PIP: Daily diary

Hi Ves

The Diary is a form used by B & W, but I am sure other organisations tell people to use them. I don't think anyone has ever been asked at assessment where they got the idea from. It doesn't matter. People get advice all over the place. That is not an issue for the DWP - they just want to know whether or not you meet the criteria.

BIS

Hi UB40 Rumrunner

I can't tell you how much weight they carry. They can be helpful in showing a picture of how someone's medical condition affects them on a day-to-day basis over a period of time. eg If someone has a condition that causes pain and affects their mobility throughout the day - a diary can provide a clearer picture to an assessor of how they are affected. Also, diaries can fill in the gaps that people might otherwise forget to mention.

I haven't ever heard someone say that their diary was held against them.

BIS

Hi UB40 Rumrunner,
There are 2 reasons to create a 'disability diary'.

As per Denby, sometimes it is unclear what help is needed/when pain or fatigue kicks in, when you need to rest, when you have a panic attack etc etc. Many disabled people kind of muddle along, not totally aware of all of their difficulties. You can use the diary to note down times taken, cumulative effects of activities as well. Also note falls and stumbles, cuts, accidents, including dropping things, not making the toilet in time, fits etc.
Everything and anything, write it down, or enlist help from a partner or friend. Even if you only manage a few days or the diary has gap days where nothing is written this can be enormously helpful when filling out forms.
For example, writing in a form that you stumble several times per week is OK, but imagine how more powerful it is to write eg 'Last week I stumbled 11 times. For example on last Monday, I became breathless and dizzy. I had only walked to the kitchen into the hall. I had to grab onto the hall table to prevent myself falling to the ground. Later on the same day I fell over again as I rose from the toilet. It took me over 10 minutes to get back up, I was very out of breath, and the pain in my back was very severe...etc. etc.'
You can use the diary to help write the forms, some people send in a copy with the form or you can just use the information - with a diary it will help show how variable your problems with PIP activities are, it can help show that you need an aid/appliance or person to help.
If you note timings you will be able to check how long an activity takes and if you are too slow. Use your diary to comment on how well you did the activity and of course actual help you did have, and why that was good to have help/or maybe even with help you struggled. Write also about when you needed help and none was available, did you manage the activity, (how) or did you give up and omit doing it?
Having a diary, even if it is only a few limited entries also gives a contemporaneous record. This can be useful for a review form, and also if you need to appeal to a tribunal. A tribunal hearing and certainly a review could be several months later, and it would be a challenge for anyone to remember what's been happening a while ago. Your diary entries will be crucial evidence of how you were at the time of claim or review.
Of course diaries can also be good evidence for visits to your own GP or consultant, this may help with treatments/diagnosis etc .
This leads on to my second reason for keeping a diary. If you have a note of eg when you stumble, feel fatigued etc you may be able to see patterns. This might help you pace yourself or avoid aggravation of your health problems. Or of course it might absolutely prove that it really is totally random when your leg gives way, or you have a panic attack etc.

Whilst B&W produce a form, this is only for convenience. You can just use a notepad or a scrap of paper.

I hope this helps.
LL26