Question about PIP form

[Claire W]

I sent my old care plan to the DWP along with my PIP form last Saturday but my Integrated Lifestyle Planner added some new information to it so I sent off a copy of the new care plan as supporting evidence yesterday even though most of it is the same. Will it be ok or will they think it odd? I phoned the DWP who have put on my file that I have sent in a newer copy of my care plan but I’m stressing about it that they’ll think I’m lying or something

 

[leaf]

I don't think they'll think you're lying! They've always stressed when my partner has interacted with them to keep them as up to date as possible, so I'm sure they'll appreciate any extra supporting evidence.

 

[VickiA]

It’s an updated document, Claire. You are keeping them up to date by sending them the most recent documentation. That is to be applauded. Absolutely the right thing to do.

 

[Lady Kelly]

No they won't think you are lying. They do ask that while the form is being assessed to keep them up to date on any changes to your care. My mum had to ring them 3 times about changes to her medication and it was a nightmare because they are so hard to get through to

 

[Claire W]

Thank you. I was the same when I filled out my last PIP form and I didn’t have any evidence last time and they still awarded me but she’s written it in my plan this time will that be ok? it’s about personal hygiene and planning journeys etc

 

[Lady Kelly]

Yes that will be absolutely fine. My mum didn't supply extra evidence other than the letters she had saying what happened at her hospital appointments. They don't always need evidence

 

[Claire W]

Yes that will be absolutely fine. My mum didn't supply extra evidence other than the letters she had saying what happened at her hospital appointments. They don't always need evidence

Even though I’ve sent the same care plan in twice but one has the extra evidence in it?

 

[Lady Kelly]

Even though I’ve sent the same care plan in twice but one has the extra evidence in it?

It will be fine. They should log it against your re-application and they will take it in to consideration when they are making their decision

 

[Claire W]

It will be fine. They should log it against your re-application and they will take it in to consideration when they are making their decision

Thank you. I’m just so stressed out by it all

 

[Lady Kelly]

Thank you. I’m just so stressed out by it all

It's in now, you have given them what you can. I know it's stressful and horrible to think you are being judged by someone who doesn't know the first thing about you but you get PIP for a good reason. Worst case scenario is they say no at which point you ask for support with an appeal and ask any medical professionals working with you to supply new evidence

 

[Claire W]

It's in now, you have given them what you can. I know it's stressful and horrible to think you are being judged by someone who doesn't know the first thing about you but you get PIP for a good reason. Worst case scenario is they say no at which point you ask for support with an appeal and ask any medical professionals working with you to supply new evidence

Thank you. I guess all I can do now is the agonising wait

 

[Claire W]

I sent my PIP form on 25th March and they still haven’t received it I’m now stressing that it’s not going to arrived with the free post envelope I wrote and sent it in I didn’t send it in the envelope it came with as I forgot to add something and had already sealed the envelope so had to open it and put it in another envelope. It was a free post address so I didn’t add a stamp but now I’m worried

 

[Lady Kelly]

I sent my PIP form on 25th March and they still haven’t received it I’m now stressing that it’s not going to arrived with the free post envelope I wrote and sent it in I didn’t send it in the envelope it came with as I forgot to add something and had already sealed the envelope so had to open it and put it in another envelope. It was a free post address so I didn’t add a stamp but now I’m worried

I know it's stressful but the fact you didn't use their envelope or put a stamp on it won't affect whether it is received or how quickly. I would give it to the end of this week and then check with them again. If they still haven't received it then ask them to send you another form to complete. When you receive the new one give them a quick call before filling it in to see if they have received it yet to save you the hassle.

With organisations like this often when they say they haven't received it they simply mean that it hasn't been logged on their computer system, it doesn't mean that it's not sat in a pile of scanning for someone to upload which may or may not be within a couple of metres of the person you speak to.

 

[Claire W]

I know it's stressful but the fact you didn't use their envelope or put a stamp on it won't affect whether it is received or how quickly. I would give it to the end of this week and then check with them again. If they still haven't received it then ask them to send you another form to complete. When you receive the new one give them a quick call before filling it in to see if they have received it yet to save you the hassle.

