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starting PIP claim soon
- tintack
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1 day 5 hours ago #315383 by tintack
starting PIP claim soon was created by tintack
I am going to have to bite the bullet and start a PIP claim soon, probably sometime in the next month or so. Before I do I have some questions.
1. Is it worth contacting the CAB about help with filling out the form? There is a CAB locally, but whether they do this or not I don't know. If it is worth asking them for help and it's something they can do, should I wait until the form arrives before trying to get an appointment with them, or is it better to get an appointment with them before I have the form? I have certainly heard very conflicting reports about the CAB with regard to benefit claims and I will obviously be referring to the B & W guides regardless.
2. Is the DWP likely to ask my GP surgery for correspondence with consultants and surgeons, etc.? The reason I ask is that while some of this correspondence would probably be helpful, there are one or two letters which paint an unduly rosy picture which does not accurately reflect reality, especially as the letters in question are now some months old and things have moved on in that time.
I have never had the impression that the DWP has asked the practice for this sort of thing when claiming ESA, but I don't know if they tend to do so or not with regard to PIP.
3. I am starting the claim soon because major surgery late last year has not had the intended effect and it was the only treatment option available. With no other surgery or non-surgical options available, does it make any difference if I have had surgery within the last year?
Thanks for your help.
1. Is it worth contacting the CAB about help with filling out the form? There is a CAB locally, but whether they do this or not I don't know. If it is worth asking them for help and it's something they can do, should I wait until the form arrives before trying to get an appointment with them, or is it better to get an appointment with them before I have the form? I have certainly heard very conflicting reports about the CAB with regard to benefit claims and I will obviously be referring to the B & W guides regardless.
2. Is the DWP likely to ask my GP surgery for correspondence with consultants and surgeons, etc.? The reason I ask is that while some of this correspondence would probably be helpful, there are one or two letters which paint an unduly rosy picture which does not accurately reflect reality, especially as the letters in question are now some months old and things have moved on in that time.
I have never had the impression that the DWP has asked the practice for this sort of thing when claiming ESA, but I don't know if they tend to do so or not with regard to PIP.
3. I am starting the claim soon because major surgery late last year has not had the intended effect and it was the only treatment option available. With no other surgery or non-surgical options available, does it make any difference if I have had surgery within the last year?
Thanks for your help.
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- BIS
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11 hours 10 minutes ago #315400 by BIS
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by BIS on topic starting PIP claim soon
Hi tintack
1. As you know there are conflicting reports about the CAB. I'm certainly not going to knock them - there are many wonderful people who work there and many claimants who would have received no money if they hadn't got any help. However, I would always say to people that if you rely soley on a CAB advisor you may have to accept how they complete the form and it is unlikely to be with the level of detail that you might hope for. I always encourage claimants to realise that they are the experts in their condition and generally, despite worrying about their ability to put things into words, they are the best people to explain their conditions. However, not everyone has the ability or is well enough to do it alone, and if someone needs support, they should try to get it. You are wise to look at our guides for back-up information.
2. The DWP rarely contacts GPs, but if they do, they ask them to complete a standard form. They don't generally ask for copies of consultant letters.
3. It doesn't make any difference in terms of your claim that you had surgery last year - other than it hasn't had the outcome you hoped for and therefore that's why you are putting in your claim. Make sure that you make it very clear that this will not change - or they might give you a short-term award thinking it is just taking you longer to get better.
BIS
1. As you know there are conflicting reports about the CAB. I'm certainly not going to knock them - there are many wonderful people who work there and many claimants who would have received no money if they hadn't got any help. However, I would always say to people that if you rely soley on a CAB advisor you may have to accept how they complete the form and it is unlikely to be with the level of detail that you might hope for. I always encourage claimants to realise that they are the experts in their condition and generally, despite worrying about their ability to put things into words, they are the best people to explain their conditions. However, not everyone has the ability or is well enough to do it alone, and if someone needs support, they should try to get it. You are wise to look at our guides for back-up information.
2. The DWP rarely contacts GPs, but if they do, they ask them to complete a standard form. They don't generally ask for copies of consultant letters.
3. It doesn't make any difference in terms of your claim that you had surgery last year - other than it hasn't had the outcome you hoped for and therefore that's why you are putting in your claim. Make sure that you make it very clear that this will not change - or they might give you a short-term award thinking it is just taking you longer to get better.
BIS
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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