Hi Candy
How did you get on with your call from a case worker been looking at your able myself to see what information I can find and as Gus and shelly say its all about the way you describe your self its a terrible system because different people have different ways of expressing their symptoms................Paul
Hi Paul,
I spoke to someone but not the case manager, I am expecting a call in the next few days, I am going to request the manditory reconsideration so another person will check the claim again. I am also sending in some supporting letters, So I am clinging to the hope I am successful the second time.
I hope things are going well for your appeal, Thanks for your support.
Candyxx
Good luck with everything Candy send in a as much evidence as you can , remember its not about what condition you have , it is about how it affects your day to day life , paint as good a picture as you can
Shelly xx
Hi Candy
Thanks for your reply look at the 10 daily living activities and make sure you tell them about how this affects you on a daily basis.Dont say you can if you cant do something and remember the activity has to be done safely in a reasonable time and you should be able to repeat it. If you cant then you are classed as not being able to do that activity and one of the things they have to take in to consideration is that PD is a fluctuating condition so ask the person doing the reconsideration have they taken this in to account and you need to be assessed over a 12 month period type in to Google pip points systemits a site called benefits and work and read all 10 daily living activities and then read the 2 mobility activities but the important thing to then read is the section that starts with personal independent payment training days read all that info under that its important that you understand it all to present a case for reconsideration don't forget they know it parrot fashion and they will use this I know its a pain but you need to know what angle to present your case from and being informed is the key your Parkinsons support worker will know all this Good luck Candy and yes I am still waiting about my consideration should hear very soon...............Paul
Thanks Shelly And Paul,
Your advice means a lot thank you, I really hope that you get your decision changed Paul.
Isnt it terrible we have to fight for the extra help that we need.
Thanks Guys.
Candyxxxx
Hi candy
Phoned planet DWP to make sure they had my reconsideration letter after some whirring of cogs I was informed they had the letter. Then the body blow it takes around 8 to 9 weeks for a reconsideration decision you just couldn't make it up. Your welcome Candy hope the information helps you Hun..............Paul
Well i have received my ESA decision today , i have been awarded contribution based esa so now i just have to wait for the assessment to be done , swings and roundabouts dwp give with one hand and take with the other , iif i am on contribution based esa i do not qualify for the disability premium that i used to get on income support but will have to wait and see what happens after the assessment hopefully i will go into support group
Hi Guys,
Yes Shelly they do give with one hand and take with another, But well done for getting it!!
A glimmer of hope for me!!! My report arrived today, I missed out on the living component by just 2 points, However when I checked the report I noticed a contridiction between what she had written and what points I got.
My husband has to do the cooking now as I cannot lift pans and bend to the oven etc, She has written that but she has ticked can cook using an aid, She should of ticked cannot use cooker but can use microwave, I phoned them and spoke to a nice chap, when I explained this he said he would flag it up and that in his opinion that was a mistake.
He is going to talk to the case manage about it, If this is accepted as a mistake it will take me over the 8 points I need.
I know they may not accept that this is a mistake but it is something I am going to fight. Because she has written that but not given me the points for it.
What do you think guys? Do you think that is a mistake?
The mobility one I lost by a few points so I will leave that one until things get worse, But fingers crossed for at least the living component being accepted now.
A slightly more optomistic
Candyxxx
Well things do not seem so bleak now Candy and i would definately contest it , was it the decision maker who made the mistake ? in that case i would say go for it you do not have anything to lose but you have £53 a week to gain ,i would push them to correct the mistake it may save you having to go through the reconsideration process especially if the decision maker accepts that you can cook using a microwave ask that a case manager calls you back to explain the errors , well at least you know you was only a few points off the mobility part as you say give it some time see if you can get the decision overturned on the basis of decision makers error and wait to see the length of any award you may get and when it is time to reapply you may qualify for the mobility
Things are looking up now Candy keep up the fight xx
hi shelly, im on about 106 pound a week in the support group,is that any where near income support.
Hi Shelly,
It was the assessor i think that has made the mistake, She wrote on the report that I cannot use a conventional oven but can use a microwave, But the box that was ticked was able to cook and prepare meal with the use of an aid, But on the written part she didnt mention that at all, She said that because or weakness and tremor I was unable to cook and prepare a meal, I believe that the cannot prepare a meal carries more points than can but with an aid, Am I correct in assuming this?
So if the mistake is corrected I will be within the 8 point limit to get living component, But I suppose they will try to get out of changing it.
