PIP claim with breast cancer

I have helped a few family members across the age range apply for PIP/DLA.  My top tip is to write a typical day diary then ask someone else to fill in form on your behalf.  This is because as people we are positive and put a brave face on things, and have the "can't complain" mentality.  This means you either hold back on filling in the form or you become upset/depressed by the impact of your disability that you withdraw and give up.  Another person completing is more objective.

PIP is not about the diagnosis, it's about how it affects your daily life.  Therefore you can claim for mental health issues as well as physical causes.  Do not make assertations like "I suffer pain everyday due to back injury" or "I feel depressed during the day and don't want to go out".  You give examples like - I suffer pain when showering.  Today, which is a typical day, it took me an hour to shower as the pain restricted me in removing my clothing, particularly upper or lower clothing as I have restricted mobility as a result of X.  Then I needed someone near by to ensure I safe got in shower/used a seat etc. and help needed getting dressed.  Be specific what you find hard.  Mental health is much harder to give examples but you have to say what happens if you try to leave house, why you avoid dressing/showering/cooking etc.  

Evidence - they don't care about diagnosis officially but if you can screen shot your medication/medical history if you have online access this should be sent.  Else ask GP for print out.   The best evidence is a supportive letter from carer, official or not saying what they see the person struggling with.

Once you have assessment ring and request a copy of it.  This will have indicative scoring as they "suggest" where  you should have points based on assessment.  You may find reading the assessments upsetting as it can be fully of inaccuracies and you may infer from their comments they don't believe you or just didn't listen.  I know my daughter who had chronic MH issues was devastated/angry when she read her report due to it's content.  

When you get your decision if you feel it's incorrect then do a Mandatory reconsideration.  Not difficult or scary.  You ring and tell them you want one.  You can send further evidence or just a letter setting out where you disagree with them.  Don't focus on what they got wrong in assessment report, just focus on the descriptors and how you meet them.

If after the Mandatory reconciliation you still not happy.  Appeal.  Again not difficult or scary and you can do online.  Again remain focussed on why and how you meet the descriptors so you just set out how you live from day to day.

For info.  my daughter went from 0 points at original decision to higher rate after appeal.  She's just had to reapply and this time first decision reduced her from HR mobility to standard.  However even though her health has declined it's the right decision for the mobility descriptor as she's now refusing to leave the house!    So it's not always how ill you are it's how you meet descriptors.

DLA for children I've found so different as I saw comments like "no different to the average child".  So say a child is a wheelchair user depending on their age they will try to say if you have to carry them to bathroom, car etc. it's no different to a child without a disability because they are only young!!    This also applies to blue badges.  Many LA say you have to be 3 years or above but it's actually 2 years in guidelines.

If you do not get HR mobility your LA may tell you that you cannot get a blue badge.  Again this is not true.  You can apply and submit to an assessment.  

I'll be honest.  When you are unwell either physically or mentally or both it's a very daunting/difficult process claiming PIP so please seek help from family/friend/Citizen advice or MacMillan.   Be prepared for the upset when they knock you back and write things that upset you.  

Yes I recieve PiP, I had to leave my job and a friend suggested that I try claiming. My cancer had no bearing on the result but how it effected me physically/mentally and emotionally did and how it impacts on my daily life. It took several weeks from for a decision to be made but I was awarded standard living

Hi Carol, this is so helpful thank you. I am already in receipt of PIP for mobility issues relating to complications with my spine, arthritis and fybromyalgia but was only awarded the standard rate. I am wondering whether to contact them following my breast cancer diagnosis and ongoing  treatment with Letrozole as my joint pain is far worse and far more debilitating. The explanation of how to answer the questions is so helpful thank you.

Hi Angfaz yea you can contact them with a change in condition.  They should sent you a form.  Repeat what you said for original conditions plus add on worsening of symptoms and reasons why.  If your mental health has been affected tell them.  I don't mean just say "since being diagnosed with cancer I feel stressed" as they don't just say "yes I get you" but say if you struggle to leave the house alone to attend appointments/shopping, if you can't socialise alone anymore due to anxiety or if you have to be encouraged/reminded to shower as you avoid due to body image issues.  These might not earn you points under descriptors but it shows a more  complete picture of the difficulties you are facing.  If you have trouble writing by hand you can say this on form and type it up, print it out and then on form say "see attached " on each question.  The typed sheet should have your name & NI number on each page and put Question number/narrative on each answer.   They are reluctant to tell you this,  only know as someone on another forum told me.  I had asked them for electronic form as my daughter has OCD and won't touch paper forms due to contamination issues.  They said no, and only option they could ring and she could dictate answers or I could write it.  Then told on another forum  she could type it up , send it to me and I attach to form.  I rang and asked and they went away to find out and came back saying yes that's acceptable.  This made it so much easier as she could write over a few days and we could review & amend as it's easy to go off track of the questions.

