Thank you to those that advised me regarding applying for PIP. I applied and I had my assessment . I had a letter to say that I have been awarded the standard rate £57 a week, which is great news as it will help me a great deal. To those that are applying don’t give up and good luck
PIP: Thank you to those that advised me regarding... - NRAS
PIP
Written by
annie1954
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
45 Replies
•
Hi annie1954,
Good news to hear that you have been awarded pip, well done, I am currently in the process of applying, I received my forms yesterday!!
X
Hi Pinklamb, when answering the questions , even if you can manage tasks. Put down it’s difficult for you as I’m sure it helps how you word it. Good luck 👍 xx
Just remember when answering the questions you are doing so on your worse day, this is not an interview to make you look good, the DWP sub contractors, the assessors, will take your responses as being all the time, good days will be the only ones you ever have, this is black and white there is no grey area. This is about the only time you ever have to make a poor impression as a good one will see your claim rejected.
Thanks for the info!! I have my assessment in a couple of weeks time, I will remember what you have said when I'm in with the assessor!! I am trying not to think 🤔 about it too much at the moment arghhhh!!
Hi can working people get PIP ?
Hi Frankiefocus,
Yes you can, you need to meet the criteria though, do you have RA??
X
Yes for nearly a year now amd im on mtx injections. All seems ok now but as you know a flare up is unpredictable. Do they notify your employer that you have RA?
Hi I don’t think they have the right to notify your employer it’s confidential . Data protection etc. Good luck 👍 x
Hi Frank Focus,
Like annie says, it's data protection, and confidential, so you haven't told your employer yet then??
All the best if you decide to claim, it took me a long long time to actually do it, but I have been having a very bad time with my RA since last year now, and taking a lot of time off work,
Anyway let me know how you get on
X
Yes I have just started a new job that is less active because of my RA and have not informed my new employers as yet....I took a year out last year as my last job I had to walk alot and heavy lifting and then my RA in my knees and shoulders kicked in and that was it for me. So hopefully this job will be ok for me as a technician that its more brain work and less running about. Now on mtx injections weekly and praying I will be ok as my hands and shoulders still get stiff and still feel some fatique some days. ☺
Ah, a new job, you can see how it goes then, I hope that your new job is better for your RA, I think 🤔 it definitely makes a difference to your RA the sort of job you are doing, I work in a factory 😢 very heavy, repetitive work, it's hard, although I have been quite fortunate, I told my employer some years ago, then we were taken over last year, the new company very good, stick to the correct policies etc, I hope that you go on OK with your methotrexate injections, I find them OK
Good luck with both
X
Hi Frankie - have your new employers intimated anything negatively that might lead you to believe that they might dismiss you if you told them the truth? I ask this only in light of my own personal experience. I don't know what career you're in but in my case ( yourh & community worker), I had just applied & got a job in a hostel for homeless young people. I HAD declared my RA on my application form & even brought it up at interview as I wanted everything to be open & honest between myself & my new employers. Everything was fine, until they asked me to be in a situation where once I'd weighed up the possible outcomes considered the situation unsafe all around. I took it to my line manager & it progressed up the chain. They asked me to carry on in my new role ( I'd just finished my induction period) until they had spoken to the national head office so I carried on thinking that all would be well - after all I'd been open & transparent throughout the whole process. When I was called back in they said that my salary would be paid until the end of the month but at that time my contract would not be consolidated. I asked quite a few times during this meeting whether there were any other reasons for terminating my contract but they couldn't give me any - I was floored - quite literally as my knees gave way as I rose to leave the office. I said I needed time to think, other members of the team were outraged but on the quiet! But they did give me one piece of advice, they told me what union I should be in. I'd never taken any notice of union politics before unless you counted a couple of marches with the student union during the Miner's strike in the 80's! However, another useful piece of legislation was also put on the statute books in the 80's - the Disability Discrimination Act 1988. Luckily my local branch of the union signed me on & to cut this as short as I can - I did ultimately loose that job - but instead of salary ending at the end of the month( 3 months prior) I was actually paid a whole year's salary & they had to write me a glowing testimonial. I had to go all the way to an industrial tribunal to get that result but that was my right & it IS still absolutely against the law to discriminate against somebody with a (hidden -ish) disability. But in order for them to play the game with you, you need to be honest with them first. Look up the D. D. A 1988 & see what modifications have been added since then. Also look into your company's record with disability, do they have an open disability procedure/policy.
