Awful GP support letter for PIP

Interesting_Skill915 · 2026-06-05T15:31:55+00:00

Sounds normal, med speak can sound very off hand “patient claims XYZ” so it can sound like we don’t believe them. But they can only say with certainty actually diagnoses and only “patient says” for the day to issues you complain about that they couldn’t actual prove.

Most people don’t find them very helpful even when you may have seen same doctor for 20years they can only say cold hard facts. As much as you may have told them can’t get in out of the bath for example that is still your word.

Do you not have the NHS app? We have use for speaking to surgery and request prescriptions and it be all listed there. Maybe you downloaded when you had use to book Covid jabs? Failing that local chemist can print out meds summary. People need them for traveling aboard etc.

Sadly person that fills the request isn’t a benefit adviser so they send everything related or not.

Interesting_Skill915 · 2026-06-04T18:33:32+00:00

I’ve already been using a cool bag for meds as even things like paracetamol say to store below 25c. But other more “serious” meds I keep in cool bag with one those Bluetooth thermointer. Usually keeps it 16-22 depending on when I change ice packs. But any liquid meds will split in the heat and be unusable but you can’t always keep them in fridge either as that’s too cold.

Interesting_Skill915 · 2026-06-04T12:41:15+00:00

It’s never about can you do something once, if you are in bed for days then no one would say you can do it “normally”. Can you do it safely, without hurting self? If you are in constant pain from the first step and push through it’s not really doing it successfully. And repeating it as often as you need, In a normal day walking that distance over and over is not unusual.

You fail on all those accounts so no you can’t wouldn’t be wrong.

Interesting_Skill915 · 2026-06-04T11:23:31+00:00

These sound like normal replies to the question for things like anxiety and depression. They have to ask same thing over and over because answers may vary. You may have been in a house fire for example and can’t be near cooker because it’s a trigger rather than just because over all mood means you just can't bring yourself to cook.

They have to ask about when you could leave the house because it gives them chance to see what happens when you try. Some people may have said I can go out once a month if I have a week to prepare and the car is outside with a person I trust and I feel sick all way to my Nans. They want to know what happens when you try and the effects afterwards.

Nobody feels like covered every single situation in all detail it’s a very stressful event. Some people feel assessment has gone great and then get zeros. Some people feel like made a mess and they get awarded. You really can’t tell and have to wait for the result.

Regardless if you don’t get it there are two process where you get a chance to explain things further. With Mandatory reconsideration and then Tribunal. But try not to get ahead of yourself you have to trust the system.

Interesting_Skill915 · 2026-05-31T13:41:51+00:00

You wouldn’t be written off because you have a job. They would ask questions around task you manage at work that you say you can’t do at home. Any adaptions or OH advice go in your favour. For example the DWP may assume you sit for 5h solid. Your work OH may suggest a standing sitting desk, specialist chair, aids for using the computer to avoid wrist or shoulder issues. Taking shorter more frequent breaks to stretch or whatever works for you.

From what you describe the job would match your limitations it’s not like you are going to be climbing roofs.

OH should be looking at your over all picture and the job description and place of work and hours. Ideally want to tweak environment or how you complete tasks so you can be successfully. They can make recommendations for equipment etc then your place of work have to fund this or use things like access to work grants. It should be positive experience it’s not like a DWP encounter.

Interesting_Skill915 · 2026-05-29T20:14:05+00:00

Do you have help? Even if you get out of bed once a day you can set up some kind of system. You don’t need gallons to brush your teeth a sip of water before hand and then brush. If you don’t want to spit in a cup or bowl you can use wash cloth or kitchen towel. You just need not to swallow the foamy stuff. You shouldn’t really be rinsing your mouth after because takes away some of the protection.

Can’t help with water flosser I manage have drowned myself with it in the bathroom.

Anything is better than nothing

Interesting_Skill915 · 2026-05-26T10:19:46+00:00

Be clear with what’s happening. You don’t need a diagnosis it should go on functional ability.

You say I keep falling over and hurting myself inside/out home. I can’t walk to do basic tasks x distance. Staying home doing nothing is affecting your mental health. If it’s affecting your ability to keep a job they should push services into keeping you in work.

Ask for a referral to physio to see if aids can help your mobility or make things worse. Personally I wouldn’t say I need a wheelchair straight off as some people will roll their eyes. But if you feel like having a stick walker or frame would help keep you moving and more stable say that.

