Hi I have just completed my PIP form in haste as I am going through a flare. I have SLE. I have heard about resources available like guidelines and descriptor diaries. Where would I get these from.
As anyone used Fightback4justice.
I am in the process of applying for ill health retirement and feeling overwhelmed with forms.
Any device appreciated.
Thank you
Hi, when I applied for PIP two or three years ago I got a lot of info from the Benefits and Work website: benefitsandwork.co.uk/perso...
Best wishes, it's such an exhausting process x
Thank you will check it out today.
I was just going to recommend what SleepyWolf said. It helped me enormously, it focuses your mind. Complete king these forms is soul destroying and very much concentrates on what we cannot do but it is so beneficial to us in terms of blue badges and taxing the car once you have it. Good luck.
Hi I found a lot of help from searching online including the descriptors and examples. It’s important also to add as much evidence with the forms . If you have Hospital letters from consultants etc . I also found a form online for my Gp to fill out with the pip questions , this was really helpful too. Fill out the questions as if it’s your worst day . Also it helps greatly to give examples of what you can and cannot do most of the time. To get points it needs to be a problem most of the time . Perhaps get gp to request an occupational therapy assessment as they can then provide aids you may need which would help in getting pip . It is exhausting doing all this but absolutely necessary ! Good luck x
Hi there, I write my notes in rough first as there is so much you need to cram in. Don’t rush your form , do it over s couple of weeks as you always think of things to add. Write about your good days and your bad days, if you only write your worst they will ask you what you can do in an interview which is even more stressful. Write about what mobility aids you have, and adaptations you have made to your home. List the things you need help with and why. You have to be brutally honest even if it’s embarrassing. I type my notes as I can’t hold a pen long enough and my hand writing is eligible after a few sentences. Very basic advice I know but hopefully it helps you. X
Fightback is brilliant in terms of resources, and you can pay them to do it all for you if you're struggling. I don't fill my reviews in anymore, they just do a phone consult and then complete them for me.
Thank you, Can you explain the charges please. Have I got it right there's a monthly cost?
If you want access to the resources to do it yourself then it's a monthly charge of around £11 that you can cancel at any time by emailing them. If you want them to complete the forms for you then you don't need to pay that, its just a one off fee of around £60 (extra if you want them to photocopy evidence & send it).
Thank you
Any documents that u send as evidence..make sure that you don't send original documents as they tend to get 'lost'Also remember to put your name n national insurance number on all of your evidence.
They're only doing phone assessments now so at least u won't have to have a face to face.
I used the citizens advice website to fill my form out recently.
Good luck with it all 🤗🌈😽😽xx
Hi, As others have mentioned, I also have used the benefits and works website which is extremely good. I always take a couple of weeks filling in forms. I photocopy the form first and do it in rough plus write further notes that can be added. Sometimes you feel you are repeating yourself but do. Don't hold back on anything, however small as it all helps to give a clear picture. Add any supporting letters you may have. I have also enclosed a supporting letter from my GP along with others. Please keep a copy of your filled in form incase it gets lost. I have even sent mine to be signed for so I know it has been received. Wishing you good luck. It is very stressful to do x
When you have to reapply or do another firm it's very useful to have a previous form.
There are so many free resources. I used to work for CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU and AGE UK, both have benefit advisors that will complete the forms for you free of charge. Please look up your local offices
Most local authorities have a Centre for Independent Living. I used my local one for help with forms: they had an adviser who filled them in for me, also when I was refused they had a lawyer who wrote the appeal letter for me etc. Good luck with all of this. If you do get turned down you must appeal: I think the assessors are given targets to reject so they can reject you on the flimsiest of reasons & in my cousin’s case the assessor made up complete nonsense. They then rejected my appeal on the grounds that doctors opinions differ, despite both my GP & consultant supporting me & their assessor not being a doctor! At that stage a lot of people give up but that is when you have to stay strong & appeal so that it goes to a tribunal- I won mine - the court rang on the day to say the judge had read my case & ruled in my favour so I didn’t need to turn up! Hopefully this won’t happen in your case- I don’t want to alarm you but it’s best to be prepared - there are people out there as all the previous messages have suggested who can help. Thinking of you at this difficult time & sending a big hug 🤗Stay strong! Just had a thought- when I went for my second assessment my husband came with me - if it’s being done on the phone now I still think it would be a good idea if you had someone there for moral support & with a copy of all your evidence who could remind you of stuff if you start to get tired/brain fog descends!
Thank you. It seems a mine field but I will follow this through. Appreciate the info that it could go to court.
If you are able to find a citizens advice advisor that specialises in PIP and the form's etc even if you have to appeal. You can Google it or calm a charity, agency that may be able to help. You have to always put it as the worst days. If you out that sometimes your able then they latch k to that and you don't get anything. Take your time if you can, spread it out. Mention how much support you need and also get (if you do). Make it obvious how much you do need. They like to grab onto anything that makes it seem as though your ok or able to do something.
Don't worry, there is always help. Wherever you are, there is a Citizens Advice that can help you fill in forms. citizensadvice.org.uk/benef... contact them asap. You can do this 
Have you tried contacting the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)? They can also guide you through the form process and in fact, support you if you require any appeals as well.
I always use them because I find the entire process not only exhausting but overwhelming. Furthermore, I find the CAB helpful with trying to explain why my Lupus symptoms are not consistent but when they are present, they are crippling.
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