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ESA Medicals & Support group |
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#926 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Storbritannia
Posts: 28,916
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Quote:
Hi all,
I got the PIP invite letter today as my DLA is coming to an end & I was wondering if anyone here have ever subscribed to the Benefits & Work service, if so were they helpful enough for the yearly fee ?. Many thanks Other guides are available for free elsewhere but from Benefits & Work they are all conveniently in one place. Link: Free ESA, PIP and DLA Updates (see top left) |
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#927 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Lancs
Posts: 14,452
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Quote:
Thank you for that I will have to take a look, am not quite sure what to think about this as I phoned them up to make the claim as the letter stated that I needed to contact them by the 2nd January, the lady I spoke to explained to me that they currently wasn't able to do applications over the phone & that they would phone me on Monday or Tuesday next week.
But the strange thing was that they phoned me just after 5pm this evening & went through a series of questions and then said that they would send me out a PIP2 form within the next 14 days, which would need to be completed & sent back to them.
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#928 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: The Deathstar
Posts: 15,385
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Quote:
My tip is to sign up to their free email updates and there's a very high probability that you will be given a subscription discount which can then be used to get a subscription which gives you access to their help forum and the specific application and appeal guides. You do not necessarily have to sign up for future years - that is your choice.
Other guides are available for free elsewhere but from Benefits & Work they are all conveniently in one place. Link: Free ESA, PIP and DLA Updates (see top left) Quote:
What sort of questions? i'm dreading this when i have to send for mine
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#929 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 20,673
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Quote:
Hi all,
I got the PIP invite letter today as my DLA is coming to an end & I was wondering if anyone here have ever subscribed to the Benefits & Work service, if so were they helpful enough for the yearly fee ?. Many thanks Have a look at the forum and see the gist of advice etc they hand out, will give you an idea. Good luck with your application, not easy I know. |
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#930 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 9,160
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Quote:
Hi all,
I got the PIP invite letter today as my DLA is coming to an end & I was wondering if anyone here have ever subscribed to the Benefits & Work service, if so were they helpful enough for the yearly fee ?. Many thanks |
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#931 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Storbritannia
Posts: 28,916
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Quote:
I don't know how much the individual fee, but their advice is excellent. A lot of benefit advisers use them.
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#932 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 1,428
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CAB have pretty much the same information for free on their website.
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#933 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Station Eleven
Posts: 3,472
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Bit concerned about my PIP assessment. Afterwards I realised she hadn't asked me about my mobility regarding how far I'm capable of walking. I put that info in my application form but it wasn't discussed at all. Seeing as the Mobility component is very specific about it I'm now worried that it won't be considered and I'll have to appeal. I wonder if being in a wheelchair was something to do with it? She did seem quite knowledgeable about M.E. which makes a change.
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#934 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 7,604
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Quote:
Bit concerned about my PIP assessment. Afterwards I realised she hadn't asked me about my mobility regarding how far I'm capable of walking. I put that info in my application form but it wasn't discussed at all. Seeing as the Mobility component is very specific about it I'm now worried that it won't be considered and I'll have to appeal.
From PIP assessment guide. Quote:
2.5.4. There does not need to be independent corroborating evidence in every case. Where the available information is comprehensive, clearly outlines the extent and nature of any functional problems and, above all, is consistent with the claimed condition(s) without raising doubt in the HP’s mind on the level of function, then this should be sufficient.
... 2.5.7. In some cases there may be sufficient information to advise on the majority of activities, but which leaves small gaps that it has not been possible to fill through obtaining FE or by contacting the claimant. In such cases, where the available information is consistent, the HP should consider whether they can use their own expert clinical knowledge of the condition(s), its severity and known impact in other areas to determine, on the balance of probabilities, the likely impact in the remaining areas. If they feel confident doing this and it would be in line with the consensus of medical opinion, then a paper-based review may still be possible, referring to such in the summary justification. |
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#935 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Station Eleven
Posts: 3,472
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Thanks for that, nomad2king. The assessor was quite knowledgeable about my illness, which unfortunately isn't usually the case. Fingers crossed!
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#936 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 1,428
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That's a difficult one. The assessor I had, didn't ask me about one of the conditions I had and was supposedly knowledgable about it. But in the report put it caused no problems at all. Not what my friend told her at all, despite him using the words "I don't know a lot about it".
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#937 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 7,604
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Quote:
Thanks for that, nomad2king. The assessor was quite knowledgeable about my illness, which unfortunately isn't usually the case. Fingers crossed!
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#938 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 20,673
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Quote:
CAB have pretty much the same information for free on their website.
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#939 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: The Deathstar
Posts: 15,385
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Quote:
CAB have pretty much the same information for free on their website.
Quote:
I'm not familiar with the CAB site but Benefits & Work have a lively forum which can help a great deal.
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#940 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 20,673
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Quote:
Thanks for the replies, I got the dreaded form this morning which they need back by the 9th January. I will have to start doing as much research as possible in order to make sure the form is filled out as correctly.
