ill health retirement

[Londongigi]

I have not posted for ages as i have been going through the process of ill health retirement from my employer which has now been approved!!! I am in the process of trying to claim pip and am about to send off my applicaton form but i don't want a face t face app or a home visit, can i request a phone app only ??

[Star13]

I think it’s hit and miss depending on the work load of your local centre. Getting a home visit is difficult so I doubt that would be offered. I’d see what you get sent and then see if you can arrange a phone visit. Sometimes you don’t need to do anything it depends on the quality of the medical evidence. Good Luck.

[stefgilbert]

Unsure but sent every bit of paper evidence you have .I.e hospital, appointment, letters,everything you have,You can get a patient summery from your g.p free of charge which shows your medical and medicine record.,and put your national insurance nos on every page.Put all in a A4 brown envelope and post yourself registered letter,and get,keep receipt so you can track it as they from personal experience loose things do request a one to one be very caution as there job is to trip you up. My son has M.S and we went for his appointment which was up some stairs with no lift, he practically crawled up the steps on his hands and knees to be greeted at the top by the interviewer.That time they failed him that he could get up stairs/horrid peopleI.They are not even doctors just trained to point score on your application. .You can also get a patient summery printed off from your g.p.for free ,this states all your medication and diagnosis.There are people at your local citizens advice or if you have a local lupus help group,in my case it was the brilliant Mcmillian nurses ,they put down all for me from my alment list of fibro, lupusandcancerthat will fill the form and advise you and fill in for you .I cannot recommend enough.Look on the internet there is a section to search that explains the points system for pip ,8 points being the highest .Good luck I think we all know how awful these forms are to do .Always fill in for your worse days .So unfair and stressful to do these things when you are unwell.All the best

[ferhana]

well done on ill health retirement result. It’s something not all occ health specialists give as it depends on impact of lupus and it’s hard to get evidence for it as doctors don’t know the impact on daily activities.

With PIP, on the form you can request a phone assessment. Currently both phone & face to face are being offered, but I’d definitely request it on the form, give reasons why it’s needed. You can ask for the assessment to be recorded too if you wish.

Please don’t stress about the assessment. Whatever the format, be warned the quality of reports is poor, it’s a well documented fact. If you get an adverse decision, please do send in a mandatory reconsideration request within a month of the date on the decision letter. Get advice too on what points you should be arguing for so you get relevant evidence. Remember the success rate at appeal stage to a tribunal is much better than at initial decision or mandatory reconsideration stage. Good luck and don’t give up - follow the process through and get good advice along the way

[Poshcards]

A face to face is better I think, then the assessor can see what you are like in real life! xx

[Londongigi in reply to Poshcards]

I don't want a face 2 face appointment or a home visit, i can cope with a phone assessment, just about. I have developed social anxiety since shielding for so long and the thought of going out for a face 2 face appointment fills me with dread.

[Poshcards]

They will come to you xx