Received my PIP form today

[nick0]

Re: Received my PIP form today

hi thank you again, Im not always having to use the camping toilet or the bed bar though it is only when i get the back spasms.
I had to be helped up from the bed a few years back by the ambulance crew and was given gas and air because i couldn't get up , i will put that down too . But im not in this state all the time only when the anxiety takes an affect because im so tensed up , will this be a trick question from them ?

Hi,
Your anxiety affects you on a daily basis and some days may be better then others, I have copied the questions below and that will give you a guide
then just ask me any questions.

1. Preparing food.

1 a. Can prepare and cook a simple meal unaided. 0 points 1 b. Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to either prepare or cook a simple meal. 2 points 1 c. Cannot cook a simple meal using a conventional cooker but is able to do so using a microwave. 2 points 1 d. Needs prompting to be able to either prepare or cook a simple meal. 2 points 1 e. Needs supervision or assistance to either prepare or cook a simple meal. 4 points. 1 f. Cannot prepare and cook food. 8 points.

2. Taking nutrition.

2 a. Can take nutrition unaided. 0 points 2 b. Needs either - (i) to use an aid or appliance to take nutrition; or (ii) supervision to be able to take nutrition; or (iii) assistance to be able to cut up food. 2 points 2 c. Needs a therapeutic source to take nutrition. 2 points 2 d. Needs prompting to be able to take nutrition. 4 points 2 e. Needs assistance to be able to manage a therapeutic source to take nutrition. 6 points 2 f. Cannot convey food and drink to their mouth and needs another person to do so. 10 points

3. Managing therapy or monitoring a health condition.

3 a. Either - (i) does not receive medication or therapy or need to monitor a health condition; or (ii) can manage medication or therapy or monitor a health condition unaided. 0 points 3 b. (i) to use an aid or appliance to be able to manage medication; or (ii) supervision, prompting or assistance to be able to manage medication or monitor a health condition. 1 point 3 c. Needs supervision, prompting or assistance to be able to manage therapy that takes no more than 3.5 hours a week. 2 points 3 d. Needs supervision, prompting or assistance to be able to manage therapy that takes more than 3.5 but no more than 7 hours a week. 4 points 3 e. Needs supervision, prompting or assistance to be able to manage therapy that takes more than 7 but no more than 14 hours a week. 6 points 3 f. Needs supervision, prompting or assistance to be able to manage therapy that takes more than 14 hours a week. 8 points

4. Washing and bathing.

4 a. Can wash and bathe unaided. 0 points 4 b. Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to wash or bathe. 2 points 4 c. Needs supervision or prompting to be able to wash or bathe. 2 points 4 d. Needs assistance to be able to wash either their hair or body below the waist. 2 points 4 e. Needs assistance to be able to get in or out of a bath or shower. 3 points 4 f. Needs assistance to be able to wash their body between the shoulders and waist. 4 points 4 g. Cannot wash and bathe at all and needs another person to wash their entire body. 8 points

5. Managing toilet needs or incontinence.

5 a. Can manage toilet needs or incontinence unaided. 0 points 5 b. Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to manage toilet needs or incontinence. 2 points 5 c. Needs supervision or prompting to be able to manage toilet needs. 2 points 5 d. Needs assistance to be able to manage toilet needs. 4 points 5 e. Needs assistance to be able to manage incontinence of either bladder or bowel. 6 points 5 f. Needs assistance to be able to manage incontinence of both bladder and bowel. 8 points

6. Dressing and undressing.

6 a. Can dress and undress unaided. 0 points 6 b. Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to dress or undress. 2 points 6 c. Needs either - (i) prompting to be able to dress, undress or determine appropriate circumstances for remaining clothed; or (ii) prompting or assistance to be able to select appropriate clothing. 2 points 6 d. Needs assistance to be able to dress or undress their lower body. 2 points 6 e. Needs assistance to be able to dress or undress their upper body. 4 points 6 f. Cannot dress or undress at all. 8 points

7. Communicating.

7 a. Can express and understand verbal information unaided. 0 points 7 b. Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to speak or hear. 2 points 7 c. Needs communication support to be able to express or understand complex verbal information. 4 points 7 d. Needs communication support to be able to express or understand basic verbal information. 8 points 7 e. Cannot express or understand verbal information at all even with communication support. 12 points

8. Reading and understanding signs, symbols and words

8 a. Can read and understand basic and complex written information either unaided or using spectacles or contact lenses. 0 points. 8 b. Needs to use an aid or appliance, other than spectacles or contact lenses, to be able to read or understand either basic or complex written information. 2 points 8 c. Needs prompting to be able to read or understand complex written information. 2 points. 8 d. Needs prompting to be able to read or understand basic written information. 4 points. 8 e. Cannot read or understand signs, symbols or words at all. 8 points.