I'm in no way connected with Benefits & Work (so please don't think I'm pushing them) but if memory serves me right they had / have a PDF form which maybe handy to fill in as you go along - the bonus being you've always got a copy for your own records. Whether you can send that, or have to write it out I don't know, but I should imagine it would be easier to amend etc as you go along. |
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#941 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 1,428
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On the CAB website, there is a PDF (I think) you can download which is a diary. I've had to use that as evidence. Much easier I've found than trying to write my own diary.
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#942 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Lancs
Posts: 14,452
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Quote:
Thanks for the replies, I got the dreaded form this morning which they need back by the 9th January. I will have to start doing as much research as possible in order to make sure the form is filled out as correctly.
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#943 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 7,604
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If possible to find online versions of the forms. You could use those prepare your answers. Eg You could with the ESA form ,get a PDF copy of it, fill it out on the computer(it looks a lot neater), print if off, and even hand it in to the local Jobcentre for them to Fax it for you. No posting of letters involved.
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#944 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 1,428
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Quote:
If possible to find online versions of the forms. You could use those prepare your answers. Eg You could with the ESA form ,get a PDF copy of it, fill it out on the computer(it looks a lot neater), print if off, and even hand it in to the local Jobcentre for them to Fax it for you. No posting of letters involved.
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#945 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Station Eleven
Posts: 3,472
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I signed up with Benefits & Work and to be honest it was a waste of money. All you really get is a couple of PDF files with advice in it, and access to one extremely heavily moderated forum where your threads/posts will only be be approved or responded to during certain times of the day. I found no info there that wasn't already available elsewhere for free. Must be a nice little earner for the husband and wife team who run it though...
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#946 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 7,604
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Quote:
There is a sample form; but you can't download it and fill it in like you can do with ESA.
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#947 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 20,673
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Quote:
I signed up with Benefits & Work and to be honest it was a waste of money. All you really get is a couple of PDF files with advice in it, and access to one extremely heavily moderated forum where your threads/posts will only be be approved or responded to during certain times of the day. I found no info there that wasn't already available elsewhere for free. Must be a nice little earner for the husband and wife team who run it though...
We liked the fact that there was an advisor who would give advice to individual's concerns / queries. One claimant, I was helping at the time, was given excellent guidance and every niggle was explained. Neither of us, at the time, had a clue where to start with the forms but she did go on to be awarded the benefits she was rightly entitled to and I have to say it was down, mainly to the guidance and advice from Benefits & Work. Great to have all the info in one place as not everyone has the energy or know-how to search online. She had tried the CAB but it was sadly lacking in so much that no-one there was experienced enough to help. As for it being some sort of money spinner I can't agree. The fees aren't extortionate, imho, and offers good value for money. The site doesn't claim to get a person a "positive" result but it does go a long way, I feel, to guide people through the process. Good enough for the likes of the "Professional Members" too it seems. It's just sad that the Govt have put people, ill people, in the position where sites like B&W are needed. |
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#948 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Station Eleven
Posts: 3,472
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I've just been awarded Standard Rate for mobility after my PIP assessment. Problem is they've said I can move more than 20 meters but this is wrong. I actually qualify for the Enhanced Mobility rate. It also states in the letter that I was observed to have normal muscle tone in upper and lower limbs, but the assessor made no physical examination apart from asking me to grip her fingers.
Should I appeal? £21 extra a week is better than nothing, but there are errors in the judgment. |
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#949 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 20,673
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Quote:
I've just been awarded Standard Rate for mobility after my PIP assessment. Problem is they've said I can move more than 20 meters but this is wrong. I actually qualify for the Enhanced Mobility rate. It also states in the letter that I was observed to have normal muscle tone in upper and lower limbs, but the assessor made no physical examination apart from asking me to grip her fingers.
Should I appeal? £21 extra a week is better than nothing, but there are errors in the judgment. |
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#950 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Storbritannia
Posts: 28,916
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Quote:
Thanks for the replies, I got the dreaded form this morning which they need back by the 9th January. I will have to start doing as much research as possible in order to make sure the form is filled out as correctly.
![]() What you can do is look through all the advice contained in the guides below, fill in the PIP form, enclose medical back up from GP/consultant (plus any relevant information from Google Scholar or PubMed about your condition). If you need any help on filling out the PIP form then by all means seek advice from any one of the nearest Citizens Advice Bureau, local council benefits advice unit, community law centre, relevant charity or claimants' union depending upon what is available locally. If you need to go to appeal on a benefits decision then I very strongly suggest getting help from one of those organisations. Guides on the PIP form for physical and mental health issues: https://www.actionforme.org.uk/uploa...sheet-2016.pdf https://www.leicester.gov.uk/media/1...e-payments.pdf https://www.mind.org.uk/media/197255...les4-final.pdf https://www.rethink.org/resources/p/...ce-payment-pip |
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