Ms

[TELEEN]

Hi i am new here,i have Spinal Cerebellar Ataxia i have had it for almost 20yrs,i was just wondering how people here have got on with their P. I. P. claim,i am at the moment on highest award DLA and am about to fill in my claim form and feeling very worried and stressed,so was wondering if there are any positive opinions out there..thanks...

[Hidden]

Hi Teleen. I have not yet received my exchange to PIP from DLA yet and I too am feeling very stressed about it. I wish they could send me the new form application so I can get on with it and get it over and done with. After I was eventually awarded DLA (and had to appeal against their decision) the now Tory government decided to change it. After I had to appeal before being awarded was stressful enough without the worry of having to go through it all over again! I wish you luck and hope somebody out there will have a positive opinion for you.

[TELEEN in reply to Hidden]

Hi,thank you for your reply,i haven't heard any thing good about the PIP assements it's so scary .It's possible you may have to appeal again plus me! lets hope not,it seems that is all i can do now is to hope and face it full on as you say and get it over with..

[cymruralf]

Hi Teleen and Iain25

I was diagnosed with progressive cerebellar Ataxia and this has progressed to Multiple system Atrophy. I have just gone through he whole process of applying for PIP. My experience is this. 1.) do not hold back or feel awkward about what you are saying about your condition. 2.) get some help in completing the forms Citizens advice Bureau. 3.) Request a home assessment 4.) If attending for an assessment take someone with you as a witness or ask for it to be recorded. 5) research the web for what happens at PIP assessments. 6.) remember the assessor is watching everything you do even assessing the strength of a handshake. 7.) check the descriptors etc before you go and use these as a base for your answers. 8.) My assessor did not write or record any of my responses. 9.) they will watch you walking to the centre and away from it, If possible check that you can be dropped outside the front door and the distances to walk (google map street view is a start.) When you get your decision if it is against you ask for a copy of the assessment and if that is not correct (mine was full of inaccuracies, things I hadn't said etc. Ask for new decision but ensure you have help.

If no joy go for the tribunal. Because of my background I wasn't afraid of the tribunal. A representative will do your submissions for you.

I got both enhanced rates at tribunal the moral is keep going and fight them, If you are entitled to it you will win in the end but I agree it is and can be stressful but thats what the DWP want. Hope some of the above helps it isn't a full list of what you can do but a starter

Colin

[TELEEN in reply to cymruralf]

Thank you Colin for the advice and info,so very useful,things you told me here i would never have known,especially when you say they will be watching me and about the handshake etc.......Eileen.

[babygirl123 in reply to TELEEN]

I had an Esa assesment 2 years ago with Atos. In the report they did on the day ( I asked for a copy of it) It said that on arrival walked into the examination room with out help, navigated doorways fine. It said I was able to take my coat of on my own. (It didn't say I was sat down when I took it of,) Its impossible for me to do unless holding on to something, or i'm sat down. What made me laugh was that it said I was well groomed and I had no problem taking a pen out of my bag. So they take note of your appearance as well as everything you do. It's like Big Brother is watching you.

[TELEEN in reply to babygirl123]

Hi yes and i have been told they watch you arrive and leave,it sounds awful and i am dreading it,my stress levels are through the roof.They can't tell me to get a job as i am almost 68 i retired at 60 as that was the age women retired then..

[grahamm]

Before you fill in your form you might like an understanding of the criteria by which they will assess you. You can find it online at: benefitsandwork.co.uk/pip/i...

[TELEEN in reply to grahamm]

Hi thank you i am going to look at that website....

[ConantheLibrarian]

I would definitely look at the Benefits and Work website (mentioned in the link supplied above). I used it when I was trying to obtain the higher rates for DLA and their advice helped me to finally get the higher rate after 2 unsuccessful attempts.

The website address is: benefitsandwork.co.uk/

[TELEEN in reply to ConantheLibrarian]

Thank you and yes i will certainly go and look...Eileen.

[Hidden]

I am now confused more than ever and feel more frustrated. Not anybody's fault its me. Sounds like good advice you all give but I feel more worried than ever. Sorry guys.

[Iain_100]

Hi Iain,

This REALLY annoys me. You learn to adapt your life around ataxia. And then the DWP go and deliberaely make your life as stressful as they possibly can.

I'm "lucky" in that I'm late to the party. I guess I'm not disabled enough yet - as I was deemed "fit for work" and was offered the choice of JSA or nothing (I was put on ESA until the "assessment"). The "assessment" was comical. The DWP doc asked me to squeeze his fingers, and stroked my lower legs and asked me if I could feel (I could). That was his very thorough medical assessment!

Just waiting for second appeal to be heard.

Luckily (I'm feeling rather good today - it must be the Scottish sunshine), I'm unilaterally ending my claim anyway (I'm off on a wee wobble around Europe soon). I'll try all of this again when my symptoms are more obvious!

Good luck (to you, and everyone else facing the PIP fight)!

Iain

[TELEEN in reply to Iain_100]

Hi Iain thanks for the good wishes,your up and coming wee wobble sounds good to me! My Ataxia began when i was 54, i am now 67 and it is progressing slowly,lost my hubby 18mths ago and that has made it worse! my bro has Ataxia as well but cannot walk ,but has had it longer than me,our mother also had it so we know where it came from!!!...I am high at the moment..on stress and anxiety due to the P I P process which is just starting for me!!..Take care.....eileen.

[Iain_100 in reply to TELEEN]

Thanks Eileen. Yes, they like to pile on the stress and anxiety.

Like you, it would seem that my ataxia is progressing quite slowly (although the progression is more noticeable at some times - but I am now convinced that it is only when I realise that I can no longer do a specific task that ataxia seems to be progressing quicker).

[Jay1972]

I was on PIP from day one as DLA had ceased in my area. When I initially claimed, I had help filling I the form from a local disability centre and I think that citizens advice also offer the same service. I was awarded both elements at enhanced level. At the beginning of this year my PIP was reviewed and I had to have a face to face assessment. The guy that did it was really goodand he advised that I should not be reviewed further. When I got the decision, I remained at the danger level and will not be reviewed for 10 years. My advice is too get specialist help with the initial form.