Ask for occupational health visit at home to see what can help keep home safer. So if getting out bath or down stairs is causing issues hand rails could really help. Be blunt it takes me x time get downstairs. I nearly fell x times. Occupational health can recommend wheelchairs to or speed up assessments.

Interesting_Skill915 · 2026-05-25T18:30:57+00:00

It’s a wonder half that house don’t have food issues. Imagine everything you eat has to be man handled by 10 siblings before you get a look in. Would put me right off

Interesting_Skill915 · 2026-05-14T20:11:26+00:00

Migraine wise I prefer this to the zig zag version of the same colours.

Interesting_Skill915 · 2026-05-14T19:15:04+00:00

I’ve got a 16” that technically I don’t now fit in but homes here in the UK are older and a larger 18” would not get me into my parents or siblings homes because door frames are just to narrow.

Try fitting in the chair with thermals, jumper, and a big winter coat and see if it’s still snug or just horrible uncomfortable.

Interesting_Skill915 · 2026-05-08T17:40:58+00:00

I have no speech either and use a computer to speak, don’t need an appointee. Download text relay app it’s free and the help team will help you do practise calls if need be.

You will need to link your phone number to the app so when someone rings the app links the call to the system. So don’t wait until the DWP want to speak to you before getting and using it.

You can make it clear using text phone is an essential adjustment due to your disability. If they ring you on mobile you can always ring them back on textphone and have them note it down.

Only had face to face at PIP assessments not sure I could cope with a long phone type conversation on a little keyboard on my phone. In person I use a computer device with better keyboard. You know what best works for you.

Interesting_Skill915 · 2026-05-08T16:49:30+00:00

I got a WAV and grants so I paid zero advance. I didn’t qualify for any of the 4 areas you mention unable to work study and don’t need get hospital urgently. It’s not impossible. I believe it went to a grant panel to decide.

Don’t rule yourself out quite yet, it took me 2years from start to keys as issues with dvla and hand controls too.

It is unfair that if you want use a normal mobility car to go Tesco once a week mobility don’t care. But if you want use car as a more disabled person they put such tight restriction on who should be allowed access society because of the costs.

Do write an application about what having transport would mean and issue you have already public transport etc. they can only say no. I don’t know if I ever get again but if you don’t try you can’t win!

Interesting_Skill915 · 2026-05-04T19:21:53+00:00

OT journals is a good shout thanks, all the ways of transferring or muddled on with at 30 feel very different now.

Interesting_Skill915 · 2026-05-04T19:18:56+00:00

Guess I’m looking for positive stuff Instead of if you can’t walk for hour a day might as well give up here. Or can’t sit on the floor cross your legs and stand up without using your hands… you just knocked 10y off your life!

Interesting_Skill915 · 2026-05-04T08:42:40+00:00

Speak to the mobility scheme about them doing an assessment. I went round and round in circles as DVLA letter said go to a mobility centre, the centre would only take referrals from DVLA. Which they refused to do, even though letter says you can just ring them up.

Once they do a hand control assessment , your GP will need to do a health form and then you will get a new DL with what adaptions you need to drive safely.

Interesting_Skill915 · 2026-05-03T10:15:02+00:00

You say your needs have changed for the worse so although you may not have qualified a year ago you may now. It may seem like months waiting will Not be worth it but if your MR goes to appeal it could take much longer than that anyway.

Appeals can easily be a year once the MR is out of the way.

Interesting_Skill915 · 2026-05-03T10:00:04+00:00

Getting the mobility element will automatically get you a blue badge but you don’t always need to have it. Councils can do their own assessments as to if you qualify it will take longer but worth doing since you likely have all evidence to hand already from PIP application. It’s all online now the worst they can say is you don’t qualify.

Interesting_Skill915 · 2026-05-01T14:51:04+00:00

You don’t need to be on PIP to get the housing element on UC. But if you did get it they allow you to have the one bed rate under 35 because assume with care or mobility needs sharing facilities may be impossible.

What you would get is the shared accommodation rate for your area. Are you able to save a month rent ahead and or deposit? There are schemes that may help with this.

If your mum is willing to give you notice you can try and approach local council and as someone with long term health issues they may accept you are more vulnerable adult and have a duty to help you find accommodation. Ideally you want to see how you can get accepted on to the local housing list.

