Do you think I could get PIP?

[Bellahellas1]

I have acute myofascial tempromandibular jaw dysfunction, in laments terms I have terrible chronic pain on a daily basis and it also causes migraines, vertigo, sensitivity to light, tinnitus, problems with eating and affects my sleep. I'm on two heavy medications for it and have also have a record of other treatments via the NHS that haven't helped so far.

I have PTSD (I'm not under a psychiatrist - so don't think this classes as a formal diagnosis but a psychologist I was seeing told me that's what I have)

I also suffer with frequent panic attacks which I'm medicated for.

Suspected PMDD to boot (currently trialling different BC to see if anything helps)

I'm in a shit state overall, definitely couldn't hold down a 'proper' job (I'm a carer for my disabled son)

Do you think I would be awarded pip or need I not bother applying? I know the threshold is high and I don't want to waste my time and get stressed if it's going to be pointless.

It's also worth noting that I don't have any 'evidence' I could send off by means of reports. Although I have the details of all of the HCP's I've seen (GP / consultant / physio / psychology)

WDYT?

PIP is about how your disability affects you, not about what it actually is. Maybe get the forms and see.

I'm in a shit state overall, definitely couldn't hold down a 'proper' job (I'm a carer for my disabled son)

Also make sure that nothing in your form contradicts what you do for your son as a carer.

You need evidence of how it affects you. There is no way you will get PIP without being able to back up your form.

How would I go about that? Asking for supporting letters?

The only evidence I have is appointment letters. Do people routinely get reports?

I’m a mental health professional and routinely write PIP reports for clients. Are you in therapy and can ask them to write one? Not all will, but it’s worth asking.

I have several long term chronic issues and I get copied into all of my correspondence from socialists to Gp etc. also blood results and abs test results. You won't get any sort of PIP with a list of diagnoses and no real proof of how this affects your daily life. You need to be (ideally) under a consultant and with a string of evidence of your conditions and what is being done. If you are no longer under the consultant then a a career plan to manage your condition should have been discussed with you and sent to your Gp. You can't get it just in diagnosis alone.

Ahhhh correspondence between consultant and GP, now that I do have. I didn't think of that.

When I read 'evidence' I took that to mean reports written specifically for the purpose of supporting a claim.

I'm under oral surgery at hospital and have been since 2019. There's a record of me having physio, pain management therapy with psychology, non cosmetic botox, different medications. Multiple correspondences between them and GP over that time

My consultant may be happy to write a letter though, I will definitely ask.

Thank you for the info

Get help from your local CAB to fill the forms in, don't try to do it yourself

It's certainly worth applying, OP.

It is a very detailed and precise form, so
You do need to plan the content you compete on your submission. It will take time and you do need to really understand how the awards are granted to make sure you complete the forms in a way that accurately describes how your conditions affect you (not just what you have).

Ahead of time, gather together copies of the letters your specialists have sent to you and your GP with the diagnosis's and information that you do have.

As a PP said, the CAB can help you complete it but at a minimum, check out the various support sites online and read through the info relating to the points system and how they are awarded.

PIP Is also available if you are badly affected with mental health issues such as anxiety and panic attacks.

It's 100% worth applying if you have illnesses and conditions that impact your life.

(And as far as I know, being a carer yourself doesn't stop you from claiming or being awarded PIP for your own issues).

PIP isn't about ability to work or not it's about how your condition affects your daily living activities and mobility. So it looks at whether you can cook a meal, eat and drink, wash and dress yourself, manage medications etc. It looks not only at whether you can do these things but whether you can do them reliably, safely, within a reasonable time frame etc. The most important thing is getting medical evidence to back up what you are saying.

The worst than can happen is they say no, so definitely apply. Write a lot of detail about how things affect you day to day in the form, don’t assume anyone understands anything about your condition.

I have lupus, Addisons and other autoimmune issues and was awarded enhanced rates on both components as an ongoing award with no assessment at all - they just based it on my form and spoke to my rheumatologist. So many horror stories out there but stories like mine aren’t often heard.

@Afterfire

Agreed. My adult DS was also awarded enhanced rates on both following his first submission.

He and we did a lot of research into how to complete the form fully and properly. I don't think we would have done it correctly at all if we hadn't done that.