With organisations like this often when they say they haven't received it they simply mean that it hasn't been logged on their computer system, it doesn't mean that it's not sat in a pile of scanning for someone to upload which may or may not be within a couple of metres of the person you speak to.

Thank you. The lady I spoke to said they will text me when they’ve received the form so if I haven’t had one by next week as I’m guessing they’ll be closed over the Easter weekend, I’ll give them another call. Sorry for all the stressy comments, I guess they must receive hundreds of forms daily so it must take a while to open and process them all. I’ll try and stop stressing, it’s just so hard not to

 

[Lady Kelly]

Thank you. The lady I spoke to said they will text me when they’ve received the form so if I haven’t had one by next week as I’m guessing they’ll be closed over the Easter weekend, I’ll give them another call. Sorry for all the stressy comments, I guess they must receive hundreds of forms daily so it must take a while to open and process them all. I’ll try and stop stressing, it’s just so hard not to

Of course it's not easy to stop stressing about it. I take it this is part of the reason you get PIP in the first place and it is a stressful process to go through as well!

I will say what I have always said to clients throughout my time in advice work whether it was about debts, benefits or negotiating better deals on bills... it is so easy for me, or anyone outside of the home, to make it sound simple and put the process to you in a rational and easy way. The easy bit for us is there is no emotional attachment to the situation, it's emotions that make things stressful and tricky. This isn't just filling out a form for you and I appreciate there are feelings around knowing someone will judge what you have written and make decisions about your health and ability without even knowing you as a person. Be kind to yourself during this process and just remember that Royal Mail are shocking at the moment, a lost form is neither your fault nor the DWPs

 

[Claire W]

Of course it's not easy to stop stressing about it. I take it this is part of the reason you get PIP in the first place and it is a stressful process to go through as well!

I will say what I have always said to clients throughout my time in advice work whether it was about debts, benefits or negotiating better deals on bills... it is so easy for me, or anyone outside of the home, to make it sound simple and put the process to you in a rational and easy way. The easy bit for us is there is no emotional attachment to the situation, it's emotions that make things stressful and tricky. This isn't just filling out a form for you and I appreciate there are feelings around knowing someone will judge what you have written and make decisions about your health and ability without even knowing you as a person. Be kind to yourself during this process and just remember that Royal Mail are shocking at the moment, a lost form is neither your fault nor the DWPs

Thank you so much. I do appreciate all the advice. Yes, I have extreme anxiety as well as other issues so is part of the reason I claim PIP. I really don’t do well under stress x

 

[Claire W]

Just had a text from DWP that they have received my form. Sorry for the stress x

 

[Betsy]

That's good news Claire.

For those who don't suffer from stress and anxiety, its really difficult to understand your situation. For them it's "the form is posted, just wait for the text to say it's received" Simple! to you its "I sent off the form in a different envelope, I hope that's OK? I haven't heard anything what if it's not OK? .... I haven't heard yet.... They should have got it by now.... I'm sure it's the envelope because it wasn't the one they sent..... Why haven't I heard anything yet? ...... its been at least 10 days ..... why haven't I heard anything?"

It's so hard when you have anxiety.

 

[Claire W]

That's good news Claire.

For those who don't suffer from stress and anxiety, its really difficult to understand your situation. For them it's "the form is posted, just wait for the text to say it's received" Simple! to you its "I sent off the form in a different envelope, I hope that's OK? I haven't heard anything what if it's not OK? .... I haven't heard yet.... They should have got it by now.... I'm sure it's the envelope because it wasn't the one they sent..... Why haven't I heard anything yet? ...... its been at least 10 days ..... why haven't I heard anything?"

It's so hard when you have anxiety.

Thank you, You’ve hit the nail on the head. I’ve been driving everyone around me insane with going on about it but stress and anxiety is truly horrible

 

[Betsy]

My lovely late Mum suffered from bipolar all her life and it was the more depressive side which was truly awful. When she was bad she would have anxiety and would hate to go food shopping because of all the people in the supermarket (even if it was half empty) so I had to go with her and take control of the situation. That was quite a lot of responsibility for a teenager. So I understand what it's like to live with someone with a mental health condition and can sympathise in some way.

