Pip problem

[Kit79]

Hi everyone hope ur all ok just need advice please. I applied for pip was awarded only daily living standard rate asked for reconsieration and was told again i am just getting daily standard. What can i do now? Pip did not contact my doctor about my medical issues and stated that i was talking and seemed ok on the phone call i had with them. They havent taken anything i said on the form about my mobility issues in to account at all. My doctor said he will not let me pay £135 for a medical report when pip send a form to the doctors to fill in which pip have not done. Advice please

[Hazel_Angelstar Administrator FMA UK Staff]

Your next step would be to appeal at tribunal. You can contact our benefits team on 0300 999 0055 (Mon, Wed, Fri 10.00-12.00) or email [e-mail] for more information and advice

[rosewine]

I think your next step must be an appeal. Why don't you ask your doctor to do you some form of document outlining your conditions and how they have seen it affect you. Also gather any additional evidence you can. Hazel_Angelstar has given you good advice on contacting the benefit officer as she has access to documents that might help.

Some years back when I appealed my husbands decision in ESA and we went to tribunal I joined Benefits and Works and used their guide on appeals and it was really helpful. I might be wrong but I think our benefit officer has access to this. Good luck.

Just a caveat they can look at the whole award and change it It is rare to have the existing award take away but there is a small chance of this happening. Let us know how you get on. X

[CM1EDSUK]

Hi Kit79 - as advised above do appeal to a Tribunal as the success rate is then about 70%. Do also try & get representation by searching as to what may be local to you as Ajay advised by looking here: advicelocal.uk/ choosing 'Welfare benefits' from the drop down menu.

The fee your Dr mentions for writing a ?letter seems awful high. My GP suggested he write me a supportive letter for PIP as he could see my physical problems; this was 4 years ago but he said £25, & if I found anything I disagreed with he was happy to change it. However, in the majority of cases a GP's letter may not be helpful.....they don't see any difficulties you may have with cooking, bathing, budgeting, etc.

The onus is actually on the claimant, & the DWP, or more usually the Health care assessors, don't usually contact your Drs.

As Ajay says, you can usually get a free print out of your medical records, but again, other than repeating your diagnoses, do they actually show the problems you have as related to the PIP descriptors?

Do try & get some local help from a Welfare Rights Office, Citizens Advice, etc.

As rosewine has intimated, a Tribunal will look at your whole award again, but they will warn you if they are considering any change to your award, & you could then decide not to proceed, so don't worry about this.

[Nothing_but_books]

Hi Kit. First, you should know, I live in the U.S. No "PIP".

Second. I was scanning "My feed", reading titles, when I saw the one that brought me here, laughing hysterically. Old age, bad eyes, I'm not sure exactly why, but I read: Pig problem.

At least, -- presumably -- you ain't got that. 😂

[golly123]

Hi. Excellent advice already. I have just had mine reduced back to standard rate. I don't believe the man I had the zoom call with had read my medical notes AT ALL even though I gave consent. I'm started physiotherapy again in January. I sent the letter signed next day delivery to PIP - letter regarding physiotherapy. They said they never got it - they did the next day and it was signed for so I've had to send it again via Courier. I have severe pain when I walk which has got worse. Could be the fracture in my back or the titanium rod in my right leg. I appealed on the phone but because they did not get the letter (b.s.) I had to send it again. They are ringing me again next week to let me know their decision. I think because I can walk to the kitchen (my house is small) the man thinks I can walk properly. I said the only way the man who interviewed me can get an insight into my life is to spend a full day with ME so he can see how I cope with all of this. The eternal joint pain. The bone pain. I haven't had a bath in over 4 years now. It is so hard to even get a sock on my right foot, let alone cut my toenails. Bending down to pick something up. The severe pain in my sacroiliac when I walk. The stopping walking and waiting for the pain to stop. Getting home and thinking I should call 999 as I'm crying with the pain. Being told my spine is stable AT THE MOMENT. The lack of sleep. Telling my counsellor I wish I was dead every week. The counsellor told my gp. I thought it was confidential. Not so. I got my gp notes. The numerous tines I rang 111 before any diagnosis was made. Guess he really did read my notes. If they keep me on reduced rates I will take this further as per the administrators very good information. I wish you good luck. I don't think they read my notes or yours personally. Do they actually have the time. TRY NOT TO WORRY AND FIGHT. Best wishes and have a calm and peaceful, pain free day. Golly x

