- Posts: 9
× Members
Evidence for PIP renewal
- xerox
- Topic Author
- Offline
Less More
4 weeks 2 days ago #300443 by xerox
Evidence for PIP renewal was created by xerox
My 19 year old son's PIP review is coming up. He was awarded the higher rate mobility and lower rate care 3 years ago even though he should have got the higher rate of care since I have to do everything for him but I couldn't face going to appeal.
However, even for this lower award, first time round, he had a huge amount of evidence from consultants since they were trying to find out what was wrong with him as he is so ill.
This time round he will have none since all investigations from doctors have stopped since there is no treatment or help for his condition (he has severe Long COVID and is housebound).
How is he going to be successful at review without any evidence this time round? His GP (whom he never sees) will I'm sure confirm he is still ill but the only medicine he is on is an inhaler. He can't just go and see consultants to get evidence as they have now signed him off as there's nothing more they can do for him.
Can anyone please advise? Do I just send all his old consultant's letters as I did first time round? Many thanks in advance.
However, even for this lower award, first time round, he had a huge amount of evidence from consultants since they were trying to find out what was wrong with him as he is so ill.
This time round he will have none since all investigations from doctors have stopped since there is no treatment or help for his condition (he has severe Long COVID and is housebound).
How is he going to be successful at review without any evidence this time round? His GP (whom he never sees) will I'm sure confirm he is still ill but the only medicine he is on is an inhaler. He can't just go and see consultants to get evidence as they have now signed him off as there's nothing more they can do for him.
Can anyone please advise? Do I just send all his old consultant's letters as I did first time round? Many thanks in advance.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- BIS
- Offline
Less More
- Posts: 8854
3 weeks 6 days ago #300515 by BIS
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by BIS on topic Evidence for PIP renewal
Hi xerox
All the letters you sent before should be on the system, so there is no need to send them all again. However, many people don't trust the DWP to look back at old information - so some do send it again. I can't tell you that you shouldn't send it - you have to do what is right for you.
If you don't send the evidence again, you should certainly refer to it when answering questions throughout the form. So for instance - if you were talking about preparing meals. I would be saying something like "X is unable to prepare any meals because of the exhaustion and pain he experiences in all his limbs due to Long Covid (see letter from Dr Y, dated 13/12/2020) etc etc. That will make it evident to the person reading it there is additional evidence to back up what you are saying. And if you do send it in - do exactly the same, but say eg. 'see letter - additional sheet 3' (All additional information should have a page number, name and national insurance number on them).
Do have a look at our supplementary guide for people with Long Covid benefitsandwork.co.uk/guides-for-claimants/pip. That will help you complete the form.
You could send in a diary - even if you have to write it for him. There is guidance on how to do that. two or three weeks will give a lot of information about how he is.
I would also make sure that you write a letter as his carer saying what you have to do for him. Just follow each of the questions and write it from your point of view. If you are filling in the form (which I assume you are - write it in the third person "X needs support ..." Some people choose to use first person even when they are filling in the form on behalf of someone else - but I always think that is unwise - because the assessors often assume the person is then more capable than they are. You have to say you have filled in the form and you have discussed it with him and put down what he wanted to say.
I know you are worried about not having current evidence - but that's the same for many people, and you emphasise that he has been discharged because there is nothing currently that can be done.
When it comes to it, if he has to have a telephone assessment - make sure that you record the call. Once you had a good look at the supplementary guide - do come back and ask if you have any further questions and we will try to help
BIS
All the letters you sent before should be on the system, so there is no need to send them all again. However, many people don't trust the DWP to look back at old information - so some do send it again. I can't tell you that you shouldn't send it - you have to do what is right for you.
If you don't send the evidence again, you should certainly refer to it when answering questions throughout the form. So for instance - if you were talking about preparing meals. I would be saying something like "X is unable to prepare any meals because of the exhaustion and pain he experiences in all his limbs due to Long Covid (see letter from Dr Y, dated 13/12/2020) etc etc. That will make it evident to the person reading it there is additional evidence to back up what you are saying. And if you do send it in - do exactly the same, but say eg. 'see letter - additional sheet 3' (All additional information should have a page number, name and national insurance number on them).
Do have a look at our supplementary guide for people with Long Covid benefitsandwork.co.uk/guides-for-claimants/pip. That will help you complete the form.
You could send in a diary - even if you have to write it for him. There is guidance on how to do that. two or three weeks will give a lot of information about how he is.
I would also make sure that you write a letter as his carer saying what you have to do for him. Just follow each of the questions and write it from your point of view. If you are filling in the form (which I assume you are - write it in the third person "X needs support ..." Some people choose to use first person even when they are filling in the form on behalf of someone else - but I always think that is unwise - because the assessors often assume the person is then more capable than they are. You have to say you have filled in the form and you have discussed it with him and put down what he wanted to say.
I know you are worried about not having current evidence - but that's the same for many people, and you emphasise that he has been discharged because there is nothing currently that can be done.
When it comes to it, if he has to have a telephone assessment - make sure that you record the call. Once you had a good look at the supplementary guide - do come back and ask if you have any further questions and we will try to help
BIS
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
Moderators: Gordon, Gary, BIS, Catherine, Wendy, Kelly, greekqueen, peter, Katherine, Super User, Chris, David