DLA to PIP transfer and new GP

I have received my form to transfer from DLA to PIP. I have previously been on DLA for a number of years. This was always supported by my old GP who has now left the practice and had followed me through my health problems for years and knew me really well and how much I struggle. My new GP does not know me at all. Some of my health problems started ten years ago. Is she going to trawl back through my records to find everything she needs, I am not sure. Its nowhere near the same as someone who has known you for years. I did have an appointment to discuss it and was told everything is on my record, no need to discuss it. Did not feel she was sympathetic to me at all, very brisk etc. My main question is do PIP assessors look at your previous GP reports sent in for DLA or only the current one sent in? One consultant has done a letter for me but this only covers one problem, the other two have said if it goes to appeal they will do one for me.

I also worry that being discharged by my consultant the DWP will assume all is well!

Indeed what I have has not been helped by medication. Hence why it's not an illness but a disorder.

I worry also about the DWP contacting GPs. I for one don't sit and tell them how my life is blighted. They can't do anything so why waste their time. Yet the DWP treat everything from the medical profession as the Gospel. At times failing to acknowledge those more closer.

You should not assume that ATOS/Capita/DWP will definitely contact your GP, nor that they will have access to any of your past details. Treat every claim as if it was your first and act as if the assessor knows nothing - about you or your condition.

If you do not think your GP willl be helpful, or you have one who does not wish to provide a letter for you, you can look at your GP records and take copies of anything that might be useful. There might be a charge for this.

Requesting your medical records

Charging for medical records

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It is my understanding that existing medical evidence can be used if you agree to this when you make your initial call to claim for PIP. I think there is also something relating to this on the PIP2form. With regard to the GP evidence I am slightly confused as on one hand they say PIP is about how disibilities affect you on a daily basis and not particularly the actual disability you have been diagnosed with and then on the other hand they request evidence from your GP who sees you for max 10 mins per month if you are lucky. If your GP gives a less favourable report they seem to run with that , if the Gp gives you a favourable report they ignore it!!

Nothing new there then, this has been happening since PIP was first introduced for new claimants.

We have had little feedback from those being transferred from DLA to PIP which will only happen if an existing DLA award comes to an end or a change in circumstances is reported.

Those on former DLA life awards, now called indefinite awards will not be asked to transfer to PIP, until October 2015 at the earliest.