Pip review

[Lurganspur]

Hi just received my date for phone review of standard PIP & Looking for some advice on how anyone got on in this process ? I’m in heart failure & nothing much changed in last 2 years apart from I’ve had an ICD implanted I live in NI & thanks in advance

[ph5019]

Hi,Can't help you with your post, but good to hear you are keeping okay.

On my 2nd ICD, the first ( subcutaneous )fired inappropriately and couldn't be adjusted to reduce the risk.

Not a very pleasant experience, ended up in A & E with cut eye brow and extensive bruising and at the time didn't know it was inappropriate.

This older type is much more comfortable to live with.

Good luck with your PIP interview, if any problems, contact Citizens Advice, there very good.

Kindest regards

Paul.

[Lurganspur in reply to ph5019]

Hi Paul Sorry to hear that but glad all ok now & thanks….nothing much has changed for me so will have to wait & see what happens cheers

[ph5019 in reply to Lurganspur]

👍😁

[Hidden]

Hello

Tell them nothing has changed except you have had the implant

Answer all their questions on how you feel on your worst days not any good days you may have or they will just hear the latter

Other than that and taking time to reply not allowing them to put words or answers in your mouth so to speak that is all I can think you need to do

The fact they are doing it over the phone rather than face to face is a good sign

Hope everything goes well and let us know how you get on x

[Lurganspur in reply to Hidden]

Yea nothing has changed other than an ICD fitted so I’ll be focusing on that thanks

[Hidden in reply to Lurganspur]

Good Luck x

[Mrsyng188]

Hi, can I suggest you look at the benefitsandwork website. They offer excellent advice on dealing with the benefits department.

It costs around £20 to join for a year, that is a small investment on how to answer the DWP minefield of questions, they show how to prepare for telephone and face to face interviews.

Also it is a great help when applying for these benefits, as many people fail to put enough detail about how badly their health is affected and do not receive enough financial support. Most people do NOT adequately describe how they are affected and lose out financially, that £20 could help you receive over £100 per week in disability

Good Luck

[Lurganspur in reply to Mrsyng188]

Excellent thanks

[Qualipop in reply to Mrsyng188]

Absolutely. I've used Benefits and Work for many years. It's invaluable. There is specific advice on doing reviews.

[Hidden]

Dear Lurganspur

Good luck with your PIP renewal.

I have just applied for it, well not just, as recommended by the Universal Credit team.

I have never claimed before and believe me I will never apply again I found the whole process humiliating.

Mine came back with a score of 2 so the answer was no for me and in a strange way I was pleased.

I really feel for people that rely on this service, they wanted to know the ins and outs of a ducks bottom.

When I complained to the Universal credit team { NI payments } their reply was that I should have lied a bit, what a bloody strange world we live in.

Take care

[Lurganspur in reply to Hidden]

Yea I know what you mean

[Lezzers in reply to Hidden]

I am absolutely shocked that someone from the DWP said you should have lied a bit as that would be fraud. My sister works for the DWP and that would be more than her jobs worth to encourage someone to make a fraudulent claim. What exactly did they tell you you should have lied about and why should you have lied?

[Hidden in reply to Lezzers]

Their words were that “I must have underplayed how ill I was on the PIP form and should have laid it on a bit more” which I can assure you I did not, it may have been a flippant remark on the guys part at the end of the phone in DWP.

We all have off days, maybe it was his? But I don’t witch-hunt so as far as I’m concerned with me the matter is over. I applied, my count was not enough, I wasn’t entitled to any payment, so time for me to move on. It was the DWP that told me to claim PIP in the first place. Maybe they were trying to be helpful?

I do hope that you don’t think that this is a slur on your sister and her work ethic’s , because it is not.

Take care

[Lezzers in reply to Hidden]

So they didn't tell you lie at all, that's good news then. No I didn't consider it a slur on my sister at all, her work ethics are exemplary.

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to Lezzers]

There are plenty of cases where people have been fined and/or jailed for lying on DLA and PIP applications!

[Lezzers in reply to MichaelJH]

Absolutely and so they should be which is why I was so surprised that someone from the DWP was actually telling someone to commit benefit fraud. However, even being told to 'lay it on a bit thick' is still a form of lying and should be reported!

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to Lezzers]

I actually left (was forced) off another forum as I critised the benefits culture of the moderators! It made me appreciate the effect abuse in social media and forums has on people!

[Lezzers in reply to MichaelJH]

Oh yeah, social media a powerful tool often in the wrong hands!!

[Qualipop in reply to Hidden]

Appeal; always appeal but look at Benefits and work website first. Almost no one gets it straight off. YOu have to fight for it.