9. Engaging with other people face to face.

9 a. Can engage with other people unaided. 0 points 9 b. Needs prompting to be able to engage with other people. 2 points 9 c. Needs social support to be able to engage with other people. 4 points 9 d. Cannot engage with other people due to such engagement causing either - (i) overwhelming psychological distress to the claimant; or (ii) the claimant to exhibit behaviour which would result in a substantial risk of harm to the claimant or another person. 8 points

10. Making budgeting decisions.

10 a. Can manage complex budgeting decisions unaided. 0 points 10 b. Needs prompting or assistance to be able to make complex budgeting decisions. 2 points 10 c. Needs prompting or assistance to be able to make simple budgeting decisions. 4 points 10 d. Cannot make any budgeting decisions at all. 6 points

Mobility activities

11. Planning and following journeys.

11 a. Can plan and follow the route of a journey unaided. 0 points 11 b. Needs prompting to be able to undertake any journey to avoid overwhelming psychological distress to the claimant. 4 points 11 c. Cannot plan the route of a journey. 8 points 11 d. Cannot follow the route of an unfamiliar journey without another person, assistance dog or orientation aid. 10 points 11 e. Cannot undertake any journey because it would cause overwhelming psychological distress to the claimant. 10 points 11 f. Cannot follow the route of a familiar journey without another person, an assistance dog or an orientation aid. 12 points

12. Moving around.

12 a. Can stand and then move more than 200 metres, either aided or unaided. 0 points 12 b. Can stand and then move more than 50 metres but no more than 200 metres, either aided or unaided. 4 points 12 c. Can stand and then move unaided more than 20 metres but no more than 50 metres. 8 points 12 d. Can stand and then move using an aid or appliance more than 20 metres but no more than 50 metres. 10 points 12 e. Can stand and then move more than 1 metre but no more than 20 metres, either aided or unaided. 12 points 12 f. Cannot, either aided or unaided, –(i) stand; or (ii) move more than 1 metre. 12 points

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) daily living component points scores


To get an award of the daily living component, you need to score:

8 points for the standard rate
12 points for the enhanced rate

For daily living, the points need to be scored from activities 1-10 above.

You can only score one set of points from each activity, if two or more apply from the same activity only the highest will count. So, for example, if:

4 d. Needs assistance to groom. 2 points
4 g. Needs assistance to bathe. 4 points

both apply you will receive only the 4 points for the ‘Bathing and grooming’ activity. These can then be added to points for other activities, such as 'Dressing and undressing'


Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Mobility Component Points Scores

To get an award of the mobility component you need to score:

8 points for the standard rate
12 points for the enhanced rate

For mobility, the points need to be scored from mobility activities 1-2 above.

As with daily living above, you only score the highest points that apply to you from each activity, but you can add points from activities 1 and 2 together to reach your final total.


PLEASE NOTE... This is information I sourced from the internet and verified, I take no credit for the content but will accept thanks for the post

nick0

[Spent2much]

Re: Received my PIP form today

Hi,
YES put down ALL instances where your disability has effected you.Make sure you put the name of the hospital and the day you went.
If you need a camping toilet this is classed as an aid and needs to be put on your form and again mention the electric heater as this helps with your pain.
The fact you are NOT using the kitchen is again something that must be put on the form as you cannot cook your own meals or make hot drinks.
The bed grab bar is also an aid and the fact your husband has to carry you should also be noted.

Make sure you copy the forms either with a scanner or take pictures of them with your phone then once you have sent them you can keep checking the information and if you have missed anything out you can write it down for the assesment.

I am writing this on my mobile so please excuse grammer and spelling but I wanted to reply ASAP.

Nick

hi thank you again, Im not always having to use the camping toilet or the bed bar though it is only when i get the back spasms.
I had to be helped up from the bed a few years back by the ambulance crew and was given gas and air because i couldn't get up , i will put that down too . But im not in this state all the time only when the anxiety takes an affect because im so tensed up , will this be a trick question from them ?

[nick0]

Re: Received my PIP form today

Hi,
YES put down ALL instances where your disability has effected you.Make sure you put the name of the hospital and the day you went.
If you need a camping toilet this is classed as an aid and needs to be put on your form and again mention the electric heater as this helps with your pain.
The fact you are NOT using the kitchen is again something that must be put on the form as you cannot cook your own meals or make hot drinks.
The bed grab bar is also an aid and the fact your husband has to carry you should also be noted.

