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How should supporting evidence look like?
- Chlorinated
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10 years 3 months ago - 10 years 3 months ago #129262 by Chlorinated
How should supporting evidence look like? was created by Chlorinated
I have recently completed an ESA appeal to be in the support group and also completed my pip application.
I asked my doctor for medical evidence and she wrote a short general letter and stated I think he is being honest in his letter(esa reconsideration). Effectively she just signed my letter off rather than right her own detailed one. Is signing my letter off just as good/effective as her writing her own or should I ask her to write her own more detailed one?
Since I completed the PIP form, it looks like Ill have to submit my 'signed off' esa reconsideration letter to PIP as evidence. Again will that be acceptable and just as effective or should I ask my doctor to write her own letter which list my issues basically or in detail?
I don't want to trouble my doctor if it's not needed.
Thanks
I asked my doctor for medical evidence and she wrote a short general letter and stated I think he is being honest in his letter(esa reconsideration). Effectively she just signed my letter off rather than right her own detailed one. Is signing my letter off just as good/effective as her writing her own or should I ask her to write her own more detailed one?
Since I completed the PIP form, it looks like Ill have to submit my 'signed off' esa reconsideration letter to PIP as evidence. Again will that be acceptable and just as effective or should I ask my doctor to write her own letter which list my issues basically or in detail?
I don't want to trouble my doctor if it's not needed.
Thanks
Last edit: 10 years 3 months ago by . Reason: Tick.
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- Gordon
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10 years 3 months ago #129269 by Gordon
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by Gordon on topic How should supporting evidence look like?
Sham
I have to admit, this is the first time I have heard of a GP doing this!
To be honest, I think it likely that it will be less effective than their writing a letter themselves, also there may be questions as to whether they have read the letter in detail and therefore whether it is an accurate representation of how they see your problems.
Unfortunately, GPs are not required to provide letter of support, so this may be the best that you will get and you at least have the advantage that it is not "standard" letter which are often of no use whatsoever.
With regard your using it for PIP, to a considerable extent it will depend on how it is worded, whilst there is some commonality in the tests for ESA and PIP, there is considerable difference in the wording used to describe those tests. So if your GP is willing (this time) to write a letter for PIP then I would take up the offer.
Don't worry about troubling your doctor, the better your submission the more likely it is for you to get an award, the worst that they can do is say no.
Gordon
I have to admit, this is the first time I have heard of a GP doing this!
To be honest, I think it likely that it will be less effective than their writing a letter themselves, also there may be questions as to whether they have read the letter in detail and therefore whether it is an accurate representation of how they see your problems.
Unfortunately, GPs are not required to provide letter of support, so this may be the best that you will get and you at least have the advantage that it is not "standard" letter which are often of no use whatsoever.
With regard your using it for PIP, to a considerable extent it will depend on how it is worded, whilst there is some commonality in the tests for ESA and PIP, there is considerable difference in the wording used to describe those tests. So if your GP is willing (this time) to write a letter for PIP then I would take up the offer.
Don't worry about troubling your doctor, the better your submission the more likely it is for you to get an award, the worst that they can do is say no.
Gordon
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- Chlorinated
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10 years 3 months ago #129279 by Chlorinated
Replied by Chlorinated on topic How should supporting evidence look like?
Hi Gordan, many thanks for your reply.
It's not my GP who wrote it, it was my specialist(Psychiatrist).
She looked at my letter and then made a half page letter making some simple statements e.g. he cannot do things that normal people do e.g. going out, washing and so on. No detail just simple two word descriptors. After that she referenced my detailed letter and said I believe his honest in describing the effects his illness is having on him.
1. Therefore what do you suggest now? Should I ask her for a more detailed letter from her own perspective(not referencing my letter) hoping it will correlate with my account?
2. Also if she just left me with a half page letter the major feature of which is '..he cannot do things that normal people do e.g. going out, washing..'. Would that be sufficient or is it useless in which case I should try to get more details?
Many thanks
It's not my GP who wrote it, it was my specialist(Psychiatrist).
She looked at my letter and then made a half page letter making some simple statements e.g. he cannot do things that normal people do e.g. going out, washing and so on. No detail just simple two word descriptors. After that she referenced my detailed letter and said I believe his honest in describing the effects his illness is having on him.
1. Therefore what do you suggest now? Should I ask her for a more detailed letter from her own perspective(not referencing my letter) hoping it will correlate with my account?
2. Also if she just left me with a half page letter the major feature of which is '..he cannot do things that normal people do e.g. going out, washing..'. Would that be sufficient or is it useless in which case I should try to get more details?
Many thanks
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- Gordon
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10 years 3 months ago #129285 by Gordon
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by Gordon on topic How should supporting evidence look like?
Sham
From what you have posted it is a positive letter, as opposed to neutral, negative or most often, not relevant one, but as I say I think it's weight will be reduced by its reference to your own letter for detail.
Whether you should ask for a more detailed letter is up to you, you know what your relation is to this doctor, if you think it will do no damage to it then you lose nothing by asking, if you think otherwise then you will have to balance any benefit to your claim versus your on-going relationship with your doctor.
Gordon
From what you have posted it is a positive letter, as opposed to neutral, negative or most often, not relevant one, but as I say I think it's weight will be reduced by its reference to your own letter for detail.
Whether you should ask for a more detailed letter is up to you, you know what your relation is to this doctor, if you think it will do no damage to it then you lose nothing by asking, if you think otherwise then you will have to balance any benefit to your claim versus your on-going relationship with your doctor.
Gordon
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- Chlorinated
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10 years 3 months ago #129312 by Chlorinated
Replied by Chlorinated on topic How should supporting evidence look like?
Hi Gordan.
I was think of editing her original letter to better match descriptors, then send it to her and say, I did this cause I thought you was busy(which I do) and IF YOU ARE IN AGREEMENT can you edit/improve/delete the edited letter. I think she might be ok with it although no doctor wants her patients writing her letters for her and it might even sound a bit rude. However if Ill explain to her in the email why I did it, because I researched descriptors etc and it will take all her time.
Do you think this is a good/reasonable idea, am I being rude, should I avoid it at all costs etc?
I was think of editing her original letter to better match descriptors, then send it to her and say, I did this cause I thought you was busy(which I do) and IF YOU ARE IN AGREEMENT can you edit/improve/delete the edited letter. I think she might be ok with it although no doctor wants her patients writing her letters for her and it might even sound a bit rude. However if Ill explain to her in the email why I did it, because I researched descriptors etc and it will take all her time.
Do you think this is a good/reasonable idea, am I being rude, should I avoid it at all costs etc?
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- Gordon
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10 years 3 months ago #129315 by Gordon
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by Gordon on topic How should supporting evidence look like?
Sham
I think you should discuss the matter with your doctor and then go forward from there, what you are suggesting is putting your words in the your doctors mouth, something that could easily result in the letter being invalidated in its entirety.
Gordon
I think you should discuss the matter with your doctor and then go forward from there, what you are suggesting is putting your words in the your doctors mouth, something that could easily result in the letter being invalidated in its entirety.
Gordon
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