PIP video/phone Healthcare Professional assessment

LL26: Thanks for thinking of that. While I receive a war disablement pension I was invalided out on the previous scheme, thus I have to apply for PIP - but I wish I could use the other as my 60% disablement would qualify if 'mapped over' to that replacement scheme. Instead I have to run the gamut with PIP which takes no formal account of the military scheme.

In my last PIP assessment in '18 I was awarded standard DL (10 pts); this time the HP's report scores me two pts too low for even that. I'm worse, not better, so this is absurd.

Hi LL26,

If I may.....

I was medically discharged from the Royal Navy in 1998; the reasons for discharge were lumbar spondylosis (with me claiming for cervical spondylosis shortly after) and asthma.
On discharge I was "awarded" a medical pension (for want of another expression); shortly after discharge I was invited to attend a medical board where I was assessed as 70% disabled.

Because I was discharged in 1998, I was discharged under the pre 6th April 2005 War Pension Scheme. The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) replaced the War Pension Scheme from 6th April 2005 onwards.

The Armed Forces Independence Payment is awarded under AFCS if in receipt of a Guaranteed Income Payment (GIP) in Band A - C; PIP cannot be claimed if receiving AFIP / AFIP cannot be claimed if receiving PIP.

Just over a year ago I reduced my working week to Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday because of the spondylosis and then submitted an application for Allowance for Lowered Standard of Occupation (ALSO). Frmarcus may be in a position to claim ALSO; if so, the ALSO cannot be more than 100% of the War Pension and it`s easy enough to calculate how much may be received. The wording on the GOV site for ALSO is a bit daunting, but it`s relatively straight forward to claim - and no medical evidence is required (or it wasn`t in my case).

I also looked in to the War Pensioners Mobility Supplement and came to the conclusion that you had to be crawling with no legs before you would be successful; it`s only and purely for assistance with mobility. PIP, on the other hand, has several layers and awards for both mobility and daily living.

An age pension is automatically "awarded" at 65, of which I`m not (yet) in receipt of.

I hope I`ve helped here and I sincerely hope I haven`t "trodden on anybody`s toes".

Andy