Finally on going PIP award…

[Pip70]

Finally awarded on going PIP no review til 2034😮‍💨in what feels like a life time of reviews…My congenital chronic health condition defeated the NHS and best neuro surgeon/neurologist in the country and yet the DWP kept going with fixed term award's! But today I got the letter that means no more proving it to the system! Happy New Year to everyone struggling with a benefits nightmare and if you are genuine keep at it and good will come in the end🕺

[James1984]

Hi Pip70, that is great news! A brain injury is permanent, and in my case the recovery was only most prominent in the first two years, so proving it over and over is pretty pointless and frustrating.

So congratulations! I do hope they improve the system going forward though as it's nothing but a burden, both for patients AND doctors.

[Pip70 in reply to James1984]

Yes indeed ‘old me’ worked for NHS 20ish yrs so it’s just another thing to add to the expanding workload of health profs there must be a more coordinated system!

[Mads1975 in reply to James1984]

I concur! I feel very fortunate to have been awarded PIP with a ten year review (around 10 years ago now). The bank that I took ill health retirement from has chosen to check if I’ve made a Lazarus style improv each year and had threatened to remove my pension without up to date medical evidence.

Unfortunately the NHS is unprepared to resource a days worth of testing by a neuro-psychologist so have had to pay privately to maintain my pension

[Pip70 in reply to Mads1975]

Luckily so far the nhs who gave me ill health retirement(after a bit of fight) don’t seem to expect me to make such a recovery and have left me alone…

[Mads1975 in reply to Pip70]

I would hope so too, being medically based! Unfortunately banks are all about the money 😦

[Leaf100 in reply to Mads1975]

All HR departments are all about the money. It just depends what they think they can get away with.

Where I worked there was a woman in an non unionized posotion who took two weeks off when her Dad died, and then a couple of months later took 6 weeks for a medical procedure. She had a medical note but did not disclose the reason, she is not obliged to understand Canadian law. She was dismissed. She then sued for wrongful dismissal and won. Was she the only one? No. HR's response? To hire a permanent on staff lawyer.

Don't kid yourself, HR is there to save the company money. Sure, some are more aggressive than others and some depends somewhat on management, though foe the most part their job is saving money.

The general attitude was always that people on disability were faking it. The tolerance toward people with visible disabilities was very low. I did a few projects with that department and found the attitude quite shocking.

Always be prepared.

Leaf

[Leaf100]

Hi Pip70, congratulations! It's a weight off, for awhile anyway.Do make sure you keep a medical diary and copies of everything so you have them on hand for 34. Include all people you see, name, phone , address , date,.notes , letter from them. It will make your life a lot easier in the long run.

I would also keep a separate diary of your symptoms and consequences to your life.

Who knows what they will want later, and staying prepared as you go saves a lot of angst in the long run.

And, again, congrats!

Leaf

[Pip70 in reply to Leaf100]

It is quite hard to believe that after years of fixed term awards and reams of expert medical evidence the DWP finally realise I am not going to suddenly get better! Happy New Year to you!

[Leaf100 in reply to Pip70]

It does take a long time to come to terms with. If one ever really does.

Happy New Year!

[BaronC]

Fabulous news, happy new year! The fight is ultimately worth it in the end!

Best wishes

Andy

[Pip70 in reply to BaronC]

Same to you have a good one!

[Pip70 in reply to BaronC]

Hope you have a good one too…

[WonderingWanda]

great news. Happy new year!!

[Pop1234 in reply to WonderingWanda]

That is great news you are dealing with robots that have no clue to what they put people through and do they care no. Have a nice 1

[Pip70 in reply to WonderingWanda]

Hope you have a good one too!

[Pip70 in reply to WonderingWanda]

Same to you…

[5256]

I'm so pleased for you. Strange but it's not always about the money, I found that it's an acknowledgement of the injury and on going recovery.

[Pip70 in reply to 5256]

It’s the Blue badge that does it for me 🤣 on the to do list for today…

[Teazymaid]

great news .. so pleased you got recognition for your brain injury and the fact that they don’t miraculously get better .. we just learn to deal with the new us .Sue happy new year

[Pip70 in reply to Teazymaid]

Thanks Sue it is very nice to know that I no longer have to prove my daily struggles to the system Happy New Year to you too x

[Teazymaid]

Yes I’m so happy they have come to that decision .. I’m hoping one day they will understand me and it won’t be a fight as it has been for nearly 12 months .. your news helps me think that there is still hope Sue 😊

[Pip70 in reply to Teazymaid]

Sorry to tell you that you might have a bit longer to wait…as far my now useless memory recalls I have been in it since 2016 when I was ill health retired from 20 yr career in NHS but keep at it!

[Teazymaid in reply to Pip70]

I’m at the tribunal stage so thinking that could be around a year ish and I’m 7 months past the beginning of it going to tribunal .. will just happen one day I guess 🤔

[Pip70 in reply to Teazymaid]

🙏🏻

[Nemo24]

That's so good to hear. I failed first application, got 0's and a report that didn't sound like me. So I got upset, angry and questioned myself as '0' would be me pre accident. With help of advice centre, doctors and others have just put in letters to query first result. It's had massive effect on my levels of anxiety and mood been very low. So pleased to hear there's some good news for you.