From DLA to PIP

SethLaa

Well off I go, have just told DWP that my care component needs to increase so need to change over to PIP (I was already aware of that) so let's see what happens and OMG have just contacted the local Social Services to request a stair lift as I can't get up Everest anymore haha, will keep you's posted, enjoy the weather (ruddy killing me) and good luck from Seth Laa

Pippa_Scope

All the best for your PIP application, @SethLaa!

wilko

Good luck with your acessment moving from DLA to PIP most people lose out because the scoring criteria is about your abilities to manage and doing things chores ect. And lastly your mobility issues. Keep posting I know we will wait for a positive result September time don't forget to request a copy of your acessment report.

SethLaa

Thanks Pippa x

SethLaa

wilko said:

Good luck with your acessment moving from DLA to PIP most people lose out because the scoring criteria is about your abilities to manage and doing things chores ect. And lastly your mobility issues. Keep posting I know we will wait for a positive result September time don't forget to request a copy of your acessment report.

Thanks Wilco, am really struggling now compared to last year but am aware and prepared for the onslaught by DWP, as for doing such things as 'chores' the last time I tried to mop the kitchen floor I looked like a drunk morris dancer

SethLaa

Didn't mean to be offensive to Morris Dancers,sorry

Yadnad

SethLaa said:

Didn't mean to be offensive to Morris Dancers,sorry

I don't think you were. Why is it that morris dancers all tend to dance close to a public house?

SethLaa

Yadnad said:

SethLaa said:

Didn't mean to be offensive to Morris Dancers,sorry

I don't think you were. Why is it that morris dancers all tend to dance close to a public house?

PMSL

SethLaa

Had a visit yesterday from social services, I was hoping for a stair lift but by the time the Occupational Therapist left I was left feeling that they want to knock my home down and start again, they want to do loads, maybe it's a pipe dream or  I am much more disabled than I thought, let's see what happens

angi

Glad the OT is rooting for you. In many areas they can't help most of the time due to cost cutting, 

Yadnad

angi said:

Glad the OT is rooting for you. In many areas they can't help most of the time due to cost cutting, 

Absolutely the case. There are very few councils that have the reserve funding for adaptions of that nature. Northamptonshire is a prime example to be followed shortly by Somerset.

Here in Kent which sees both extremes - wealth and poverty, very little money is available to provide for anything more than the absolute minimum.

Topkitten

I needed a stair lift in my previous address but was told that under no circumstances would one be put in due to it being excessive cost. I even had a hard time getting a shower room changed to a wet room. I think it comes down to available council funding and my area is always complaining about a shortage of sufficient funding.

Mind you, there are rumours going round for years about this council needing to be bribed to get anything done. The rumours have persisted for a decade and I can remember when Tesco wanted a specific location and donated a million pounds to the council to fund the road changes. A local paper somehow got hold of their finances and strangely (or maybe not so strangely) that million never appeared in the accounts. Caused merry hell when the paper published and openly accused people of accepting bribes yet never got taken to court.

TK

Yadnad

Topkitten 

Mind you, there are rumours going round for years about this council needing to be bribed to get anything done. The rumours have persisted for a decade and I can remember when Tesco wanted a specific location and donated a million pounds to the council to fund the road changes. A local paper somehow got hold of their finances and strangely (or maybe not so strangely) that million never appeared in the accounts. Caused merry hell when the paper published and openly accused people of accepting bribes yet never got taken to court.

TK

That does highlight how rumours can turn to accusations.

Taking the Tesco case that you mention, any large scale development that has had the plans accepted will be forced to provide funding for the infrastructure needed. This could be a new road layout, new school etc. The developer would hand the money over to the council where it would be ring fenced as Section 106 monies. It would not appear in the every day accounts as income, but as allocated funding reserves.

The infrastructure would be built and the money released to fund it. In fact with the majority of developments the developer has to pay into that fund for such things as grass cutting of open spaces. Doing this reduces the impact on the residents through their council tax payments and places it quite rightly on the developers.

Not everything you read in newspapers is true, in fact in my experience less than 20% of it would be the actual truth.Truth doesn't sell papers, innuendos and rumours do. 

SethLaa

The OT did mention that the work and materials will hopefully come from a 'Disabled Facilities Grant'. I can do no more than hope,dream and pray,lets see what happens (or doesn't happen lol).

poppy123456

Details of the disabled facilities grant here. https://www.disability-grants.org/disabled-facilities-grant.html

axwy62

My Dad recently applied for a disabled facilities grant from Somerset council, and got it. They even added things he hadn't applied for, like a larger step and a handrail by the back door. The work was completed within 2 months of the original application date.

