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DLA TO PIP LETTER ARRIVED

dazzi
dazzi Community member Posts: 5 Listener
Hi everyone I've found this group really helpful reading!

long awaited brown envelope arrived last week to apply for pip from dla life time award  Predominantly I had back surgery on l1 which had shattered and resulted in paralysis at the time  I live with constant pain plus nerve damage to left leg outside including left foot with foot drop   Key hole surgery was 10 years ago. 

I also had a nasty car accident last December I was in the passenger seat my son designated driver of my mobility car was driving on the A! when a lady drove straight into the passenger side of my car so side trauma -  that seems to have exacerbated by back foot pain and also added on problems with my left arm shoulder and neck (10 years ago discovered damage to 2 disc in my neck which were decided at the time to leave be) Visited my Doctor yesterday who advised he doubts this will go and that I will now have this too and the best way to deal with it will be to find pain relief that I can add to my existing mix so has prescribed me pregabalin to go with my existing medication   
For info I am also a Chronic migraine sufferer and see the specialist at the hospital every 4/5 months whereby I have botox injection in my head and shoulder to help relieve my systems.  At my visit in January he noted the distinct difference in  me following the car accident as I was completely unable to stand straight and had to be propped up with his books under my left foot to examine me  This I discovered he reported to my GP when I went to see him yesterday.  I went to my GP yesterday as my new pain in the left shoulder neck since the car accident is really making my life hell 6 months on plus I had an appointment with an orthopaedic surgeon this morning for the insurance company  which I was worried about plus I really needed something else for the pain as I'm struggling sleeping then cannot move in the morning and back to crawling out of bed struggling to get up unable to bend down get dressed other than really easy lose pull on clothing.  The appointment today went well with the ortho surgeon really just reporting for the insurance co.  he concluded that my pre existing neck disc issues have certainly been affecting by the car accident and will most likely be with me for life and a question of sorting a good pain relief to manage condition and referring it to chronic pain relief specialist to help with that.  he also added that it may not have affected my back but certainly enhanced degeneration of existing condition plus my awareness of it, including adding my upper body woes now to the picture.  I cannot lift my arms above my head have stiffness both sides of my neck plus constant pain and described it as being the straw to break the camels back.... so all very disheartening but possibly helpful in my next battle... my claim for PIP
 so over the last 10 years have picked myself up dusted myself off as I really do want to look disabled and appear it to anyone... had a few very bad experiences when I had no choice but to be in a wheelchair and abuse when I pulled up into a blue badge parking space (that's another story! not all disabled people are old and retired (I'm now 50) there are lots of many young ones middle aged like myself etc etc (sorry for waffling!) and tried to rebuild my life  I rarely go out have literally no hobbies my life is literally bed  home and work ( I now work for myself but this has suffered since xmas due to car crash)   I do not claim any benefits but receive higher rate mobility and lower rate care on dla   
I'm terrified I am going to lose my independence and be forced onto benefits if I lose my awards  Any advice most gratefully received sorry for the long post and thank you for taking the time to read it
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Comments

  • kenny
    kenny Community member Posts: 74 Courageous
    Remember that pips will only base your claim on what you can or cannot do for yourself! Such as preparing meals, dressing and undressing etc. It does not concern them how many  conditions you have. The mobility part will be based on how far you can walk and stand unaided.As you work you will probably lose the care component, this seems to be the way they judge it!
  • dazzi
    dazzi Community member Posts: 5 Listener
    thank you Kenny that's interesting its such an unfair system... you would think they wanted people to be able to work!! 
  • Matilda
    Matilda Community member Posts: 2,593 Disability Gamechanger
    @dazzi

    I suggest that you re-post in Ask a benefits advisor category.
  • dazzi
    dazzi Community member Posts: 5 Listener
    thank you Matilda :) 
     
  • Liam_Alumni
    Liam_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 1,101 Pioneering
    Hi @dazzi,

    I'm sorry to hear about this. It certainly sounds like a stressful time for you.

    I've noticed that our benefits advisor has responded to your message on your other post, I hope their message is useful. We also have a lot of information about PIP on our website, which might be of interest to you.

    I hope this helps. If you have any other questions, then please do get in touch.
    Liam
  • dazzi
    dazzi Community member Posts: 5 Listener
    thank you Liam she has   It has been very useful thank you just getting my head around the questions etc.  Rang today and put my claim in so awaiting pip 2 pack to arrive then I can get it completed and returned :# : 
  • Liam_Alumni
    Liam_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 1,101 Pioneering
    Hi @dazzi,

    That's great to hear - I'm glad it's been useful. :) You mention getting your head around the questions, if this is for the PIP claim form, then Citizens Advice have some great information about how to answer each question on the form, which may be of interest to you? 

