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How to answer PIP Q14a fluctuating conditions?
- ostia
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5 years 9 months ago #235252 by ostia
How to answer PIP Q14a fluctuating conditions? was created by ostia
Hello
I am doing a DLA to PIP transfer form. In the DLA form of 2008 (granted indefinitely til recently) I wrote that as I only got out about half the week to the shops which are on my doorstep I wrote my distance walking as 50-200 m as due to CFS and complex neurological/mental health issues. Even this I find tiring.
However when my health is much better (usually in summer) I can manage a lot more than this though always with fatigue 1-2 days after. I can get a train to a nearby town, for example.
A benefits advisor I saw recently said that if I spent some days each week indoors due to weakness, only getting up to the loo/kitchen nearby I was entitled to say my distance is actually 20m (less in fact).
I felt uncomfortable with this as it did not match what I had said in the DLA form. So she suggested I tick "it varies" and then explain.
What do you think? I wonder whether "it varies" carries any points at all really. I know with fluctuating conditions if they impede you for ?? at least half the week you can claim a lower distance. But I don't want to seem pushy and claim the 20m really. In fact my conditions vary wildly from week to week and from day to day.
Thanks.
I am doing a DLA to PIP transfer form. In the DLA form of 2008 (granted indefinitely til recently) I wrote that as I only got out about half the week to the shops which are on my doorstep I wrote my distance walking as 50-200 m as due to CFS and complex neurological/mental health issues. Even this I find tiring.
However when my health is much better (usually in summer) I can manage a lot more than this though always with fatigue 1-2 days after. I can get a train to a nearby town, for example.
A benefits advisor I saw recently said that if I spent some days each week indoors due to weakness, only getting up to the loo/kitchen nearby I was entitled to say my distance is actually 20m (less in fact).
I felt uncomfortable with this as it did not match what I had said in the DLA form. So she suggested I tick "it varies" and then explain.
What do you think? I wonder whether "it varies" carries any points at all really. I know with fluctuating conditions if they impede you for ?? at least half the week you can claim a lower distance. But I don't want to seem pushy and claim the 20m really. In fact my conditions vary wildly from week to week and from day to day.
Thanks.
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5 years 9 months ago #235256 by BIS
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by BIS on topic How to answer PIP Q14a fluctuating conditions?
Hi Ostia
The DWP are interested in what impact your medical conditions have on you now and will not be looking at information from eleven years ago. It is up to you whether you tick any of the boxes. You can always write "see below" next to them and write an explanation in the box or on an additional piece of paper. As your condition fluctuates you need to think what your condition is like most of the time. So if it's much better in the summer is this for 3 months of the year and then you struggle for the other 9 months? Only you know. You could also look at how you are in an average week. Do you struggle for more days than not? In describing the fluctuating nature of your condition be as clear as you can making sure you address the criteria in each question and do not give the impression of doing more than you can actually do. Yes, you can still score if you tick that you condition varies, but you won't if it's not for the majority of the time.
BIS
The DWP are interested in what impact your medical conditions have on you now and will not be looking at information from eleven years ago. It is up to you whether you tick any of the boxes. You can always write "see below" next to them and write an explanation in the box or on an additional piece of paper. As your condition fluctuates you need to think what your condition is like most of the time. So if it's much better in the summer is this for 3 months of the year and then you struggle for the other 9 months? Only you know. You could also look at how you are in an average week. Do you struggle for more days than not? In describing the fluctuating nature of your condition be as clear as you can making sure you address the criteria in each question and do not give the impression of doing more than you can actually do. Yes, you can still score if you tick that you condition varies, but you won't if it's not for the majority of the time.
BIS
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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5 years 8 months ago #235462 by ostia
Replied by ostia on topic How to answer PIP Q14a fluctuating conditions?
Thanks. I forgot to explain above that my situation is the same as when they last looked at my claim ie fluctuating days of energy and activity.
The adviser I saw said I could put 20m or less as this is me at my worst and confined to bedroom/loo. I said I thought the rules had changed and you had to say how you were the majority of days taking into account fluctuations. She said she told her clients to put down their worst days. Bit worrying as she said she trained with citizens advice bureau. But she was a kindly lady and helped with some parts of the form.
The adviser I saw said I could put 20m or less as this is me at my worst and confined to bedroom/loo. I said I thought the rules had changed and you had to say how you were the majority of days taking into account fluctuations. She said she told her clients to put down their worst days. Bit worrying as she said she trained with citizens advice bureau. But she was a kindly lady and helped with some parts of the form.
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