In a previous life i used to help making applications for the then Disability Living Allowance - not called PIP ( Personal Independence Payment. I have recently made a successful claim for the Attendance Allowance for my OH. I have recently replied to a post on the Forum and as a result was asked to write some tips of a more general nature.
Here goes.
1. PIP is for people under 65. And attendance Allowance for those over 65. These allowances are to help you in your daily life. They are not means tested. They are not counted as part of your income. You do not have to declare them to HMRC.
2. If you decide to make a claim, and I would suggest that by the sounds of some of the difficulties many of you describe as part of your daily life then you may be entitled to receive them. PIP is not given for life so it doesn't matter if you think you might get better - which of course you don't need to mention of your application. If you are successful in a claim you only have to tell them that your circumstances have changed whether that be better or worse!
3. You can find examples of the forms and there are sites which explain what the questions are getting at. BUT DO NOT download an application form. Telephone the DWP for an application. Your claim starts from the time you request your form ie the time you telephone them to the time they receive your form is part of your claim. If you download a form your claim starts when thy have received your completed form. And return the form tracked Royal Mail.
4. The form arrives. You have 3 weeks t complete and return it to them. During this time get any info about meds, diagnosis. If you are hoping to claim for anxiety/stress/brain fog etc or any other mental health condition then get it recorded in your medical notes if it isn't already. we can all get stressed and anxious but if it is really affecting your daily living then that counts.
5. Now you have to become a "can't person" this is actually quite difficult because we get so used to struggling, but you need to concentrate on the things you need help with, You need to stress that these needs are frequent or every day. Never say occasionally. For instance my OH has collapsed in the shower several times - but it could happen any time so his needs for someone to be around are regular and frequent.
6. So regular, frequent - you can be more specific if it is everyday or several times a week then say so.
7 You may need "prompting" "support" "guidance" One of the questions is about eating and making meals. Do you need help opening tins, taking things out of the oven, lifting. reaching, Think about what you used to be able to do and what you can't do now.
My OH wasn't asked to attend an interview either in person or on the phone - I think at 83 and still standing, just about, then he was a cert. I think for PIP there is always an interview by phone or in person.
When you are intending to apply. Be Prepared. If you can get someone to help you with the form -you can get someone else to fill it in for you. Others can often see what we don't see in ourselves.
PIP has a mobility component and below you can see how many points you need to get for either the higher or the lower r
Below is info from The Citizens' Advice Bureau This tells you what questions will be on the form and the scoring system. Yes you have to get points. The don't give you the tips I've given you above.
This information of course can change.
MamaBeagle 17/05/2022
How the DWP makes a decision on PIP claims
This advice applies to England
When you're assessed for Personal independence Payment (PIP), a health professional will look at your ability to carry out a range of daily living activities and mobility activities. The health professional will consider whether your health condition or disability limits your ability to carry out the activities and how much help you need with them.
The health professional will write a report for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). A DWP decision maker will then decide whether you're entitled to PIP, at what rate and for how long.
PIP is made up of 2 parts, the daily living component and the mobility component. Each component can be paid at one of 2 rates, either the standard rate or the enhanced rate.
If the DWP decision maker decides that your ability to carry out the component is limited, you will get the standard rate. If it’s severely limited, you will get the enhanced rate.
The daily living activities
To get the daily living component of PIP, you must have a physical or mental condition that limits your ability to carry out some or all of these activities:
preparing food
eating and drinking
managing your treatments
washing and bathing
managing toilet needs or incontinence
dressing and undressing
communicating verbally
reading and understanding written information
mixing with others
making decisions about money
The mobility activities
To get the mobility component of PIP, you must have a physical or mental condition that limits your ability to carry out some or all of these activities:
planning and following journeys
moving around
The descriptors
Your ability to carry out each activity is measured against a list of standard statements describing what you can or can’t do. These are known as the descriptors. The health professional will advise the DWP which descriptor applies to you for each activity.
For example, there are 6 descriptors for ‘Dressing and undressing’, ranging from ‘Can dress and undress unaided’ to ‘Cannot dress or undress at all’.
Each descriptor carries a points score ranging from 0 to 12.
Download: Table of activities, descriptors and points [ 1.3 mb]
Download: Guide to the language used in the activities and descriptors [ 49 kb]
Can you carry out the activities reliably
When the assessor decides which descriptor applies to you, they must consider whether you can carry out the activity reliably. This means:
safely in a way that is unlikely to cause harm either to you or anyone else, either during the activity or afterwards
to an acceptable standard
repeatedly as often as is reasonably required
in a reasonable time period - should take you no more than twice as long someone without your condition
Using aids or appliances
Your ability to carry out the daily living activities and the mobility activities will be assessed as if you were wearing or using any aids or appliances that it would be reasonable for you to use. This applies whether or not you normally use those aids or appliances. However, if you use or need aids and appliances, this can help you to score more points.
An aid is any item which improves, provides or replaces impaired physical or mental function. It doesn’t have to be specially designed as a disability aid. Examples include a stool you need to sit on when cooking, or a walking stick to help you stand.
Scoring your abilities
The DWP will add together your points from all the daily living and mobility activities.
Find out how much you can get for each component of PIP.
Check what the daily living scores mean
If you get between 8 and 11 points in total, you’ll get the daily living component of PIP at the standard rate.
If you get at least 12 points in total, you’ll get the daily living component at the enhanced rate.
Attendance allowance
Attendance Allowance
Tips for coping with chronic pain etc
Attendance allowance help
Pip text messages PMR