    I hope this helps!
    Liam
  • Matilda
    Matilda Community member Posts: 2,593 Disability Gamechanger
    @dazzi

    Disability Rights website also have a guide to completing PIP2 form.  And Scope have a video about PIP assessment preparation - search under Support and information.  And you can ask on Scope forum about what specific questions are really trying to find out :).
  • mark12
    mark12 Community member Posts: 11 Listener
    I was sent my Dla to pip letter last week asking me to ring them before the 19th July or my payment would stop. I know it can take time to get your supporting evidence and letters together as I was thinking about just ringing them up on the final week 17th July to make a claim to pip but after hearing the forms and assessment can take weeks I just rang them up to begin the process as if u drag it out till the last week of your Dla payment ending then I imagine that they then say youv had 4 weeks to ring them up etc then they would start to cause problems with the claim or Would you hve waited till the last week of your letters date to ring them. Any help or advice is greatly appreciated Thankyou 
  • Chloe_Scope
    Chloe_Scope Posts: 10,586 Disability Gamechanger
    Very best of luck with you claim @dazzi

    If you need anymore advice then please do not hesitate to be in touch!
    Scope

  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 142 Listener
    You can always ring and ask for a 2 week extension if you haven’t got your evidence by then so about a week and a half before it’s due back ring them and explain why you need a extension, they do grant them. Xx
  • mark12
    mark12 Community member Posts: 11 Listener
    And does that mean your Dla payments stay Being payed if I was going to know this would happen I’d of rang them on the last week of my Dla as Iv had to arrange appointments for supporting evidence and gp letters are hard to get at the best of times so I panicked and didn’t want to be stuck with them sayin you’ve had plenty of time to get all letters etc but I know il of lost money by ringing them 16 days earlier than the date on the Dla to pip letter 
  • mark12
    mark12 Community member Posts: 11 Listener
    If you ask for an extension do they carry on paying your Dla until the pip process is completed then 
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 142 Listener
    Yes mark they do, they won’t stop DLA until the decision about PIP has been made. Xx 
  • mark12
    mark12 Community member Posts: 11 Listener
    Thankyou as I didn’t need to ring them until the 19th July and with my GPs and support workers only seeing me there times I just thought  it was better to get all done with so rang them last week as Iv to pick up my supporting evidence this week as I don’t see them until another 4-6 weeks hence why I rang them up to get the forms sent out as Iv been told various things off various people so it must be down to the individual and there health issues that effect them doing the tasks required and there supporting evidence and any other evidence they have got on there system as Surly they must have to go threw all the evidence before they make a decision as GPs and health workers haven’t time to be doing supporting letters as and when the dwp as us to get them sometimes it can take a week or two which then risks you ending up being late in returning the pip2 form so I just thought rather than drag it out till the day before my date to ring by to claim pip I rang them up earlyier to get everything I need to send back with the pip2 form as some people are saying they’ve got 10days to send it all back that’s why I’m going to ask for an 2 week extension if possible to gather further evidence hopefully they’ll continue to pay me while I wait for them to get to there descision but I’m puzzled as what if your f2f assessment isn’t for 6week do they still keep Paying your Dla till the descision is made it seems crazy then iv been told if you don’t get pip you will get one last payment of Dla so your not left in a financial situation till You either MR the descision or ring them up and hope they  listen to anything that’s not right on the assessment which is what they use to get to the descision they make 
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 142 Listener
    I rang and requested a 2 week extension as I needed it as Iocal charity helped me with my forms, and they had quite a wait. Was well worth the wait though. 

    As for payments - if you’re on a indefinite claim as I am, that will cease if you don’t get a successful PIP award and yes you’ll get one final payment as DLA is paid 4 weeks in arrears, I don’t know how it works if your current DLA award was only for a fixed period? Maybe someone else can help out with answering that, and there’s lots of useful information on here and very helpful, supportive people to talk to. 

    I hope this helps xx
  • mark12
    mark12 Community member Posts: 11 Listener
    Thankyou and yes my Dla award was indefinite 
  • mark12
    mark12 Community member Posts: 11 Listener
    Thought it would Thankyou 
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 142 Listener
    Thank you @Username_removed? Knew you’d know xx
  • mark12
    mark12 Community member Posts: 11 Listener
    I’m just annoyed that I rang them up 2 weeks earlier than they Said on the letter next I know if I’d of left it then when it comes to getting all supporting evidence etc then your literally on a limited time scale to get everything done and sent back as they would then I imagine try to say Iv had plenty of time to get the supporting evidence and return the months Paperwork for them to go threw they put us threw enough it’s cruel 

Brightness