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Questions re PIP2 Form
- RoyM
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2 months 1 week ago #299453 by RoyM
Questions re PIP2 Form was created by RoyM
I am in the process of gathering information together to prepare for completing my PIP 2 form and I am thinking about completing the online version. I just want to find out a few things about the online version form.
1) Regarding my responses to each of the daily living & mobility activities how much space do they allow in the online version of the form, i.e. is it a few sentences, a few paragraphs or say the equivalent of an A4 sheet of evidence?
2) I have a number of disabilities and health conditions that affect me and they individually have an impact on my ability to carry out the daily living and mobility activities but also they impact on each other. If I want to explain this thoroughly, particularly in relation to the reliability and fluctuating conditions rules this may mean that my response could be quite lengthy as I don't want to leave out any potentially relevant information. As well as using all the available space in the online response box can I also finish my response by saying "continued on a separate sheet" and add a pdf document?
3) Would things like my certificate of visual impairment/BD 8 certificate of registration as visually impaired partially sighted, disabled persons Railcard, disabled persons free bus pass and Nimbus Disability Access card and Cinema Exhibitors Association card be useful evidences?
4) Is it ok for me to submit photographs of injuries that I have sustained as a result of my disabilities?
5) As well as sending current up-to-date supporting evidence is it also helpful if I were to send a DWP Access to Work assessment report from when I was last employed which confirms I needed equipment and a support worker to help me to do my job, so that they can see how my disabilities have affected me significantly throughout my life and that I have always needed a significant amount of support from another person to help me in different aspects of my life. I understand that they will be primarily concerned with how my conditions affect me in the daily living and mobility activities but wondered if giving them additional background information would also help them to see the bigger picture?
6) I understand that if I have to have a face-to-face, telephone or video assessment that I am allowed to record the conversation for my records, ensuring that I have informed the assessor at the start that I am recording the assessment conversation. Am I also allowed to record telephone conversations for my records with DWP staff e.g. when I complete the initial PIP 1 claim registration form, again having informed them that I am recording the conversation?
1) Regarding my responses to each of the daily living & mobility activities how much space do they allow in the online version of the form, i.e. is it a few sentences, a few paragraphs or say the equivalent of an A4 sheet of evidence?
2) I have a number of disabilities and health conditions that affect me and they individually have an impact on my ability to carry out the daily living and mobility activities but also they impact on each other. If I want to explain this thoroughly, particularly in relation to the reliability and fluctuating conditions rules this may mean that my response could be quite lengthy as I don't want to leave out any potentially relevant information. As well as using all the available space in the online response box can I also finish my response by saying "continued on a separate sheet" and add a pdf document?
3) Would things like my certificate of visual impairment/BD 8 certificate of registration as visually impaired partially sighted, disabled persons Railcard, disabled persons free bus pass and Nimbus Disability Access card and Cinema Exhibitors Association card be useful evidences?
4) Is it ok for me to submit photographs of injuries that I have sustained as a result of my disabilities?
5) As well as sending current up-to-date supporting evidence is it also helpful if I were to send a DWP Access to Work assessment report from when I was last employed which confirms I needed equipment and a support worker to help me to do my job, so that they can see how my disabilities have affected me significantly throughout my life and that I have always needed a significant amount of support from another person to help me in different aspects of my life. I understand that they will be primarily concerned with how my conditions affect me in the daily living and mobility activities but wondered if giving them additional background information would also help them to see the bigger picture?
6) I understand that if I have to have a face-to-face, telephone or video assessment that I am allowed to record the conversation for my records, ensuring that I have informed the assessor at the start that I am recording the assessment conversation. Am I also allowed to record telephone conversations for my records with DWP staff e.g. when I complete the initial PIP 1 claim registration form, again having informed them that I am recording the conversation?
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- LL26
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2 months 5 days ago #299567 by LL26
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by LL26 on topic Questions re PIP2 Form
Hi RoyM,
Questions 1 &2
My own experiences of any type of claim or renewal form is that the answer boxes have become smaller and smaller! Don't feel that just because there is only a small space that you can't exceed this.
I have not used the online form so I'm not sure if the exact mechanics of this.
Other people may have different advice, but my general view is that you need to be able to describe all of the relevant disabilities.
So for example you mention poor sight, this may cause sufficient problem to allow for points under Descriptor 1 - cooking- but including that eg you also have arthritis with poor grip and can't hold a knife safely, let alone a saucepan, and that you have blood pressure problems meaning that you faint with steam is much more likely to score, and to score highly. Don't worry if forms are repetitive- in my example each descriptor might involve 'due to poor sight, arthritis, low blood pressure....I am unable to...or I need supervision to...' Explain the effect of each condition, and make sure you consider any cumulative issues such as pain or fatigue, including whether there is a trade off if by doing one activity you can't do the next.
Only refer to relevant health conditions under each descriptor rather than a repeated list of everything.
With poor sight I am sure thst this might require a considerable amount of help, or assistance aids. Make sure you consider the length of time it takes and especially if your eyesight means tasks take a lot longer to complete. (Especially if over twice as long as would take with without sights problems or indeed other disability.)
If you use separate pages, label them clearly with name and NI number and refer to them on the form.
Obviously keep copies of everything sent in.