I'm not saying do what I did, you have to feel your way through this but trust your gut & know unless it's categorically stated in all your paperwork that someone with RA is prohibited from holding your post, then your back's covered. Then, when you do have a flare - up you can be 100% honest about why you're not able to come in & also you can't tell them precisely when you'll be back either. I'm sure one of the RA health groups could send you literature for you to raise the topic with your employers explaining what RA is & why you were reluctant to discuss the matter earlier. Remember unless your in a postion where someone like us is precluded from this employment it is AGAINST THE LAW to sack someone for having a disability visible or not. I've always found honesty to be the best policy - you might get some really nasty comments, or you might get the annoying " arthritis? - but you're too young." Or " Ooh do you, I have a touch of rheumatism/ arthritis myself you know." On the other hand people might genuinely not realise you have 'issues' & would like to know more. Being completelyopen & honest with your new employer won't be easy & the stuff I went through 'unfair dismissal under the Disbility Act 1988 was Not easy & many things in my life were made more difficult as a result - at the end of the day though I was vindicated in court & walked ( hobbled) out slightly more unruffled than when I went in.
I'm so sorry for the length of my reply ( this is a more concise version!).
Remember, we're all in the same boat & we'll always be here for you at any time. I don't know if this will help but even if it just helps nod off ....success! ( of a kind).
😊
Thanks so much for the great reply and info. I hope to tell them in a few months as I have just started mtx injection and want to see how I cope then tell them how things are. I should be ok but fingers crossed. Im suprised to learn of your outcome so I will definitly think this one over Cheers.
Great post ..... never be afraid to join a Union, if it weren’t for them we would still be working a six day week with no holiday or sickness pay!
Diolch/ thank you - they certainly saved my bacon! Although I knew about the D.D.A I wouldn't have known how to wield it in my own defence, their knowlege of tribunals & the law was all important - & there was me initially thinking that I'd never need a union! I'd only ever been a member of the 'Student's union' before that time.😉
The Equality Act 2010 consolidated and then replaced all the discrimination acts into one piece of legislation. I still surprises me just how ignorant low level managers and a lot of senior ones as well regarding their responsibilities under the law including legal consequences under Health and Safety. They are all, including their employers, going to find out the hard way. Good on you having the support to pursue it, these days there is no legal aid for tribunals which makes the law available only for the rich or those with outside support.
Hi , in answer to your question, they do not notify your employer, I have always tried to get to my part time job, it takes my mind off the pain, but I have had disability allowance, and now PIP, and your employer is not notified, although my boss knows, because I have told him. He is very supportive
It was worth it! Pleased you're happy with the result Annie. Anything helps, I'm sure you'll find it useful.
Please, anyone thinking you may not qualify do try, it's not means tested so if you're working you're still eligible to apply. You never know & though the form may initially seem daunting once you start filling it in you'll be surprised how things you probably wouldn't think would apply to you do.
I don’t understand that , if you are able to work then why am I being penalised on my assessment for driving a care ?
PIP is intended to help with anything you need to make things easier for you, any extra costs due to a disability or long term condition, any aids or help you need.
In which way were you penalised for driving a car? I drive, we've changed to an automatic to make it easier but I've not had my award reduced. At my first application I didn't receive anything for Mobility but I did at my renewal & I still drive.
I also discovered PIP existed from reading a post on here, so applied . I was born in the 50s so do not receive my pension until I am 66, I am 64 years of age now . My private pension collapsed due to a scam investment , I am unable to work due to PMR and about to be admitted to hospital for Pet scan, cat scan etc as there are underlying problems . So the DWP site said a 15 min phone call to start the application … this call lasted 1 1/2 hours , I had to lie down half way through this , spelling out two French specialist names and addresses and my GP took an eternity . I was told the paper work would be put in the post. 3 days later I had a text message asking me to phone DWP … it was just to confirm they had the details correct and I was assured the paper work would be sent out that day and I should receive it with in two weeks....2 weeks later I had another text asking me to phone a DWP number, I was told my application had not been successful due to …. Not being of pensionable age …. only paying into the system for 30 years … it had gone up to 35 years with out my knowledge.... My family had not paid enough into the system …. ( My mother was the only one member who lived long enough to receive her state pension for 18 months before she died ) the rest of my ancestors died before receiving it ) myself and my husband have always worked ,so have my siblings and daughters ... I went back to work when both my daughters were just 6 months old . needles to say I have written to my MP , any advice on this one would be gratefully received. I do now live in France but its the UK where I worked and my state pension is . xx
There are quite a few restrictions on claiming UK disability benefits while living abroad. Anyone I know who got them while living in France had already been receiving them before they went and they weren’t reviewed once they had run out.
