PIP

[jacqueline121]

Hi everyone, I went for my PIP appointment last week. Although the guy was really nice, I felt some of the questions he asked weren't relevant to me,mans other things I mentioned weren't written down.

I'm worried that it will be twisted and I'll fail the criteria. I feel there are many things I should have said that I didn't, and it keeps going round and round in my mind.

I feel I will be appealing. I was granted DLA indefinitely, but I know that doesn't really mean anything with ATOS.

I have Lupus, fibromyalgia, auto immune hepatitis (stage 3 fibrosis) and Sjogrens, and also some unrelated things.

Has anyone appealed, and if so, how stressful was it and did you win the appeal? Thanks for any replies.

I live alone, so it's been really stressful, and I rely on the extra help.

Thanks in advance. I hope everyone is having a good day.

Best wishes ,

[Hidden]

Hope it goes well for you. 'M'

[jacqueline121 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you

[tremarel]

What was it like & what sort of things did they ask you ?

[jacqueline121]

It was ok. But they asked a lot of questions about how fat I could walk, did I need any rails to rise from toilet, how many 'good days' medication side effects, and lots more I can't remember at the minute. They also get you to do certain exercises, bend, raise arms, grip etc.

Not sure how I've done. I should find out in less than a month. I don't feel hopeful though

[georgie63]

Hi,

I'm sorry you don't think it went well, but you now need a plan of attack.

You need to go to the website benefitsandwork and if you can afford it it's about £20 to become a member, but trust me the advice is all there that you need now and for the future.

It shows you how to appeal. So if they don't give it to you then appeal their decision, and this website shows you how to do just that.

Also it shows you how to fill in the forms they send you and also how to deal with the face to face assessments and what they look for.

Anyone who is on benefits needs to join this website as it has valuable information for how to deal with everything they chuck at you. The best £20 you will ever spend trust me.

So get all of your hospital letters copied and write a letter explaining how your illness affects you day to day, and think of your worst day ever and that is what you have to describe to them as being your day to day.

Then if they do say you've not been successful you've got a massive chunk of your appeal together, so you can then appeal their decision.

I hope this helps and I hope you don't need to appeal, but if you do good luck.

Xxx

[jacqueline121 in reply to georgie63]

Thank you so much for the information. I will do that. I just wish I'd got myself more prepared for the assessment.

I always find these kind of things daunting, and then when I get there I forget a lot of what I wanted to say. I did write a lot of things down but he wasn't interested in seeing it. A lesson learnt I guess.

I will let you know how things have gone.

All the best

Jacqueline

[georgie63 in reply to jacqueline121]

Your welcome, I hope everything works out okay for you so good luck.

Xxx

[jacqueline121]

Thank you

[misty14]

Hi Jacqueline

Sorry to read you don't think your Pip assessment went well. If you do need to appeal get the help of Citizens Advice. They will guide you thru it. Fingers crossed it won't be needed. X

[jacqueline121]

Thank you. It would be great if I was wrong about how it went, I've been so incredibly stressed about the whole thing. I will definitely seek the help to get through the appeal if needs be. I just feel so exhausted at the thought of it all.

Thanks for replying.

All the best

Jacqueline

[avionne]

Hi lovely i wouldn't worry about it until you get a response.. there is a facebook group called fight back and they cover all disability queries and can do your appeal for you etc for FREE

[Blueeyes57 in reply to avionne]

They are good there I have decided to ask for their support with appeal but it is not free. If you want them to help with Appeal it is 35 pounds and then if you win you have to agree to pay 250 from back pay. As they state a95 percent success rate seems well worth it tho!

[jacqueline121]

Thank you so much for the reply. It's good to know there is help out there. I wasn't probably prepared for the assessment. I have got myself more ready for it really, hopefully it will all work out in the end. I will definitely be appealing if I need to.

I will let you know the outcome of the assessment.

All the best

[julie1234]

Hi jacqueline did you not have someone that knows you that knows how things are for you, it's a shame if you didn't. Luckily my neighbour came with me and also knows the affect my lupus etc has on me I hope everything works out for you, and you must go by your very worst day. I hope you get it.

[jacqueline121]

Hi Julie, yes I had a friend who has known me for 17 years, and he was supportive, but I'm feeling we didn't say enough. The assessment guy didn't seem to write some of throngs down I was telling him, and then seemed to want to focus on good days. I can't remember a lot of it as I am having a flare up at the minute. I have been put on more steroids....two types now as well as immune suppressants and on the day my head felt foggy.

I'm just hoping. It goes ok as have been so stressed about it. I wish I would have focuses on the assessment more before hand. I did write all the problems I have down and took it with me, but he didn't take my notes. Things like that have been worrying me, also I'm not sure my friend said enough about how things are, though he thinks he did and it went ok, and had offered to help with the appeal if I need to do that. I just could really do without the long appeal process.

Thanks for getting. In touch.

All the best