You have two good options. Either get help from Macmillan or check to see if your local maggies has someone able to help. But do call Macmillan's first. They are an absolute god send for these exact things.
My wife got lucky as she also knew someone who worked in the dwp doing this very thing. The trick is, go by your worst days, not your good days. For example, if you have 2 good days, don't use those in your descriptions, use the days when you are at your worst. Macmillan also stated this too.
I too have had to fill in a pip form - I did it last year for my Rhumatoid Arthritis and Long covid - was turned down flat and given nearly no points - since then however I have been diagnosed with Bowel Cancer and have decided to challenge their deicison - partly as my assessor was a physiotherapist and seemed to have no idea about medical symptoms and partly as their conclusion was not at all what I had said during my interview.
I spoke to a lovely person on the phone at the dwp who advised me to only mention my worst days - not even to reference my better days - which I think is where I went wrong last time - I tried to show that I was still capable of running my own life and even when things were difficult battling through - also to make sure to send copies of all my hospital appts and clinical notes - which you can ask for from your consultant or gp, this is very important as it shows the whole picture not just the answers to the questions they ask.
Also they advised mentioning all medication even if you have had to stop taking it whist undergoing treatment say you have paused it rather than have stopped taking it.
Isn't life cruel. Thank you so much for your time in replying.
Rheumatoid arthritis is on the list for applicants that qualify for PIP. You are right to challenge an unqualified individual about your decision. I have read that challenging the decision shows you are not trying to scam the system. Hopefully you will be accepted on both counts now. Good luck Frank.
PIP allowance will just roll on until you feel that you have fully recovered physically and mentally from bowel cancer, however Rheumatoid arthritis is ongoing and you will probably stay on PIP permanently. I have a friend who is autistic and she is high functioning but still works and receives PIP.
I too have spoken to two amazing people at DWP. Can I just ask if you are working at the moment? The reason being you are also entitled to JSA or ESA. I have contact numbers if you need them.
ESA - You should receive £77.00 a week and PIP you should receive £approximately £600.00 per month. This really helps when you know you have no other income for a year/give or take how rough you are whilst going through the operation, chemotherapy and radiotherapy or whatever is required for you.
I am having ongoing issues with my GP. The receptionists just don't have the ability to to understand or be compassionate with callers with cancer let alone anything else.
I have been diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time and they still made me call back every morning to make an appointment at 8am as each day I called they slots had gone. My mother in the end lent me £4,000 to go private to get confirmation that my cancer had returned. I said every day to them that I knew my body and knew it had returned.
I had advice the first time to fill out the PIP form and I also received ESA as I knew I would be off work for a year which was instructed by my consultant surgeon and oncologist.
This time luckily I am able to fill in the PIP form from a photocopy of the first PIP form that I kept.
ESA is the same. Also, ESA when you call them, they go through some questions with you and then send you a Capability for work questionnaire to fill in and send back with 3 monthly sick certificates from GP. Having cancer means you are automatically entered in to a category where you will be accepted for ESA.
GOOD LUCK FRAN, take care of yourself and contact me if you too need any further help.
Just read my first post that you replied to. I think I was having a bad day. My question was whether DWP were making it more difficult to fill out the form and whether I really needed to include 'Buzz' words. However, you nicely answered this. Thanks. I hope my advice has helped you.
I have had 2 bouts of breast cancer in the past 13 years. I was advised not to fill out the application forms on my own, but to leave it to someone who was experienced in doing this. I was advised to contact the cancer advisory centre in the hospital, which was run by Macmillan, or the CItizen's Advice Bureau.
I went to Macmillan and they were most helpful.
I hope that you're successful.
Please let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.
Trust me, DWP couldn't make it any worse! MacMillan can, in some circumstances, make the application on your behalf. That would help avoid the pitfalls such as being overly positive about your condition. I've known people who are wheelchair bound being refused PIP because they stated they could walk a few steps. They'd meant on their best days, in agony and in an emergency. A simple NO was required to be awarded any points. Without being untruthful, you need to paint as black a picture as you can as the evaluators are trained to deduct points whenever they can - don't give them a reason to do so.
There's nothing to stop anyone making a new claim if a new condition has been diagnosed since an earlier one was rejected.
