Pips claim

[Conj12]

Hi I suffer from severe rheumatoid arthritis and bronchitis. Have been on dla for many years now I have to apply for pips. Has anyone got any advice please. I find it all very overwhelming and never sure what to write

[allanah]

Get help ! Nras do a great booklet which I used and citizens advice are great. Photocopy it when completed as it's amazing a) how many go missing and b) refresh your memory as it's likely you will get an interview.

Post it that you get a receipt when it's delivered too.

Just tell it as it is on how you are on your worst days.

You will also get a brief phone call when they get your application.

TRY not to worry. It just makes you worse. X

[Conj12]

Thank you

[Philip]

Maybe contact the C.A.B. Because they are brilliant, they will interview and give you an appointment to fill in your forms, tell the truth, tell them exactly how it effects your life and what it does to effect your life.

Best of luck

[Conj12 in reply to Philip]

Thank you

[AARA]

Hi Conj12,

You have got some good advice already. Welfare Rights Advisers visit local Libraries in some areas and help with forms. There is a web site called Benefits and Work which some people find helpful The Disability Rights handbook contains all the relevant info. and is written in an easy to understand format, considering that the rules are so complicated for all benefits in the UK. Your local Library may stock the current Disability Rights Handbook in the ref. section.

If you are in receipt of benefits already, you can order a copy of the handbook from the Disability Rights web site at a significantly reduced cost.

CAB are great at this sort of thing, but in many areas they are very busy and the waiting time to be seen can be long, as in some places they work on a first come first served basis, at least for the initial interview.

I am very out of touch, as I have not been well enough to hold down a job since 2004, but my last paid work was at my local CAB. Just remember to tell it like it is on a bad day.

Consider filling out the form in pencil, or make a photocopy of the blank form before you begin, either way you can amend your wording. If you have the option to see someone in person, show your draft copy to the adviser and ask for recommendations to tweak your wording. Sometimes just using the right phrasing can make all the difference.

I do hope you can access some face to face advice, but with all the Government austerity measures in recent years, this has become more challenging in some parts of the country. I also hope you get the desired outcome. If necessary appeal the decision. I think about 60% of decisions get overturned at appeal. If any other organisation got it wrong that often there would be up roar. Good Luck.

AARA

[Conj12 in reply to AARA]

Thank you so much for your detailed response. I have left it too late to approach cab will visit local library

[Fra22-57]

You can look on line too how to word answers.Just be honest and describe your worst day.what you now can't do and if you need extra help.any aids you use or funny ways you yourself try and open jars.Say how it is emotionally for you and how you life has changed...Can't work ,struggle to socialise.etc.It's tough and questions are repetitive which is annoying.

If you struggle with pain etc writing get someone else to write your words and explain why.

They ask you all this again at assessment which is annoying Of course memory with me made me struggle.I did refer to copy I had wrote but was so nervous. Don't go on your own ..you need support. You can claim travel expenses on the day too.

Be prepared for simple examination. I had to try touch behind back,stretch arms up and bend down etc. If you can't or it hurts show it.

Hope you get someone as kind as I did.

By the way I sent booklet back by 2nd class signed post even thou it was free so I knewe it definitely got there. They text you when it has.

[BoneyC]

Go on the Benefits & Work site, costs about £19 to join for a year, then access their step by step PIP application guides.

[Traceydc]

Hi I was awarded full for both elements in June. Get onto CAB asap, if you need an extension, they will give you 1 if you ask soon enough. I had all my answers to the questions typed, that mean't that if I needed to add to them I could just open them on the computer.

Photocopy any evidence you have from drs appointments, hospital appointments & any treatment you had/will have. Get in touch with all the professionals that look after you & give you care, eg, Rheumy consultant, pain clinic, physio etc. asking for a letter from each outlining your condition, how it affects you & any medication or treatment you are receiving. Answer the questions fully & describe how an activity may make you feel, can you chop veg? can you lift pans? can you serve it on a plate & take it to where you can eat it? Can you do it safely & repeatedly without pain, feeling dizzy, able to stand to do it, can you grip a knife in order to peel veg? If you need someone to do it for you because of pain, being unsteady etc PUT IT DOWN!!!! do not presume they know about RA, the chances are they won't!! You need to tell them how it affects your daily living tasks., the difficulties you have & pain you are/would be in if you tried to do things on your own. Get your Drs letters now, photocopy those & send it with the form. If you are able to use the computer for your answers, print them off (SAVE all the 1s you have written!!!!!) put them with the form & remember to put your NI no on each page, your full name, DOB, address & which question no you are answering. Collect as much evidence as you can to support your claim, even old letters, the more info they are given, the more likely you are of a positive outcome. Try CAB, they managed to arrange a home assessment for me, which was so much better. Good luck, hoping this has helped.

[Conj12]

Thank you so much for your response. I have looked at cab web site for information which I have found really useful. My form has to be in by 17 September. I have found the whole process extremely daunting.

I have been answering questions in detail where my husband keeps telling me just put answer in bullet points!

Very stressful I'll let you know how I get on

[Traceydc]

Answer in detail, follow each question onto the next, eg can't chop veg because hands hurt, dressing difficult because hands hurt & so on. Give as much detail as you can, like writing an essay on yourself. If you do it that way you will be surprised how much each thing rolls into 1. This is why mine were typed, I could add things I hadn't thought of. Just make sure you identify yourself on every piece of paper/evidence you send. Get in touch with CAB, you need someone in their capacity to help you. Also get an extension, phone them asap & explain why eg you are waiting for your CAB appointment. Get letters from everyone that is involved in your care, this will help immensely. Don't presume they write to your Dr, they don't always. The more info you can provide the better, do their job for them. If it's in black & white it's proof. Photocopy everything!!!!!! Don't send originals, they can't say you haven't sent them then should they lose your form. Always back yourself up. My PIP form had at least 34 pages I sent !!!!!! Good luck, remember they need to know how you are affected most of the time. I am not a wheelchair user all the time, walking wounded so to speak, but if I need 1 I use it. I can't use crutches, sticks because of the RA in my shoulders & hands, I wrote this down. I have a foot brace (footdrop because of MS) I don't wear it often, because it hurts, I told the assessor this, I did show it her. I am hoping this can prepare you a bit. Even if you think it's not applicable, it could be, include everything, even if it seems long winded, it's not, you will cover all bases. They will report on what they see, my disability is evident, but I told them everything. Evidence is key as is appropriate support. If you have had to have treatment for anything else other than RA, even down to antibiotics include them. I literally peeled the labels off all my meds & stuck them to a A4 paper, again, proof.

[Conj12]

Thank you so much for your detailed response I have answered all questions as best I can, I'm just worried when it comes to the mobility questions since having my knee replacements i look if I can walk much easier but this doesn't show how much pain I am constantly in. Just anxious I will lose my Motability Car.

[Traceydc]

Tell them about the pain & if it stops you from walking far, I am the same. You will have evidence of the operation, send it. See what I'm getting at? Tell them everything you experience, everything. You write as much is needed.