Can anyone give me some info

Hello Familystand

I am sorry to hear that you have had so much to deal with and it is understandable that you have been focussed on health matters rather than the financial side of things.

Can I suggest that you call the Support Line and speak with one of the financial guides. The number is below. They will be able to go through PIP and give you all the details on how to claim it. They will also be able to look at your own circumstances and be able to tell you if there is anything else that you are entitled to. I did this myself after my diagnosis and the advisor was able to give me exact figures and the phone numbers etc to call. 

I was entitled to PIP and it took around 3 months to come through but it was backdated. I am sure that you will be entitled to it and it definitely made a difference to me. 

Give them a call ( or you can do via the online chat feature if you prefer) and I am sure they will be able to give you the most up to date numbers you need.

Good Luck

Jane

Hi Jane,

Thank you for taking the time to help me with I will get in touch with them and see what they say.  I was told I would need musical records to send with the claim did you have to do this ? This is all knew to me and my mi d no where as good as it was just thought now something else I was told 

Hi Familystand 

I would echo Jane’s advice and call the financial guides to go through the process for claiming PIP as it can be quite daunting. I made a claim myself last year, and was awarded PIP after a telephone interview, but it’s important to make sure that you spend time completing the form to ensure that you provide the information they need. The financial guides will be able to give advice on this. I did the claim myself, but with advice from a good friend who was familiar with the process, and did this on behalf of clients regularly. I phoned the claim line at the end of April last year, and my award was made in August, but backdated to the date of my call. 

You have been through a lot, and I hope you can get some good advice on what help you may be entitled to-it certainly does relieve some of the financial stress that can be caused by cancer and treatment. 

Sarah xx

You call the claim line for PIP and they ask you some basic questions and then they send you the paperwork. You can also do online. There are lots of questions specifically about how the cancer and cancer treatments affect your ability to do certain every day tasks. Be prepared to give lots of details. I didn't need to send any medical records but included copies of letters that my consultant had sent me which confirmed my diagnosis and treatments. As far as I know they were not contacted. I also had to give details of any medication I was on. 

A couple of months later I had one short phonecall from the DWP to clairify a couple of things. I then heard back within the week that it had been awarded. I did not have any medical. I suppose that it was clear from my diagnosis letters, appointments letters and my list of medication. I also gave a lot of details on the forms. 

If you call they will be able to talk you through it. Sometimes things can change but I claimed it Spring 2022 so I am sure much of it will be the same.

Hi Familystand 

I personally didn’t have to send medical records but it seems everyone is different in what the DWP might require. I provided the name and details for my lead surgeon/consultant and CNS, and would have been quite happy to provide further info if required but I was never asked. I gave permission for the DWP to contact my treating team to confirm my diagnosis and surgeries. I don’t know if they were contacted, but if they had been it would have been clear that my surgery was life changing.

None of us here would be able to say you will definitely receive an award, but it is worth claiming it to see if you can.. The important thing in my experience is to be very thorough in the form filling-you need to be telling them about your worst day, not your best, because PIP is dependent on having had effects from the cancer/treatment that impact your life, and are expected to continue to do so. 

Sarah xx

Thank you both for advise I will when in the right mind frame give them a call, since the last op I find it hard to talk to people without getting emotional crazy I know but I have been strong just feel now it has all caught up with me   I hope you are all doing well with your journeys as it not easy take care xx

Hi Familystand 

When I called up they gave me a choice of having a paper form sent out to complete, or a link to download the form and fill it in online. I did the online version so that I could complete the form in stages and save it as I went. It also gave me the opportunity to change things and add things as I went along. I had a month to complete the form and then submit it online. This was all nice and simple to do and I completed it a bit at a time.

It took me a long time to call up, but the lady was very nice on the phone and then when I had my telephone interview it went better than expected-I did get a bit emotional doing this but the chap was patient and understanding. I didn’t have to attend any face to face interview at all. Getting the award, and the full amount of the mobility component, then allowed me to get a blue badge for parking and join the Motability scheme which allowed me to lease a mobility scooter. These factors have made a huge difference for me.

Sarah xx

Hi there yes I claimed for PIP and to be honest was very straight forward . One phone call had to tell them my diagnosis and was previously told stage 4 or terminal is automatic no more questions asked and the clinical nurse specialist filled in a SR1 form confirming my stage 4 ovarian cancer . I Am not sure about other stage cancers and or what benefits they may trigger but always worth checking . I received payment within two weeks and backdated to date of confirmation of diagnosis . If anything changes then of course I will notify them but for now the diagnosis alone was sufficient to trigger the  allowance . I was very impressed with the service and there is a direct number to call think an 0345 number that takes you straight to an administrator who records all your details . Yes names of consultants and nurse are asked for but no means testing . Hope that helps 

regards 

gill 

Hi Gill 

sorry to hear your terminal and that you have taken time to write to me 

I am terminal just higher risk carrying the BRAC gene bit since double mastectomy hoping I don’t get it for a 3rd time 

I will look into this I had never heard about it until a few days ago 

Xx

I’m sorry to read you are classed as terminal Familystand In those circumstances, the process is much simpler and just requires the SR1  form from your doctor. It will not require lots of questions and should be processed more quickly than the average claim. My apologies-I hadn’t realised your particular circumstances in my initial replies to you.

Sarah xx