Underactive Thyroid and PIP

[Carole87]

Hi has anyone tried applying for Personal Independent Payment and did you succeed. I've just started to fill the form in and it is causing me quite a lot of stress so any advice would be great

[Kazbe]

Hi Carole

Many people get help from citizens advice or welfare rights help you fill out forms in most towns in the uk . There is also a website called Benefits and Work you pay a fee approx £15 for the whole year , the process takes that long most of the time ! This website has template application forms guides step by step if you get turned down they have a Mandatory Reconsideration form to follow , they also give you tips when you go for your assessment what to say how to conduct yourself it’s very hard even for people with severe disabilities don’t always get it you need as much help as possible . In the event it has to go to tribunal benefits and Work have all the info you need to go also in some towns the welfare benefit advisors can go with you for support .

Good Luck with your application

Kazbe 😀

[Carole87 in reply to Kazbe]

Hi thanks for your reply and the information you have provided I know a

[Loza73]

So true.

[Carole87]

Thank you for replying and unfortunately I think you are right.

[Carole87 in reply to Carole87]

Hi this is me again someone came to door put phone down and it posted my part reply. As I was saying I would have liked to have joined benefit and work but I can not afford the payment and I am using the Citizens Advice Bureau website which has an excellent section on filling out a PIP form I would recommend any one who is having problems to use this website. I would have liked to have a person help me face to face but it is so difficult to find someone in the time given to fill in the form Thanks once again for your help.😐

[Valarian in reply to Carole87]

Citizens Advice will often help you f2f, but like other agencies, they are struggling to keep up with the amount of people needing help with PIP and ESA forms. If they don't have time to help you complete the form, ask whether they could at least review the form after you've completed it yourself. The 'Help Filling in Your Claim Form" section is very helpful. If you complete the form yourself keep a copy, as it will make it easier if you then want to ask CA or other agency to help with an MR or appeal.

At your assessment, ask to be sent a copy of the full medical assessment report. If it doesn't arrive at around the same time as the decision letter (unless you get a positive decision, some people do !), call the DWP and ask for it again, keeping a note of the date/time of the call, and the name of the person you speak to. When it arrives, go through it, and to begin with, make a note of anything that differs from your memory of the assessment - eg (picking up on an example below), "the assessor says that I was able to walk normally into the assessment room. However, I arrived in my wheelchair, and did not get out of the wheelchair for the entire assessment". Try to do this while it's relatively fresh in your memory, and if you took a friend/family member with you, (usually a good idea), ask what they remember too. If you do the work for the next stage yourself, try to keep any contradictions factual rather than emotional (which may be a good reason for asking for some help !)

If you'd like help fron CA or another agency, phone for an appointment as soon as you get the decision letter - you only have 30 days, and they may be booked up for the next two or three weeks.

[Carole87 in reply to Valarian]

Yes I understand what you are saying when it comes to the assessment we are going to record it as long as you give them 3 days notice. I do know the DWP are thinking of doing video assessments and it won't be a moment too soon and stop these heath care people ruining people's lives. They are not Doctors. Any way better get off my soap box and back to the form in question. Cheers😊

[SilverAvocado]

I have had the benefit for the past 5 years. As I'm self medicating now and improving, I doubt I will qualify again with my renewal coming up. You do need to really struggle to take basic care of yourself and to get out and about.

One thing I really noticed with this is unlike ESA you want to score points in as many categories as you can (for the self care component at least). Once I started using a commode my score increased, even tho I'd very much needed one in the past but hadn't had one. It makes me feel a person should get hold of all the specialised equipment you can, whether you completely neeed it or not, as this all scores points!

[Carole87 in reply to SilverAvocado]

I know I was on ESA with support 6 years ago but I saw

A doctor who understood my illnesses then I had to get reassessed this was by a healthcare worker who gave me less points and I was denied the benefit I appealed and won so I got back pay but could not continue to pay cos I'd used all my contributions. This time I am much worse and I did apply last year I have a wheelchair a commode and other equipment I have difficulty walking I saw a healthcare worker again they lost my form and he lied about my physical health he said I had walked into the room but he wheeled me in. I should have appealed then but I was too ill and couldn't cope with the stress. I am more prepared mentally this time and am taking people's advice no matter how relevant it is it all helps me be prepared.

Thank you

[MissFG]

I have been awarded PIP for over a year now. You need to fill out the form based on your worst day and how your illness(s) affects your day to day activities and mobility.

I used benefits and work but wasn’t a member. There’s still lots of very helpful advice on there and shows how your assessed and scored.

My advice is he honest and provide as much evidence as possible to support what your stating. When you get an assessment date post again so ppl can give you any further advice at for the next stage of your application.

Stay positive the benefit is there to help those that are genuinely sick remember you are entitled to claim!

[Carole87 in reply to MissFG]

Thank you for replying I will take it all on board and will post again when I find out the situation.

Cheers 😃