Anyone claiming pip through bladder cancer?

Hi K. B . We have had members claim PIP with the help of Macmillan. Can I suggest you call the free support line on 0808 808 0000. They have experts on hand who can talk you through the process and let you know anything else you may be entitled to. Best wishes.

Hi K.B, in addition to rily's wise advice on PIP, getting MacMillan help. I have gained some knowledge of PIP through daughter's claim for other reasons. 

1] to qualify you are supposed to have had the disabling problem for at least 3 months.

2] to qualify you must reasonably expect the problem to continue for at least 9 months

This might make a claim purely on BCG side effects grounds tricky. The very best place I go to for help and would recommend to anyone needing guidance on PIP, ESA and UC is 

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk

No it is not 'free' but at £19.95 a year is the nearest thing I have ever seen to a free lunch, as their Guides are constantly updated by paid legal experts. And they give training to their Members' Forum moderators, so you can ask there for help too with confidence. They do not provide a service of doing the application for you but the Guides are incredibly thorough and step-by-step.

Best wishes,

Denby

Claiming PIP is a long process it took me almost 6 months from beginning to end & involves interview & review of your independent living & mobility impacts in life. You also need to provide proof of impact whether that’s your gp or surgeon in statements they will be required to make. Unfortunately it’s not a wage replacement scheme & I think there are other wage related benefits which may be more suitable. I have BC & other conditions which were taken into account for my award, I believe there’s also an age limit (under retirement age).

You're right Crusader66, must claim under retirement age though you keep it if you have got it before turning pension age and continue to qualify. Also do not believer the DWP statement that 'they will contact your GP or other doctor'. Because they have to pay for these reports they very seldom do so. So if claiming, it is in your interests to submit as much medical evidence as you can gather yourself, possibly even paying eg £40 ish for doctors' letters if you can manage to.

It is also a wonderful idea to keep a diary of achievements for your private encouragement to combat depression. Alongside keep a diary of daily struggles tailored to the descriptors for PIP. DWP and their contract assessors place more weight on such diaries than you might think. You can also include letters from people who know/care for you. 

Benefits and Work provide diary templates and examples as well as much other helpful advice on preparing for a claim and completing the form. 

Denby

My forms requested contact details for medical evidence & I would say prognosis as this determines the award duration if you are successful. This was followed up by an  interview with the DWP contract assessor where they went through my forms, condition  & history. They were very professional as was the dwp  case manager in keeping me informed of progress. They are very thorough and you can see the success rate for claims plus duration as the government does publish it. On my award they sent me details for claiming my blue badge which I have found to be very useful

Hi  

It’s not essential to have a prognosis-it’s not something I’ve ever wanted to know and I did not require this for my successful award, which from initial enquiry to payment took just over 3 months. 

Sarah xx

Hi, sorry to be a wet blanket but Crusader66, from our family experience and that of almost everyone I know, your professional treatment was very much the exception. Anyone claiming does well to gather good support to go through the process, hence my recommending benefitsandwork so that the claimant and or supporters can get accurate clear information.

Denby

Statistically I believe it’s around 40% of all claims are successful and 60% are rejected.  35% of the 40% are awarded at high level for various durations All from the government website. That indicates a relatively low successful claim rate or that they cannot demonstrate entitlement in accordance with the PiP criteria. I would say it’s not very good when you get someone else to do it for you.