Filling in Benefit Forms PIP, UC50

[Freedomseeking]

Hi everyone, I am new here.

I have spent 4.5 months filling out my PIP form because none of the questions fit my issues obviously. Plus due to my fatigue and brain fog, it was hard work to express my problems. I am now starting on my UC form. It is not my plan to copy other's answers, but to use suggestions to work out what is going on for me. I have tried CAB & other advisors. They say they can't help if i don't know what's going on for me (in reference to the questions)

I am looking for examples of filled in forms from people with CFS on the internet, and finding very little out there.WWhen i have seen a few answers, i have thought "ah, now i know what is going on for me" and can write about me.

I find it useful to be given others' examples, because then I can work out my problems. Also others' answers help me to word mine. I guess it's due to normalising and brain fog that it takes me months to work out my own.

Can anyone point me to any "successful answers" or share yours?

Secondly, although it hasn't been updated, this link posted in an old post, is very useful to see how the assessors are told to think/assess. It is very narrow minded but at least we can mitagate against those assumptions in our answers if we know they are making them! ATOS guidance from 2012: mylegal.proboards.com/threa...

[releasethemagic]

The ME Association produce a guide for £2 meassociation.org.uk/produc... There is also a lot of information about benefits here actionforme.org.uk/get-info.... This guide is about how to fill in a PIP form if you suffer from chronic fatigue actionforme.org.uk/uploads/...

My previous post lists various guides that may be useful to you healthunlocked.com/fibromya...

[Freedomseeking in reply to releasethemagic]

Thank you very much

[Farmerboy]

Hell and welcome. Filling out your PIP form is quite simple read the q and answer giving as much information as possible as to what issues you have in preforming the activity your writing about. Remember you are to be able to preform each activity safley, repeatably and in a timely manner. If you can't it thses reasons the HP needs to know about and you will be asked about them at your PIP assessment.

[Freedomseeking in reply to Farmerboy]

Thanks - it took me 4.5 months to fill out my last benefit form. It is far too complicated for me. I'm glad it's strsight forward for you 😀

[Dizzytwo]

Hi, please remember to put what applies to only you and not what other people have put on their forms. All you need to tell them how the illness effects you. Fibro effects us all differently.

I would think what others had put on their forms would be private and personal to them.

Its really irrelevant what illness you have its how it effects you personally. Just be honest and tell themhow you feel. Good luck xx

Momo

[desquinn Partner Volunteer FMAUK Trustee]

copying what others put on their form onto yours is not going to end well. We do not like the approaches that the DWP take but being fraudulent when filing in the form is not the answer either.

There is trusted and experienced benefits advice from [e-mail] that would also be able to supply the relevant excellent info from benefits and works.

[Freedomseeking in reply to desquinn]

I'm sorry my post was obviously not clear. I am very honest and only wish to explain what's true for me on my forms.

[desquinn Partner Volunteer FMAUK Trustee in reply to Freedomseeking]

I would contact CAB or seek out some local advocates to help with filling out the form.

[Makie-Uppie]

Fill it exactly as the condition or the combination of conditions effects you and your lifestyle. There are guides and people to help but it is not a good idea to fill out the forms as they say or get the person helping you to fill out the forms (unless they are writing out your experiences as your hands are misbehaving).Stick to the facts as to your situation I think they are more sympathetic to each individuals unique case description rather than a load of copy and paste.

[Freedomseeking in reply to Makie-Uppie]

Please see reply above - i will only write what's true for me. I am unable to explain for myself.

[Makie-Uppie in reply to Freedomseeking]

I know that, it was a general comment stating what I thought was the best way to approach the forms. I also have problems explaining myself, it takes me ages to get anything down, perhaps I should give it a rest.

[Freedomseeking in reply to Makie-Uppie]

Sounds like we have a similar issue with the forms!