Question on PIP new claim with existing ESA

I never really knew much about PIP or DLA until I joined this site a few years back, but I always decided not to claim it as I lived at home with my parents (so therefore not really needing the additional money) and didn't want to go through the hassle of yet more F2F and form updates.

I am in ESA at the moment, in the support group, and have been on that or IB since 1999 for a long term health issue. My parents have now retired and need me to contribute more to the bills. So I am paying them weekly out of my benefits. This is fine and fair enough, but I only squeeze by each week as even though I live with my parents I pay for my own food and clothes and other bills too, and the extra for PIP could be useful.

I do have trouble dressing and such like so feel I could claim. However I presume it is just as much of a stressful situation as claiming ESA, yes ? Are there any stats on how likely I am to get a F2F for a fresh claim considering I already have ESA ? I had a ESA F2F about 6 months ago and was put in to the support group, but I just hate the whole situation and the build up. If I did claim, and they said I have to have a F2F could I cancel my claim then, or would they think that odd and decline ?

Do they need to contact my GP and such like first ? As I don't keep in touch with my GP as there is nothing they can do for me anymore, I have seen more specialists and more MRI's then you can remember over 15 years.

If I say I need assistance washing, does this mean if I pass a nurse is automatically assigned to me to do this ?

Also for the assessment phase, what is the percentage of F2F home visits vs non-home visits ?

Thanks for any help.

Hi B,

"However I presume it is just as much of a stressful situation as claiming ESA, yes ?"

Similar, but different qualifying criteria.

" Are there any stats on how likely I am to get a F2F for a fresh claim considering I already have ESA ? "

Afraid not, as with ESA, the more evidence that you provide with The PIP 2 "How your Disability Affects You" Form, the more chance of gaining a paper based assessment without a face to face.

Have a read through The PIP Assessment Guide which can be accessed from : This Post.

"If I did claim, and they said I have to have a F2F could I cancel my claim then, or would they think that odd and decline ?"

Yes, you could, and No they would not think it odd.

"Do they need to contact my GP and such like first ?"

Similar to ESA, they "May" contact your G.P., but are not legally obliged to do so.

Again, we advise that claimants should obtain their own evidence and provide it with The PIP 2 Form.

"If I say I need assistance washing, does this mean if I pass a nurse is automatically assigned to me to do this ?"

No, washing and dressing comes under The Daily Living (DL) Component of PIP, if you receive a DL PIP Award, you can spend the money on what you want.

You do not have to be receiving the care/help to get a DL Award, nor can you be compelled to receive such help/care.

Just as if you received a PIP Award under the Mobility Component you would not have to have a car or be able to drive.

"Also for the assessment phase, what is the percentage of F2F home visits vs non-home visits ?"

We don't have those figures, however Home Assessment are more likely if your PIP Assessment Provider is Capita, rather than ATOS, and that depends on which part of the country that you live in.

It is obvious from your queries that you have not yet read through our : PIP Claims Guide,(2nd Link on page) doing so will answer a lot of queries that you may have.

You could also take our : PIP Self Test which may give you some idea of potential entitlement to a PIP Award.

bro58

Thanks Bro58. I will have to think hard on what to do, the extra money would be very useful but I just hate the whole stressful build up stage and everything that goes with it. I will check those guides out. I did your test and scored highly, but of course that is from my own viewpoint.

Just got a couple of other quick questions........

1. On my ESA report it said my next assessment is around October 2017, do you think they already added the extended waiting time to that (due to backlog) ? Or would it have been that date even if everything was on time ? So in other words, if things are still delayed, is it likely it will be 2018/19 before I am seen ? Or does the date likely incorporate this delay already (meaning they might have only given me1 year normally) ? Hope I have explained what I mean.

2. Sorry if this is in the guide, which I am going to print out and read tomorrow, but is a PIP assessment all talk ? Or do they do the same "bend over and touch the ground, lie on table, lift leg, balance on one leg, see eye chart etc etc" type things as ESA F2F ?

3. Am I likely to see the same nurse/doctor who took me for my ESA re-assessment if I get a PIP F2F ? Or are they only assigned for either PIP or ESA ? Although the result was good I did not really like the harsh attitude of my ESA assessor.

Thanks, sorry for the more questions.

Hi B,

"1. On my ESA report it said my next assessment is around October 2017, do you think they already added the extended waiting time to that (due to backlog) ? Or would it have been that date even if everything was on time ? So in other words, if things are still delayed, is it likely it will be 2018/19 before I am seen ? Or does the date likely incorporate this delay already (meaning they might have only given me1 year normally) ? Hope I have explained what I mean."

This recommended date for reassessment will be the normal maximum 3 years from the date of your current award.

Deferments are only given near the time of the recommended date for reassessment, so whether the October 2017 date will be deferred once more to a later date will not become apparent until that time and will be dependent on whether there is still a backlog at that time.

Remember, the recommended period before reassessment of an ESA Award (the prognosis of the award) is just that, a recommendation. ESA awards are not fixed term awards as with DLA and PIP.

"2. Sorry if this is in the guide, which I am going to print out and read tomorrow, but is a PIP assessment all talk ? Or do they do the same "bend over and touch the ground, lie on table, lift leg, balance on one leg, see eye chart etc etc" type things as ESA F2F ?"

PIP F2F assessments are similar to ESA F2F assessments in that they are primarily a Q & A session which may also include some basic physical examination.

"3. Am I likely to see the same nurse/doctor who took me for my ESA re-assessment if I get a PIP F2F ? Or are they only assigned for either PIP or ESA ? Although the result was good I did not really like the harsh attitude of my ESA assessor."

No, ESA Assessors and PIP Assessors, have to work under different guidance due to the different qualifying criteria.

Nearly all of the former ATOS ESA Assessors now work for : The Centre for Health and Disability Assessments (CHDA) (Maximus) who took over the ESA WCA Contract from ATOS on 02/03/15.

Maximus do not carry out PIP Assessments.

bro58