Oh god - just received my letter to say that i have my meeting with a medical proffessional on the 5th November!!!!!
Dreading it, any tips or advice would be gratefully received x
PIP meeting: Oh god - just received my... - Fibromyalgia Acti...
PIP meeting
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Janepain69
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Have a chaperone taking notes disagreements over what was said can be resolved much faster with evidence.
what to record what they asked and what my response was?
Yes because getting into a your word against the medical professionals is dangerous territory.
Who did you take with you if you don't mind me asking?
A carer because they knew my care needs but anyone your happy discussing personal matters in front of is ok.
OK will do, i'm not feeling very confident though!
did they agree your claim?
Having someone you know with you helps with confidence and things that get forgotten.
It went to tribunal so extra evidence was useful.
I'm guessing that was because it was refused the first time and you went for appeal? What was the extra evidence you provided? The thought of it all is hideous and i'm not sure that i can deal with this! Sorry for all the questions Ian x
Hi
I had my pip assessment and I can only say be honest and be carful when they they ask you certain questions as I felt on two occasions departed ariving in a wheelchair and saying what I couldn't do they aske me when I walk round the supermarket how man lanes can I walk round yet I had told them I can't walk any.
It took just over one and half hours but the outcome for me was I have been granted the lower rate care and high rate mobility which I was receiving before. Needed the care part.
Take,come one with you. You can contact age concern and they will get some one to come with you I took a friend.
Hi, thanks for the advice.
I'm only 46 so don't think i would get any help from age concern.
So they are trying to trick you almost into giving them a wrong answer?
I would just be honest as these people are more understanding than you think. The lady I had really put me at ease and I was able to explain how I was affected day to day. Good luck, although I think you will be fine
I got mine too but have changed it to somewhere more local. They tried to send me to Gillingham and I live in Whitstable. I told them I can't drive on the motorway plus its too far to travel. They changed it to week later in Canterbury. Scared stiff now as how do you prove the difficulties you face. Feel same as you. Sorry can't help though, but good luck x
Thank you for responding, i am in Slough and my meeting is in Hounslow which is about 30 mins by car.
I know, i keep thinking that i didn't send in much in the way of evidence.
Sent in the minimum with regards to letters etc but what i sent confirms my diagnosis, didn't get a letter from my GP either, did you send much in?
Have they sent you to the council offices in military way in Canterbury?
I had mine done there. I live in sturry. If you need any help let me know. Xxx
No they haven't, apparently I am going to a physio centre in Wincheap, Canterbury. Because I have a deformity in my spine, they are wanting me to see someone who deals with backs perhaps. Makes me think they haven't even read my form. My son had to go to Canterbury, he saw IPRS, they were really nice. Atos, from what I have heard are not so nice. We shall see. I am already set in my mind for an appeal if it goes that way because it seems this is what happens most. DWP like you to fight for everything.
I sent a letter in from my GP explaining my disabilities. I have FB aswell as a deformity in my spine which apparently now has osteo arthritis. I suffer with depression and two companies have also written explaining this. Rethink Mental illness is one of them, they are an advocacy service that can help in these things and can also attend Atos with you. I've read CAB can go with you too. Take an Ipad to record it as by the sounds of it, they may try to trip you up with their questions and at least then you have proof what you say to them.
I haven't got any support to help me with trying to cope with everything that's going on although my Dr has given me the details of 'Talking Therapies' which he told me to get in touch with but i don't know if it is to late for me do this because they will say that i have only got in touch because i have been informed that this meeting is going ahead? i guess i still have time to get a letter from my Dr and send it in as well. I don't have an Ipad but are we aloud to record it?
Sorry i meant to ask as well - was it just the 3 letters that you sent in?
Hi, I did send 3 letters. My GP confirmed diagnosis of FB and Back problems. Shaw Trust wrote a letter regarding my depression. They have been helping me with getting into work due to depression and confidence. Rethink Mental Illness is a charity advocacy service. They have a website and they can help. A member of their team is attending the meeting with me for support. The advocacy service is for anyone I believe. And CAB can help too. The sooner you can get in touch and they hear your case, they will be able to help. Many on here have got help before. I wish you luck x
I sincerely hope that you are feeling as well as you possibly can be today? I can see that you have been given some wonderful advice so I will just genuinely and sincerely wish you all the best of luck with your assessment.
All my hopes and dreams for you
Ken
Hi there all I can say is be yourself don't let your nerves tell you what to say and let them know how differently your tasks in your day are done differently eg do you need to rest what do you use that kinda thing . I did this and I got it because it was my time I failed on one other occasion but I guess I wasn't progressed in my condition at that time. Wishing you all the best and gentle hugs fibro style lol
hope it all goes well for you just be honist how do they work out when you have to be called in for a pip is it your postcode or aria would like to know as I 2 am very nervous .
