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DLA to PIP success story

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5 years 5 months ago #219619 by wightrider
DLA to PIP success story was created by wightrider
I wanted to share my DLA to PIP experience.
I received the dreaded letter from the PIP people informing me that my DLA was ending and 'inviting' me to apply for PIP.
I was on an indefinite award of DLA as I have an incurable condition.
I phoned the number on the letter to tell them I would be applying, but then spent half an hour on the phone (not great for someone with brain fog) answering loads of questions. It seems the application process starts right there, before you have even received a form.
The form duly arrived and I had 3 weeks to fill it in. Cue lots of stress, tantrums, head scratching, nail biting and worsening of all symptoms to get it done. I read through the B&W guide on the subject but became utterly confused by it because it is so long and wordy. I gave up on that in the end and just used my past experience (over 20 years) as a claimant and my common sense to answer the questions. I opted for the 'bombard them with information' approach. I put in everything I could think of, even if I wasn't sure if it was relevant.
I sent photocopies of important information, including my blue badge, as I thought that would help my case. That was my first mistake. Apparently having a Blue Badge can be used against you !: I got a letter back a few weeks later informing me that they 'needed more information' (like what ?!) and telling me I had to go to an assessment. I called them to ask for a home assessment but that was denied because "you have a blue badge so you can travel." I told them it doesn't mean I can travel any time I want to as my illness often means I am too ill to go anywhere, but that fell on deaf ears.
After reading info here about recording assessments I managed to track down an old NEAL interview cassette recorder and a microphone on Ebay. Machines have to be capable of making two recordings simultaneously, and can't be on a digital file, so this was all I could get. It needed some work but fortunately my dad knows all about this sort of kit.
The assessment day arrived and the nurse who interrogated me was reasonably kind. We took the family wheelchair along (I share it with my mum) and I arrived looking suitably weak and fragile. After my 2 hour interrogation I needed the wheelchair as I was shattered.
Four weeks later the letter arrived and to my immense relief I have been awarded the same money as I was getting on DLA for the next 6 years.
It still angers me that we have to go through this debacle. If they are doing this to save money then why not just transfer us over from one to the other ? They would save a fortune !

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5 years 5 months ago #219647 by Gordon
Replied by Gordon on topic DLA to PIP success story
wightrider

Congratulations on the award, well done.

Gordon

tags: @RESULT @PIP

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