To not continue claiming benefits

[stresslessb]

So ! I have been on pip which replaced disability living allowance for three years. I have a physical disability as well as some mental health issues.
It was a long drawn out and emotionally draining experience trying to claim pip. I have issues with incontinence of the bowel amongst other things and I found the whole thing very humiliating. The assessor was nice enough when she came to the house but the report she made left out a lot of details I had told her and added some extra ones that I hadn't. It was just all very traumatic for me and caused me to have seriously bad panic attacks and night terrors on top of everything else. I got really depressed thinking that I wasn't believed even though my gp was behind me 100%
Anyway I was eventually awarded pip after a mandatory reconsideration.
This brings me to today I have had a letter saying that my pip is due to be reviewed in a year from now (they do it a year in front) I have to fill in a form and send details and then they will arrange another interview.
I just honestly can't cope with going through the whole thing again and how the process actually makes me more unwell. I realise that it might be seen as completely stupid but I am not in a great frame of mind anyway.
Do I just tell them that I don't want to continue getting the money and that I can't face going through it all again ? I feel you have to be physically and mentally strong enough for these things and I am not 😢

How will you manage, financially ?

Those pip interviews are scandalous. I went along to one with someone as support and the nurse there had done the same, stuff was made up or left out if it. I tried helping my friend to appeal but in the end she gave up on it. This is exactly why the government have done it this way. They want people to be put off. I'm sorry I don't know what to say to help you after seeing how she was treated.

It sounds bloody awful. But it does beg the question how you’d manage without it and if you would then why do you have it now?

Pringle I won't I will have to move back in with my mum but at the moment I feel like it might be worth it for the sake of my health.

She has it now because she’s entitled to it.

No I wouldn't manage without it. It gave me independence away from my mum and also took the burden off her. I have been ill since childhood so she is very used to all this and she isn't against me going back as she was there with me through the process and saw how it affected me.
I was given pip not due to my financial situation but my condition if that makes sense that is why I got it

I'm spending everyday waiting for the same letter to drop on the doormat. I had three years too. It's due for renewal just like you in a year.
I'm trying to summon the strength and get all my new evidence in order but god I just don't want to go through it all again. They missed out and twisted lots on my report too.

I say please do try to no let those people hideous bastards put you off claiming what's rightfully yours. You're entitled to the money but I do get where you're coming from.

OP, could you have a friend or carer with you for moral support?

Slutty it's just hard enough having this bloody problem in the first place ! My friends all have jobs and are married or bringing up children. I just feel like I'm in a bubble of fear. The assessors and the people on the phone actually scare me to death. If it was a matter of talking to my doctor or consultant about it then that would be ok but some of these people don't even know what the condition is 😢 and it's hard to explain it.
I hope it works out for you

Mimi I had my mum with me last time and they just basically kind of said to her well you can do that for her can't you ? And then marked the points down because they decided my mum should help me dress etc. That wasn't too bad when I was a child but it just feels humiliating ? Even though I love my mum to bits and she does and would do anything for me

All deliberate on the part of the government. Don’t let the bastards get you down!

I'm under a rheumatologist but at least the nurse that assessed me could pronounce the diseases correctly. As for understanding how the diseases work and affect you is another matter.

Has your disease/s worsened in this time and do you have new evidence? If so then send it all in. If not then tick the nothing has changed box (presumably you haven't improved).

Could you get help from Fightback4justice?

They’re excellent, they’ll fill the forms in for you and accompany you to tribunal if necessary.

Obviously for a fee

Slutty nothing has changed apart from my gp has increased my dose of anxiety medication since the last time I had to prove I was disabled ! Mainly due to the stress of claiming pip 😢 My pain medication has been changed due to the side effects of the other one

I'm in the same position, but I need to keep claiming.
It's shit, completely shit.

For some reassurance for you I had my forms to review my PIP back in January. I filled them in, sent back a tiny bit of medical evidence because I was still waiting on my hospital notes, and got my PIP awarded for 6 years at the same rate with no face to face interview this time. I did panic every time the postman for the whole time I was waiting to hear back, though.

I would fill the forms in and see what happens, tbh.

I am sure there are loads of charities and organisations that would help. And lovely family who would support me but I just think going down the route of a tribunal if it came to that would just make me suicidal again. I don't want to feel like that I have worked hard with a councillor not to feel like that anymore

Don’t let the BASTARDS win.
They want you to feel like this and give up.
As hard as it is for you, you should have the money you are entitled to. Please ask a friend or relative or a volunteer to go with you or help you next time

They’ll do anything to put you off. I’m so sorry. It’s so awful. I want to tell you that you have to fight those bastards and claim what is yours. You should! You must! But I totally get why you just want to not. F@ckers!

Are there charities that can help? My hubby had someone come round & do the application for him
He went to interview on his own tho

I totally understand their need to make sure people are genuine. It's just that I've had to prove I am so many times 😢 what I would really like is to be better 😬

Last time we asked for the report to be sent out and she had commented that I was wearing expensive clothing ! It was a joules hoodie that my mum had bought me for Christmas 😢 just because I am disabled it doesn't mean I don't like nice things

That's the thing stress, the vast majority of us would love nothing more than to be well again and go back to work. Not be sat in the house all day everyday. I wish they could understand this.

Trust me my friends who work have tons more money than me nice cars and holidays. No one in their right mind would choose this

I feel your pain.

I’m currently redoing my sons for the 4th time in 3 years!

First time it was a no so went to mandatory reconsideration and then I got MRC. Stuck to that for about a year and I thought he should be on higher and I had more time so requested a change and re done the whole form and got HRC. He’s now nearly 5 so I have to re do it again for the mobility part but they look at the whole thing again so im currently gathering all his evidence again!