Mason, I applied only a month or so ago, and they first wanted me to travel to Gillingham from Whitstable, which is miles away. I asked for something nearer which they have done, but he had said to me that DWP tell Atos to see people within a 60 mile radius of where they live, which I personally thought was awful. I actually had put on my form I can't drive on Motorways so was rather peeved at where they originally wanted me to go. From what I gather on here, honesty on everything on how it affects you is best. I am trying to write down everything as and when stuff happens as I cannot remember a lot of things, brain fog I think.
that's ridiculous how do they expect people to travel as you say tell the truth I was told by a friend that people with fibro have a better chance at getting pip don't knoe if its true I did look up fibromyalgia and pip and it came up but did not give much info .I wish u well and hope you get it ,
hi I have found a site where u can do a pip self assessment its benefit and work just type in pip self assessment hope this helps ,good luck
Take as much medical documented evidence as you can and be aware that they are only really interested in what you CAN DO and not what you cannot do. Be very guarded in your replies to questions asked as they can and do if answered quickly lead to them assuming things ie They will ask if you are watching any tv and will get you to enter into conversation about a programme and from that deduce that you are capable of following story lines and understand those stories and are capable of planning your time.
Answer everything truthfully as they will catch you out and take a few seconds before you answer any questions put to you to make sure you fully understand the implications of your answers.
Good luck
Thank you, someone told me to take a tablet with me to record the meeting - i don't have a tablet but was just wondering if you know if we are allowed to record the meetings?
Yes I think you can but I am not 100% sure on that what I do know is that you can ask them to have the session recorded and they will record it for you and are obliged to give you a copy of the recording.
OK, i may do that then.
Thank you so much for your time and advice x
Hi Heliboy911,
I called about getting my session recorded and they told me that they don't do that, they said if i have equipment that will record it i can do that but must give them a copy before i leave the meeting?
Hi Jane they must have changed the system I bet it is to save money . I know that before you could ask for the interview to be recorded as many were saying that the results they received were not a true and accurate statement of what was said in the interview. I am sure it is yet another way of dissuading people to not record the interviews so that they cannot appeal.
Shows what lengths they will go to regarding putting pressure on claimants ! disgusting
I know, i feel even worse about the medical assessment now!
DO NOT let it get to you. Think before you answer any questions and take your time DO NOT exaggerate the truth as they will catch you out but let them know what you suffer on your WORST day and not your best.
Before you go in take several really deep breaths and stay calm.
Good luck.
You are welcome Good luck !
Are you going to military way in Canterbury in the council offices ?
Take someone with you definetly. Bring your medication with you and any other letters etc that you might have. They will make you walk from reception to the room where they conduct the assessment and this is how they judge how far you can walk and if you are struggling or not. Take any wheelchair, crutches or walking sticks with you depending what you use. They will ask you questions like how long does it take you to get dressed? Do you get any help from your kids, neighbours friends, they will ask you about food preparing and cooking, if you have any adaptations in your home bring profs and make a list of what they are and how you use them, explain you have fibre fog and you need to write things down. Maybe purchase a tape recorder from Argos and bring it with you to record the conversation also because you have fibro fog. They will ask you about work, driving. I was working part time when I had mine and they seemed to think that if I was ok to have to have a job there was nothing wrong with me and there's no way I could ever forget anything or get lost. Which is incredibly stupid because that's not how fibro fog works. I no longer work now becuase I can't cope with family like pain and work.
I took all my tablets box with me and took my tablets whilst I was there and they did write this in my report. Don't assume they know anything about your illness, you need to explain everything to them about how simple things that people take for granted like having a shower and getting dressed affect you. They will want you to go through your routine of a day in your life on how you do things and how you cope and what help and assistance you get.
If you need any other help plz ask me. Good luck xxx
Hi Jules, thank you so much for your message it was so informative and made me feel a whole lot better about this assessment and how to prepare for it although i am expecting a refusal as that seems to be the case with most of the reports i have read on here.
If it's ok with you i will keep in touch and will start following your posts, i cannot tell you how much difference it makes when we can support from people like you who have been through it.
Thank you again x
Did you get an award ?
Hi yes I did the first time. Now I have to reapply. 1 year b4 my current one expires.
Can I ask what rate you received and did you take someone with you? Also I see that you had to fight for it can I ask what their main reason for turning u down originally was? This seems to be a minefield and I would just like to know how to tread safely
Love and care x
Hi there, initially I was given the lower rate for both which is why I had a fight on my hands. They seemed to ignore the information I provided them and only after I submitted further evidence and asked for a mandatory reconsideration they actually granted me the higher rate for both.
