PIP application Do,s & Dont,s

[Frankiefocus]

Hi everyone as Im still flaring up and having good days and bad with my RA I have been advised by citizen advice to apply for PIP. Would love some advice on the application form. What not to say in it or what to say in it.... Thank you.

[Kerensa21]

You might have seen it already but the NRAS booklet on it is v good. Good luck 🙂

[Pippy25]

Get help in filling it in via CAB, Welfare Rights or any local to you agencies who deal with these kind of forms on a daily basis. Again there are lots of guides as already suggested in the other posts. Good luck with your application.

[NeonkittyUK]

Hi Frankie .. I did a huge reply to someone here recently but can't recall who it was, about the PIP form and the face to face interview. Be explicit in so far as explaining what you can and can't do. The more facts they have the better to get a clearer picture. Do a copy of the form or draft it on paper first. Get supporting doc/consultant letters if you can although I didn't need them as I was told my reply was so extensive they didn't need to contact them. Add in extra pages if you need to stapled on the back. Use their additional space on their form. Dont be afraid to add more details.

Most people changing from DLA to PIP have a face to face interiew I was told. Mine went well and the nurse was experienced in physio, RA and osteo arthirits so she was helpful and reported very well on my situation.

Ajay on here was very helpful to me (thank you!) as were many others in how to phrase things. To say when asked the form .. Can you prepare a simple meal from fresh ingredients? Say NO first then add in ... but I could prepare something with the aid of another person but only if they lifted pans and chopped vegetables, etc. That is the truth but if you say YES first then that is often all they see and they may think you are more capable .. full stop. I told them I was the supervisor of the meals and my OH did the hard work.

Hope I can find where I posted my reply and let you see it. Will look over the weekend. Start planning your form and give yourself time to read it and add in more if needed and not be last minute. If for any reason you get last minute and need more time the DWP say they will allow it if you phone them before your return deadline. Good luck.

[Frankiefocus]

Great advice, I found the post with Ajays help thanks

[Shelly1969 in reply to Frankiefocus]

Can you copy it please so we can also get help too Im having to apply for pip too but Im not very good at filling in forms I get Awful mind block😔

[Shelly1969 in reply to Shelly1969]

Thank you xx

[Frankiefocus in reply to Shelly1969]

Hi Shelly read the posts from Ern007 this about covers it all realy.

[Ern007]

When applying for PIP you get points for how much your illness affects you. No matter what you suffer with, it has to be shown it effects your daily life.

I will give you and example,, If you need help dressing that mean you get 8 points.

If you need help with toilet needs for example a grab rail or even HAVING to use the wall to get back up, that is worth 3 points.

If you need help with bathing say you NEED grab rails in shower, or need help in and out of bath and help with cleaning parts you can't reach including hair - That is worth 3 points.

Cooking - If you can't bend to use an oven because of dizziness from say medication or severe pain and or can't prepare a cooked meal for one - for example you can't cut up food to prepare and cook a meal for ONE - that is worth 3 points - I think the form will ask how long for help you need and how many days a week..

Take care you will be asked do you have good days, take care before you answer this as it matters.

The above is for basic care needs and of course help with medication or eating increases your claim.. I think it;s 8 points that get you basic care and an example is as above.. You tell them what you have but more important how your illnesses and side effects from medication affects your daily life. You must stress you need help with preparing a meal or washing ect - That is what gets you pip, not what your conditions. are... Hope this helps and was reasonable accurate 3 years ago..

EDIT: More up to date - turn2us.org.uk/Benefit-guid...

Do not forget to send in as much medical evidence as possible and that includes a copy of your repeat prescription. The number have points may have changed but the criteria has not.. Good luck

[Frankiefocus in reply to Ern007]

Thank you Ern

[Ern007]

I have edited my post i realised..I also put a link, I think the minimum combined points is 8 - however the criteria is the same I got the points value wrong.. , it's the help you need due to side effects of medication and how your problems affect you.. What you have counts for nothing if you can't explain how it effects your daily needs for a significant time.. I ger DLA which is different, wife has PIP which she got for preparing and cooking meal for one, bathing needs, toilet needs and help with dressing - She has Angina so the tablets cause side effects and Arthritis on back and neck makes life difficult, those four points I was trying to get across in my post..

"If you score between eight and 11 points for your daily living needs in the PIP test, you get the standard rate of the daily living component. You get the enhanced rate of daily living component if you score 12 points or more.

If you score between eight and 11 points for your mobility needs you get the standard rate of the mobility component. If you score 12 points or more you get the enhanced rate of mobility component."

turn2us.org.uk/Benefit-guid...

[KittyJ]

Lots of good advice here so I won’t repeat it all but I would say start noting down how your RA affects your daily life etc now before you get the forms as you have a limited time to send it back. You can add and expand on things once you start filling the forms in. I didn’t do this and found it really stressful going through it all and getting it in on time. Good luck 😊

[Hidden]

NRAS provide a very useful booklet that you can send for. See here nras.org.uk/publications/ca...

Whatever you tell them, make sure you describe the very worst day you have.

[Hippyhop2]

Yes, make sure you describe your worse day, if you can't get out of bed til mid day, say so, good luck

[Chrissycl]

Citizens advice also have a website which breaks down each question and explains what it means and examples of answers