Make sure you copy the forms either with a scanner or take pictures of them with your phone then once you have sent them you can keep checking the information and if you have missed anything out you can write it down for the assesment.

I am writing this on my mobile so please excuse grammer and spelling but I wanted to reply ASAP.

Nick

[Spent2much]

Re: Received my PIP form today

Thanks Nick0

I have just started getting over lower back muscle spasms all related to anxiety and was at A&E last Saturday into early morning i collapsed up stairs as i got out of bed because i had a panic attack and my husband had to nearly carry me down the stairs and into the car , i have been sleeping on the chair in the lounge and hubby has been sleeping on the futon on the floor, i also suffer tinnitus , sleep apnea and sleep paralysis which my doctor says are all related to the same illness 'anxiety '

During the back spasms i am unable to do anything at all and my husband has to dress me , help me in and out of bed , i have a bed grab bar which helps me to get in and out of bed while im recovering .
I don't get the spasms often in fact this is the second time in maybe 2 years but when i get them i am off my feet , i need to use a camping toilet downstairs and then when im recovering and able to sleep in the bed i use the bed the grab bar , but still my husband has to be woken up to help me out of bed and to the camping toilet and this can be 3- time during the night , if im well enough to cope on my own a few days after the spasms begin he will go to work and he will bring me pre cooked food and bottles of water so i don't have to keep getting up to the kitchen and the camping toilet is right next to the chair where i have sit . I have to have an electric heater at my feet because the back spasms cause me to go into shock and i get freezing cold and shiver so need to stay warm .

shall i put these things down on the form ?
I would like the PIP save form please .

[nick0]

Re: Received my PIP form today

Hi Spent2much,
I'm not sure if you have filled in the form yet but if not make sure you just fill in the sections slowly, just add all information about your illness no
matter how small or trivial as the information you put on the form will give them a good picture of your health. I have Spondylitis and Hip Dysplacia so when filling in
the form I went on about my mobility my needs and all my medication as well as the mental stress due to poor sleep and pain and also mention any side effects from
your medication.

I was asked to go for the assessment some 50 miles away from my home so when I called to have WW3 I got a really nice young lady telling me they will put it to
the team and I will get a home visit.
When you have your assessment just make sure you have someone with you, the people they send are OK but just make sure you keep the dialogue to the basics
and don't let them change your answer.......If you say you can't cook don't let them say you can cook a bit as that is the tactics they do use.

I filled the form in last October and by end of November I had received my notification .

I have the pip questions save as a word document if you need it.


Good luck

nick0

[Pixie]

Re: Received my PIP form today

Good advice from Clueless (who is anything but!) and good to hear from someone who has personal experience.

[Spent2much]

Re: Received my PIP form today

Hi s2m, sorry things are so bad, could a family member fill in the form with you? As clueless suggested, a question a day may ease the pressure. Xxx

my husband will fill it in it was him that phoned up to apply as i get anxious x

[cymruambyth]

Re: Received my PIP form today

Hi s2m, sorry things are so bad, could a family member fill in the form with you? As clueless suggested, a question a day may ease the pressure. Xxx

[Spent2much]

Re: Received my PIP form today

I would suggest that you ask your GP to write a brief letter saying that if a face to face assessment is deemed necessary that due consideration should be given to a home assessment to lessen the impact on your mental and physical well being and that it would cause great harm to you if you had to travel.
If you give written permission to a friend they can make an appointment at the GP's and go and discuss this on your behalf. Most GP's won't charge for this.
As for the form head up each problem and then list what happens, ie; Panic Attacks I struggle to breath, my heart races, I feel sick, I feel unsafe and scared etc and I have to return to my home, this happens repeatedly I am unable to do this by myself in a reasonable time frame and safetly. Just list every tiny detail when you describe what happens, that way they will get a good picture of your problems.
If you can manage to get through the form one step at a time the assessment will be the easy part.
Having a phobia about taking medication is a real illness and can cause huge problems so don't diminish that when you are explaining things.
I know it's very hard for you but try to stay strong and work through things one step at a time.
Hugs

My doctor has it all down from 1972 and i had to go to a special school because of the anxiety disorder , the first one was down South the second one was only 40 minutes from home but i have suffered all my life and never really had an easy time , my husband can't go anywhere for long and leave me , and when he is at work he has to phone during the day and is on facebook chat just to stay in touch with me, also my son comes round everyday apart from Monday and Wednesday when my husband doesn't work , last night my husband slept on the sofa as i had to sleep in the chair because of a panic attack which was caused by me twisting my lower back and the pain was so horrendous i couldn't move and had a massive panic attack, i know i will just sit crying through the assessment because of my anxiety .

