do. We did one question a day with me dictating and my husband writing my answers, then we refined them and transfered them onto the form. I then had a phone call from an assessor which was ok. I was successful. It's not about your condition but how it affects you, what aids you use, what personal help or care you need, additional expenses etc. Good luck!

[hypercat54]

Yes. First of all its not about what illness you have but how it affects you. Put yes to as many questions as possible (but don't lie) then qualify it.

Pick your worst day and if for example they ask something like can you cook for yourself then just putting yes gets you no points. But if it takes you a long time or gives you pain and you need time to recover then put that too and that's where you get the points.

My best advice though is to get someone experienced to help you. The CAB will and so will disability shops I should imagine. Also I know that Age UK (and probably most of them) will do it with you over the phone.

I got the full whack for Attendance Allowance(basically PIP for those of state pension age ) and one of my sisters used to be a manager at one of the over 60's charities and she did it for me. It took several hours to properly.

Good luck.

[Alberta56]

I agree that it is a good idea to ask someone like the CAB for help, to make sure you give the right answers. My sole experience was trying to help my autistic daughter get PIP. They turned her down most unreasonably. Some months later we appealed with the help of a lady from Mencap. This appeal was successful.

[BreatheasyBe]

I strongly recommend getting a subscription to benefits and work website. It has all the tips and guidance you need in there paid subscription and some info on how to fill in the application forms and guidance for appeal. It has a specific guide for claim pip for copd.

If you find this to tedious seek help from a welfare advisor, designated CAB, help the aged and don’t forget about specialist disease/illness charities. For example cistic fibrosis have some online guidance and despite not having this condition I found a lot of it over lapped with my Copd and later diagnosed of bronchiectasis condition.

I’m not going to lie -when you really get down to filling the form in explaining your worst days- in my case it makes for a depressing read nothing upbeat about it. Took me a fortnight filling it in, going back and forth as there’s always something you miss out and comes to mind later so if you can type it up and save to a file, then it’s easier to make amendments and slot in other factors that pop up over the fortnight. Believe me when I tell you that we downplay all our difficulties and in reality we are fighting finding our way through the struggles daily and often during the night too.

Invest your time and effort into filling in this form provide the evidence of your struggles along with supporting medical evidence and you’ll benefit from the award for years to come.