PIP

[cyprus96]

I am waiting for this form to drop through my letterbox and was wondering how it has been going from mobility to this. At this moment I'm on high rate but been hearing it's not a straight swap. I had a battle in the first place with CAB fighting my corner.

[RAYJAYC]

Hi Cyprus96

Unfortunately, no, it's not a straight swap if you're on higher DLA mobility over to PIP enhanced mobility.

They've made it much more difficult to get your current DLA award comparison.

I've just been through it and my advice is:

Tell them everything in detail about the difficulties you have for each activity - I mean, in tiny, tiny detail!!

Be honest but not a hero about your disability.

Collect as much evidence regarding the effects your disability has on you - your diagnosis is basically irrelevant - they're after the effects!! Ask you GP, Consultant or whoever else is involved in your care to validate what it is you have to endure on a daily basis - especially on the mobility component as you need 12 points to get enhanced rate and this can only be obtained if you can only walk up to 20 metres now!! Gone are the days of 200 metres!!

There's also a descriptor in mobility for planning & undertaking a journey - it's a very grey area unless you have a learning disability thus can't do this at all or a mental health condition that means the same.

They do add the two descriptor points together though if you're affected by both - so you can get 12 points that way.

Have you looked at the Benefits and Work website? It's a site that's very anti DWP so will give you (well for £15-20) loads of tips on how to fill in the form.

Your CAB is obviously an excellent resource too and they'll have had many people like yourself asking for help as you know!

A I can now say is good luck and keep us posted!

RAYJAYC

[cyprus96 in reply to RAYJAYC]

Thank you very much for your reply that's a great help.

[Ydontujustdie]

Get CAB back on it if you can and any other organisation that can help you. Take the trouble to get the approved recording equipment for the assessment and get all your medical evidence in when you send in the form because although it says they will contact the people you specify, they won't. Medical evidence to the PIP decision makers is like kryptonite to superman. They try to ignore it even when it gets shoved under their noses. The think that starting a sentence "I have decided" brings about a miracle and the universe makes their words true. My one decided that I am cured of the incurable, they will grow limbs back for you with their omnipotent pens,

This is what happens when you give power to someone who can barely push a pencil across the table with their nose so be careful. I went from high rate mobility and med rate care to 0 points. My car was taken and benefits stopped before I had a chance to appeal so I can't travel to a tribunal to appeal it. Don't forget the other stuff like freedom passes and blue badge also disappear and this gives other benefit offices like income support and ESA to say " hang on if you are not disabled after all why are you not working? What do you mean you can't get to the office because you can't walk to a bus stop? We are going to sanction you now so fuck off and starve and stop sending those doctors letters in we are not interested, we have a leaflet on your condition and we are telling you how ill you are. work sets you free! er, makes you better we mean."

That's basically where I am now so be warned.