Good luck.  You are welcome to PM if you want specific help xx

Hi Grogg, thanks for your reply.I am sure it will help a lot of people.I did look at some forums online about how to fill in the PIP form. I must say I found it a depressing experience dwelling on the things I can't do..as you mentioned I would also underestimate my needs..This is why having a meeting with my Macmillan advisor was helpful..she would have completed the form for me but I had already filled most of it in.

I was able to download hospital letters and print off summary of medical problems from my surgery and sent a carer statement.

I have now received the report from the assessor and it is fairly accurate. I have restricted movement and pain lifting my right arm so washing my hair can be a problem and assistance needed..but this was not counted as not needed 'most' days. However she did score me to a level that I should have enough points to be eligible IF the Decision maker agrees with the assessor..in some areas she scored me higher than I had myself.

Not sure how long the Decision Maker takes to decide how many points I score.

Do they request more evidence at this point? 

Thanks again for your reply. I will let people know if I successful or come vack here for help with Mandatory Reconsideration.

Another quick point the assessor's recommendation was only for 18 months...what happens then? Start again?

Great you were successful..did you have help with the form?

I am still working part time from home talking on the telephone and typing on the computer...but I had to reduce my hours because pain in my hands got so bad since started Letrozole..also hard to concentrate when taking pain killers...my partner lost his income due to Covid issues so I feel I have to keep working..he helps me a lot..it would help to get PiP as I may not be able to carry on with my work..

How long was it from your assessment to when you had a decision letter from DWP?

Take care of yourself 

Carol

Hope4today from experience, the decision maker letter time delay varies.  My daughter's was remarkably quick - 2 weeks.  They agreed with assessors points except assessor had my daughter at something like 17 at Daily living and decision maker was only 13 but told they stop once they reach maximum points.   However my daughter had previously had a short term award of 2 years.  Short term awards mean they expect your need to diminish over this time so you have to start a new application.  I only learnt after my daughter had accepted this 2 year award you can appeal the length of award which I would have done had I known.  So yours being 18 months if they go for it, by the time they back date you might have less than a year left.  Not realistic for total recovery so do not accept it.  You do Mandatory reconsideration and say you are only contesting the length of award especially if you applied 6 or months ago as unrealistic for improvement.  Regarding washing your hair, that should give you points for washing upper body.  As many people wash at least 4 times a week contest it if no points.

If you accept the 18 months, I suggest you don't, then at month 12 - that's 12 months from when you initially applied, you ring and start a brand new claim as they typically take 6 months.  Tell them your award is ending and keep chasing .  I did this with my daughter whose award was ending this February but they made decision in December so it's continued.

I've been helping another family member and she applied last August, told no in November so Mandatory reconsideration submitted immediately and nothing since. 

DLA - also through DWP for 2 children.  One was change of circumstance went through within 2 weeks to HR mobility.  Very straight forward.  Second child, again change of circumstances submitted same time - June 2021, decision December, so appeal in and heard nothing since.

The other person I helped had to submit appeal but DWP rang before it went to tribunal and made award for 5 years and extended it due to Covid by another year!  Going to appeal and this was pre covid took about 5 months.  My daughter had to appeal and had letter from court saying DWP had not submitted evidence and they rang and changed their decision.  Took 10 months but this was during Covid

PIP is an in work benefit so you can work full time providing it doesn't conflict with your reason for PIP e.g. if you say you can't bend, lift, walk then you couldn't work as road digger!!!  If you work, say what reasonable adjustments our employer make.  My daughter works full time but they allow her to work flexibly and from home to account for her panic attacks, so we detailed this in her PIP application.

SCOPE has a good forum for PIP applications though they refer you to Citizen advice to get help filling form.  Trouble is can't get to see CA here!!  

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply Carol. All of the information is fantastic. Hopefully I'll get somewhere with them. I'll keep you posted. AngXX

I am happy to tell you that I didnt have to wait too long at all and my PIP claim was successful.

Just to recap, the claim started August 21 assessment call 5th Jan. Decision letter and back pay in bank on 4th Feb.

Although assessor had recommended 18 months, the award was 3 years from August 21..they will contact me about review July 2023.

I was awarded enhanced in both areas.

Such a relief not to need to appeal as not sure have the fight in me as tired all the time and its a challenge every day living with the bone and joint pain.

Wish I could stop taking Exemestane but dont want to risk the cancer coming back and its better than the Letrozole.

Love  to all of you for this approaching valentines weekend.

Thanks Macmillan for all the love and support you give us and for providing this forum where we can support each other and share our experiences.Knowing we are not alone is so important.

xx

Fabulous news.  You can now, if your car only used by you, claim free road tax or you can have a car via motability which can have 3 named drivers and in return they take your £260 higher rate mobility element each month.  If your points in the  correct area of mobility- check your local authority website, you can apply for blue badge.