Hi,
Has anyone had any problems claiming PIP? I’m due to get a consultation over the phone on May 1st. I have heard that some get refused because you can dress yourself and make your own meals. I was diagnosed in Jan, had two operations, lumpectomy and lymph node clearance a month after. I've just started chemotherapy treatment and will be having 18 weeks in total, then radiotherapy after that. I can’t go to work as the chemotherapy makes me unwell for a week or two, I’ve heard the symptoms can get worse the longer the process! What sort of questions do they ask? Could I get refused because I’m only sick for a couple of weeks but things may change example lethargic or other symptoms. I really can’t understand how someone going through cancer treatment should be refused PIP but I’ve heard so many do. I am on full pay from work until July and my worry is when my income goes to half pay I’m going to struggle financially.
It’s completely understandable how much anxiety there is over any of these assessments. The guy who did my phone assessment call was really pretty understanding of my situation overall.
He went through the form I had completed and asked questions relating to what I had said in all of my answers…finding out how my life was affected on an ongoing daily basis. It was easy to answer honestly as my life is very difficult on a daily basis.
I can’t ever go out of the house alone, not even to the garden and I have very real anxiety about falling, so I know how hard this is, although my conditions are very different to yours. But remember that it’s not about any diagnosis, but how your condition affects your daily life and mobility.
You won’t find out anything from the call-the assessor makes a report and passes it to the decision maker who will decide if you qualify for PIP and what level it will be at if you do. You are entitled to get a copy of this report, and if you disagree with the assessment, the next stage is something called a mandatory reconsideration where you need to provide evidence to say why you disagree with anything said.
Unfortunately all of this takes time. I submitted my form in April 2022, and the decision to make the award to me was made at the end of July 2022. My claim was backdated to the date I had started the claim in the April, so I did receive a lump sum payment in August 2022, and monthly payments started then too.
Will you have any support with you while you’re on the call and to make sure you are ready for it at 9am?
Sarah xx