My doctor said last Wednesday that if i feel brave enough to take the medication i can go sit in the surgery take the tablet and he will monitor me for a few hours to make sure i am okay that's how bad it is , but i haven't had the courage to do that either .

[nanna58]

Re: Received my PIP form today

That's a great idea , a doctors letter can go a long way , xxxx

[clueless24]

Re: Received my PIP form today

I would suggest that you ask your GP to write a brief letter saying that if a face to face assessment is deemed necessary that due consideration should be given to a home assessment to lessen the impact on your mental and physical well being and that it would cause great harm to you if you had to travel.
If you give written permission to a friend they can make an appointment at the GP's and go and discuss this on your behalf. Most GP's won't charge for this.
As for the form head up each problem and then list what happens, ie; Panic Attacks I struggle to breath, my heart races, I feel sick, I feel unsafe and scared etc and I have to return to my home, this happens repeatedly I am unable to do this by myself in a reasonable time frame and safetly. Just list every tiny detail when you describe what happens, that way they will get a good picture of your problems.
If you can manage to get through the form one step at a time the assessment will be the easy part.
Having a phobia about taking medication is a real illness and can cause huge problems so don't diminish that when you are explaining things.
I know it's very hard for you but try to stay strong and work through things one step at a time.
Hugs

[Spent2much]

Re: Received my PIP form today

Hi S2M

Sending you a big hug, try not to worry to much the form is daunting and a little scary and I think a lot of people are put off by the amount of information required that many give up and feel the same way you do, but if you have health issues and need the extra support then you should make a claim, take one page at a time and just be honest and give as much detail as possible backed up with any supporting evidence you have, you will feel a huge sense of achievement once you have completed the form.

I have been through the whole process myself and for me the form filling was the worst part, just take your time and maybe get someone to help you. I typed up everything first so that I could go through it and change things, then once I was happy I printed out each answer to the relevent question and wrote on the form 'please see attached'. Each form is bar coded and relevant to you only so you will have to write some details on the form.

There are some awful horror stories out there about the whole process and by the very nature of the process no one writes about the good experiences. I have successfully helped several people through the process so if I can be of any assistance please ask and I will try to help.

Most importantly try not to worry to much your health will suffer and no bloody form is worth that much. You have about a month from the date on the form to return the application although you can ask for an extension in special circumstances, so maybe aim for a couple of questions a day and it won't seem quite so overwhelming.

Big Hugs and good luck.

Thank you , my health issues are panic anxiety and agoraphobia , been like this since aged 4 i even have a phobia of medication , so i just don't know what to answer on the form for all this , but i need someone with me when i go out or i just can't go out as i panic and have to hold onto a fence and lose my balance .

[Spent2much]

Re: Received my PIP form today

Hi S2M. Is there anyone at Open Minds who could help you with filling in the form? I think the short term stress of completing the form and having the assessment would be woth it in the long run xxx

The has to be back by 27 Feb and my next appointment is 7 March unless i can as them to help me before my next appointment xx

[clueless24]

Re: Received my PIP form today

Hi S2M

Sending you a big hug, try not to worry to much the form is daunting and a little scary and I think a lot of people are put off by the amount of information required that many give up and feel the same way you do, but if you have health issues and need the extra support then you should make a claim, take one page at a time and just be honest and give as much detail as possible backed up with any supporting evidence you have, you will feel a huge sense of achievement once you have completed the form.

I have been through the whole process myself and for me the form filling was the worst part, just take your time and maybe get someone to help you. I typed up everything first so that I could go through it and change things, then once I was happy I printed out each answer to the relevent question and wrote on the form 'please see attached'. Each form is bar coded and relevant to you only so you will have to write some details on the form.

There are some awful horror stories out there about the whole process and by the very nature of the process no one writes about the good experiences. I have successfully helped several people through the process so if I can be of any assistance please ask and I will try to help.

Most importantly try not to worry to much your health will suffer and no bloody form is worth that much. You have about a month from the date on the form to return the application although you can ask for an extension in special circumstances, so maybe aim for a couple of questions a day and it won't seem quite so overwhelming.

Big Hugs and good luck.

[Pixie]

Re: Received my PIP form today

Hi S2M. Is there anyone at Open Minds who could help you with filling in the form? I think the short term stress of completing the form and having the assessment would be woth it in the long run xxx