Hi, I've just submitted a claim for Pips and was wondering if anyone has experience with this?
Also are there any other disability based benefits I could claim?
I suffer from unstable angina and have had 5 stents. I'm having to reduce my hours at work and am concerned that I won't be able to cope.
I've paid in for 40 years and so figure it's time to ask for some help back.
Any advice please?
Hi Snoweybm
I have a PIP . The application process is not for the faint hearted!
I suggest you get help to fill in the 40 page form.
I sent in all my hospital discharge letters, clinic letters, test results etc.
Citizens advice are a good place to go for help.
Good luck!
What age are you?
I have applied for it as well & am waiting for an assessment despite sending in my form back end of last yr as I have other health problems as well
Good luck with that! l was refused PIP despite another appeal. The man who came to my home didn't want to know about my previous cardiac medical history he just sat there typing on his laptop with a resting bitch face. The result was NO PIP because l gave him eye contact so l could look after myself and l had a Husband who worked. They only want to know what you can or cannot do around the house, if you can toilet yourself, wash, make a sandwich, and how far you can walk inside and outside unaided. l have never had any benefits in all my working life and this man made me feel terrible at a time when l couldn't do hardly anything for myself and l was so depressed after fighting for my life for three months in hospital. Hope you succeed! Take care, Sue.
Hi kefalonia1
It is an awful process I agree.
I had an episode of severe angina during my assessment. I had to ask for the assessment to be stopped.
I had my review recently and I was stunned I really mean stunned when I was awarded enhanced for both parts with no review for 10 years.
I had drowned them with paper work with 48 supporting documents sent in with my review
I suggest if you have the energy to apply again seek advice
I used this organisation and the information they gave was invaluable.
Hi Milkfairy. thanks for your reply, its too late for me to reapply because it was nearly three years ago when l tried to get it. l am now much better and ride pillion on the back of my Husbands BMW motorbike so l don't think l would qualify for one minute but the link would have been invaluable back then. Take care, Sue.
Haha
I love the thought of you riding pillion on your husbands BMW
🏍
Hi Snoweybm,
I have a PIP, Diagnosed with AF May 2019 and applied for my PIP August 2019
It took me a long time to complete the application but I worked my way through it and sent copies of all my hospital letters, scan results and medication. Had a home visit which was unnerving but the lady who came tried to put me at ease and was very helpful. Award letter came through 8 weeks after.
From reading some people’s experiences I think I was very fortunate and the whole experience was not to bad.
Best of luck!
I applied for PIP and was refused , I think I you need to be very incapacitated most of the time to get it. It took me weeks to complete the forms was stressful and upsetting and I wish I hadn't bothered.
That's what they hope and why they turn down over 66% of claims. They hope you won't bother to appeal. YOu must. Read my post below.
Same here .I had bypass operation and applied pip but people ruthless.system designed not give you pip.I wish never applied waste of time
Firstly expect to be turned down for PIP. They refuse around 66% of claims. Take no notice and appeal and if necessary go to tribunal. They hope people will give up at eh first hurdle. If you need help, join the website "benefits and work". YOu have to pay a small amount but the helpyou get is invaluable. I've used their guides for 20 years. I assume you are under 60 if you are claiming PIP so you could also apply for ESA . It maybe possible to have your partner claim carers allowance but it's related to other benefits and may reduce your PIP. You need to take advice on that one. If you still have citizens advice you can ask them. It's not for the faint hearted claiming anything now. I've been disabled for 40 years; much worse for 20 but unti I reached 65 they never allowed more than 2 years at a time so I felt I was constantly filling forms. Most times the disability allowance ( now PIP) was reduced or refused even though my condition hadn't changed and I went to at least 8 tribunals. The only time I lost ws when I got Welfare rights to go with me. I rely now on the benefits and work guides.
PS When I did my last PIP claim I sent in 11 extra pages of test reports and consultant letters plus 3 pages of details of consultants I's seen. Don't just stick to the tiny boxes they gove for answers. My replies ran to an extra 14 pages all cross referenced back to the original question. It's not what you say but how you say it.
