Would Someone Look at my Written Statement Please?

Hi Alice-Anne

You are welcome to post it and ask for anyone to comment.

BIS

Hi Alice

As moderators we don't often comment if people want to put up their statements - simply because we don't know you or your medical history - but let me just highlight a couple of points.

Well done for writing such a comprehensive answer - it's always challenging to do this.

I know that you have left out any information that would identify you (which is good) - but I am concerned that several of your answers don't give a clear indication of your difficulties.

eg. Preparing Food.
You don't give any specific reason for why you can't prepare food. So is it your OCD or something else? Spell it out to them. The actions you take or don't take are a direct result of your condition/s - and/or medication and side effects so say so. Look at the PIP guide and this question and see if you are missing any points you may not have mentioned before. You don't have to write reams - but you want to make sure you hit the specific points they are looking at.

Don't say "I feel I am in danger" - that's too wish-washy and not accurate. Say "I am in danger." (I would be putting down that you cannot do things "reliably and safely" which is why you need the supervision.

If your partner is not home with you all the time - what do you do when they are not there.

Taking nutrition -

Same comment as above - link it to your specific medical condition and why it is so difficult. You haven't said if you are able to take sufficient nutrition for you health. (Have a look at the guide)

Washing and bathing.
Cut the bit about your niece - no one will care - everyone worries about what they might wear. Also don't talk about the shop. You need to keep it focussed on how you manage daily getting dressed and undressed at home. (Look at guide for some pointers) Your OCD will obviously come into play here. Emphasise how much longer it will take you than a person who hasn't got the condition - the stress and the exhaustion.

Communicating verbally
The problems you have here - link them to the specific medical conditions and symptoms. Say what the impact these difficulties have had.


Reading
This is a question you could struggle to cause unless you have a visual impairment, neurological impairment ... or any condition that has an accepted impact on your ability to read. You say that you can't read complex instructions - but they will simply ask you did you read the submission papers and when you say yes, they will say that you can understand complex sentences. Have a look in the guide and you will see why I am saying this. I'm not saying you shouldn't argue it - but without the medical back up you could struggle here. If you have it great.

“Complex written information” means more than one sentence of written or printed standard size
text in your native language."

Budgetary Decisions
Link to illness. Say why it makes it so difficult to concentrate.

Those are the main things I have seen. Don't feel you have to rewrite anything - it is only my view and I'm not an expert! Hopefully, someone others will say something.

BIS

Hi Alice-Anne

As BIS has stated you need to meet the criteria to be awarded points.

Understand that the assessor is offering an opinion when they say that you can do the PIP activities, tackling these head-on is unlikely to be successful, you need to show that the basis of that opinion is founded on incorrect information, so try and refer to your evidence to undermine what they have said.

Also, try and stick to issues that lead to your scoring points, I often hear members referring to the assessors spelling, as an example, whilst it may show a lack of professionalism, raising it as an issue isn't going to help you get an award.

Your primary task is to show that you meet the criteria, there are many reasons you may have failed, you need to address each of these but don't get bogged down in criticising the assessment report unless you can clearly show that it is incorrect, it is a lot easier to argue the facts of the situation;

Lastly, make sure that you understand the criteria that you are being assessed against you can put the best case forward that is possible but you won't score points if you do not meet the PIP Descriptors.

Have a look at our PIP MR & Appeal guides www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/help-for-claimants/pip

When you have a better idea of the issues with your claim, come back to the forum and we will do our best to help.

Gary