PIP Review

[naila_007]

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone has had a PIP review form to complete.

I am already stressing

Any tips much appreciated.

thanks

Naila

[Athena2023]

Good morning Naila

I am applying for PIP for the second time. My claim was rejected the first time saying that I was not entitled to it . Raynauds and scelerderma does not warrant entitlement to PIP . However I am submitting another claim based on pulmonary fibrosis and the fact that I have been unable to go to work since April. If yours is a review due to change of circumstances it should be straight forward.

Please don’t stress and take care😊

[naila_007 in reply to Athena2023]

Hi Athena,

Thankyou.

I was fortunate to be awarded when i first applied. I have Systemic Scelerderma with skin involvement and raynaurds. Am on immuno suppressants 😥 so anxious anyway. Yes it is a review but no circumstances have changed. Hope everything goes well for you. 🙂

[Athena2023 in reply to naila_007]

Thank you 😊

[FredaN]

I used to find filling out those forms more daunting than I do now, so I made an appointment with Citizens Advice to help fill it out. You could maybe find out where your nearest one is and get some advice? They actually went through it and filled it out for me. I remember him stressing how important it was to explain how your condition affects you on your worst days.

I get the daily living part of PIP for mental health issues, so I don't get the mobility part. The man at Citizens Advice said I do meet the threshold for mobility too in terms of the impact of depression and autism, but I've always been too scared to rock the boat and appeal that part. I feel incredibly stressed when I have to fill in that review form too, so I understand where you're coming from.

Apologies if you've already seen it, but SRUK have some links at the bottom of this page which might be able to give you some guidance too sruk.co.uk/find-support/uk-... Best of luck ❤️

[naila_007 in reply to FredaN]

Thankyou Fred.

I wonder why they make it so stressfull for us when we have genuine ailments supported by medical diagnosis/reports.

[FredaN in reply to naila_007]

I know, I end up feeling like some kind of fraud, even though I genuinely struggle every day. I count myself very lucky I've never had to attend a face-to-face assessment. I even feel guilty because I know so many other people are put through so much more. I was told it's probably because I was an inpatient for mental health reasons (eating disorder) and considered high risk or something. I'm not entirely sure if that's true and still feel on edge every time I have a review. I certainly don't take it for granted anyway!

[MFC911]

Hi Naila,

My name is Mark. I have systemic sclerosis. Diagnosed 10 plus years ago. I get PIP & ESA.

Right, irstly, don’t stress over it. You will make yourself worse. I know that’s easy for me to say but it is so true.

When I went through this review nonsense. I wrote them a letter to accompany the form. It stated: Due to the rarity of my illness and the specialist nature of my rheumatology consultant it would be fruitless for me to attend any reviews or examinations by persons who are not:a.) rheumatologist or b.)specialist rheumatologist. It would be a waste of government funds and everyone’s Time. Any conclusion would be blurred due to the rarity and specialist nature of systemic sclerosis. I have given you written permission to access my medical records and would suggest that for you to get an in-depth insight into my illness and how it affects me, you contact my rheumatologist who I’m sure will help you to understand the huge problems that I have to have on a day-to-day basis if you require any further information. blah blah blah

In other words tell them to speak to your specialist. There is no point in you going to an assessment by someone who doesn’t know what they are looking at. They won’t know what they are assessing. That is the truth of the matter.

You are not obliged to go and it won’t affect your application as long as you explain your situation.

Good luck with it. I hope you get it through smoothly and quickly.

All the very best. Mark.

[Bkart]

Hi naila_007,

Sorry this is late and you probably have already sent your PIP form back, others have given really good advice all I would say is send copies (not originals) of any supporting medical evidence, ask your Rheumatologist or GP to support you with a letter if possible. Hopefully you will be awarded PIP on this application, if you haven’t sent it yet you can request more time to gather copies of medical consultations, tests etc. Don’t be despondent if your application fails first time, mine did, after filling in and sending my application I discovered a site called I think, Turn 2 you. I realise too late that my application had been much to emotional and that pure facts, each giving you ‘brownie points’ was what they were looking for, hard I know as it is very emotional, tiring and frustrating filling in these lengthy forms for the uninitiated! I reapplied with the guidance of Turn 2 you, Citizen Advice as someone else said is also good but not always easy to access. I had attended the assessment but was not at all happy with her report, I had wondered if I was even in the same room as her, she had no understanding of the illness, got many of her observations wrong and was totally disinterested and quite rude. With my second application I sent in a scathing report about her and how she had failed and indeed what they could do to better the assessment. They immediately awarded me PIP (I had been transferring from DLA ) I didn’t have to take it any further. So if necessary (hope not though) you can with help from the right source get the PIP award. Good luck with your application.