My physiatrist write a report every time I see her I've never had to ask for a report.
Also pip will contact your GP for information about your illness.

I was on the old DLA and moved over to PIP. When I was applying,the stories I read of applicants being knocked back really put me off.

Like you, I had no evidence. Not a single page of anything. (Just medication I take). I was so worried about it and wondered wether it was worth it. I went through it and it wasn't as bad as I had expected. I was successful.
Don't be put off.

I've recently been awarded pip. I didn't bother applying for months as I read a lot of horror stories about assessors lying etc and was told by ppl it's very difficult and stressful.

I applied in January, got my forms the following week. I took lots of time to carefully fill the form in, looked up lots online on the best way to fill them in. Sent in physio reports, consultants letters, basically everything I had from every health professional.

I then had a long wait till I got an assessment date. Mine was a phone assessment and the person who did mine was lovely. I was a bit worried as it was quite short (20 mins when it's usually around an hour apparently). I recorded the assessment. I'd been advised to do this.

I was awarded pip last week so a very long process (19 weeks).

Go for it you've got nothing to lose. Best of luck x

I have been looking into PIP for my husband who has recently had a stroke. Because he is likely to make a full recovery and you have to wait 6 mnths before applying, he probably won’t qualify.
TMJ itself would probably not be taken into account. It’s not a disability. However since the underlying cause is anxiety related you may be able to follow this route. The oral surgeon is unlikely to be keen to get involved the mental health issues are not their field of expertise. You will need psychiatric based support.
Start with your GP and see if you can be referred for ptsd diagnosis.
But since PIP is all about how well you can care for yourself, the fact you are a carer for your child suggests that you can care for him/her so presumably you can care for yourself. You may lose your payments as a carer in order to become cared for.
I went through the form for DH and since he can do everything for himself, albeit slowly, and is able to drive and walk 200m slowly but without assistance means he will not qualify.
Im not sure what mental health disabilities qualify, I didn’t check.

DH has difficulty with planning and time keeping since his stroke so maybe he would qualify with this. We have to wait another 3 mnths before being able to claim though.

I have to add though, as a dentist, I think that you haven’t a hope in hells chance based on TMJ. I have seen thousands of cases over 35+ years in practice and not one could be classed as permanently debilitating. I would think that a severe psychosis that is the underlying cause might swing it but you would need a formal diagnosis for that.

I'm sad to say I think it's fairly unlikely you'd be awarded PIP, but that's not to say you shouldn't try - just my opinion as someone who has been through the process. I received both components at the higher rate without an assessment, based on evidence supplied. While it is true that it's not dependent on the diagnosis, of course in practice the diagnoses and all the evidence accompanying the application (illustrating functional ability, hospital admissions, care you receive, etc) is critical in succeeding. I personally do think you should be given support; this isn't me saying I think you aren't ill enough or don't deserve it. I'm just concerned based on what you've said that you might go through all of this and not receive PIP in the end.

@Angrymum22

Im not sure what mental health disabilities qualify, I didn’t check.

No disabilities qualify, that's not how it works.

Thanks all

I did suspect I probably wouldn't get anywhere with it so was in two minds about applying. As debilitating as it is for me I can see how it's nowhere near as serious as what some people have to live with.

I may not bother after all.

The only reason I considered it in the first place was because its costing me so much money trying to manage. Osteopath, acupuncture, countless tubes of voltarol and nurofen gels every week at almost £10 a pop each. I can't afford these things for much longer so will have to just accept I'm always going to suffer 😔

I've had the TMD for 3 years and it's not getting any better. Life isn't really worth living like this.

Just try op. Honestly I didn't think I'd get a thing but i do. It's not the diagnosis, it's how it effects you. I get dreadful vertigo and that's one of my main symptoms. I'd say you've got a good chance on your mental health issues alone.

As I said before you've got nothing to lose.
X

Please try. If you do and don't succeed all you've lost is a bit of time. My teenager had mental health problems and because they were severe we got high rate DLA (under 16 they don't get PIP). I didn't think she'd get anything and the extra £450 ish a month is a godsend as I can't work due to her illness.

When my son transferred from DLA to PIP I did an online workshop with a charity who went through the whole form and gave excellent advice. Following their advice I fully expect to get high rate for both components for him for PIP.

Google PIP support. There's lot if charities out there who can advise and support you with the application. Good luck!