Qu3
Yes, certainly send your visual impairment certificate. I don't think the railcard or cinema card etc will help as they are not medical documents.
Qu4
Photos might help but only if clear, and are clear in black and white. Unfortunately I have seen many murky photos that a claimant confidently states show his disability, but I'm not even sure which body part it is, let alone what the disability is!
Qu5
Absolutely send in access to work reports and what 'reasonable adjustments' are made. It is highly likely these will confirm your disabilities, and confirm a level of restriction. I am sure these will be relevant. Eg large scale print is relevant for reading, but also perhaps cooking - you'll need help to read packets, recipes, cooker knobs etc also if you have a special computer mouse or pen this indicates grip problems, this will indicate help with cooking holding a knife or cooking spoon.
If your office is situated on the ground floor near the front door or toilet this might help prove you have mobility problems or have incontinence issues.
If you are allowed to arrive later than colleagues or have an extended lunch break this might help confirm fatigue, which could be a reason why you have limited ability to complete PIP activities in general. A rearrangement of the office so relevant equipment is on a low shelf because you can't reach above waist height may help prove (irrespective of sight problems,) you need physical help to actually dress.
So...as you can see with a bit of lateral thinking probably all office matters will be relevant for PIP tasks.
DWP will be looking for consistency. If you have claimed difficulty under all /many descriptors, this indicates a high level of disability- if then you say you work and there are no problems or adjustments this has to raise a suspicion of exaggeration. If however working is very difficult and only achieved due to considerable help, then this adds credence to you having considerable disability.
Qu6
I always make a note of all DWP conversations. Time date. Adviser name. Discussion. If you wish to record you can do so. I suspect if you tell the adviser they might then get difficult or end the call. You can have another person present and take notes. (Again, no problem with this you don't have to announce this, but if asked always tell the truth.)
I hope this helps.
Good luck. Let us know how you get on.
LL26
Questions 1 &2
My own experiences of any type of claim or renewal form is that the answer boxes have become smaller and smaller! Don't feel that just because there is only a small space that you can't exceed this.
I have not used the online form so I'm not sure if the exact mechanics of this.
Other people may have different advice, but my general view is that you need to be able to describe all of the relevant disabilities.
So for example you mention poor sight, this may cause sufficient problem to allow for points under Descriptor 1 - cooking- but including that eg you also have arthritis with poor grip and can't hold a knife safely, let alone a saucepan, and that you have blood pressure problems meaning that you faint with steam is much more likely to score, and to score highly. Don't worry if forms are repetitive- in my example each descriptor might involve 'due to poor sight, arthritis, low blood pressure....I am unable to...or I need supervision to...' Explain the effect of each condition, and make sure you consider any cumulative issues such as pain or fatigue, including whether there is a trade off if by doing one activity you can't do the next.
Only refer to relevant health conditions under each descriptor rather than a repeated list of everything.
With poor sight I am sure thst this might require a considerable amount of help, or assistance aids. Make sure you consider the length of time it takes and especially if your eyesight means tasks take a lot longer to complete. (Especially if over twice as long as would take with without sights problems or indeed other disability.)
If you use separate pages, label them clearly with name and NI number and refer to them on the form.
Obviously keep copies of everything sent in.
Qu3
Yes, certainly send your visual impairment certificate. I don't think the railcard or cinema card etc will help as they are not medical documents.
Qu4
Photos might help but only if clear, and are clear in black and white. Unfortunately I have seen many murky photos that a claimant confidently states show his disability, but I'm not even sure which body part it is, let alone what the disability is!
Qu5
Absolutely send in access to work reports and what 'reasonable adjustments' are made. It is highly likely these will confirm your disabilities, and confirm a level of restriction. I am sure these will be relevant. Eg large scale print is relevant for reading, but also perhaps cooking - you'll need help to read packets, recipes, cooker knobs etc also if you have a special computer mouse or pen this indicates grip problems, this will indicate help with cooking holding a knife or cooking spoon.
If your office is situated on the ground floor near the front door or toilet this might help prove you have mobility problems or have incontinence issues.
If you are allowed to arrive later than colleagues or have an extended lunch break this might help confirm fatigue, which could be a reason why you have limited ability to complete PIP activities in general. A rearrangement of the office so relevant equipment is on a low shelf because you can't reach above waist height may help prove (irrespective of sight problems,) you need physical help to actually dress.
So...as you can see with a bit of lateral thinking probably all office matters will be relevant for PIP tasks.
DWP will be looking for consistency. If you have claimed difficulty under all /many descriptors, this indicates a high level of disability- if then you say you work and there are no problems or adjustments this has to raise a suspicion of exaggeration. If however working is very difficult and only achieved due to considerable help, then this adds credence to you having considerable disability.
Qu6
I always make a note of all DWP conversations. Time date. Adviser name. Discussion. If you wish to record you can do so. I suspect if you tell the adviser they might then get difficult or end the call. You can have another person present and take notes. (Again, no problem with this you don't have to announce this, but if asked always tell the truth.)
I hope this helps.
Good luck. Let us know how you get on.
LL26
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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- RoyM
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2 months 4 days ago #299623 by RoyM
Replied by RoyM on topic Questions re PIP2 Form
Thanks LL26, that's really helpful
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