i have requested a pip application form( put it off for over two years after seeing my sister go through it)
it took two weeks to get here, giving me two weeks to fill ot in and its a monster of a form, overwhelming me.
im trying to do it bit by bit, but have had a dwp text reminder and a dwp letter this morning and it’s stressing me out.
it has to be with them by 16/9 and im about half way.
do you think i should ask for an extension? any advice or experience on this would help? i will try to complete if i can, but if asking can cause more problems, then i know i have to do it etc
thank you everyone x hope everyone is having a ‘better’ day ( not a good day) ive been reading lots of really good advice on wording etc👍🙏
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Yes, you can ring the PIP enquiry line on 0800 121 4433 (try 9am when they open), & ask for an extension, & they will automatically give you another 2 weeks.
Let me put you at ease. I realise that the form is a monster but, the form is a standard form sent to every one, if you feel you can's complete in time then YES, ring and ask for an extention. They won't bit your head off. They are here to help.
What you should do is get a blank piece of paper and if its half done the set your self say 3 questions and stop. i.e. Question 27. Your answer............ Try to look and see what it is asking you and try to stick to that. If it asks how far can you walk unaided then if the answers do not fit then write in the box why? I can walk about 15 feet but because of walking issues have to be near a wall or hand rail as my legs unlock and I fall balance in another issue, but out side I always take aids and always have some one take me shopping and use the trolleys for support. the move onto the next question.
Some questions look like others you have answered, but are worded differently because the Decision Maker is trying to get an idea of what affects you and how.
If after three questions you want a break then do so. Never rush, watch T V go to the garden just do anything to sort of clear your head, it could be 1 hour of 5 hours and if walking past the form you want to do another question then do so, some questions you may only need to answer NO to and would send you onto the next section, as some questions have boxes to fill out with more info in them, others a simple tick or X.
Again ring them and say I have started to fill out the form which has to be bck by the 19th Sept I will do my best to fill it out but if I need to take a few more days is that O K.? ALSO, get a friend or family member to help you fill it out, they ask the question,you give an answer. Once completed go through the questions and if happy with the answers then put them on the form, there is a section for any other things you want to add, and diont forget to sign and date it.
You will be O K. you have to remember that this form is not something that you fill out every day but the Decision Maker may have 1, 2, 5, 10 a DAY and this is why the form looks to mind boggling.
Let us know how you get on or if your stuck then ask for help.
thank you so much, this is really helpful. i will use lots of your suggestions and i feel much more confident that i can actually complete th monster form. after reading what you said i feel for the dwp reading the monster form s.
jthank you again so much,, really do appreciate the help
Just answer truthfully and supply any information you may have, and again just remember its an interview for access to benefits. If they want to do a medicalexamination I would refer them to your G P or people that treat you as you are not a doctor either and what you may "put up with" can for some be OTT pain wise so don't assume antthing.
Hello yes I would ask for more time and can you get benefit advisors to help you where I live my jousting association has people who help free of charge also a charity near me called harc helped me last time and was godsend as I had Mt pip and esa forms at same time to do I was about to give up but asked for help and iam not really good with strangers but I was desperate so where you live is there anything like that or citizens advice or there are benefit advisors who charge a fee but know how to fill forms best of luck as in news the powers that be are looking to get disabled people to do some form of work even if you are in support groups to work from home etc ? that will be interesting for people who like myself need help to and from toilet and wet room lol
Yes, phone them, you will be on hold for god knows how long, i was on hold to them for over an hour the other day, and that was just to give them the tracking number for a letter i sent.
i had one form arrive a week after the date printed on it for when it should be returned, i had another arrive 3 days before the return date, one of those 3 days was a postal strike, and another was a sunday, that left 1 day to fill it in and send it back, i phoned them and they increased the return day to 2 weeks.
when you return it to them take a photocopy of it first and send it tracked, phone them and tell them you sent it and give them the tracking number. i sent them a letter for reconsideration in i think it was the beginning of June, it was signed for by them and they phoned by at the beginning of this week September, to claim that they lost it, it doesnt say a lot for the Data Protection Act does it. he tried to get me to go through it over the phone with him, i refused and told him it was 7 A4 pages long, that i wasnt going to go through it over the phone, and i would send them another one, i sent it that day tracked and it was signed for the following day
also if you get a telephone assessment be careful they will ask you something that may seem quite innocent, but isnt. in my case they asked about my cats and if they had a litter tray, trying to catch me out. they said how do you empty it if you cant bend, i replied that my son comes round and he does it, although my cats also have a cat flap and dont often use the tray. they then asked how i fed them. they wanted me to say i put the food in the bowls on the floor, they got, i have to tip the packet from standing up and just hope that it lands in the dish, if not, i have a long handled dust pan and brush.
I asked for a 2 week extension, and had some idea of the form because I had completed it for my son last year. I began gathering my evidence before I'd even got my form, but still needed the 2 week extension as I wanted to send as much evidence as possible. I used the Scope disability website and it went through every question, giving me ideas for things I'd never even thought about. I checked it thoroughly before sending it back, to make sure I had included everything I wanted to tell them, my worst days etc. I also made a copy of the form, so I could refer back to it for my telephone assessment. I was awarded enhanced for daily living and mobility.
i have called for an extension and they gave me 3 more weeks, no problem, although was on hold for about 25 minutes 🙄. at least i dont feel quite as pressured, thank you everyone for your advice 👍😘🙏
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