PIP claim - GP support Letter

Hi. It's that time again were I have to "prove" my illness and how it stops me doing much activity.
I've had M.E for over 10 years, I've tried everything and I'm still constantly drained and fatigued , more so when I get stressed and anxious so this is gonna be hard on me stressing about this as I rely on DLA to live.

Ok so I need some advice, I've made the call and received the form to fill in, I will fill the form out using the PIP guide for the descriptors to hopefully get the required points.

It's a hard one as I can do most of things like dress/walk/lift but I cannot sustain much activity and certainty not anything as demanding as a job.

So do I fill the forms out and say that I can't sustain activity due to my fatigue and would be able to do XYZ after getting dressed,travelling,walking ? As in that situation I would need one hell of a lay down and doing things like cooking would be impossible and not safe if I did manage it.

Just asking for some pointers really, I find it very tiring trying to find all the correct Info I need and understanding it and organising.

Hi RH,

This is where you should make good use of the 'reliably' criteria

"• Safely – in a fashion that is unlikely to cause harm to themselves or to another person.
• To a necessary and appropriate standard – given the nature of the activity.
• Repeatedly – as often as is reasonably required.
• In a timely manner – in a reasonable time period."

If your condition varies from day to day, week to week, you should explain how you are at your worst, best and average. You should also explain how often you experience these.

The PIP guide will give examples of how to explain your limitations in ways that DWP will understand.

PIP help for claimants

May I suggest that you bookmark/favourite this on your web browser now so that you can find it easily in future? This will allow you to return with further questions or comments about your PIP without having to start a new topic each time. It helps us enormously when everything relating to the same claim is kept in one topic - and I hope you will find it useful too

I'm doing my PIP claim from DLA with the help of your guides (thanks for the link)

I've asked my GP for a supporting letter to send in with my application, and all it says is what my name is and that I have M.E and how long I've had it.

- Is it worth me going back to get more info about my health on it or shall I submit it and if I have to appeal can I add a different (possibly better) letter from a GP

- Also I'm being rereffered to a specialist but by appointment is a week after I have to send the forms in, they agreed they could write me a supporting letter after they see me again so should I get this letter and then add it as extra evidence if I have to appeal or say in my claim I will be sending in an additional letter when I can?

- Where I have started the forms I'm finding that I don't have enough room to write everything down and it says to write anything extra near the end so at the end of each section I e just put put down cont. on Q15, can I attach an extra sheet of paper if needed to this?

- If I have to write down how I can do things on a good,average,bad day then I need more room to write it down.

Hi RH,

I have merged your question with the previous topic relating to your PIP. It helps us enormously when everything relating to the same claim is kept in one topic.

I will try to answer your questions in order -

A letter of support is most useful when it relates specifically to the descriptors for the benefit in question. If your GP will do another letter along these lines, it would be helpful. If not, you will have to use what you have.

I think I would say on the claim form that additional documents will be forwarded when you have seen the specialist. Send a copy in as soon as you can and take an extra copy with you if you have a face2face assessment.

Yes, you can add extra sheets if you need more space. Let's be honest, the space provided doesn't give room for much, does it?! Every additional sheet should be clearly labelled with your name and NI number at the top and the number at the bottom right corner. We suggest the format 'x of y' so that it is immediately clear if anything has been lost from the back of the pile.

Use as much space as you need in order to fully explain your difficulties.

When you have further questions please reply to this message, rather than starting a new topic, and we will do our best to help. You will find it easily in future if you bookmark/favourite it on your web browser now

Ok thank you.

I've got an appointment with a GP as my first letter just stated who I am and that I've had my illness for so long. Really didn't go into much.

So I e got another appointment, I will ask if she can write a letter as evidence for me and explain it the best I can.
Can I take a list of the descriptors and say "these apply to me so can you write something in the letter " or shouldn't I do this?