No Medical Evidence

Been on DLA ten years and got letter saying it's ending and I have to apply for PIP. I've had ME since 2002 but my GP always says "self help for ME" and that there's nothing he can give me. I've only once seen a consultant and that was in 2003 and she told me flatly she didn't bellieve in ME as an actual illness - and offered to send me to physiotherapy to "get me back on my feet" ..Therefore I don't go to see the doc and I don't have prescripton meds for the ME.
We're retired and my husband does everything re housework and cooking and taking me places if I have to go out - so can I take him to the interview with me, and can I get him to write a letter describing what he does to help me?

Hi Mary
I have recently transferred from DLA to PIP and Gordon is right have a look at the PIP guides as it is very much different to DLA. I found the guides very helpful when filling in my PIP form. I suffer from severe depression and severe anxiety and to be honest I wasn't very confident of getting PIP. I was on high rate DLA care and low rate DLA mobility however I have been awarded standard rate PIP for care and low rate mobility. I have lost some money but I am happy that I actually got something as PIP is designed to save the government money. I think the reason I got high rate on DLA was because I needed help at night but that is not on the PIP form, they don't define night and day just your care needs. My PIP award is only for 2 years, my previous DLA had been for 5 years. I had to have a face to face assessment, I took my dad with me and he came in the room with me and the assessor, I was really anxious when we got in the room as my assessment started 30 minutes late and the assessor could see how anxious I was and fair play to her she let me go outside for a cigarette before starting. The assessment wasn't as bad as I thought it would be but then again I suppose it depends on the assessor. She basically asked me questions related to what was on the form. My only worry was that I can drive and she did ask me that question and I answered honestly that I could and that was also a reason I thought I would be refused PIP. I very nearly didn't apply for PIP as I had heard how many were refused after DLA and I knew it would be more stressful than DLA and applying for that was bad enough but am glad I did now. I didn't really have much medical evidence barring my prescription list and I was discharged from the psychiatrist in 2014 due to government cuts and didn't visit my GP's often only for prescription review. I was lucky that at my GP's by accident I got to see a wonderful doctor after I had my blood pressure taken, the GP I had previously seen wasn't interested in helping me regarding PIP but she listened to me and even offered to do me a letter of support and it was a good one. As Gordon says get your other half to do you a letter of support because that can also help. I know the stress you will be going through at this time as I have just been through it myself but please apply as you have more to lose if you don't apply, I very nearly didn't and would now be a lot worse off. Good luck Mary

Do a daily diary for a month so they can see exactly what you do during the day. Ie, Woke up early but didn't have any energy to get up and get dressed, had to sit at sink to wash as too fatigued to stand etc etc. This will be helpful to a judge if it goes to tribunal.
Tell them all the nitty gritty of your day, even if you spend hours lying in bed exhausted. If you don't tell them they won't know.

Ok many thanks xx