To apply to claim PIP?

[CatoSoup]

I'm not sure how best to word this, so apologies in advance.

I was diagnosed with a chronic (lifelong unless they find a cure) disease in Jan, which does effect my day to day living. I'm on my 5th (!) course of steroids this year so far, 6th hospitalisation and my 2nd attempt at an immunosuppressive biologic drug after failing chemo and the first drug. My next step will be the removal of my bowel and a perma stoma if this drug doesn't work.

I believe I would be entitled to PIP in my current state (hah!) but as I'm still managing to work, I feel sort of... guilty? At applying?

My thoughts have changed on applying for it (was not going to before as I'm working...) when I found out that a friend is receiving PIP for her mental health while working. I'm not sure why this makes any difference to me at all, but it's changed how I feel about it. I know working doesn't effect PIP (or it shouldnt!)

I sort of feel maybe I should apply? As if I was awarded it I could put the money towards my (I feel, inevitable) surgery, as my work will only pay me stat sick pay.

AIBU?

As a disabled person myself with chronic mh issues, i'd say get every penny you're entitled to now and save it, because life on way less than minimum wage with no prospects of better health to ever work and get out of a constant pit of debt and going without, sucks.

You should 100% apply. Don't worry about anyone else just do the best for yourself. You never know when you might be unable to work at al.

If you haven't been through the application process before would be worth contacting Citizens Advice for help and advice when completing the form. I haven't been through this process but I know people who have been and they say that completing the form properly is crucial. I have heard that they key to completing the application is not to simply detail your illness but to details how the illness affects you but again, please contact someone who knows the score.

You may be entitled to carer's allowance but I haven't a clue how it works.

You would be crazy not to apply. I hope things work out for you.

I was going to say that if you're able to work then I wouldn't but missvictoria makes a really good point.

Pip is nothing to do with wether you are fit to work, it is there to help people who have life limiting illnesses and disabilities have a better life - pay for mobility cars, carers etc. People who work are also entitled to claim

Pip is to help disabled people cover some of the extra costs that being disabled brings. As you will know, it can cost hundreds of pounds more every month just for a disabled person to access things able bodied people take for granted, such as transport, being able to wash and dress etc. Many people need the extra money provided by pip to put the adjustments in place they need to be able to work.

You are entitled to it, and you deserve it, so please claim it.

I really hope your health improves soon.

Apply.

You must have extra costs. That's what PIPs for, and this cover is what you've paid NICs for.

Thank you all!

MissVictoria you make a really good point. My disease is unpredictable and can be progressive, so while I hope to continue working there's no guarantee I'll be able to

Emerald My disease has a dedicated charity with a website section on how best to complete the form to reflect how we're affected in our day to day activities, so I'll be looking at that this weekend!
I'm not sure how the carer thing works either. I suppose my DP acts as my carer sometimes when I'm really unwell (sometimes I can't move/cook/wash etc) so I'll look into it.

I suppose it's the feeling of guilt over the fact I can work that was stopping me, but I do have to take several measures/use aids to ensure I can actually get to/stay in work now! Finding out about my friend has changed my viewpoint on it.

I claim pip and manage to work (just!) it's allowed me to carry on with something closer to a normal life, for example i bought a mobility scooter and have a mobility car which actually lets me get to work!

Definitely apply, worst they can do is say no!

Mine is up for renewal at the moment, even though the award was till next November, I'd definitely recommend researching about the best way to complete the HUGE form, as it is very intimidating and quite depressing to complete.

My dh has chrohns and he claims even though he does work. His occupational health team have set stuff in place so if he feels really bad he can be off sick, or can do reduced hours without any repercussions. PIP means that if he does need to work less some months then we have a bit extra money to support that.

Apply, but brace yourself for ATOS

Yeah Bishop, that's something that worries me! I'm on a lot of the FB support groups and PIP assessment horror stories are frequently posted. I've heard what you're advised to do is to treat your assessment/form questions as your worst day. It makes me a bit queasy thinking about it!

On my worst days I can barely move or walk, usually get hospitalised for fluids and IV steroids... but will they look at me and go "she's at it" as my disease is invisible? Just need to wait and see.

This was why I was thinking about waiting until I had surgery until applying for it, as then I would be at my very worst. But I don't think I could afford the surgery without the PIP in place to begin with (as my stat sick won't cover my bills, surgery on the NHS obviously)... it's a horrible choice.

This page gives you a self test to see if, in your opinion, you may be eligible www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip/pip-self-test obviously you have to get the decision makers to agree! As much evidence as possible in the way of letters from drs outlining any continence issues, care needs. It doesn't matter how much time you spend in hospital, or whether you work or not, it's all based on how much care you need for the care part and how far you can walk (for physical health applications) for mobility. You need to meet the descriptors at least half the time to be eligible, but some variability within that is much easier to account for on PIP forms than DLA.