Yes I took my husband with me to the face to face Assesment.
Hope this helps good luck xx
Well you have given me a lot of confidence I will say, can I ask you one more question please as I dont understand how all of this works? When you were turned down at first then lodged ur appeal, dis they carry on paying your benefit( I assume it was DLa) at the original rate or take it away? If they took it away what was the alternative as far as the benefit DWP paid?
I never applied for dla, in May 2013 they brought in Pip the new benefit that replaced dla. I applied in June 2013. When they gave me the lower rate it went into payment and they did pay me this until the new descision was made. It wasn't an appeal it was a mandatory reconsideration. If this did go your way then you can make an appeal in a tribunal. Mine didn't go that far. It was changed during the mandatory reconsideration. Once this was done they backdated the payments.
Just make sure you have as much evidence as you possibly can. Send it to them and take it to the Assesment with you and make sure you don't go Alone. Xx
Thank you so much for being so patient with me. At the moment Im on a lifetime award of DLA at higher rate for care and for mobility. I have the evidence and a very helpful GP I recently saw a rheumatologist whe reconfirmed Fibro and Osteo and she has referred me for physio. I think on the face of it I have everythin in hand and I have had both conditions for many years. So we shall c. Ive had the most God awful day, have not got out of bed, have not eaten, feel depressed have had a blinding row with my daughter who at the moment I love but dislike intensely.cant be bothered but hunger may force me towards the kitchen at some point!
The lifetime dla will definetly work in your favour massively. I've got Fibro and degenerative disc disease but the idiots seem to think that neither of these are permanent incurable illnesses and now I've got to really every 3 years even though it's more like every 2 years because they send you all the paperwork 1 year in advance.
I have one of those daughter too lol try not to get too stressed because as you know it will make you worse.
I have those bed days on a regular basis and my youngest is 6 so don't have a lot of choice about it. Being in pain 24/7 is not much fun. Tomorrow hopefully will be a better day. Did you watch the panorama on bbc1 last night?
No to be honest I knew about it but thought it would be about benefit scroungers and they only worry me more lol. Did I miss anything interesting from our point of view? My daughter has returned to speaking to me again it usually lasts until she either needs something or gets excited about something her little boy has done and then cant keep it to herself. Shes a good girl but a proper moo as well. Still shes only 31 theres still hope she will grow out of it ! Tell me about Panorama u got me curious now.especially as my nightime head is just kicking in im actually sitting up in bed now!
I think it's because of the benefit scrounges but it's not on because it's a very stressful time and you know how stress affects us.
Panorama was about people being addicted to painkillers and there was a lady on there that has Fibro and osteo. It was interesting maybe you can watch it on catch up if you have sky.
My daughters only 17 and youngest is 6 years old. The little one is a very good girl and I've been ill for the last 5 years but it wasn't so bad at the beginning then it took them years to figure out what I had. Glad your talking again. Whereabouts do you live ?
Yer, Ive got Sky, does the DWP allow that lol? I know they are a bit funny about Facebook 🙄I live in E.Sussex,you?
I wouldn't tell them you have sky and yes I've heard horrid stories about dwp questioning people about Facebook. It's ridiculos it's seems that we have no human rights at all. I hardly go out so Facebook and forums like these is the only contact I have with the outside world , if I did have these I could probably be in a mental hospital or would have killed myself by now. But I guess they don't get that. When your bed bound what else can you do apart from watch tv? I can't hold my phone or iPad or any device in my hands for long periods of time so tv is the only thing I have especially when there's nobody here and I'm all alone. The next thing they will be telling us is that we're not allowd to have pets or interact with our families! Bloody ridiculos it's really is what's happend to our basic human rights.
I live in Cantrbury in Kent.
Well Im on the border with Kent ur a young woman and I feel sorry for you I really do. What I cant understand is who voted for them? All this benefit and austerity palaver is a nonsense as benefit fraud re disabled claimants accounts for a mere 1% This government are cruel beyond cruel. Im glad the tax credits are under scrutiny, but ho shouts out for the disabled. We give millions away each year to charity, yet the caring British public have left their own sick and disabled by the wayside! It makes me er... Sick!
Thank you. Yes I know they are truly real bas****** and I'm disgusted too. I've worked all my life full time even when. Y kids were small, never claimed a penny apart from child benefit, ended up a single parent, supported myself all on my own still worked full time, was lucky enough to fall in love again and got married again, paid my taxes etc until the unfortunate day came when I got ill then had to change ,y job to part time for a few years j till I could no longer work, now I'm on ESA the national contributions version as I'm not entitled to the other. Good thing I worked otherwise I wouldn't have that either, now they are trying to take the only thing I get pip away from me, bloody idiots this is the thanks you get for putting into the system. I would give anything to get my old life back, it was a life now it's more like a chore just to stay alive and having to rely on everyone to look after me it's driving me insane.