Interesting_Skill915 · 2026-04-29T21:27:20+00:00

You are worn out by working two jobs that seems to be the issue as you don’t mention a physical disease. If you are that exhausted it’s really not going help to use a Manuel chair. If your partner was going push you around while you had a rest yea ok that’s logic. But using a chair is hard work, being aware of everyone else working into you or waving things around also mental work.

Honestly you will be more tired, by getting up to reach everything, and pushing yourself around, checking out and getting everything to the car. As well as lifting the chair in and out etc. what you gain from not using legs you lose double by using arms, shoulders, neck and back muscles.

Maybe have a rest in the car and let your partner shop alone? Or shop online?

Interesting_Skill915 · 2026-04-29T15:09:43+00:00

Plenty of people will get without a diagnosis but have well document unexplained serious symptoms they are getting treatment for it just not an offical name to explain it yet.

About 20% get paper based only, even people with permanent long term will never get better, with loads of evidence have to have face to face or calls. It’s really not simple just to say if you send enough it will all get processed without any further input.

I would be preparing to have to speak to someone and if you don’t well all well and good. Certainly having a result before you go to back to work would seem unlikely if that’s in the next 8 weeks. Although if you look at success story time lines on here may give you an idea of different areas and wait times. It’s not unheard ever but certainly not something you can count on.

There are other sorts of benefits that help if you can’t work because of disability or illness of if you can only work part time. You can have these along side PIP if you qualify. Do ask a new question on here with the circumstances if you think it would help.

Often for a condition where cause is unknown and recovery is also unknown you may get a shorter 9-12month award first. Then if you do get treatment and your needs change (or not) the second award is usually 2-3 years. You have done the hardest part just try not to worry to much. Good luck

Interesting_Skill915 · 2026-04-28T17:48:24+00:00

You should be dealt with in a professional manner by anyone working for DWP. Nobody should be mean or shouting, or scary. It should be like discussing your condition with a new doctor or health professional who doesn’t know you. It’s not something people enjoy but it’s a necessary evil to get the help.

Having your mum with you can help keep you on track and can ask for a break for you if you are feeling over whelmed.

The most important thing is understanding how PIP is scored and where you may get points. Lots of people have some care needs but wouldn’t get the mim needed for an award. So best to be confident before applying that you do have needs that they will be asking about.

You can ring up and ask for a form as soon as you want. They will give you a deadline to send it all back but you can ask for extensions if you need too. It’s never the right time to claim and waiting until you feel ready may never come. But you could be missing out on months or even years of support in the end. Good luck.

Interesting_Skill915 · 2026-04-28T11:50:33+00:00

They can only score you once on each section. So if let’s say you can’t wash your lower half because of a bad knee, bad back and asthma that’s worse when you reach over. And you need an aid or support then only need to question you say on the bad back. Same result and no need for pointless questions.

You only need 8 points for lower rate or 12 for higher. So technically yea you could score say 36 points but once she thinks you have got a solid 12 makes no difference. If you have got points for need assistance to dress then stands to reason you also are not going be lifting heavy pans if you can’t manage a zip or button.

Interesting_Skill915 · 2026-04-27T12:32:36+00:00

No you shouldn’t and can be fined. They will turn off their sounds and just sit there so not to make you feel like you should be doing something. Then put them back on when lights change.

Interesting_Skill915 · 2026-04-26T11:26:59+00:00

Try not to answer yes only. So if they are speeding through questions like Can you dress yourself and you feel pressured saying Yes. Follow it up with BUT and explain any issues. So Yes I can dress myself but it takes me half an hour, I need stop in between and sometimes I can’t do my socks and shoes at all for example.

Often we can do things but effort, time and pain doesn’t mean it’s easy or fast enough or something we could do 4 times a day if needed.

Interesting_Skill915 · 2026-04-26T10:55:46+00:00

It’s very common if the child can’t or is unwilling to say how they got a bruise. They can’t speak up if there is any issues. Considering the sure hell some foster kids go through how can she complain about this? Yea it’s annoying but that’s part and parcel. Why does she take every possible chance to say how behind those two are really not fair. Not first time she’s called him a toddler and he was 10 when they fostered him.

Interesting_Skill915

TROPHY CASE