DLA to PIP - my reassessment has begun

Hi,

my dreaded letter inviting me to apply to claim PIP arrived a few days ago. First of all it sent me into a sort of panicked paralysis, but I know I have to deal with it. On the letter it says I have to phone the number by 16th November if I want to claim PIP.

This may seem like a really stupid question - but does this mean I can DELAY phoning them until 16th November - or a day or two before - to give myself some 'extra preparation' time, sort of thing - because I guess once I have phoned them, then their' 'clock will start to tick', and their time limits will kick in. This is something I am extremely anxious about, as I have very little stamina and spend the majority of my time totally exhausted and much of it asleep - so am very concerned about finding the resources in terms of time and energy to deal with this process.

Therefore any 'extra' time I can find/ create would be very helpful.

So if I delay phoning until near the date given - 16th November in this case - will this mean I will have the time between now and then as sort of 'extra time'?

Does that make sense?

(If I need to post more questions regarding this claim, should I post in this same topic, or make new topics for different types of question?)

Thanks

ctts

Hi ctts,

Sorry to hear that the axe has fallen!

Yes, you can delay your call until a few days before the deadline. We don't suggest leaving it to the very last minute but your suggestion of phoning a few days before is a good one.

Have a look at the PIP guide and it tells you what information to have at hand for the call.

Once you have initiated the claim, I would expect the PIP2 form to arrive within 10-14 days. You wil have 1 month in which to complete and return it - although this includes postage both ways.

A 2 week extension of the return date is usually given on request. Just phone the number you rang to start the claim.

PIP help for claimants

Yes, you should now keep this as your PIP topic and add further questions/comments here. It helps us enormously when everything relating to the same claim is kept in one topic. You will find this easily in future if you bookmark/favourite this on your web browser now

Thanks, Mrs Hurtyback.

I've used the Forum and Guides in the past, and have found them very helpful - so fingers crossed! - but I do get a bit confused, anxious and forgetful along the way - so overall am feeling in very deep water with this claim - plus my ESA is due for review shortly.

I live alone and have to buy-in help for cleaning and things like getting my prescription collected (I'm in a rural area so chemists deliver) - and DLA is really my source of income for such things, but there are many areas where I 'need help but don't get it' so I'm quite worried about those, and may have to come back to the forum for help with that.

Thanks again

Hello,

A few questions have arisen for me, which I hope ou don't mind addressing:

In the site's PIP guide, on page 12, it says a person with certain health conditions, including a mental health condition, shoud be able able to get extra time to complete the form. Sorry about this, but I can't get it clear - is this referring to being given extra time to complete the PIP1 claim form or the PIP2 claim form?

In relation to Question 3 on the PIP2 claim form, regarding preparing food - I haven't physically been able to cope with cooking a meal for years - partly because of this, and partly because of my gastro-intestinal condition more directly, I was malnourished and put on a total prescription diet several years ago, so all my nutritional intake is now in the form of prescribed drinks. However, when I answer this question, should I describe all the difficulties I WOULD have in the kitchen IF I DID have to attempt to pepare and cook food, as well as explaining about my actual real nutritional intake situation?

In relation to Question 6, washing and bathing - I use a bath and have a bath lift - but do I also need to explain the 'notional' difficulties I would have if I DID attempt to use an unadapted shower? - I was not going to mention a shower at all, because I don't use one as it is not suitable, too difficult and dangerous etc, and then I realized - perhaps I actually do need to EXPLAIN all that?

If I include with my claim form something like a care plan, and then that changes, would I have to report such changes as a 'change of circumstance' for benefit reasons - and be / possibly be reassessed? - care plans are usually reassessed - in my case anyway - at least annually - although it doesn't necessarily lead to changes, but it might, whether for more or less or different of something or in some way.

Thank you!

ctts

Hi Gordon,

Thanks a lot for your answers - that's really clear. (It so wasn't when I was trying to think about it!)

About the extra time I mentioned, as mentioned in the guide, for those with mental health conditions - please could you clarify - does that apply for the PIP 1 claim form or the PIP 2 claim form?

Thanks

ctts