PIP application form so stressful.

[julie1908]

I cannot believe that i have finally completed my PIP form, what a relief as it was the most stressful thing i have ever had to do. I started it some months ago on a sample copy as i knew once you phoned them for the form the clock would start ticking and my stress levels would go sky high because as most of you know we don’t know how much we are capable of writing each day. Time to relax and chill now with a Baileys and ice. X

[Pippy25]

They don't make these forms easy do they, so glad to hear you paced yourself in respect of doing a bit at a time. Hope you took a copy of it and got proof of postage or signed for so you know they got it. Good luck and keeping my fingers crossed for you. Hope you enjoyed that Baileys, you deserve it.

[julie1908 in reply to Pippy25]

They certainly don’t make them easy. It’s all the crossing out and rewriting you have to do and adding bits it that you forgot to mention. It would be so much easier if we could fill it in online and then at least it would be just a click of a key to delete and rewrite or add something. Yes i did send it by recorded delivery i couldn’t bear the thought of it going astray.

Thank you i did enjoy my Baileys x

[Hidden in reply to julie1908]

I gave myself 3 months last time to prep. Worth it though. Got a reply in a couple of weeks.

Best of luck & enjoy your Baileys 😋

[julie1908 in reply to Hidden]

Wow you got a reply within a couple of weeks, that was super quick, I have read on here it can take months before you hear. X

[Hidden in reply to julie1908]

Mine was a ‘Review’ of an award I’d had to go to the Upper Tribunal for. [But it’s actually classed as a new application after a court case]. That one took 2.5 years 😱. I did my MR (Madatory Reconsideration) draft at the same time to ensure I had all the bases covered.

It was done during Covid, so was done by a Decision Maker at the DWP (mine are long standing chronic conditions). As yours is a First Application, you will (probably) have to be assessed by ATOS or Capita.

[StuWin50 in reply to julie1908]

Well Done Julie 1908 , i tooo found PIP application hard to fill in , plenty were grey areas that not applied to me .. i eventually got help in filling the ones i didnt understand . fingers cross you get maximum points to get full higher rate PIP

[julie1908 in reply to StuWin50]

Have you had your assessment yet? X

[StuWin50 in reply to julie1908]

yes , i got higher rate of PIP

[Carolsos]

I will hear in December and then it will be 3 months. I filled it in about 2 months ago and then got a telephone assessment. But since then they have text me 3 times to tell me they haven't come to a decision yet and they have rang me twice to ask about my address as I moved flats but I rang up and told them anyway. So if I think I won't get it I won't be too disappointed when I don't. I really hope I do get it though! It's a horrible form to fill in. They rang my son up when they couldn't contact me about my address.

[julie1908 in reply to Carolsos]

Keep us updated of the outcome, fingers crossed it’s good news because if anyone deserves some it certainly is you … x

[Leics]

well done filling in the worst form I’ve ever encountered. I’m with you that it’s very stressful and takes an age to fill out so many pages. Good luck with the outcome. You’ll have to let us know how you get on as I know it can be a very long process and I found it quite demoralising and frustrating not to mention humiliating having to face the every day struggles and basically tell a complete stranger my most intimate issues. It’s something I didn’t enjoy to say the least but eventually I had the ‘written proof’ from them that reiterated that I’m no fraud which helped in a lot of ways for me to accept the problems I was and still am having and move on. So good and bad experience and definitely think you’ve earned a baileys or two.

[Hidden in reply to Leics]

It’s strange isn’t it? how much difference their ‘written validation’ makes..

[Leics in reply to Hidden]

Yeah I had basically dismissed what I was going through but filling the form made me realise just how hard things had become and how reliant on everyone I was. Certainly brought it home to me and I still hate the fact that I rely on other people to get me through the day. I suppose if someone asked how you get dressed in the morning even without RA it’s something you do automatically and you don’t think about which leg you put in your knickers first and it’s quite difficult to explain in depth lol. But yeah before I saw it in writing I always used my mental toughness to deny it to some extent still an awful demeaning process which non of us want to do.