Well done , I am unfortunately having to go to appeal but Citizens Advice are helping me , it’s such an awful process
My assessor was just awful and this has been going on since November and it’s sooooooooo tiring 😓😓😓😓
That's great news. Well done!
I was thinking about applying but didnt think I d qualify. I ve had to stop work due to my flare ups . I might give it a go, as I am pretty dependant on internet shopping, taxis now.
in reply to TheBoys
Give it a go TheBoys, I didn’t think I would qualify but did it anyway as my DLA was ending and I thought I’d lose nothing by trying. Anyway I did get it so I always encourage people to try if they are borderline on the points.
Hi you must apply, and write everything down, do a daily diary and explain how difficult daily tasks are. You should get the high payment as you have to have taxis, and can’t shop. I sent off approx 20 photo copies of hospital letters. I also sent the forms and letters back recorded delivery. As I could not face doing the forms again if they were lost in the post.
I don’t receive my state pension till next March, so the extra money is a great help to me.
Good luck and go for it.
Also I forgot to say, if you send any photo copies of hospital letters, write your national insurance no at the top of each one, as if they get separated, that’s how they trace where it belongs.
👍
Great Annie and will be a welcomed help xx
Great news. How long did it take from the letter 'we have all info we need to make decision letter'? My PIP claim has been in since 11th November, assessment 8th March.
When was the we have all the info that we need letter dated Tabitha?
Letter I received was dated 9th April so just wondered what sort of timescale before I get an actual decision.
Around 5 weeks or so at the mo, but that may depend on where you are & how many are being cleared. It's awful the waiting so do understand, you just want to know don't you. They were a long time sending the letter, a month.
It took them until 27th March to message and say they had received the report 😖. Its the not knowing that's driving me mad...I dream of being able to afford a cleaner as I struggle so much to keep the house even reasonably clean.
I hope that you hear something from DWP soon, and that's it's good news for you!!
I know what you mean, I always used to be cleaning, I just can't do it anymore, it takes me forever, or I am too knackered after working, it's the most horrible of diseases isn't it!!
Keep us posted and fingers crossed, if I could
X
You're right, it's the not knowing, it's rubbish. I'd give it to the beginning of May & if you've not heard by then give the DWP a ring, see if you can gee them up, they may even let you know what you've been awarded.
A relative had a first time PIP application & waited 6 weeks but that was from assessment to notification of award not from the we have all that we need letter. I hope when you do receive it that it helps towards a cleaner (or preferably pays for one).
Hi Tabitha
I returned my forms back 1st February, I had the assessment on the 11th March. I received a letter on 30th March to say I had been awarded the standard rate. The back dated it from January.
Hope you wont have to wait for to long. Or you could ri g up and ask how long before they make a decision.
Good luck Tabitha 73
For PIP, ESA and other benefits advice: benefitsandwork.co.uk/
Hi I’ve been thinking about applying for PIP for a few years but when I go through the form my symptoms don’t fit the questions! I work full time & exhausted during evenings & weekends but keep pushing myself until I completely crash for days. Flare ups also wipe me out & would be so beneficial if I could get help with cleaning, cooking, etc. as this inability whilst feeling wiped out really frustrates me. My last 3 RA hospital appointments have been cancelled so not much evidence of support there. Am I eligible for PIP?
Any suggestions would be very much appreciated xx
Thanks annie1954 I’ll give it a try x
Not what you're looking for?
You may also like...
PIP
Has anyone been refused PIP ? I applied for pip benefit Aug 2013 after many complaints I finally got
PIP
have applied and been awarded the enhanced rate in living and mobility. I had a home assessment from
Pip
just received my pip form and I just want to ask everyone
It’s my first time applying so should I...
PIP
PIP
Pip 
PIP
PIP
