DLA to PIP application, thank you B&W!

I have made an account here of my experience of being on DLA, applying for PIP etc. Sorry if it is too long-winded, I just wanted to put everything in, in case some of it is helpful to other people in the same situation.

After having been in receipt of the lowest component for Care on DLA for a few years (with no mobility award), I received the dreaded letter telling me that I had to reapply as I was being changed over to PIP. I had seen George Osborne on tv and my boiling blood helped me to do everything I could to get what I was entitled to. I had been in hospital in June and August of 2015 with breathing problems and pneumonia, and two nurses had separately asked me if I was on mobility. I told them both that no, I had applied twice and been rejected twice, even though I was clearly meeting all the criteria. I just was so unwell and couldn't face appealing the decision. The nurses told me that my (amazing) respiratory consultant is very sympathetic towards patients in this respect and would do me a letter or report if I requested one. Though this was nice to hear, I still couldn't face reapplying. So, when the dreaded letter came through my door I did email his secretary and requested a letter. He quickly produced this, emailed it to me asking if there was anything that I would like added or changed (I didn't, he clearly knew all about this process, descriptors and all) and also sent three signed master copies.

Unfortunately my USELESS GP refused to even do me a simple letter, but instead she got the admin staff to print off SEVENTY SEVEN pages of my entire computerised medical records going back to allergy tests for hay fever in the 1970s!. I felt that my consultant's letter should be enough to help me get mobility but that the care component was lacking due to my GP not doing personal letters for patients. I do understand how time consuming this can be, but I only needed a letter of about four lines long, taking perhaps half an hour of her time in total and I would have paid for it.

I paid to join this website, downloaded the Members Only guides and followed all the instructions, to the absolute letter. I found it very very depressing and quite traumatic, but I was determined to not let the powers that be, wriggle out of giving me what I was legally entitled to, yet again. PLEASE PLEASE don't give up. I know how disheartening it all is, and I spent probably hours on end in tears while filling in the forms, checking I had worded everything properly, etc. As I had no access to a photocopier or scanner to keep copies of my completed form, I took photos of every page with my mobile phone instead. I took photos of the medical record pages that I included (eight relevant pages out of the 77 my ridiculous GP sent me) and then I put a label over the official 2nd class paid postage on the return envelope, and paid to send it first class signed for, instead. This way, there would be a signature of whoever received the letter at their end and they couldn't say that they hadn't received it.

I sent my form and documents off around 21 October and received a letter back to say that I was going to have an ATOS interview at my own home, at the start of December. Given the horror stories I've read on here about hideous people commenting on eye contact, being personally rude etc, I was quaking. The one thing I was grateful for though, was that I was of the ... 7% is it? or something ridiculous that actually managed to get a HOME visit arranged. I said on the application forms that if called to the centre in Glasgow, I would require a bariatric wheelchair to be waiting for me and that my shortness of breath and lack of portable oxygen may cause me to lose control of my bladder .... As it was, the young woman who interviewed me was absolutely lovely. She is a qualified mental nurse which we had a joke about and she was very kind and understanding. She wasn't pushy and she only asked me some questions which I had already answered on the forms. I couldn't remember everything on the spot, so I highly recommend anyone to have their copy of their forms with them to refer to.

In due time Ireceived the decision in between Christmas and new year. I have to admit that I was shaking and crying before I could unfold and read the letter as I was utterly convinced that I was going to lose even the basic component of the Care that I received before. So, when I eventually unfolded the letter and read it, I had to read it seriously five times before the information penetrated my brain. I have been awarded both the daily living and the mobility components at enhanced level, and for TEN YEARS. More tears followed, of utter relief at the thought of not having to appeal, keep this dragging on etc. I swear I haven't cried so much in the whole rest of my life! I put my success down to a combination of my Consultant's letter and the utterly invaluable information given in the members only guides on this site.

From next month when I will start receiving my PIP, I can employ a cleaner to do the things round the house that I cannot do myself, even though I have to pay £11 per hour AND her travelling expenses (shocking!). I can buy healthy foods that don't require much prep and I can pay off my credit card which is up to it's limit after I was unexpectedly offered a ground floor house by my housing association and had four weeks in which to move! I had to get the removers to do my actual packing which added to the costs. My life should soon be 100% less stressful and I should be able to take some time to myself and not feel guilty about dusty corners, not eating healthfully, etc.

I'm still very angry that sick people are put through the mill like this and that so many health professionals do not know about "descriptors" etc when doing letters or reports for patients. I had a letter done for me by my rheumatologist a few years ago, which listed my conditions but had nothing in it about my day to day limitations etc, which could have helped me be awarded mobility. It's not his fault that he didn't know what to put, he shouldn't HAVE to know this!. What I have read on this site over and over again, are people saying that the application then waiting process has been utterly traumatic, stressful etc. That is how I felt and it's just so wrong. I bet the big frauds who pretend to be paralysed from the neck down then are caught bangra dancing at weddings on film, don't bat an eyelid while applying.

PLEASE if this helps one person not to give up, it's worth it. I am happy to be contacted and wish I could give something back for the invaluable advice I've received from this site's guides. Thank you again.

That's great news Katy. Thanks for taking the time to tell us of your experiences and for your kind words about B+W

So happy for you

Mari xx

great news ....i received my PIP froms today ......transfereing from DLA....so just starting the traumatic journeys as you describe very eloquently........i have downloaded the PIP info from this site so here we go ....wish me luck

So pleased for you! yes it is a struggle & we were in the same boat, but like you my hubbie retained his mob. dla & now the enhanced living component.
I spent a whole weekend with barely a break filling in the form on his behalf (although I could have happily ripped it up) he was 'passed' for a home visit & I am sure that it made the difference, no tricks etc
As you say NEVER give up, why should you ? everyone on this brilliant site needs the encouragement to fight for their rights. Could not have done I though without the help from this site. Have a happy future!
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