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PIP application rejected

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6 years 3 months ago #202371 by Clair
PIP application rejected was created by Clair
Hi,

I have been claiming/awarded DLA mid range benefit plus higher rate Motability (had a car) since my accident in 2012. I had TBI (traumatic brain injury) from a horse riding accident. I started the conversion to a PIP assessment in August.

The biggest problem I live with is loss of balance, that you don't realise how much it was taken for granted until its taken away.

I submitted further evidence, including a 6 page report from my friend who is an NHS Occupational therapist, and I they phoned me, and said unless I can get medical evidence to say I can't walk 10 metres in busy/uneven floor surface/slopes or steps, I will not be awarded Motability, but if I submit "Medical evidence" I was only 4 points away from the bottom tear of benefit.

I then submitted a 2 page letter from my GP, a letter/report from my Speech therapist and Psychologist, and I am waiting to hear back. (the mandatory request to ask them to reconsider my application).

But it is my balance that causes 80% of my difficulties (or knock on effects of). My speech, right side being weaker than my left, dizzy spells, and others are extra problems.

I am wondering if I should ask my GP to refer me to a physio therapist, who will be able to write a report for me to support my actual mobility problems.

In a quiet, flat, solid floor, no steps or slopes, I can walk 10 metres with my stick. But when it gets busy I panic somebody will knock me over.

Any help or guidance you are able to offer please would be so gratefully received.

Thank you
Clair :)

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6 years 3 months ago #202398 by Gordon
Replied by Gordon on topic PIP application rejected

Clair wrote: Hi,

I have been claiming/awarded DLA mid range benefit plus higher rate Motability (had a car) since my accident in 2012. I had TBI (traumatic brain injury) from a horse riding accident. I started the conversion to a PIP assessment in August.

The biggest problem I live with is loss of balance, that you don't realise how much it was taken for granted until its taken away.

I submitted further evidence, including a 6 page report from my friend who is an NHS Occupational therapist, and I they phoned me, and said unless I can get medical evidence to say I can't walk 10 metres in busy/uneven floor surface/slopes or steps, I will not be awarded Motability, but if I submit "Medical evidence" I was only 4 points away from the bottom tear of benefit.

I then submitted a 2 page letter from my GP, a letter/report from my Speech therapist and Psychologist, and I am waiting to hear back. (the mandatory request to ask them to reconsider my application).

But it is my balance that causes 80% of my difficulties (or knock on effects of). My speech, right side being weaker than my left, dizzy spells, and others are extra problems.

I am wondering if I should ask my GP to refer me to a physio therapist, who will be able to write a report for me to support my actual mobility problems.

In a quiet, flat, solid floor, no steps or slopes, I can walk 10 metres with my stick. But when it gets busy I panic somebody will knock me over.

Any help or guidance you are able to offer please would be so gratefully received.

Thank you
Clair :)


The obvious question is whether you can do all of this in the time available to you to submit further information.

It's not entirely clear from your post what limits your walking, so you explain that in adverse conditions you suffer from the balance problems, are you also saying that this happens after you walk 10m in good conditions?

Does it always happen after this distance and how long are you effected for? Have you fallen and injured yourself and if you did, was treatment required?

How do you manage at home?

Do you shop, go to your GP or hospital for appointments?

Gordon

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems

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6 years 3 months ago #202425 by Clair
Replied by Clair on topic PIP application rejected
Thank you. Yes my balance was devastated after traumatic brain injury from a horse riding accident. I can walk with my stick for 10 metres but only if the ground surface is even, there are no steps or slopes, and in quiet environments. When it gets crowded I panic and go back to my car. I have actually fallen over many times, and my balance can suddenly go with no warning.

At home I fall over the most times, I can't step round or over anything, I can't even balance on one leg for a second. I can't carry anything up or down stairs, my Husband has to do it. I can barely carry a cold drink from the kitchen to living room, if there are hot drinks my husband comes to get them and puts mine by my chair.

I fell over at work and they called am Ambulance, my MD sat on the floor with me the whole time as when I go into a panic I am not understandable so he walked to the ambulance man.

I am waiting for them to come back as I sent the 3 medical reports to them last week.

But I am going to appeal as they won't consider my mobility at all, and I didn't get chance to see a physio within their time frame, they were very off with me when I asked for an extension for my speech therapists letter to get to me, I legitimately needed a few more days.

I need medical evidence to prove I can not walk in busy environments or with uneven floor surface/stairs or slopes.

Does that help?

If they do listen to me, and I understand why the process has tightened/changed, I do. Will I have to go through this every year to renew? My GP confirmed in her letter that circumstances are not going to change/improve for me now.

Even when food shopping, I can't let go of the trolley, and other people give me a wider birth, I need to steady myself each aisle for a moment or two (get dizzy, some days my balance is worse than normal and I bang into everything).

Thank you
Clair

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6 years 3 months ago #202451 by Gordon
Replied by Gordon on topic PIP application rejected
Clair

First some negatives, sorry!

PIP does not define the surface and situation in which walking has to be done but it is generally accepted that claimants would walk of a flat surface although they also need to manage curbs. I would certainly argue the problems you mention but I think you will need to explain your problems in regard to the accepted surface in more detail to score.

You mention that you can walk a supermarket aisle in your latest post, this will be considerably longer than the 10m you mention elsewhere, you also mention other shoppers, this is at odds with your statement of having more problem when in a crowd. I know that you are supporting yourself with a shopping trolley but a wheeled walker would be a reasonable aid.

If you can show a history of falls then this will definitely be a good thing, if you contact the hospital you were taken to then they should have a record of your being taken there by ambulance.

Have you spoken to your GP about their writing a letter or report on your walking problems.

If you do get an award then it will likely be for a fixed period so there will be future reassessments but it would be unusual for this to be every year.

Gordon

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