had PIP tribunal today - I felt 'grilled

Hi Anne,

I am frequently in the position of your son; of completing these forms for someone or with someone, but either way it is my handwriting that is on the form.

What I generally do at the stage of proceedings at which you are now, is write a short letter which I ask the claimant to sign which says something like ‘Dear DWP, I have attached a document prepared by Catherine who has been supporting me with my PIP claim. She has written the attached document after discussing the issues with me. She has read it to me and explained the contents. I agree with what she has put.’ I then write my own document, and do indeed read it and explain it to the claimant, but I make no pretence that it has been written by them.

I am sure your son can come up with something which reflects the reality of how the two of you are working.

And no promises of last messages or last questions please – we are here as long as you need us, and the meter is not running.
Catherine

Hi Anne

I don't know whether when you completed the original form whether your son wrote in first person eg "I am unable to walk more than 5 metres or third person "Anne is unable to walk more than 5 metres." I always use third person when I have filled in forms for other people, because it immediately shows that it was not written by the claimant. I also choose this manner because if it's in the first person the DWP are very adept at then saying people are much more capable than they are. At the end I get the claimant to sign, (because that's what they ask for) - but I also put in a note directly underneath which says "Form completed by XYZ" and then my signature. I only mention this as something you may want to think about in the future. Catherine has given you a good example of text that you can use now.

BIS