GP Supporting Letter Not Sue If I Should Use It

Hi,

I asked my GP for a supporting letter, the receptionist said I need to write in and list what I required. I wrote a letter to GP saying what difficulties I had, ie help dressing lower half, cooking hot food, showering etc, use a wheelchair etc and my diagnosed condition since birth.

The GP wrote me a letter confirming my disability, mentioning it's unlikely to ever improve and then quoted my letter to him saying "copy attached" and said he has no reason to disbelieve me". He also mentioned the fact I work.

The letter is very good, I'm just a little worried that he says I work, as I'm also going for the care component. I do need help with getting into the shower, shoes and socks etc, cooking hot food. I use my wheelchair at work and sit at a desk taking calls all day. Will my working be a problem with claiming care component?

Also, as he mentioned my letter to him and attached a copy of it, I'm worried they may think I'm coaching him what to say.

Any thoughts on this?

RS wrote: Hi,

I asked my GP for a supporting letter, the receptionist said I need to write in and list what I required. I wrote a letter to GP saying what difficulties I had, ie help dressing lower half, cooking hot food, showering etc, use a wheelchair etc and my diagnosed condition since birth.

The GP wrote me a letter confirming my disability, mentioning it's unlikely to ever improve and then quoted my letter to him saying "copy attached" and said he has no reason to disbelieve me". He also mentioned the fact I work.

The letter is very good, I'm just a little worried that he says I work, as I'm also going for the care component. I do need help with getting into the shower, shoes and socks etc, cooking hot food. I use my wheelchair at work and sit at a desk taking calls all day. Will my working be a problem with claiming care component?

Also, as he mentioned my letter to him and attached a copy of it, I'm worried they may think I'm coaching him what to say.

Any thoughts on this?

Hi RS,

Yes, this can be the pitfall of putting a request for a letter/report supporting your benefit claim in writing.

The Assessment Provider/DWP can assume that the G.P. has been "led" !

However, on the positive side, the G.P. has stated that " he has no reason to disbelieve me" therefore stating that they agree with your stated limitations.

Only you can decide whether to use the letter or not.

We generally advise members to provide copy of the PIP Activities for the G.P. with a letter asking them to comment on any of the PIP Activities that they feel that the member qualifies under.

If the G.P. actually highlights the Descriptor of any Activities that they feel apply to the patient, that is even better.

This way, the member is only asking for the G.P. personal opinion, rather than seeming to lead them.

PIP Claims Guide. (2nd Link down the page)

PIP Activities/Descriptors and Points System.

With respect to work, as you probably know PIP is an "in-work benefit" and you can work full time and receive PIP.

Problems with making an award would only ensue if any duties in your work, or travelling to and from work were in direct contradiction to your stated limitations.

I would expect the Assessor to query how you manage to work whilst suffering your stated limitations.

bro58

Hi Bro58.

Thanks for the response.

The letter from my GP is very technical, he mentions my condition, says it won't improve, he has also attached multiple letters from the hospital specialists I've seen over the last couple of years which mention my wheelchair and scooter use. It's just the care component, he doesn't mention this, but then I guess he has no way of knowing what care I need as I've never discussed this with him.

I think I'll need to prove the care side of things myself.