Diary of a benefit claimant.

Excellent.

I just wanted to add, the assessor seemed very knowledgeable about medical issues.

She did tell me what field she is qualified in, but I didn't hear her.
Deafness is one of my problems.

MissA I admire your spirit and your humour,shit pours on me and mine too,but like you we keep chugging along,you have my respect,and if I where nearby would do your bits for you big hug xxx

I keep thinking I was too jocular now.
(Jack Dee)
I should have been more miserable.

Humour is a default setting

Re sick notes, I was incapacitated last year for about six months. Our surgery had a system where they sent a text out and you clicked on the link to view the sick note. I was then able to screenshot it and send it to my employer. Am surprised there’s not something electronic that they can do for you.

MissA, don’t be surprised if your PIP assessment results in a very low score, but do follow up with a request for a Mandatory Reconsideration and then a final Appeal if necessary. Most assessments result in claimants being turned down initially - I hope that’s not the case for you, but be prepared for a long haul if it is.

Two of my recent cases resulted in a score of 0 being changed to 28 and a score of 4 being changed to 26 - both on Appeal! I did have one client who actually was awarded the correct score (as in, the assessor’s score tallied with my own estimate) after his assessment and I almost collapsed with shock. Every other case I’ve dealt with has had to go to Appeal, but every case was won.

Sending very best wishes and hopes that you’ll soon have this all sorted and can start to look ahead with confidence. ?

MissA I have been reading your journey with interest. And all the helpful advice that has been given. 1st of April I finally found out what I have wrong with me and found I was born with it. My health went down hill 34 years ago. But never was able to get any benefits as I didn't have a name for my condition. When I knew my neurologist had found what was wrong. I phoned for the PIP forms which my daughter filled in for me as I have problems writing. They received the form and supporting documentation on 12th April I don't expect to hear anything before the end of August but if they refuse me I have already decided to appeal. I am now 64 .

grannyactivist your post was very interesting. And gives me hope if they do refuse me anything. Could I ask how long between them receiving the forms and you hearing about when you have the interview whether it's via phone,video call or in person?

I had a text to say they had recieved the form, about 3 weeks after I sent it.

Then it was, I would say 8 weeks or thereabouts before I had my assessment.

I don't really have a definitive diagnosis. Lots if issues, but as to what may have caused all this, nobody seems sure, or in any rush to find out.

Eleven weeks is fairly quick.
I do hope you are successful.
PIP is awarded based on how your condition affects you, not on a diagnosis, though medical evidence is useful.

Still thinking of you, Miss A
Hang in there and keep us posted!
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MissAdventure Could it be to do with aerosol gases?

www.verywellhealth.com/headaches-from-cleaning-supplies-1719898

I knew someone who had lots of headaches at work, but they stopped after the cleaning staff stopped using Mr Sheen in her office.

Were you exposed to lots of disinfectant being used in your workplace?

Personal information, this.
For whatever reason, Miss A has no need to share her state of health with us, nor us to enquire.

MissA it took 64 years before I had my diagnosis and only because my new neurologist had my blood genetically tested. All my life my mom took me to the doctor's and children's hospital. And was dismissed as growing pains and my falls out down to being clumsy. My jerks and seizures no one could explain but they weren't epileptic. Had had various tablets to treat the symptoms which did help to an extent. But what I have is rare and only genetic testing could diagnosis it. I have been under various neurologists. But I moved a 100+ to the north west nearly 3 years ago and my new neurologist put me on a tablet in 2020 which stopped the seizures and jerks and having the results of the test the tablet he gave me was the correct treatment. He hasn't got any other patients with my condition. Don't give up hope that you can be diagnosed .

I had a text the day after I posted my form to say they received it. I sent it by first class next day delivery to make sure they got it.

ixion

Personal information, this.
For whatever reason, Miss A has no need to share her state of health with us, nor us to enquire.

I note what you write.

You are correct that MissAdventure has no need to share her state of health with us.

As for "nor us to enquire", I have not enquired as to MissAdventure's state of health.

What I have done, in response to MissAdventure writing but as to what may have caused all this, nobody seems sure, is to post a note about some things known to cause problems for some people.

I did this to try to help, knowing that I might get criticised for posting it by some people, not by MissAdventure, people who mince my words, and have a go at me, but I posted it anyway because if the price of placing before MissAdventure some information that might, just might, help her is getting criticised tby certain peope then that is with what I will have to put up.

That sounds fair enough StarDreamer; you were only trying to help.

I don’t see how this, which you’ve trotted out before, helps MissA. She has been unable to work, and therefore has not been exposed to anything more than normal household cleaning products, for a considerable time. So far the doctors have been unable to diagnose what’s wrong. Saying ‘might this have caused it’ doesn’t assist in diagnosing what it is.

The alternative is for me to not have posted it.

The only reason not to have posted it was concern over getting criticised by a few people other than MissAdventure for me daring to try to be helpful to MissAdventure.

So, here we are, I am getting criticised, but I have managed to place the information before MissAdventure just in case it might be helpful to her. The criticism is just a "Well, you know how it is!" situation.

Try to rise above it and ignore it StarDreamer; you meant well.

I'm sure if MissAdventure wanted StarDreamer to stop posting advice, she would ask nicely. The best advice is that which you can take or leave, and StarDreamer seems happy for her advice to be left if it not considered useful. She posts things with kindness so I'm really not sure why she is being picked upon virtually every time she posts.
There are people who post on here who may not be NT so the way they see things are different from mainstream thinking and continual put downs would be tantamount to bullying. As we don't know each other, surely it is better to err on the side of caution unless the posts are deliberately unkind.

Completely agree with you icanhandthemback; the continual put downs whenever, and wherever, StarDreamer posts are becoming increasingly obvious. Very unpleasant to watch.

StarDreamer isn’t a ‘she’. He’s a man formerly called ElderlyPerson.

Advice offered is for taking or for leaving, it is up to the recipient, and if meant kindly there really is no need fir others to criticise.
Wishing you well MissA. Hope you get some good news soon.

Germanshepherdsmum

StarDreamer isn’t a ‘she’. He’s a man formerly called ElderlyPerson.

Yes I am male. I was born that way. I am not married, never been married, no children, not through choice. Gransnet is for people over 50. I have been over 50 for many years.

Gransnet is not a female-only space. If Gransnet were a female-only space I would not post here. I have never pretended to be female.

MissAdventure has been aware of me being male for a long time, so no misrepresentation issue.

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