[Lurganspur in reply to Qualipop]

Hi thank you I definitely will look at that cheers I’ve had standard PIP for about 3 yrs this is my 1st telephone review

[Qualipop in reply to Lurganspur]

You are now allowed to record the conversation and I would strongly suggest you do; then if the report says anything different, you have proof of what was said. You just have to tell them at the start. But please do join benefits and work. It really is invaluable. I've had to claim since 1985 and three times have had it turned down when I'd actually got worse. I went to tribunal for those and won two on my own using the advice on B&W. The only time I lost was when I got Citizens advice to go with me. They were hopeless. The trouble with phone reviews is that you don't have time to think how to reply. The benefits and work advice prepares you for that. My hearing is poor now so I insist on a paper review.

[Summerland]

I would suggest you contact Citizens Advice they will advise you and help you with the answers you should give.

[Lurganspur in reply to Summerland]

Thank you

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Hello,

Here's a link to the organisation that Mrsyng188 recommended.

benefitsandwork.co.uk/perso...

One of the best £20 , I have spent.

I used them when I first applied for my PIP and again when I had a review over 2 years ago.

I was lucky I didn't have to go through another telephone assessment.

I did look through my original PIP form. I sent in 48 documents. Hospital discharge summaries, clinic letters, prescriptions, oxygen form, test results etc. I decided to drown them in paper work!

If you can put your phone on speaker phone and get someone to take notes.

Ask if you can record the session.

As others said describe your life on your worst day.

Don't be shy, say it as it really is. No British reserve or stoicism required.

I was pleasantly surprised my PIP award was increased after the review.

Enhanced for both sections and an ongoing award, so no review until 2029.

The relief of no forming filling for a while was profound.

Good luck!

[Lurganspur in reply to Milkfairy]

Lol that’s a good idea drown them in paper work

[Qualipop in reply to Milkfairy]

Recording phone assessments is now allowed. YOu don't have to ask, you just need to tell them. I also drowned them in paperwork; 11 pages of consultant details, 3 pages of medications and every report I could lay my hands on. Thet rouble with phone assessments is, if you don't record it you have no proof of what was said by either party if their decision says anything wrong.. I would strongly advise anyone whose hearing isn't perfect, to demand a paper review. And yes, have a witness taking notes. I've been doing this every two years since 1985; several appeals and 3 tribunals and the only one I Lost was before I joined Benefits and work.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Qualipop]

It's good to hear that they are now allowing assessments to be recorded.

I also found Benefits and Work invaluable support. Without their advice I wouldn't have had my initial award enhanced on review, with no review required again until 2029.

I had an angina attack during my first, face to face, assessment in 2016. I ended up in hospital soon afterwards. The assessment had to be stopped and the assessor had the fright of her life.

[Qualipop in reply to Milkfairy]

Bad for you but I hope it made the assessor realise how vulnerable some people are and what the stress of these assessments can do. You get the impression that most of them just don't care and the system is just designed to make people give up. WELL IT IS!

[Qualipop]

Look at the Benefits and Work website. IT's a godsend for those forms.

[Lurganspur in reply to Qualipop]

Thanks a lot …..I will

[JuneD53]

Try the Benefits and Work website.benefitsandwork.co.uk/

They have amazing guides. A small subscription unlocks a library of guides. I've had sucess every time using them since aug 2008. Never had an assessment or decrease in award.

They are lawyers and advocates for people with disabilities. They train CAB staff.

Very best of luck. 🤞

[Lurganspur in reply to JuneD53]

Thanks a lot Definitely will look into this as you & a lot of other people have suggested this thanks. Mine is a telephone review & would it be good for that as well ?

[JuneD53 in reply to Lurganspur]

Definitely. They have a great advice on telephone interviews.. You take care.

[Lurganspur in reply to JuneD53]

Thank you so much & you 👍

[Lurganspur in reply to JuneD53]

Hi JuneD53I took your advice & paid to unlock

The members section of the site you suggested & have been reading thru it

I’m looking for maybe some indicators on what questions they’ll ask me in phone review & how I should answer them but I can’t seem to find a section about that could you maybe point me in the right direction? I suffer from heart failure

Thanks a lot in advance

[JuneD53 in reply to Lurganspur]

Sorry for the late reply. Go to PIP Guides.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) medical assessments

Telephone, paper and face-to-face assessments. If i can help let me know. As (Ex Jobcentre Manager) but years ago. Take care and best of luck.

[Lurganspur in reply to JuneD53]

Excellent June Thanks a lot & fingers crossed 🤞 cheers

[Hollyxyz13]

Hello lurganspur.we have just gone through the pip process for the first time.i agree with previous advice .answer the questions as your worst day and how you manage to do things.i think a lot of people adapt to tasks without realising.for example.doing things in stages put the kettle on sit down go back etc.there is also lots of advice if you just Google pip on how to say how you manage with daily living activities and mobility.good luck.

[Lurganspur in reply to Hollyxyz13]

Thanks a lot for your advice