Topkitten

When I first needed adaptions someone from OT came round and put up rails in various places, including front and back doors, and a frame over the toilet to save bending and a few other things. He was just a mechanic and didn't assess me as such just sorted some simple assistance's. These were more helpful at the time than the assessment until I needed to move to avoid stairs completely then I needed the report to prove I needed different accommodation.

Although I have recently asked for another assessment this hasn't happened again which is unfortunate as it means I still cannot sleep in my bed.

TK

SethLaa

poppy123456 said:

Details of the disabled facilities grant here. https://www.disability-grants.org/disabled-facilities-grant.html

Thanks Poppy x

SethLaa

Am currently filling in the PIP form, wow it's a bit much but what concerns me is that I asked my local surgery for medical records going back 10 years (that's when I was confirmed with MS), there is tons of paperwork so should I send all of it as I am worried that if I try to narrow it down to what I think is important then I may omit the crucial stuff but at the same time don't expect the HCP to bother reading most of it and lol am dreading the postal charges as it won't fit in the envelope that was sent. Any advice will be much appreciated, many thanks from Russell. 

poppy123456

Hi,

10 years of evidence is a little over the top and you're right they most likely won't read all of that. They do state that evidence should be within the last 2 years, but i have sent in evidence older than that myself and it's be used.  This is why you should get some help with filling in those forms and advice on what evidence to send. Little is more, in this case because evidence can contradict each other in some ways.

If you can't find a disability advice centre to help you then when filling in the forms you should put down as much information as possible and have the PIP descriptors next to you when you do. The more information you put down the better for you. Use extra paper if needed. There's guides on the internet you can use for filling out the forms. Extra time can be given to return the forms, if needed. Ring DWP and they'll give you the standard 14 days extra.

Good luck.

SethLaa

Thanks Poppy, methinks it will be a good idea now to go back maybe 3 years as this will include MRI scans as well as all the Stem Cell and Chemotherapy I had last year, it bothers me that some of the paperwork states 'secondary' progressive and some state 'primary' progressive. I think I need to leave it in the lap of the gods fingers crossed 

SethLaa

Received a letter today from PIP (Belfast) informing me that they have all the info they need to make a decision and will write to me with a decision, does anybody know how long I may be waiting or is it simply a case of ''wait and see''. Thanks for any input from SethLaa

poppy123456

There's no timescales for decisions. Backlogs is just part of the reason a decision can be delayed. The letter you received is a standard letter they send everyone. Hopefully not too long.

SethLaa

Thanks Poppy x

SethLaa

Well I finally got the dreaded brown envelope this morning but was very anxious about opening it what with all the horror stories I read regarding the assessors and their final reports, 
BUT woohoo, wow and OMG my High Rate Mobility is staying the same (Enhanced PIP Mobility) and my Middle Rate Care has been upgraded also (Enhanced PIP Care).
A massive thank you to all at Scope and the posters for the assistance you have provided, you are all amazing.
I must add that the HCP/assessor was very nice only requiring me to perform 2 tasks and did not belittle me in any way.
My only question is that what exactly does an '''Ongoing Award''' actually mean?
Many many thanks y'all from Seth

poppy123456

SethLaa said:

Well I finally got the dreaded brown envelope this morning but was very anxious about opening it what with all the horror stories I read regarding the assessors and their final reports, 
BUT woohoo, wow and OMG my High Rate Mobility is staying the same (Enhanced PIP Mobility) and my Middle Rate Care has been upgraded also (Enhanced PIP Care).
A massive thank you to all at Scope and the posters for the assistance you have provided, you are all amazing.
I must add that the HCP/assessor was very nice only requiring me to perform 2 tasks and did not belittle me in any way.
My only question is that what exactly does an '''Ongoing Award''' actually mean?
Many many thanks y'all from Seth

Great news! ongoing means 10 years, which is the longest award length before a review.

SethLaa

Thanks for the good news Poppy X

keira

@SethLaa
Really pleased for you x

SethLaa

Many thanks Keira x

keira

Your more than welcome. Out of curiosity did your award letter just say "ongoing award" or did it quote dates?

SethLaa

No dates (typical valentines day for moi), just said ongoing award

keira

Haha! Thanks for your reply. The reason I asked is because I was looking at a friends award letter from 2017 which also just said ongoing award with no dates quoted and was wondering why some letters quote a date 10 years in the future and others don't?

SethLaa

Dunno but just found out that its for ten years,time to relax and chill

keira

Thanks, take care x

SethLaa

You too hun x