Qualipop I did actually that!
I drowned them with paper work during my last review.
I was awarded enhanced for both sections for 10 years.
There is definetly an art to how you respond to the questions.
I feel you need a masters degree in form filling to get through a PIP application 😂
I also used Benefit and works too
It's such a useful resource and here's the link again for everybody.
Having done it for so many years I often think I should set up a company to help people do those forms. I helped a friend do carers allowance for her mum and she was really shocked how long it took and how much she'd had to write, not just yes/no answers. It really is HOW you say it rather than what you say.
I just don't think I could deal with the stress of an appeal
An appeal is simply pointing out what they got wrong in their decision and why. It's done on paper and is just you writing a letter telling them they have lied or misrepresented what you said or not taken some things into account. If you are entitled to it then you need to fight for it. Their refusal is nothing to do with your condition, it's simply some teenager with a tick sheet and if you haven't used the correct phrases or words, refusal is automatic. Have a look at the benefits and work website. If you don't join you won't see all the advice but you will see enough to realise what's needed. Just as an example, if you say you can't make a drink because you can't lift a kettle, they will say you can manage with a kettle tipper. But if you say you have oe and can't fill it because you can't lift a jug of water, they have no excuse. If you say you can walk 10 yards, it's a refusal but if you say that walking 10 yards means you are so exhausted you can't get back or you have to sit down to rest or you are in tremendous pain then you win. It's all down to how you say it. If leaving the house causes a panic attack which gives you angina and you need help, you have to say so. Yes it's hard work and often very upsetting to realise just what you can't do now but it's necessary. I never thought there was anything strange about me going upstairs on hands and knees until I actually had to think about how most people do it. It was quite a shock. Disability creeps up on you and you adapt without realising just how different life is and it is upsetting to accept that. The claim forms make you face reality.
You are right I know I'll look at it again when I'm feeling up to it .
Well there is a time limit for appeals so you may have to wait 6 months then re apply but wait until you feel you can cope. It is hard. I do sympathise but if you are entitled to help and need it, you just have to do it. It makes me so angry that people are made to feel guilty about needing help and they make it such a struggle. There are times when I'm tempted to offer to do their forms but you know how long they take and how much it takes out of you. I just can't do it.
I tried for PIP nut was refused even though I had been on DLA. I have a community respiratory now and couldn't believe that I wasn't getting any financial help she got someone from the local charity, even though I don't have cancer, to help me with the forms. She asked me questions and filled the form in. I couldn't believe it when I was awarded high rate attendance allowance plus a severe disability allowance. Do try to find someone to help with the forms as they are a.nightmare and try to catch you out. Good luck
I totally agree. If you haven't done them before you have no idea how to fill them in or what's required. That's why the Benefits and Work website is such a godsend. I've tried getting someone to help me and that was the only time I lost. It all depends on who you get
Yes we need to say loud and clear
use the Benefits and Work site.
It was such a relief to get my PIP for 10 years.
Qualipop are you still having to reapply every 2 years?
No thank goodness. When I had to change from DLA to PIP I suddenly got an "indefinite" award. It's supposed to mean permanent but obviously the wording means they could re assess at any time. But since my condition has worsened, now to add on the heart problems, it shouldn't be a problem. The difference in filling in the PIP forms compared to the DLA forms was huge. DLA concentrated on what you couldn't do whereas PIP concentrates on what you CAN do even if you have to use aids and the mobility distance has been reduced dramatically. Even those in wheelchairs get turned down now. Rightly I think if you can get about OK in a wheelchair. Fortunately ( or not) I can no longer use my wheelchair alone because my shoulder tendons have shredded.
Not a prayer mate....I had 6stents in March last year,was advised to apply for PIPs when the assessor came I got 4 points think you need 10 or more. Basically you have to be incapable or washing yourself,making yourself a meal,dressing yourself etc etc; so basically a vegetable.....I lay carpets and at 65 years of age with a heart condition I’m deemed fit enough to carry on.....So good luck with your claim
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