PIP claim and evidence

Cruella wrote: Thank you. I am rather lost with how to do the form really. Do I need to keep referring to the evidence throughout the form or can I just send the evidence in with the form.

Also, one of my conditions has been going on for years with many hospital letters etc 15 years or more ago. Then brief references now and then over the years since in summarised doctors notes. Current statement of fact letter includes this condition but only as a two word diagnosis. I really do not know what to send. Surely I cannot send in mountains of medical records but then is the current statement of fact of two word diagnosis sufficient. I kind of feel they may need evidence of the long term nature of it. Do applicants send in vast number of pages of their medical histories?

It will help if you can keep referring to relevant pieces of evidence, it's not so much for the assessor, although they should still make use of the evidence, It's primarily for the Decision Maker who is not medically trained.

There is definitely a limit of on how much evidence you should send but it's different for everybody. You shouldn't need to send more than one diagnosis letter, letters that show an on-going level of disability are useful and letters that show an inability to complete the PIP activities (either directly or by implication) should be included. Try not to duplicate information and if have a series of letter saying basically the same, separated by weeks or even months then you might want to thin them out.

You can also provide two sets of evidence, one set that you specifically want to be read with your answers on the form and a second set that simply shows your on-going problems.

Gordon

Cruella wrote: Thank you, can I put all the paperwork in a file with dividers or will they just discard the file? Should I number the pages?

Yes you can use a file, just make sure that the pages can be removed as they need to be scanned.

Definitely number all of the pages "page x of y".

Gordon

Cruella wrote: Do you think GP medical history where brief references are made to my condition more recently are better than detailed but 15 year old hospital letters

It really depends on the condition and whether it would be one that can possibly change with time.

Gordon