And yes I get dirty looks too when I get out of my car and display my blue badge. Had several rows with some elderly people that honestly the language coming out of them was unreal, I alway thought they would know better respect etc. not these ones, totally disgusted. I honestly don't know what this worlds coming to.
Well my dear I know how tough it is. Me I was one of six my Mum worked her guts out to keep us and I was born & bred in a council house Q'd with my mum at jumble sales and my dear old Dad who we lost in Sept was a hard worker on a building site most of his life. I started work at 15, 14 if u want to count Saturday jobs,met my OH when I was 17 and have been married to him for 32 yrs. We started in a council house too,bought it, sold it bought a shop freehold with the money. Built up a really successfull antiques fireplace business. I was salesperson, manager bookeeper, Mother u name it & I think that was the start of my illness. We bought a beautiful farmhouse and things were ok But the illness was having its affects on me I was so tired,. So I had to close the shop & work from home. Then came the credit crunch. I ended up losing everything Id worked so hard for. My shop, my home, my pride and my health! Im now renting, on benefits and praying they dont take them away, cos if they do then I will lose this home too cos I wont afford the rent shortfall. My husbands suffered two heart attacks which culminated in a triple by pass, Oh yer and just to add insult to injury someone broke in and stole my husbands Mothers jewellery. So there you are,one minute ur up there and the next minuteur right back where u started, but that said things can always be worse and believe me I know!
Omg! You really have been through the wars!!! I take my hat off to you, you worked really hard at least you can hold your head up high knowing what you achieved , it's incredibly sad you lost it all but at least you achieved it in the first place and can be incredibly proud for going so. There aren't many people that could go all what you did, I hope you get everything you deserve, I'm sure you don't give up and keep fighting.
Your very right it could be a lot worse. X
Thank you like I said I know it can be worse and if you read my latest post you will know why, life is hard for some but its nice to know there are people who care. Thank you to all that dox
You are one brave lady, you accomplished more than i could ever in 10 lifetimes.
You keep fighting, hold your head high and be proud of what you did, i hope and pray with every fibre in my body that things turn around for you x
Not brave tough as old boots maybe but theres been a few tears too I can tell you, but as Ive said things can always be worse as I pointed out in my latest post, I guess I flipped a little at all the moaning and groaning, but everyone has their cross to bear dont they? Thank u so much for your kind words xx
Sorry just noticed you got high for both, was that for 3 yrs?
Yes it was 3.5 years but now they sent me a review 1 year in advance.
Your very welcome. And yes no problem I really don't mind. It took me over 43 weeks to get mine sorted and I had to fight tooth and nail for it. Just remember you need to tell them exactly just how bad you are on your very worst day. prepare in advance.
If you need anything just let me know. Stay positive I have fibro and I got it but had to fight for it.
Good luck. Xxx
Can i ask what level you got for each?
High for each.
Hi Janepain69 sorry for the late reply. You've been given some great advice already but from my experience just a few extra bits to hopefully help. Imperative you take someone with you, ring pip before in fact anytime now and say you want it recorded. You will then have to sign a form at the assessment and after they wil give you a cd with recording. You can also ask for a copy of the report once done. again important to have. Consider things like, if you are driving, how far is the car park from the assessment centre. For me my hubby came but it was too far to walk from the car park so we got a taxi to drop outside. They still commented that I wa able to walk from the door to the waiting room!!! How stupid, how else was I supposed to get in? Iff they want you to do some exercises, do not feel obligated to do them if it causes you pain, say so and don't feel badgered. They will ask you probably about whether you go on social media, i.e.facebook, twitter etc. Take all the medical stuff you have and if you can get supporting evidence from your GP that will help too. you;l; be asked about dressing, washing, whether you need help or aids...eg. I can;'t wash m y hair alone as it's too painful to ift my arms above my head. Can you get off the toilet ion oyur own or do you need help or something to lean on. Check out a website call work and benefits. for £20 a year (currently offering a discount) you can access all their info which in my opinion invaluable, guides you through medicals, filling out forms, reconsidertions and tribunals if you need it.
If you need any other info please ask.
good luck
Jo x
Hi Joannie, thank you very much for the great info.
If i have any other questions wud u mind if i get in touch with u? i'm stressing so much about this which is not helping my conditions x
Not at all hun feel free. It's incredibly stressful so I know what you are going through. Just try to take it one day at a time.
Hugs
Jo x
just be yourself , they will ask a lot off questions, take a note off all the things that are effecting you on a day to day basis, Take someone with you .. good luck xx
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