Got the Date for PIP Medical and am Terrified

Gordon,

Thank you, you are a ray of sunshine in this.

It just seems to be aimed at getting as many people who were DLA life award to crack over pip.

For the last few days, I have not slept, I have been horrible to my husband, who is trying to help, I cry for no reason and I feel as if I am withdrawing into what a friend calls Wendy's World. This is where I shut everyone out and go deeper and deeper into the dark.

The last time I felt like this I reached out because I felt that life would be so much better for everyone if I wasn't here.

I feel at the moment, that I just want to stop this process, I am scared that I won't be ale to get through the interview and then this will go against me

It took a long time for me to claim DLA, I felt that I was begging and that I wasn't disabled. My husband eventually got the forms and with his help I completed it. I was shocked when I was awarded middle care and high mobility.

My friend said it's because of people that really aren't entitled to it that have ruined things and made it difficult for those of us that are genuine.

How will I cope between now and the 29th February

Hi Wendy,

Please let your GP, CPN, support worker etc know that you are feeling so bad. Don't forget that you can phone The Samaritans on 116 123 if you feel desperate.

I don't entirely agree with your friend. Even DWP admit that the fraud rate for disability benefits is very low. The changes to benefits and entitlement was solely to save money and the government have done a good job of demonising anyone who claims benefits of any type

Hi Wendy,
Please try not to let it get to you, I know it's easier said but I was in the exact situation as you.. Couldn't sleep, eat, sobbed ALL day and night etc. I had my f2f one week ago and my assessor was really quite empathetic, gave us hope that they would keep my award the same as is and would recommend they don't see me again. Whether that happens remains to be seen but I've had to try and stop worrying until it we know for sure. The whole process is awful to endure, because we have to focus on what we can't do on a bad day than what we can do on a good day!!
Anyway I just wanted to offer you some support and say keep your chin up... Take all the help you can get whoever it's from.
DWP just aren't worth making ourselves poorly for - keeping everything crossed for you xxxx

Thank you both so much. I have calmed down a little bit, but I wish I could sleep.

I have received a reply from my consultant's secretary, this is what was said:

Mrs L

I have spoken with Mr ******* who has confirmed that we would need DWP to request a report from us if they require one. They will not accept an ad hoc report from Mr ******** even though you were funding it yourself. I am assuming your GP will provide them with enough information and if they require further details they will contact us direct.

Hope this is of some help.

Kind Regards

So I think I am wasting my time here to be honest. I still haven't contacted my GP and I am assuming that she will say the same thing. So it looks like I am reliant on the information I have sent them, my replies and the assessment.

Hi

I hope you don't mind me butting in, I am in the process is of starting to fill in my PIP form. I saw my GP at the weekend and told her I was just expecting the form and about the extra sleeplessness and tremendous anxiety it was causing. I did ask for a letter of support and offered to pay but she told me the DWP or Capita would write to her.

I did politely point out that they more often than not don't, but like your consultant she seemed to think there was no merit in attaching an ad hoc letter. Medics do seem to labour under the idea that they will be approached for medical information and trying to tell them otherwise just doesn't sink in. I don't know why so many doctors still think like this.

It is annoying and you don't want to antagonise them by telling them they are wrong. Don't they have any training on current benefit procedures? Anyway wishing you the best of luck.

No mcw, medics have no training on benefits/benefit procedure. I think many medics are fed up with the extra work they have been landed with as a result of government interference and no longer wish to 'play the game' by submitting reports for patients unless DWP request it directly and pay for it. My own GP takes the view that he would spend all day writing this kind of report if he started down that route and would not have time to actually see people who are sick. They genuinely do not realise that the patients are suffering as a result of this