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Applying for PIP but lack of recent medical eviden
- paulcornwall
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4 years 1 month ago #257157 by paulcornwall
Applying for PIP but lack of recent medical eviden was created by paulcornwall
Im applying to PIP due to my ever-increasing mental health and physical health. I suffer greatly from agoraphobia so rarely venture outside the house. As a result,
I have no had any contact with my local mental health team since 2014. I recent new referral has been made after speaking to my GP on the phone.
So, I have lots of evidence from 2014 but no recent. I find it difficult to engage with strangers hence why I've struggled alone. I was the carer for my disabled daughter but I'm no longer able to fulfill the role. Does anyone have any response to my situation and what i should do?
I have no had any contact with my local mental health team since 2014. I recent new referral has been made after speaking to my GP on the phone.
So, I have lots of evidence from 2014 but no recent. I find it difficult to engage with strangers hence why I've struggled alone. I was the carer for my disabled daughter but I'm no longer able to fulfill the role. Does anyone have any response to my situation and what i should do?
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- Catherine
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4 years 1 month ago - 4 years 1 month ago #257171 by Catherine
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by Catherine on topic Applying for PIP but lack of recent medical eviden
Hello Paul,
You can only use what you have, and although we say that the more evidence you can provide the better, there is no rule that says that if you don’t provide evidence you will not succeed.
Hopefully your GP will give you a letter confirming you past mental health issues and that he has re-referred you. No reason why you cannot include a little of the information from 2014, but just enough to evidence that you had a problem in the past.
Another source of evidence could be your daughter. You do not tell us in what she is disabled, but is she able to write a letter of support?
Have a look at the PIP diaries and try to keep one of those detailing the issues you have on a day to day basis. That is evidence which you can create and submit.
Do take time to read our Guides, I think you will find them very helpful. The one at the top of the page is a good place to start. You need to scroll down a little bit to get to the diaries.
PIP resources
I hope this helps
Catherine
You can only use what you have, and although we say that the more evidence you can provide the better, there is no rule that says that if you don’t provide evidence you will not succeed.
Hopefully your GP will give you a letter confirming you past mental health issues and that he has re-referred you. No reason why you cannot include a little of the information from 2014, but just enough to evidence that you had a problem in the past.
Another source of evidence could be your daughter. You do not tell us in what she is disabled, but is she able to write a letter of support?
Have a look at the PIP diaries and try to keep one of those detailing the issues you have on a day to day basis. That is evidence which you can create and submit.
Do take time to read our Guides, I think you will find them very helpful. The one at the top of the page is a good place to start. You need to scroll down a little bit to get to the diaries.
PIP resources
I hope this helps
Catherine
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Last edit: 4 years 1 month ago by Catherine.
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- BIS
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4 years 1 month ago #257173 by BIS
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by BIS on topic Applying for PIP but lack of recent medical eviden
Hi Paul
Catherine is right. You have to use what you have. Many people with mental health difficulties don't have recent information. You have a recent referral and that is in your favour. You should also emphasise that although you have not had contact with them, that is not because you did not need it, your mental health made it difficult or impossible to have contact. I don't know how long you have had problems, but you may have the evidence to show the length of them. A friend of mine got PIP on the grounds of her mental health with evidence that was 20 years old because I successfully argued that nothing had changed and she still couldn't access services from her original diagnosis. It isn't easy, but it can be done. Write as if the person reading has no idea about your condition and make sure that you link everything to the specific PIP criteria.
BIS
Catherine is right. You have to use what you have. Many people with mental health difficulties don't have recent information. You have a recent referral and that is in your favour. You should also emphasise that although you have not had contact with them, that is not because you did not need it, your mental health made it difficult or impossible to have contact. I don't know how long you have had problems, but you may have the evidence to show the length of them. A friend of mine got PIP on the grounds of her mental health with evidence that was 20 years old because I successfully argued that nothing had changed and she still couldn't access services from her original diagnosis. It isn't easy, but it can be done. Write as if the person reading has no idea about your condition and make sure that you link everything to the specific PIP criteria.
BIS
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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- Finni
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4 years 1 month ago #257221 by Finni
Replied by Finni on topic Applying for PIP but lack of recent medical eviden
Perhaps it would be worth trying what I did. I had a lot of tests and medical investigations 10 years ago and also received local authority Direct Payments for support. All that has finished when my circumstances changed although my health has not improved.
So I asked my current GP to write a letter for PIP purposes to explicitly to say I'm currently no better and that all the findings and observations from 10 years ago still very much apply and also that I currently find it hard to engage with medical professionals.
I enclosed that with all the old medical letters with my PIP application and drew attention in the PIP form to his comments.
So I asked my current GP to write a letter for PIP purposes to explicitly to say I'm currently no better and that all the findings and observations from 10 years ago still very much apply and also that I currently find it hard to engage with medical professionals.
I enclosed that with all the old medical letters with my PIP application and drew attention in the PIP form to his comments.
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