You can claim PIP while you are working.

It's based on the help that you need throughout the day to complete tasks, i.e. dressing, personal care, cooking, shopping etc. and not on your diagnosis.

I have a severe, debilitating auto immune condition as well and I receive PIP, as I need assistance with most everyday tasks. I had to provide written medical evidence and also had to have a face to face assessment. I had help filling my forms in from a charity called Fightback for Justice, who advised me on everything.

You should definitely apply OP

I get PIP and work full time. My husband get carer's allowance. I was awarded it without an interview and just on the evidence I provided. It's not always a nightmare. I didn't apply for ages, but did when DH had to stop working to help look after me when poorly (I am fine sometimes, other times can do very little and need watching 24/7). PIP is there to help cover the additional costs of a disability so isn't means tested. It helps a lot.

Stop dithering and apply, and get it backdated as far as you can as well.

Re ATOS worries, you don't know till you try, but make sure you tell them worst day scenarios every time, and research the points indicators before you have your interview with them, as it will help you not to miss out on pints you ought to have.

I get PIP but not ESA as they are adamant that I'm fit for work (going to tribunal soon re the ESA decision) so honestly the PIP qualifiers have nothing to do with your perceived or actual work capacity.

You can explain on the form that your condition varies, and that you cannot do things 'reliably, repeatedly & comfortably'. I can't recommend the benefits & work site, that a PP linked to, enough. Become a member, I think it's around £20 per year, and follow their guides, as well as the ones in the site you mentioned specific to your condition.

If you sign up to benefits and work newsletter you'll often be able to get a code that takes membership down to about £16, it's so so worth it, fantastic, detailed guides. Places like CAB etc normally can't help with the original filling out of the form so using guides online gives you a better chance of not forgetting anything. Repetition (just because you explained it in a previous question, you still need to explain it again) and explanation is key.

I got my incapacity benefit taken off me once after an ATOS assessment. It took just 16 MINUTES, from me walking in the door of the assessment room, to the guy assessing me to have asked all the questions he wanted to ask, shoo me out the door, write and submit his report. He absolutely screwed it up. I have severe OCD and also some depression. His entire argument for why i couldn't possibly have depression was focused on the fact i nervously smiled at him when i entered the room! His English wasn't great and i couldnt understand half of what he said because of a thick accent and speaking so fast, but felt i couldn't ask for someone else as it would look racist. He would ask for example "can you cook" and insisted on just a yes or no answer when i tried to explain that i can only cook occasionally, he insisted i'd have time to describe how i was affected at the end, but right now he just wanted yes or no answers, and even if i could only do it sometimes or with help/ it was with great difficulty i should still say yes. Of course once he asked all his required questions he didn't let me say a damn thing, told me great, you'll get a letter about the outcome, goodbye, and i was practically pushed out the door. I have really severe OCD to the point going to that damn assessment was the first time i'd gotten out of the house in 6 months on only through being forced as they refused an at home assessment. Every second of it was a whirl of extreme anxiety, fear, and a desperation to get back home. He actually put on the form that i have no obsessional thoughts (so why did it take me 2 hours to go for a wee for all my rituals?) That i have no trouble sleeping (majorly sleep phobic, i only sleep when i get so exhausted i literally pass out) and a bunch more shit like that. He scored me half he number of points i needed to qualify, when i should legitimately have scored almost double the number of points needed to qualify. So absolutely if you get to a face to face assessent, don't smile, don't be friendly, and describe your worst day, because they will do ANYTHING to decline someone or take what they already get off them, because they have targets to reach. Those who are sick and disabled receive the most undignified assessments, you're treated as a liar. My appeal was turned down twice because the appeal process isn;t actually an appeal, its just a recount of the points you got to make sure they didnt add up wrong, they dont look at further evidence you send in because it isn't done by a doctor/assessor, just a civil servant with no power to award additional points! They also said because my "evidence" was from a psychologist it didn't count, because i could have lied to them about my issues in the first place so no physical evidence to back it up. Third time round i had that explained to me and a sympathetic person on the phone re submitted my claim to be looked at by an actual doctor. Thankfully whoever re assessed it was a decent person and i got my incapacity benefit back. The following 2 years they allowed at home assessments, and since i transferred to ESA they accepted my illness prognosis isn't expected to change so yearly re assessments would be pointless.

Piehunter that's nonsense about CABs. Helping people complete benefit forms is one of the biggest things they do!