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3 questions on PIP form

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5 years 10 months ago #212476 by Belle
3 questions on PIP form was created by Belle
Hello, I have 3 questions on some details about my PIP form, assessment and also, uncertainty /anxiety about which descriptor might apply to me.

I am very near the deadline, and am planning to post it on Monday ( I cannot get any more extensions,, complicated, have already had them). But I did not know about this forum until last night, I did not notice it, due to my problems with concentration & focus.. I have been unable to get advice from my local disability advice charity, or CAB as it is now impossible to get an appointment with them with the new booking system.

1) I have filled in a lot of DLA forms ( and income support, & ESA) in the past, as I have been receiving Income Support/ESA & DLA since 2001/2003.
With DLA forms I have always written a lot, and given a lot of detail. And was advised years ago, my first time claiming, to write how my conditions affect me at the worst, and then to say how it varies. I have always writen extra in the additional info at the end, and also attached more pages, to give plenty of detail about my condition.
Since 2001/03 I have been receiving highest rate care and lower rate mobility.

With this new PIP form, I was planning to do the same - write as much information as possible. These are always very difficult for me to do, I have very high anxiety, and extremely high levels of dissociation as part of my mental health symptoms, and also a lot of problems with concentration and memory. I drift off a lot and cannot focus, and the form is so stressful, it has taken me weeks and weeks to do.
Normally I would go to my local disability charity for them to fill it in with me. But they have had cuts, and I kept ringing up for an appointment but I could not get one. I could not get an appointment with any advice service in my borough to help with it.
SO, I found an organisation, Fightback4Justice, that helps claimants fill the forms in over the phone. You go through every question, they take extensive notes, then fill it in for you and post it to you.
When it arrived it was all wrong! Loads of mistakes, inaccuracies and things just blatantly not right.
So I have had to start all over again & has been a nightmare.

Now, the thing that is worrying me is this.
When on the phone to this support organisation, the adviser told me that answers had to be kept brief and within the amount of space given in the box, because the people who read the forms, are only given 15 mins to read the whole of each form.
So you have to be succint and to the point ( as you can see from this post already - I find that nearly impossibel to do - I either freeze & cannot write, or go into tons of detail!).

However, my condition is very complex. I have Complex PTSD, which has a ton of overlapping sypmtoms - huge list. That overlap in complicated ways. And most people have never heard of it. Including GPs and even some psychiatrists. I also have 3 other mental health diagnosies, and some mobility problems and other minor physical issues ( but that should be mentioned cos they tie in and add up).

Since I have had to rewrite this all myself - which I am still doing, it is very deatiled, and I am going into extra space.

is this going to be a problem?
Will they look at the form and not read all of it because there is too much info to read in 15 minutes??
I have never heard of this before!!
OR should I write every detail as much as possible, because int eh past I have found this the best way to get the benefits I am entitled to - especially with a condition that most people know nothing about.

OK, this question is VERY long.
So will post this, and then write about my other 2 things.

Thank you!

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5 years 10 months ago #212491 by Gordon
Replied by Gordon on topic 3 questions on PIP form
Belle

Welcome to the forum, you might want to have a look at the following FAQ which explain where everything is

Welcome to Benefits and Work

No it's not a problem, I certainly would not encourage you to waffle but if you exceed the space in the comments box, which most claimants do, them it is perfectly OK. It's much more important to explain your problems with completing the PIP activities in what ever level of detail you need to than skimp on the content.

Our PIP Claim guide will help you complete the form over the weekend.

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/help-for-claimants/pip

Gordon

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

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5 years 10 months ago #212494 by Belle
Replied by Belle on topic 3 questions on PIP form
Thank you Gordon so much!
This has reassured me.
I had never heard the advice that you have to keep it short before, and it was worrying me.

I will keep my questions to their longer detailed version and continue with the last few that way - though I do try to edit them to not be repetitive and waffly!

I have just posted my second post - again it is long and complicated, because my brain over analyses and explains everything.

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