 

[Claire W]

My lovely late Mum suffered from bipolar all her life and it was the more depressive side which was truly awful. When she was bad she would have anxiety and would hate to go food shopping because of all the people in the supermarket (even if it was half empty) so I had to go with her and take control of the situation. That was quite a lot of responsibility for a teenager. So I understand what it's like to live with someone with a mental health condition and can sympathise in some way.

I am very sorry about your late mum, that’s quite something to deal with especially from such a young age My mood has dipped significantly these past few weeks and the stress of PIP isn’t helping sadly x

 

[VickiA]

I’m glad to hear your PIP form has been received by the DWP. And I know how stressful it is for you. PIP anxiety is very real for very many people. I just wish there were a less stressful way of sorting this for you, but as there isn’t, all we can do is support you from the sidelines x

 

[Claire W]

I’m glad to hear your PIP form has been received by the DWP. And I know how stressful it is for you. PIP anxiety is very real for very many people. I just wish there were a less stressful way of sorting this for you, but as there isn’t, all we can do is support you from the sidelines x

Thank you. I really do appreciate all the support She actually wrote in my 3 month review that the form has stressed me out and I’m really worrying about it but I haven’t sent that to the DWP as she also wrote we discussed challenging the DWP if the decision didn’t go my way. Anxiety is awful at the best of times without worrying about PIP x

 

[Lorcan]

I got lucky with my last PIP form, I signed it and then basically handed it off to someone else to fill in the blanks, because she had the paperwork, could do these things coherently, and as I liked to say, I liked giving her work to do. We kept all of the pertinent info the same as the last time because not much has changed as far as it goes.

I also know if it was left to me to deal with the form, it wouldn't get done. The very first PIP form I did, was sent in 6 months after it was dated. They said to do it when we inquired about getting a new form because, hey, 6 months right? That six month gap was put forward as another reason why I needed the PIP, because my brain had that much of a meltdown when looking at paperwork. It should've screwed me over, instead it worked out in my favour. But I wasn't going to risk that a second time.

PIP forms are hard. Benefit forms in general are hard. Anyone who says otherwise has never had to deal with the bureaucratic nightmare that is the DWP in general. I totally get it, even if you and I have very different responses to that anxiety.

 

[Claire W]

I got lucky with my last PIP form, I signed it and then basically handed it off to someone else to fill in the blanks, because she had the paperwork, could do these things coherently, and as I liked to say, I liked giving her work to do. We kept all of the pertinent info the same as the last time because not much has changed as far as it goes.

I also know if it was left to me to deal with the form, it wouldn't get done. The very first PIP form I did, was sent in 6 months after it was dated. They said to do it when we inquired about getting a new form because, hey, 6 months right? That six month gap was put forward as another reason why I needed the PIP, because my brain had that much of a meltdown when looking at paperwork. It should've screwed me over, instead it worked out in my favour. But I wasn't going to risk that a second time.

PIP forms are hard. Benefit forms in general are hard. Anyone who says otherwise has never had to deal with the bureaucratic nightmare that is the DWP in general. I totally get it, even if you and I have very different responses to that anxiety.

Thank you. I really wish I’d have got someone to help me fill out the form but as everything is the same, I just wrote no change to last time in most of the boxes.

I’m glad they didn’t penalise you for sending your form in late and that it rather went in your favour.

It’s strange how anxiety can affect us all so differently x

 

[Lady Kelly]

I got lucky with my last PIP form, I signed it and then basically handed it off to someone else to fill in the blanks, because she had the paperwork, could do these things coherently, and as I liked to say, I liked giving her work to do. We kept all of the pertinent info the same as the last time because not much has changed as far as it goes.

I also know if it was left to me to deal with the form, it wouldn't get done. The very first PIP form I did, was sent in 6 months after it was dated. They said to do it when we inquired about getting a new form because, hey, 6 months right? That six month gap was put forward as another reason why I needed the PIP, because my brain had that much of a meltdown when looking at paperwork. It should've screwed me over, instead it worked out in my favour. But I wasn't going to risk that a second time.

