PIP claim over Christmas holidays

I have just received the notice that my DLA is being terminated with an invitation to apply for PIP. The deadline for the PIP1 phone call is 9th January. At first I thought I was going to have all my evidence etc. ready by the 9th – 25 days including Christmas and New Year! However, I see that the date actually applies just to the PIP1 material – though I have a query about that.

I would like to clarify a matter, if I may. I understand that this first date is just for PIP1 and that the really difficult bits are all coming up in PIP2. I think I have understood what you have said elsewhere as showing that the DWP will not start the clock on the submission of the PIP2 form until they have received the PIP1.

Query 1 – will they give me 28 days to fill in the PIP2 form?
Query 2 – will they send me the PIP2 form as soon as I have made the phone call?
Query 3 – will they give me 28 days from the PIP1 phone call or 28 days from the dispatch of the PIP2 form?

My current plan is not to ring them at least until after Christmas and maybe New Year. That way I put off having the clock ticking on my PIP2 form submission date a little longer and move it past the worst of the holiday season delays.

My other query (Call it query 4) is about PIP1. They say to give them the contact details for myself and for my GP. They also want “the full work address, postcode and phone number of any other health care professionals that support you.” Do I really have to give details of my neurologist, my urologist, my continence nurse, MS nurses, physio, OT, at this stage? I haven’t worked out which ones would be (a) willing and (b) helpful.

Hope others are having a better Christmas! Season's Greetings

Hi carruthers,

I'm sorry that the PIP axe has fallen for you.

As you say, the 9th Jan is the date by which you must have initiated the claim. The PIP1 will be filled in over the phone. Don't worry about giving too many details at this stage, the time for that will come with the PIP2.

The PIP2 is usually sent out a week or two after the PIP1 call. You will be given 28 days to complete it - this is from the date on the letter accompanying the form and includes postage each way.

DWP will usually give a further 14 days in which to submit the PIP2 on request - just phone and ask once the form has arrived.

As I said, you don't have to provide a lot of details for the PIP1, I certainly wouldn't try and provide full details of all medical input - especially as they are seldom contacted anyway.

Of course, I am going to recommend that you make full use of the PIP guide

PIP help for claimants

You will also remember that we ask members to keep everything related to the same claim in one topic rather than starting a new one for every question

Some more of my nit-picking queries

I'm trying to get the PIP2 form filled in this week and running up against all sorts of little problems, Individually they don't matter much, but collectively they could affect my outcome.

1) Can you give too much detail?

2) I spend most of every day in bed - my available store of energy is easily used up these days with managing my toilet needs. So I don't get fully dressed. Does that mean that they will regard me as needing help to get dressed only (say) once a week and downgrade my score for help dressing? Or do I not mention which bits of clothing I wear every day and which not?

3) Looking at the Preparing Food section. I can't prepare food at all Question 3A asks if I need an aid or appliance to prepare a simple meal. "Yes" implies that I could cook with appliances, which I couldn't. "No" implies that I can cook without appliances - which I can't. Do I have to tick one of their boxes, and if so , which one should I pick? Can I just put N/A and not tick any of their boxes? I have text prepared to put in the 3c category (on a separate printed page)

I don't want to have the wrong box ticked on their computer program!

4) Without an electric toothbrush I would not have the energy to clean my teeth properly most days. Even with it I am often too tired to cope with using toothpaste (not just putting it on the brush but dealing with the mess as well) Some days I am too tired to brush my teeth at all even with the electric toothbrush. Will they count that as an aid?

Thanks for this. A follow-up. Can I really just ignore their boxes and write See Additional Notes p.xx and put everything into a set of typed pages (plus supporting evidence)?

I'd like to avoid handwritten stuff for anything except the name, address stuff and those activities where I'm making no claims.

And a separate issue - I shall be sending the form off guaranteed next-day delivery, should I use the envelope they provided? I see that it has a window which, presumably shows their barcode. BUT It has second-class marked on it and I really don't want there to be an error!