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Hi first time posting, so may make mistakes.

My partner has just been awarded the enhanced rate of PIP for daily living and mobility. He has been sent a certificate which he can use to claim free car tax. He isn't able to drive and so I use my car to take him to hospital appts, get shopping, scripts etc for him as I am his full time carer.

On the DVLA website it says that someone can apply for free vehicle tax IF the registered keeper "USES THEIR CAR ONLY FOR THE DISABLED PERSON... TO HELP THEM, FOR EG, TO GET PRESCRIPTIONS OR GO SHOPPING FOR THEM." I get the point but it makes no sense to me: are we thus supposed to run two cars in case I were to ever need to use the car for my own purposes such as a hospital appointment etc? Surely no-one can afford to do this, it seems crazy. We have a Blue Badge for parking which I obviously only use when I have him with me as I don't need it but the idea that I can't use a car for anything else is bonkers. I am not working as I am his full time carer but might occasionally want to use the car for something not connected to him.

I would be very grateful for others input/ advice about this. Thanks.

Hi Saffron5

Congratulations on your renewed PIP award. I'm glad that you were given a paper-based assessment. Good to hear that you were also able to sort out your blue badge. Well done!

BIS

Tags: @PIP @RESULT @REVIEW

After returning my review form at the beginning of Sept 2023 like so many of us I just waited.
I received the usual texts and a letter saying my award had been extended by a year.
Then out of the blue had a text saying my review was complete decision letter in the post, arrived 3 days later.
I have stayed the same standard mobility and care.
Relief that it's done and surprise that they didn't even speak to me. I did include medical evidence.
One thing I did do after reading everyone's posts was apply for my blue badge regardless of pip as it runs out this week so I would have been without it. I put a covering note in and evidence of the pip I had at the time. I now have a new 3 year blue badge.

I have a blue badge walking assesment where i struggle to walk 80m with significant pain, shortness of breath and taking a significant amount of time. Unrepeatable that day.
However I believe they mark you on using a manual wheelchair, even if you don't have one.
My fibromyalgia causes me total body pain and exhaustion, and I've had shoulder impingement and rotator cuff issues in the past (not documented that I can see) how do I explain that a manual wheelchair would be unable to be used?

I posted elsewhere about how to get a copy of the report after the phone assessment. My phone assessment was last week and I've already had a letter awarding enhanced mobility and standard living needs - for four years. So I assume I'll have to go through it all again in four years time (by which time I'll be 70!). I had already asked for the copy of the report after the phone assessment so I suppose it's useful to have anyway!

So good news and I'm surprised it came so quickly especially as my GP hadn't got round to sending the letter I'd asked her to do.

I did send quite a bit of historical evidence after requesting medical evidence from the NHS (can't remember what it's called but a kind of subject access report type thing). This didn't include everything but I had had a few A&E visits after falls so had the notes from those which seemed to have helped as the A&E notes listed my other conditions and assessed me as "vulnerable". And noted that I used a wheelchair.

If that helps anyone getting evidence.

I'm slightly shell shocked. I can now get a blue badge at last. It's hellish going for hospital apartments and negotiating a huge car park being pushed in a wheelchair. I was intending to use the mobility payment for leasing a mobility scooter and hoist but there's no info about motability in with the letter. However I assume I will need to be assessed again in four years time.

It said it was a short award in case I improved or got worse.

There was quite a lot of info in the letter about how the decision was made - some of which I didn't agree with - it said I could eat a meal using normal cutlery when I said I could only use a fork. It also commented that I engaged well with the interviewer so didn't have any issues planning journeys (not the same thing at all!). And various other things as to how they reached the decision.

But I'm happy to have received the enhanced mobility allowance and the standard living needs allowance.

This site is confidential isn't it by the way? I noticed the news page/blog comments had been posted on Twitter recently.

I was in the same position I rang council about blue badge they said do the application and write on it that you are awaiting pip review
I sent a few pieces of medical evidence and copy of pip reward letter and I have just received blue badge for next 3 years. I did wait about 8 weeks though. They were very helpful when I called.
As for pip review I've been waiting since beginning of September and I've just had a letter extending claim for 12 months.

Hi Bugsy1943,
It does take along time to get a decision. The wait depends on the area you live. If you are worried about your blue badge you can do a full application. If you get a qualifying PIP mobility award then you can simply tick the box and then nit have yo fill out the rest of the form. Otherwise you can complete the form which is a bit tedious, but then the council can still award you the blue badge.
You may wish to consider this.
I hope this helps.
LL26

Hello i am just wondering how long it is taking PIP to assess the forms ?
i have now been waiting 8 months! my award which i have now, runs out in july,
i have had a reminder to renew my blue badge put can not do this until i get a award and they are saying it is a wait for a badge upto 12 weeks!!!!!!!

Hi Greenfinch28

Many congratulations on your successful PIP award. Glad to hear that you found the guides so useful. Well done for making the most of them and getting through the process.

I don't want to alarm you - but be aware - that review forms can be sent out up to a year before the award end date. So you could get the review form in a year's time. I just want you to be forewarned.

Glad you can now get your blue badge.
]
BIS

Hi All
Best thing I ever did was subscribe to this advice site. This was my second application, the first was declined, I thought I could just say how things were & that would be ok. It was awful, I felt bullied & dreaded reapplying.
However having subscribed to this site I learnt how specific you have to be so I was prepared, the assessment was so much easier because I understood what they were trying to ascertain.
I’m please to share I have been awarded standard daily living & enhanced mobility but more importantly I can now get a blue badge (this will help so much!). However my husband is pleased that my mobility issues have been recognised!
Thank you so much.
It’s a 2 year award due to my issue is arthritis of the hip which hopefully will be resolved once I have a hip replacement.