[catherine19611]

welcome to the club, my last review hahahahaha,was, they sent me the form to complete. my condition was a lot worse than the previous time, they did not take ANYtHING i put on the form into account, and they said my condition hadnt changed. i had had a full spine mri, totally ignored, she also said i could walk at least 5 bus lengths fine, i cant, i would be lucky to do even 2, i have no idea if she even contacted my gp or saw the mri report. i was NOT contacted about it at all by the assessor, and her conclusion was that my condition had not changed. it had and it was ignored. that was in 2021, my next review date is 2027, so dont hold your breath

the time before this they contacted my gp for information and only gave him 1 week to respond, he was on holiday when they sent the form to him, so he couldnt respond in that time, he said that they are supposed to give him 1 month to complete it and get it back to them

i have asked for a form for change in circumstance as i have had a bad reaction to the covid vaccine, i can now only do about 20 minutes a day of normal daily activity, the date to return it to them by was 21 november 2022, i received it on 29 november 2022 8 day after i was supposed to have returned it by, would love to know how i am supposed to return it to them before i actually receive it?

[Gigiruth]

As said Kit79Speak to benefits,have support such as welfare rights or citizens advice.

Look after yourself, self care is so important in a time of additional stress.

Gentle fibro hug

Gigi

[jimmyshoes]

hi , I took a chance with my family’s recent award and asked for reconsideration only in areas I believe had been overlooked and why and even used the original point award given years ago as it was less than n new one x We won xxx

But saying that , I have a blue badge that’s has been mine for over ver a year for really poor mobility n too scared to ask for a change in circumstances for me x as get zero mobility for my PIP.

[auntysue]

Hi same just happened to me, I was completely immobile due to a broken back ontop of fibro and everything else. You will now have to go to appeal, the process is long and stressful, but I'm gonna go ahead. It takes time and don't make mistake I made and do it alone, get help from citizens advice or docs etc. It's disgraceful, good luck x

[OMALI]

hi, you can actually get the assessors report, then state which if the discriptors your arguing against. I had to take mine to tribunal and was awarded enhanced rate both components.. good luck

[Smoggie1]

I don't know if it would help.but contact pip..also ask for name of person your speaking to and keep note..say that the doctor is not happy that they have not sent the form for him to fill in and what is their delay..could they fax it over..keep notes of days you contact them and names..maybe letter from cab would help your case.goid luck maybe others have ideas..I only get daily allowance..nothing for mobility but when I filled in yearly renewal form a couple of months ago I told them my doctor had diagnosed me with lymphoedema and I can hardly walk..I have doctors name and told him I had been suffering since 24th April when I was in agony and had to go to hospital during lockdown..but only got diagnosed this year by a decent doctor..x

[Wongle1]

write to them or phone them stating you want to take it further too a tribunal then get all your evidence together there are sites on the internet if you put in help with pip tribunal they will help with the form etc good luck xx

[Diamondpoppy]

Did you not ask your gp for a copy of your medical records. ? I did and they sent it to me via email which I then forwarded to pip. Maybe try that . Hope you get a good outcome

[Midori]

Tell them you are going to appeal, sometimes it seems as if the assessors are paying for it out of their own pockets, rather than Government!

Cheers, Midori

[Sheilamoose]

The most important thing to remember when claiming the 'mobility' element of PIP & the one most people trip up over (pardon the pun) is: it is not the problems, no matter how severe, how many problems you have, or the amount of medication you take, it is THE DISTANCE YOU CAN WALK BEFORE FEELING PAIN. I can walk about 10 metres, then have to stop for a few minutes, then walk another 5-15 metres, stop etc etc. Therefore, everything after that initial 10 metres does not count. The distance I can walk is 10 metres.

There is also another brilliant group out there - benefitsandwork.co.uk/ - they have a huge database of articles & benefit experts to help you. There is a small yearly fee (about £20, but you can often find a promo code to reduce this) anyway, what's about £20 if it's the difference between winning or losing your case?

I had an absolute idiot come out 2 years ago to do my home assessment for PIP - was an 'ex'-ambulance driver, not a paramedic but from the fleet who take patients to/from hospital (I'd call him 'a driver with a first aid certificate'! In his report, he said: "I cannot see anything wrong with Mrs T... (the claimant)"! That's because I sat in my chair & did not move for almost an hour. Carer let this twit in & saw him out. All my problems are 'invisible', so cannot be easily seen. I was awarded lower rate for daily care & zero mobility.

I went through his report sentence-by-sentence, tearing what he had said apart, pointing out what eminent Consultants/previous attending PIP (ex-GP) examiners had said in their previous PIP reports. My PIP was immediately reinstated to highest daily care & mobility.

Now, pick yourself up, put best foot forward & fight them all the way. Most cases are won on appeal, or the DWP 'throw the towel in' just before, or at, the appeal. It's only a few percent who lose on appeal - imo they're the ones who do not 'do their homework & prepare their case properly'.

Good luck to you 😘💕