[Hidden in reply to Leics]

Also, because things happen over time, your ‘normal’ changes so incrementally, you don’t notice as much. And you are so used to adapting, your brain doesn’t always register things.. I think,that’s why I fine Rheumatology appointments so emotionally draining; you’re confronted with everything and it’s upsetting x

[SpaghettiIsGood]

What's a pip? As a side note, I found a way to get around expensive return receipts that require signature. When you mail something, I include a stamped self addressed envelope with a page that asks them to send the page back to you. If you don't get your envelope back, call them or resend a copy again.

[KittyJ in reply to SpaghettiIsGood]

PIP is a benefit, personal independence payment.

[SpaghettiIsGood in reply to KittyJ]

Sounds something like an application for disability benefits over here in the u.s.

[nomoreheels in reply to SpaghettiIsGood]

The DWP (Department for Work & Pensions) simply wouldn’t return it as it's not standard practice. It's well worth the little extra the “signed for” costs (I’ve used this each time). Or, & this is not generally known, at the Post Office once your transaction is complete you can ask for proof of postage. THIS IS FREE, no charge whatsoever, & can be used if the DWP claim your envelope hasn't been received after an acceptable time. This applies on both 1st & 2nd class, though I recommend you use 1st class whether you've opted for signed for or not.

[Hidden in reply to nomoreheels]

I always go for ‘signed for’, so I can check up online that the DWP have received it. It is worth the cost for my Mental Health; it’s stressful enough..

[nomoreheels in reply to Hidden]

I agree. I've done the same, though I've never needed to use it. It is worth it for peace of mind.

[SpaghettiIsGood in reply to nomoreheels]

Ha, in the u.s., that cost is skyrocketing. It costs now about $15 if you want your letter signed for

[nomoreheels in reply to SpaghettiIsGood]

Just as well you don’t need to return PIP forms back to the DWP then! 😵

[Hidden]

Well done 💐🍻

[weymouth321]

I posted back the Pip Review form in August - DWP gave me a months extension . They text me a few weeks ago to tell me they are still processing it . Citizen Advice delegated me an appointment to go through the form .

[julie1908 in reply to weymouth321]

wow so it takes about 4 months by the sounds of it x

[julie1908 in reply to weymouth321]

Have you had your assessment yet? X

[weymouth321 in reply to julie1908]

Julie - I’m so sorry - I’ve just read your message - funnily enough DWP text me 2 weeks ago to say they still have my pip review application form and shall be processing it - so yes m this is a second time DWP have text me this message .

I’ll have to get out my photocopy review pip form and refresh my memory of the questions they asked .

So am still waiting for the letter informing me of the date of phone call assessment or in - person interview.

I don’t have an iPhone , so can’t record the assessment.

Yes , it’s coming up 5 months now .

How are you ?

[kt11]

Well done and all the best xx

[nomoreheels]

I think it's designed that way, not that it makes it right. I took a few days over it because I simply couldn’t continue writing, not if it was to be legible. When it comes time for your renewal or review (I’m being positive here in you getting PIP) the form thankfully has far fewer pages. My h completed that form for me as my handwriting has worsened since the previous claim, I just signed & dated it.

Everything’s crossed for the reward which helps you most. Don't forget to photocopy all the pages before you return the form, including any extra sheets you've needed to expand on any questions. One other thing, don't expect to receive the same marks you've had on a test form, it doesn’t work that way. Also, I don't know if anyone has mentioned this, you can request the Assessor's Report Form, Ref No. PA4, around a week after you receive your entitlement letter.

[medway-lady]

I think its got so complicated because it gets tinkered with. The one size fits all is not really acceptable and it would have been better to do targeted ones for different types of claim. I don't even think that the assessors like them. But in reality it's probably just input into a computer and that decides which is not able to use judgement rather than a logarithm. The whole benefit system needs a total overhaul. But it'll be a brave government that actually does anything meaningful like sort out the fraudsters from the genuine as the fraudsters take from a very underfunded system. So well done and I hope you get a positive outcome. Enjoy your Baileys although TBH that stuff is disgusting. lol xx

[Carolsos in reply to medway-lady]

Haha I did enjoy my Bailey's