I was very interested in your reply, particularly the bit about the criteria for mobility. For many of our group any activity comes at a high price in terms of pain, fatigue and breathelessness. Lass tells me that in the last year they've lowered the bar in terms of the distance you can walk, but the other things you mention are far more significant.
anndanv I don't know what training the assessors have but my friend who's paraplegic was initially told she'd need to reapply for PIP annually. I'm sure we all know some horror stories.
Sorry if I'm butting in on your thread but Tinalay when I read that your paraplegic friend was told that she'd need to apply for PIP annually, another abominably stupid decision by either a computer that hasn't had paraplegic programed into it or a total meathead! You know what? I favour the latter.
Just felt I had to respond to that, I understand that some people don't have as good an education as others and I'm fine with that but when it's written by what should be a person of reasonable intelligence, I scratch my head in disbelief!
Have a great productive day everyone, be happy in what you do. I've taken a photo of my apple tree outside our bedroom window and I'm about to put it on the gardening thread. It has a profusion of blooms.
Oh That is terrible, do they think things are going to change in a year for her/him, just how ignorant can you get, I really feel for them having to go through that every year when most are every three years!
tvman No one can 'butt in' to a thread, they are always open to everyone! This was a shocker to me too. By the way, I've seen your photo and the apple blossom is stunning!
Love Annette x
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery, Today is a Gift!!!
I tried to call the DWP today to report my nights in hospital. I hung up after an hour. They have bigger fish to fry.
Well done for fighting your corner but my, it comes at a huge cost. It feels to me that we spend a lot of our time trying to be as normal as we can within the limits that our illnesses impose on us. We do that through sheer force of will, and often the power of our imagination. It’s not easy but it’s a really important thing for most of us.
Then it comes to something like PIP and we are suddenly thrust back into the reality of how ill we are and to proving it. I think that’s psychologically incredibly difficult. The ripple effects can run on for days, even weeks afterwards.
I hope you can find your equilibrium again rapidly, Lass. I hope the plants in your pots are growing so fast you can hear the buds pop as they open in the beautiful flowers.
Hi Annette. I agree ... every day is a gift. Puffpuff would be a great name wouldn't it!!! Buffbuff originated many many years ago. My little sister couldn't pronounce Elizabeth so I was Ela or Buff, then Elabuff. She now calls me Buff and my nieces, now in their early 20s christened me auntie Buff Buff. It did turn heads when they were shouting for me in public Im 'knowledgeable' about PIP as I used to write reports to inform the PIP Appeal Board for people with all kinds of medical conditions such as Crohn's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, severe eczema, kidney failure, autism, anxiety disorder.
HI Tinalay I think those previously on Disability Living Allowance will find a difference in assessment moving to assessnent for the replacement benefit which is PIP. Some clients on high levels of DLA which made them eligible for a Motability vehicle have been shocked by being reassessed at the lower rate of mobility component on PIP which means the lose their Motability car.I have found that providing evidence of those other things I mentioned for my clients has changed the outcome at Appeal. Worth considering when you are applying, being reassesed or appealing a decision.
Oh Daloni, I sooooo agree with what you say. I found applying for PIP and ESA incredibly stressful even though I have prior understanding.
It's interesting to read all your experiences here. It does seem odd but medical condition doesn't matter, as such, it's how it affects you in everyday life. Maybe thats why someone is asked to come back for reassessment sooner that you might think ... maybe they think your abilities might improve or indeed deteriorate, even though your diagnosis remains the same.
I recall feeling so angry reading the PIP assessors report on one client who suffered from severe fatigue which affected mobility, dressing, thought processes etc. They obviously had no clue about fatigue and she was rightly very upset. I quoted the client's doctor who said she had Fatigue, then provided results of a respected self assessment I did with her alongside my own observations and professional opinion to show exactly how that affected her in each of the assessed areas. I loved doing it!!!! She won her Appeal.
I hope you are all ok. Sorry not to reply sooner. I wrote this in a word doc as easier then forgot to post! xxx
Having been given my DS1500 a couple of weeks ago, it sped up my previous PIP application and they also gave me the higher rate of mobility allowance. I can't walk more than 20 meters due to shortness of breath so I think that clinched the mobility bit. I would say don't be shy about asking for the DS1500, it got me an extra allowance on universal credit as well. I have been given an estimated sell by date of around two years but my specialist nurse said that her team are fairly flexible on lifespan estimates for those in urgent need of funds, and i won't have to get another form for 3 years (if I last that long). Lets face it, I will die when I die so having an estimate of 6 months with the form won't affect anything. On to the blue badge palaver next.
Hi there Nicky. Great to hear you got your full PIP due to your supportive nurse. I got my PIP through the same process. I was duly filling in the form when my nurse (from Hospice) called to tell me about the DS1500 form. She says it would appjy to me as I have stage 4 cancer. I was a bit taken aback as form is actually for folk who have less than 6mths and my shelf-life is best before, not use and more than 6 mths. She said the criteria is being looked at due to the changes in survival rates I think ... survival but with all the things that come with it which affect independence. My GP was happy to sign the DS1500.
The Blue Badge application should be easy for you. I just stated my mobility, prognosis, provision of NHS attendant propelled wheelchair, and higher rate award for PIP mobility and got the badge. I could not do without it. Goidxluck.
For anyone else reading interested in the process with DS1500, I called PIP folk and told them nurse suggested DS1500. Think they emailed form to me. I gave to GP who signed and returned to me. This form made me eligible for the personal care part of allowance. I added a letter before posting the form to explain about my mobility. I could not walk 20 due to pain. I got letter very soon after awardibg me high rate for both sections.
Brief update, I have just been approved for my blue badge so just waiting for it to arrive. My husband has applied for Carers Allowance and PIP allowance is in my account, so dying admin sorted (still have to choose the burial plot)!
That's all great Nicky! Have you thought about ESA?
I am self-employed and got ESA (higher level support grouping) with no problem as would you I am sure.
I used to work for NHS and applied for the pension I accrued there to be paid out early on health grounds. My GP supported it and that paid out. My ESA reduced when I started to receive monthly pension income which was as expected.