PIP forms are hard. Benefit forms in general are hard. Anyone who says otherwise has never had to deal with the bureaucratic nightmare that is the DWP in general. I totally get it, even if you and I have very different responses to that anxiety.

There is a very good reason why many advice agencies pay specialist benefits advisers to help complete these forms and appeal decisions. The questions are very open ended but actually they are only looking for very specific answers. Back when I was paid to do it it was still DLA and that was bad enough, PIP is so much worse

Sadly welfare benefits funding is dwindling more than anything else and getting the funds to pay a specialist adviser is like finding a needle in a haystack. The more cynical of us might believe that is the governments big plan anyway

 

[Lorcan]

There is a very good reason why many advice agencies pay specialist benefits advisers to help complete these forms and appeal decisions. The questions are very open ended but actually they are only looking for very specific answers. Back when I was paid to do it it was still DLA and that was bad enough, PIP is so much worse

Sadly welfare benefits funding is dwindling more than anything else and getting the funds to pay a specialist adviser is like finding a needle in a haystack. The more cynical of us might believe that is the governments big plan anyway

My care coordinator at the time near about had heart failure when she heard I still had the form. There'd been a very half hearted effort at doing it and she sort of just...flipped the switch into social worker mode. And did such a good job with regards to both PIP and ESA that everything that's been done since is being done from that basis. Updated obviously, but we keep it based on the same things. The answers they want on the paperwork don't change half as much as the paperwork itself does.

I'm sure some of them would love it if we went the American way, and first time applications get denied, without fail.

Thank you. I really wish I’d have got someone to help me fill out the form but as everything is the same, I just wrote no change to last time in most of the boxes.

I’m glad they didn’t penalise you for sending your form in late and that it rather went in your favour.

It’s strange how anxiety can affect us all so differently x

My brain just blanks out at paperwork. I know it's funny to claim a paperwork phobia, but I look at forms and it's like my brain turns to mush. They used to argue with me about it, which nobody does any more thankfully.

I mean hell, I only found out last year I was overpaying on council tax because I hadn't realised this stuff was on any of the forms. 9 years of living in Rochdale, that's how long it took. Anxiety is wild.

 

[alpacasqueak]

Sorry it’s been so stressful to deal with @Claire W, I hate having to do any of these PIP and ESA forms and definitely set off my anxiety terribly too.
I sent my PIP form off over 8 months ago and only just had my phone assessment last week! So I’ve been stressing away worrying they’ll stop it, now for another stressful wait until I hear anything back (who knows when!)!
Really hope they don’t take too long to get back to you and you’re ok xx

 

[Claire W]

Sorry it’s been so stressful to deal with @Claire W, I hate having to do any of these PIP and ESA forms and definitely set off my anxiety terribly too.
I sent my PIP form off over 8 months ago and only just had my phone assessment last week! So I’ve been stressing away worrying they’ll stop it, now for another stressful wait until I hear anything back (who knows when!)!
Really hope they don’t take too long to get back to you and you’re ok xx

Gosh 8 months is such a long time to wait. I’ll end up giving myself a heart attack if I have to wait that long to hear back Sorry you find it stressful to, it’s truly horrible. I’m ok, just mega stressed out. Hope you’re doing ok and I hope your PIP decision goes well x

 

[Sweet Potato]

I struggle massively with any sort of paperwork my brain just goes into shutdown mode straight away. I applied for PIP and benefits a few years ago when my anxiety was so bad I couldn't leave the house alone or be left alone over night and I'd go through weeks when I couldn't get out of bed. Housework, cooking and generally looking after myself were all neglected tasks. but my claim was dismissed because I could go to the bathroom by myself and I could walk unaided. I wish I'd challenged that decision and pushed for more support. Luckily I don't need it now but it's ruined all faith I had in the benefits system. Looking back that year would have been so much easier if the financial pressure was eased a little. My only advice is to keep going with it and challenge it untill you get what you need I was far to quick to accept their decision.