But the written report and the points awarded must match surely.?
She wrote that my husband has to do the cooking now which he does, So I am hopeful that they will accept that she has awarded me less points than I should of been for that question?
I live in hope???
Best Wishes Candyxxxx
Hi Gus
i was getting about the same on income support , but my ESA on assessment rate is only £72.40 so quite a bit worse off till they decide which group i am in
1. Preparing food.
a. Can prepare and cook a simple meal unaided. 0 points.
b. Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to either prepare or cook a simple meal. 2 points.
c. Cannot cook a simple meal using a conventional cooker but is able to do so using a microwave. points. 2 points
d. Needs prompting to be able to either prepare or cook a simple meal. 2 points.
e. Needs supervision or assistance to either prepare or cook a simple meal. 4 points.
f. Cannot prepare and cook food. 8 points.
There is no difference in points from descriptor B and C so it probably wont make any difference to your points unless there are some other inaccuracies in the report and dwp decision that you could work on or indeed give additional information as to the activities you cant do
HI All
Good news on your ESA shelly lets hope you go in to the support group and Candy good luck with what looks like a mistake does it ring any bells I got 13 points and they knocked 2 off me in my opinion to save money. They have done excactly the same to you but in this case manipulating your score takes the award away altogether and you get nothing dead crafty but I dont want to keep repeating it but there targeting the wrong people. Just make sure you follow the process of appeal right through Candy and dont give in because thats what PIP was designed for to save money and for people to go ahh sod it its not worth the hassle dont you be one of them cus I certainly wont be giving in if I have to go to tribunal I will If I have to go higher than that I will they will get bored before me............Paul
so when you get put in support group your be allright remember to apply to go in support group i think you can do this on week twelve of being on esa then it takes 8 weeks to decide if you can get it in the 8 weeks they will decide if you need assessment or ok with written proof & photos which you will get more forms to fill in ,something like that.then you get 34 pound more a week.making it 106.40 .....
Thanks Paul lets wait and see which group they put me in , totally agree about dwp manipulating things to there advantage .
Keep up the fight both dont let them win
Hi Guys,
Yes Shelly I see that the same points are for both. I do have extra information to send in, I am expecting a letter from my neurologist and I am also sending in a letter to prove that I am on the transfer list to a bungalow as I have trouble with the stairs, My physio and OT suggested that I put in for a transfer so it wasnt even my idea.
My condition has deteriorated quite a lot since my assessment, And I also have been told that there is a suspicion I may have an Atypical Parkinsonism, Due to some Autonomic system problems.
I will send all this evidence to them and if I do have an Atypical Parkinsonism it is far more aggresive and the deterioration is much quicker, I dont know if any of you have heard of MSA-P.
But this is what I am being investigated for. If the diagnosis changes I will have to apply again with this new condition.
I am due to start Levadop to see if it has an effect, Not having a good responese to Levadopa is one of the ways that they diagnose it, Because it is so similar to Parkinsons.
MSA-P is a terminal condition so it is a scary time for me, I hope it turns out to be Parkinsons, I know thats an odd thing to say but it is the better one to have.
Candyxxx
Totally understand what you are saying Candy
Yes i have heard of MSA-P and yes i do know it is a terminal condition my neurologist did mention that was one of the conditions that he wanted to rule out when i was first diagnosed i am sure he said that MSA-P showed up on a MRI i may be wrong because i remember waiting anxiously for the mri results yes parkinsons is as you say the better one to have as it is not a terminal illness , i do hope things improve for you with the Levodopa , i went to see my neurologist earlier this week and he has just upped my Levodopa to 5 times a day , but yes definately worth sending all the extra info in and see what happens , do you think it might be worth just re applying but then you have to go through the whole process again
Good luck Candy xx
Hi candy
But you must say how it affects your life on a daily basis as there not interested in what you have got just the way your illness affects you on a day to day basis ie those 10 things for which you score points I dont it does not seem right but thats the way they decide if you qualify wrongly in my opinion but thats it and we have to work with what we have got. I hope to things improve with the levodopa Candy Shelly was telling me its the best one will have to ask my consulant if I can try it cus my walking is awful...............Paul
Thanks guys,
If my Diagnosis changes I will have to re-apply will I, Or would they just do another assessment? I would have to check that.
My support worker is coming to see me on Tuesday and I am having my phone call from the DWP on Wednseday so I will ask her advice when I see her.
Thanks guys candyxx