I have read a few posts on here about PIP and was wondering how you would know if it is worth applying for? Somebody said to me once do i get it and i said no because my bad days are not all the time. Some days i can do normal day to day things (within reason) but obviously as you all know when you get flares you are totally useless.
PIP: I have read a few posts on here about PIP and was... - NRAS
PIP
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julie1908
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NRAS has some useful booklets regarding benefits- These are Benefits and RA and PIP available in hard copy or electronic through the shop. They are free to, but to keep track we need to go through the shop
How do i go on their shop?
Here you go Julie
top right corner of the website is the shop button
I didn’t think I would get anything. When I wrote how it effects me it reduced to me to tears. I got standard on both . It’s the little things that we adapt to make life easy that we don’t realise make a difference eg. At night I’m very stiff and use the radiator to help sit and rise. . Try base it on your worst days and say how many days are bad in general or how long a flare can last . Nothing to loose XX
julie1908 in reply to
I know how you feel some days are so frustrating they reduce you to tears.
Thank you i will look at the self test first. When they say Aid’s what do they actually mean? Is it a walking stick?
Thank you for the reply.. I scored 14 so i will try to apply.
Thank you
Sorry to be a pain but i have been reading lots of different posts and information this evening on claiming PIP but where it says to make an appointment with your Rheumatologist to go through the claim with them, has anybody actually done that as i would be lucky to get an appointment with them about my RA let alone to go through a PIP claim with them.
No and I don't think in the current Covid climate they would thank you for it. Hopefully you have follow up letters after appointments that you could send (if they are helpful)?
in reply to julie1908
I tried pre covid they were not interested. I was told to ask the nurse who said tell me what you want or write it yourself and I’ll copy it . I said no you know what’s wrong with me . It took the nurse 4 weeks to do.
in reply to julie1908
Hi. I asked (by email) my Advanced Nurse Practitioner to write me a support letter. Listed the aids I used for each task so she could include them. Pacing and resting, recovery time; all are important. Also include any RA letters that back up what you are saying (from first appointment). My advice would be to be as clear as possible and explain as if to a child (!). Functionality is what they are assessing. Also how long you have had RA will make a difference to award length. Good Luck.
Majority of the time criteria is very important. You may be sparkly in the summer but unable to move in the winter for example. Have a think x
benefitsandwork.co.uk/perso...
Maybe have a read on the above, Benefits & Work website. I found them very useful.
in reply to BoneyC
They are amazing…. Wish I’d known about them when I was first ill. Received pence from DLA despite being immobile for several years 🥺
A little word of advice when applying i wouldn't say that you have good days and bad days, I would rephrase to better days rather than good.
Hi there, I've been receiving PIP for 5 years. I think you should apply. The money is to help you deal with your condition. For example, getting a taxi instead of walking, buying better quality shoes, essential oils, pre cut vegetables to cook with, ordering Deliveroo when I'm too ill to cook, hiring a cleaner. The list goes on and these things make my life easier. When you apply you must tell them about your bad days and forget your pride - yes I have good days but the money (£60 per week) really helps on the days when I'm tired and in pain.
Thank you for your reply i done the pip test online and scored 14 so i will apply but the only thing that concerns me is trying to get a letter from my Rheumatologist because I am not due to see them until Dec/Jan.
Send copies of the letters you’ve had after appointments. I’ve never got a rheumy to do a letter specially, it’d never be done within the time frame for a start so I haven’t bothered.
Ok thank you for the information… do i download the form online?
You ring them for the form, take note though that there is a time limit on sending it back and it starts from when you call. Start making notes for the form now before you call, you can look up the questions online. Send the form back signed for so you can prove they received it and make a copy to keep for yourself as you can then use it to prepare for when you have your assessment. Good luck 🤗
To add to above, at my last renewal I gathered all my paperwork together before I phoned so I wasn’t overly stressed. Also when you phone up it takes about ten days to actually receive the form. Go online to find a copy of the form so you can do a rough draft before the ‘real’ one arrives. They started a NEW form this year, so make sure you source this as the questions are slightly different.
julie1908 in reply to
Thank you for the information x
I cant find a copy online of the form to apply for PIP 🤷♀️
It’s all online and there are various help sites too
I got the citizens advice to help me with my pip form. I phoned them up before I got in touch with pip. They said to phone them up as soon as the form came through. They then gave me a phone consultation and they filled the form out online, asking me questions, then sent me the form to check before I sent it off. X
You focus more on your bad days, if it stops you doing the things that you would normally do. Also I find that other things have happened to add to the burden, things such as the recent loss of my mum, worries about covid, the affects of the jab, and medications I take. The stress of dealing with mums estate, and financial worries then fighting to get my money back when they took it off me. Isolation played a big part as well and not being able to get my appointments back on track. It all took its toll both mentally and physically. So I'm glad I fought for and got it.
Thank you for the good advice… obviously I can’t send 10 years of appointment letters so do I just randomly pick some to send.
It’s going to take me forever to write out as i am right handed and my right hand is clawed so I struggle to hold a pen for more than a few minutes at a time. Oh well
You can add extra pages, this is what I did as I only have two functioning fingers on my writing hand. Writing is very slow and messy. I wrote a small bit or got my husband to and then continued onto a separate sheet which I dictated onto my iPad to print off. This seemed ok as long as it’s clear which question the answer is to.
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