I’m ploughing through the online form and it keeps saying about supporting evidence.
I was diagnosed in 2021 by my then GP in the midlands over the Covid period - so not many doctor visits.
Not much prescribed, using paracetamol and/or ibuprofen as and when necessary.
Basically have been self-managing, although I did have a period of phototherapy whilst still in the midlands.
However I’ve moved to the north west and have a new GP. She’s aware that I have fibro but I’ve only been to the surgery a couple of times in the last 18 months. She’s not long prescribed a short term course of Naproxen to see if they helped, due to be reviewed when I can get an appointment!
But that’s really all there is. I’d be grateful for advice and suggestions.
😊
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Gulfstream_Maggie
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just try and state all the truths, ask your doctor for any help, your medical records would have been transferred, explain about lock downs, explain all that the things you can’t do, due to pain, and how it affects your daily life, walking, getting about, preparing meals, everything you can list, will help you, any other related illnesses due to Fibro, they will get information from your doctors, if they need it.
Supporting evidence does not necessarily have to be professionals. It could be a statement from someone who knows you well and can describe the difficulties you have on a day to day basis. PIP is based on how you manage day to day whether or not you have a "label" of whatever illness. Submit a copy of your medication prescription or a photocopy of the label on the box as that is confirmation of your treatment.
hi Maggie, ive just sent all my supporting evidence as i was turned down from my assessment so trying again. I got all my doctors medical records and sorted through showing each time id seen doctor for fibro or anything associated with it. I had photos showing injuries from each time ive had a fall with letters showing id been to a&e. I also wrote a very long statement about how i live with the condition. Then finally my son wrote a statement too. I feel ive just thrown everything thing i can at it now so fingers crossed. Hope this gives you some ideas x
Thanks for your reply and I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you.
I haven’t really got much evidence I’ve seen the doc only a few times. Had some physio which was arranged by my midlands GP. That was conducted at the George Elliot Hospital and finished several months before I moved to the north west coast.
Since I’ve been here only seen this GP a couple of times, not easy to get appointments!
You might want to ask about Zapain, on prescription from your doctor if the paracetamol aren’t doing the job. I’ve also attached a link to a detailed video on water, which I’m finding very beneficial. It’s a bit lengthy, but well worth a watch to the end. Good luck on your journey Gulfstream_Maggie. Hope you’re not suffering too much.
The more evidence that is on your medical records the better I would suggest you see the GP more even if it's just to repeat yourself because getting a PIP award is not easy they really try hard to find reasons not to award it they make you feel like you have to beg for the money and they are very crafty especially when they have you go to a face to face assessment they will ask the same questions in different ways they ask things like how far can you walk you answer and then they ask how you travelled to the appointment, how far away from the building you parked even asked me if I have pet's if you have a dog they will use that to claim you can walk further than you have told them and they will ask you to do things like bend down as though you are picking something up off the floor, can you lift your arms up over your head etc, I refused to do it I said I wouldn't do anything that might cause me pain also I wouldn't go to a assessment by yourself take someone with you as they will use that against you too!. I was told by someone who used to work for DWP that the companies they use for assessments are private clinics that actually get paid a certain amount of money for every person they reject for PIP so the more evidence you can get the better and if they reject you always appeal it!.
They've told me they may require a face to face and this time I had virtually no evidence as you're not permitted to submit the evidence you had previously.
I'm stressed just thinking about attending a face to face. I can't always explain things well in person when on the spot.
I’d ring and ask if you can have a telephone assessment.
Citizens Advice told me you can ring the contact number on your letter and ask for one, instead of a face2face.
I took their advice & rung DWP, the call handler was really understanding, as I was too ill to drive the long distance to their office, also had other health issues other than fibromyalgia, that were impacting me.
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