Hi, I received the forms to apply for PIP today. on the question asking about health conditions, dqo you list everything going on? Or just the most debilitating ones?I have seronegative inflammatory arthritis, fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis which affect me severely on a daily basis.
But I also have underactive thyroid, IBS,hiatus hernia, Raynauds high BP... The list goes on really!
I will be using the citizens advice website to help me complete things as best I can but even this first question has floored me!
Thanks. I'm sure I will be back to ask more questions!
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hazelcats
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Oh. Then I am definitely going to need a LOT of extra sheets of paper... Especially with the medication bit - luckily ( though not lucky I need so much atm ) most of it is on prescription, so will send a photocopy of that in as well.
I am definitely with the give them more option as the assessor I last saw said that it was preferred to give a more detailed account. I used extra sheets of paper and did a photocopy of the form so I could do a draft. Yes, tell them everything re other health conditions. I know too well thyroid issues make you very tired. I kept a copy/took photos on my phone of it once completed. As well as the answers in the boxes, I referred to added/attached sheets, one of which detailed each of my problem joints as a separate bullet point on an A4 typed sheet. I did a couple of sentences as to how they affected my movement and restriction on mobility and daily living/home life. Be sure to let them know the help you need to do things. I think it’s the “50 rule” they need to know of, if you need help doing things 50 per cent of the time.
Tell them it’s taken you a very long time and in several sessions to do the form due to your hands. I did this as medical people always remark on my writing being so neat and I say it always is but it takes me ages and several sessions and I use special pens with a soft grip. Might sound daft too, but ensure you’ve actually answered what they've asked on the form.
These links below may be of help. Some are long docs, but scroll down to relevant parts re how to fill in the forms. I recall some being very useful as to how to word things and emphasise/communicate your problems.
Good luck 🩷 and pace it and don’t feel overwhelmed by doing too much in one go. Keep at it every so often and set yourself a reminder on your phone to when you need to post it off or put a post it on your calendar/fridge door.
Thank s for such a detailed answers and the links too. I'm making a few notes to remind myself stuff like ' this affects me most of the time' or it's about HOW the conditions affect me rather than the actual conditions. Good idea to say I have to fill in the form in stages - I also us adapted pens as I can't grip thinner ones well.
Fibro fog doesn t help, hence the need to do rough drafts first.
I will - the fibro brain fog can make many things overwhelming- I don't always listen to myself pacing both physically and mentally. I at least they to keep weekends a bit free from most 'admin ' tasks to give brain a decent break.
I will, thank you. I need to do it in stages as it's uncomfortable for me to write or type for too long. Oh, and a rough draft before. You can tell I've looking into this for a while. Bit nerve wracking but day to day life is getting increasingly harder so I need to apply sooner rather than later.
You can ask for extra time if you need it. Pace yourself the stress of filling the form in will likely give you a flare! I know it did good me.Tackle it in stages
I dictated mine (laptop) as I can’t write for long and then only hand wrote a small bit in each section adding that it was continued on a separate sheet. The good thing about that is you can alter it if you decide to before printing it to send. Good luck.
Put it as simply as you can and keep concise. List your medical diagnosis and answer all the questions without repeating too often. I’d suggest not completing the form bit by bit but using spare paper to work out what to say then transferring that onto the application. It helps to know that giving as much information as you can means that the assessor is able to see the total effect. Good luck. X
Thank you. Yes no way am I writing straight into the forms, recipe for disaster. And multiple conditions and symptoms should mean I don't repeat myself to often. I hope.
I think it might be like suncream a factor of 50 applied twice is still 50 not 100. If that makes sense. But make sure you give as much information as possible.
Thanks wilfdog, I am always gratefully amazed at how many people are so willing to take the time to support and offer advice. Hope sometimes I can repay that kindness a bit to others. It's kind of reassuring to know others understand just how debilitating these health issues affect our every day lives. But I do wish none of us have to face the pain and difficulties.
long as my head stays above water, that's a win in my book!
It's a wonderful forum isn't it. Unfortunately there are many people with years of lived experience of rheumatology diseases and are so willing to help others with their knowledge. Loads of luck with your application x
the advice I was given was list everevery condition you have and when when answering the question about how it affects you describe how you on the worst days you have.
Good luck with the form filling, definitely agree the more information the better. Photocopy the form before sending. Also would advise you to send the form back Royal Mail signed for rather than returning in the envelope provided. I've heard of people in the past where DWP say they haven't received it. This way you get a signature on arrival so they can't use that excuse.
Good call on the signing for idea. Our post is hard to receive here, let alone sending out.I am doing a lot of notes the next couple of days prior to even beginning to fill form.
Am chasing DRS surgery so I can access my medical records to send relevant ' back up ' info too. And to check dates of conditions - memory is shot on that too!
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