Hello,
I have subscribed after a recommendation from my neighbour. I had to stop working in March 2022 due to continuing knee problems. I have had surgery to remove a plate and pins from my left knee/leg. I have bone on bone and arthritis in my left knee. According to a letter from the consultant, it seems as though I will need a full or partial knee reconstruction. The Job Centre would not accept my Doctors/Consultant Fit Notes and said that I was capable of some kind of work. I also suffer with constant sciatica and lower back pain and I can’t sit or stand for very long. When the pain is at its worst I have to lie down to take the weight off my knees and lower backI am also receiving physio for post surgery right shoulder operation and will also be getting physio for my lower back and hips. I appealed against the UC decision that I am fit for work. All I was told was that my appeal would take place in Essex. I heard nothing for months and months so I rang the HMCTS on the 25/03/2024. I was told that they had sent me a letter on the 20/03/2024 and that my appeal date was the 18/04/2024. I waited for this letter to arrive but nothing turned up. I rang the HMCTS again and was told by another person that there was nothing on their system to say that they had sent me a letter and didn’t know why I had been told this. I was then told to send details, Doctors letters and anything else that was relevant to my appeal straight to the HMCTS marked URGENT. I did send an email with the relevant information. On the 19/04/2024 I received a letter saying that my appeal had been heard in Cardiff and had been refused. A couple of days later I received an email from HMCTS saying sorry for their delayed response and that they can see that my appeal is now closed and that they can confirm that they added my evidence to my appeal but not actioned this out to all parties. Does this mean that the Judge and Medical ‘expert’ did not get to see my evidence ? I have emailed the HMCTS to inform them that I wish to appeal their decision and have yet to hear back from them.
I applied for PIP and have been awarded payment for day to day living but not for mobility. I reapplied for mobility payment but this was refused again.
I was also enrolled onto a mandatory Restart Scheme in April 2023 for a year. On a conference call between myself, my work coach and the Restart employee they asked my work coach if it was worth me enrolling as I was not in a position to undertake any kind of work. They were told that I had to attend. I went to a Jobs Fair through the Restart Scheme and not one company would employ me due to my medical problems.
Now that my appeal has been heard and closed down, I have to sign on at the Job Centre every 2 weeks and have had to accept my work commitments and actively look for work or I will get sanctioned.
I have also got a mandatory appointment at the Job Centre tomorrow (21/05/2024) with someone from National Careers to help me get back to work.
I am not receiving ESA or LCWRA as I have not been advised by my work coach that I can apply for them and I am not sure if I can claim these.
I have had to fit a stairlift in our flat as I cannot carry items ( ie: shopping bags) up the stairs. I cannot walk very far as I get increased pain in my left knee, lower back and get breathless very quickly (especially on inclines). I am also starting to get pains in my right knee which I think is due to limping for over 2 years and bearing most of my weight on it. I have also had an MRI scan on my hips and have been told that I have mild arthritis in my right hip. I have to use a walking stick when out and about (ie: shopping, hospital/doctors/Job Centre appointments). I was advised to contact Age UK Gloucestershire to help me apply for a Blue Badge even though I am not old enough. I have applied for a Blue Badge and I have been contacted by letter asking for more details. I am waiting to hear back from them.
I hope that someone on here can advise me or point me in the right direction before I have a mental breakdown. I have had to go to my Doctor as all the stress has affected my mental health and I feel as though my head is going to explode.
Thanks
Daz

Hi everyone. I am new to this so hope it's okay to ask a couple of questions.

I am 53 and have longstanding chronic pain which started following a riding accident just over 30 years ago in which I severely damaged my coccyx and lower back.

Fast forward many years and ANA flag in bloods caused my GP concern and she referred me urgently for a rheumatologist appointment as she suspected possible rheumatoid arthritis. Further tests ruled this out but I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia Syndrome. I am also diagnosed with chronic Neuropathy due to spinal injury.

I am on intensive pain management programme and take modified release Tapentadol along with Cymbala/duloxetine, amitriptyline and am currently tapering down from 800mgs Pregabalin daily, currently I am on 50mgs twice a day.

I am registered as disabled with my local Council and have a Blue Badge due to my mobility.

I have horrific brain fog and very poor cognitive thinking due to the pain and fibromyalgia.

I am unable to walk more than 50 feet unaided.

My partner is my carer. He cooks and cleans and has to wash and dry my hair due to the pain. He has to get me dressed and undressed due to the pain caused..

I have been asked time and time again to apply for PIP but have been put off by horror stories.

I bit the bullet and end of February I rang and registered my claim with DWP for PIP.

I was told the form would be sent to me but this would take up to 12 weeks. To print off a form? Is this right?

I tried to ring them 3 times last week. Tried both options - new claims and existing claims but after many minutes on hold, the call kept dropping out.

They have no email address.

I wanted some honest advice please.

My pain is amplified when I am under stress. Fibromyalgia flares and the low back spasms and sciatica are impacted also.

Do you think I have a worthwhile claim? I'm seriously thinking if it takes this amount of time just to receive a form, I could be dead by the time I get assessed!

Any advice would be really helpful.

Much love,

J