PIP

Your post comes across as judgmental.

So PIP is a benefit that’s paid to people who suffer from chronic condition/s which affects their ability to function on a day to day basis.

The payment is used to make their life a bit more bearable and easier as they are usually struggling in some way with activities of daily living.

Remember that disability is often invisible.

PIP is also non means tested so you can get it if your disability or condition affects you but you can still work.

Hmmn maybe concentrate on your own life!
This is why I don't tell anyone how much my PIP is although I'm visibly disabled so it's obvious really
PIP is NOT means tested... anyone who meets the incredibly strict criteria is eligible
YABU

There's a widespread policy to refuse applicants on intital application. As much as it would tax your friend to do so, she really will stand a better chance having a mandatory reconsideration.

If due to a physical condition on the majority of days you must be unable to walk more than 20m reliably, timely and repeatedly (for enhanced)

You can however get mobility based on other conditions such as learning disability, seizures etc where you can physically walk without restriction, but would be vulnerable when out alone, it comes under a different descriptor.

To @Ostagazuzulum youd be better off directing your attention to the tax evaders who are depriving our country of resources for our social welfare.

and absolutely yes to the pp who said they never mention their awards to anyone for fear of judgement.

@Ostagazuzulum I look pretty bloody good mainly. I’m also in continuous pain. I take more medication than I can keep track of and I pace my activities severely so yes, I do x but at the expense of y and z that you can do without thought. That’s expensive as I need the heating on more. I have to pay for private therapies and nutritious meals that are quick and easy to make. And so many other items that make a difference.

Im still in pain. I will still need expensive state care in the future but for now they are helping me to stay as well and independent as possible. Think of that when you judge your friend.

You don’t have to be able to walk less than 20m to get HRM.

Yes. Dc gets the high rate with no trouble walking at all. They granted it on the basis of other evidence.

Because the person assessing felt that you couldn't reliably, timely and repeatedly walk more than 20m on the majority of days. Which would be correct for some people with severe lupus.

I’m not disputing this is in the handbook. I’m saying thankfully discretion is used and common sense!

If you are familiar with the handbook then you know that the assessment is based on the 'majority of days'. A fact is a fact.

Exactly. I wrote very clearly on my form in large letters “I can physically walk” and then went into detail about my condition and how it affects me. I didn’t tick any of the boxes to say how far I could walk. I left them blank. Gamble but hey. The assessor decided to grant me the full points and said I wasn’t able to walk far at all based on what I’d written.

I'm just pointing out that you can qualify for mobility without having the walking issues for 20m etc.. you mentioned

I know what the handbook says. I am in several health forums, all with thousands of members and I help advise people about PIP. Lots of people - like me - fill in the forms as honestly as possible; with the support of reports from health professionals, and get the rates you are saying we don’t get. So how does that work? I’m not going to come on a forum anonymously and lie for the sake of it. I do think a lot of assessors take the whole picture into account - the conditions, prescriptions, likelihood of things getting worse and give points based on this for the sections. And perhaps they shouldn’t if you want to argue that but the forms aren’t designed well for certain conditions. We all know the opposite scenario is all to common when people should be awarded points and they’re not.

Pip is a benefit that is not means tested, that's why she can receive it no matter what she earns.

@Willyoujustbequiet

This is with regards to the 'majority of days'.

The other descriptor you are talking about though on mobility would cover conditions where you need assistance to go out due to MH/seizures/vision problems etc.

I meant things like carers tickets (some places are using the Nimbus cards now), disabled person’s railcard, there are a couple of groups locally which are limited to people who are “registered disabled”, there might be still some things around utility bills (haven’t looked recently)

No. @Pigeonqueen is correct.

You can get high mobility without saying you are restricted 20 m or more etc..because there is another descriptor.

Clearly not.

Ok. We will have to agree to disagree. I am familiar with the handbook.

Surely like with Agraphobia you would save money as you wouldn’t pay for transport, meals out holidays etc…..

Carers allowance - depending on the level of the PIP and income of the person trying to claim it
Free carers ticket to days out / attractions and reduced main ticket for the disabled person
Access to the motability scheme for those in receipt of high rate mobility component
Some water and energy companies offer reduced rates for PIP customers
CEA card for cinema to get a free carers ticket
Disabled rail card for a third of rail travel

There are other things but these are just the ones off the top of my head.

@Pigeonqueen

And I know it is because I have professional experience of assisting with hundreds of claims, it's even in the PIP Handbook which contains all the rules and criteria.

How did she manage to get it? My friend has ME. Took her ages and over a month's worth of her energy (so didn't go out) researching what gave her the best chance at being successful at getting PIP.

I attended her interview with her. She was honest. She shared his limiting her life is. (E.g. she needs a 2 hour rest after a 10 min shower)

She didn't get PIP. The report the decision was based on was incorrect (e.g. she attended the interview alone). She didn't have energy to go through the process again and fight the incorrect decision, due to her disability. She wouldn't let me try on her behalf, as that would still take it out of her.

She's existing on a tiny amount, as she's too ill to work. She has high outgoings from the diet costs of improving her ME and a higher fuel cost to make her ME tolerable. I give her money most months to make up her short fall.

So I ask again, how did she succeed in getting the payment? I'm all ears.

And I know it’s not because I have an indefinite/ ongoing award for the highest rates of PIP and that is not how my form was assessed. And indeed many others with the same conditions as me have had the same outcome with the same issues. There is some flexibility in how they assess the forms, even if they claim there isn’t.

@Pigeonqueen

It is indeed true.

'In the PIP assessment, a descriptor will apply to you if it reflects your ability for the majority of days (ie on over half of them)'

From Disability Rights UK.