Applied for PIP, AIBU to be scared of being laughed out the place?

[someoneneededyoubree]

I have debilitating Fibromyalgia.

I cannot raise my arms above my shoulders most of the time. Someone is now having to wash my hair and style it for me.

I now need help to get in and out of my bath/shower, of which I'm soon going to be renovating to fit my needs.

Apologies for being vulgar, but there are times where I cannot bend or move enough to change a bloody sanitary product. Yesterday I was in tears to my DMum because I was leaking but physically couldn't change myself. She couldn't get to me quickly so an amazing friend came over just to help me sort myself out. That wasn't just due to pain, for that I might've been able to bite through. But physically, I cannot do much when I'm at my worst because of muscle weakness/stiffness.

I recently dropped a pan of boiling water that wasn't even that heavy. Luckily enough I missed my own body and it dropped on the floor entirely.

If I'm visiting someone or out and about, I need to now visit disabled loos at times just so there's something there I can hold onto to lower myself onto the toilet.

I can no longer attend work and I'm on long term sick, I have been for a few weeks. Luckily they have been brilliant and are a huge company that support me to the max. However, it means I can no longer afford my old car and I'm now left stranded without, unless I have my DMum to help me get from A to B.

I have had to get shoes I can slip on as there are some days I cannot pull shoes on, and most days I can't bend for long enough to tye laces

I have applied for PIP and just waiting for the form. I'm so worried about what the assessor at the face to face will be like. I'm so worried she/he will tell a pack of lies, which seems to be the case for so many genuine people.

AIBU to be scared?

I just don't know what to do anymore. I really need the financial assistance. My DMum is a God send and I'm lucky to bloody have her. I'd be gone for if I didn't, I'm not sure what I'd do. From the outside I look fine, just very sore if I try and walk on good days. On bad days, I cannot walk more than a few steps and need my wheelchair. On other days, I have crutches. I have a DS who I'm tremendously lucky to have so much help with. He is an amazing little boy and I feel like I'm letting him down. But I know I'm not, he's bright and happy.

I have been told to include with the form -

•GP letter explaining how my condition impacts me
• A diary (a week's worth), explaining how I've been each day and how my condition has impacted me
• Letter from a consultant (fingers crossed I can get this in time)
•Letter from my DMum explaining how she thinks my condition impacts me, and how she helps me, such as helping me prepare a basic meal, washing my hair, on bad days, dressing my lower half

I am 20 years old and I feel so devastated that this seems to be my life, for now. The condition has been with me since the age of 14. It gradually gets worse as I get older, it seems.

Some times I go through stages where I'm feeling fantastic but I'm then slowly but surely back to square one, often worse off.

The letter won’t be much use until the consultant has actually seen the OP.

You could ring the secretary and ask about the possibility of bringing the appointment forward, though.

They just enhanced DS ( age 17 ) rate , mainly because of his mental capacity was a big surprise, can walk and run but needs a 1 to 1 for his safety.

I hate those pip people with a passion, the things they make my mum do is ridiculous, try to touch her toes ect,my mum has bulging discs in her spine and can barely walk but asked her to touch her toes. Never wanted to slap someone so much in my life. when you go make sure you take someone with you. I feel for you, who are they to say you are in agony? Them Sitting at a desk that can yay or nay you in seconds..

try to touch her toes ect,my mum has bulging discs in her spine and can barely walk but asked her to touch her toes

I was asked to touch my toes, I said no I couldn't. I simply bent at the waist to show how far I could bend. (Not very far at all)

I was asked to stand on tiptoe, again I couldn't. She didn't insist or anything.

I was asked to reach my arms behind my back, I couldn't do that either.

You’re not getting at what I mean though, if a doctor who has X-rays of someone’s back an it shows deformities then why are people made to see these pip clowns to prove they are in pain?
I’m unsure what OPs illness is but if she has doctors reports why the hell does she need to see pip for review?
people killing them selves because they’ve been refused pip because they are classed not disabled enough, it’s shocking.

Every time I read about them it gets my back up.

You’re not getting at what I mean though, if a doctor who has X-rays of someone’s back an it shows deformities then why are people made to see these pip clowns to prove they are in pain?

because hopefully, enough will be deterred from claiming to reduce the amount spent on PIP.

A awful lot on money was spunked dreaming up PIP/ESA - we know because the invoices were published. It's inconceivable that any deleterious effects on claimants weren't foreseen. The fact they must have been, and are allowed to happen is a clear demonstration they were the whole reason for the exercise.

Prove me wrong.

(Remember, a while back, a minister let slip that the real reason for PIP was to reduce spending - none of this "targeted support bollocks" they put in the media.)

I’m unsure what OPs illness is but if she has doctors reports why the hell does she need to see pip for review?

Because some illnesses like CFS, Fibromyalgia ME etc. CAN fluctuate a lot and in some cases resolve (and in others relapse) Therefore DWP think it's reasonable to review people with these conditions quite frequently.

You’re not getting at what I mean though, if a doctor who has X-rays of someone’s back an it shows deformities then why are people made to see these pip clowns to prove they are in pain?

We all know the system's unfair and appears to treat everyone as potential fraudsters, but that's all we have to work with. Wasting energy railing against the system doesn't help anyone.

The most any of us can do is to advise anyone new to the system to learn the system via all the online guides and support groups, then present their evidence in the way that's most likely to be accepted.

Because some illnesses like CFS, Fibromyalgia ME etc. CAN fluctuate a lot and in some cases resolve (and in others relapse) Therefore DWP think it's reasonable to review people with these conditions quite frequently.

What the DWP thinks isn't necessarily right - it's just what they think. And in any case would such a review be better carried out by a doctor, not a civil servant ?

And that assertion is blown out of the water by the need to check that severed limbs, missing eyes (or death) haven't magically "got better" - which are "reviews" the DWP felt were needed.

I included over 100 supplemental pages for DWs claim - 10 years of medical reports for each facet of her condition, each one noting the deterioration since last year (that's how progressive MS works). Not sure what the £2,000 visit they insisted on added to that picture. Apart from distressing and exhausting DW. And if that's all they wanted to do, they could have done it for £2 and a 100 piece jigsaw.

^We all know the system's unfair and appears to treat everyone as potential fraudsters, but that's all we have to work with. Wasting energy railing against the system doesn't help anyone.
The most any of us can do is to advise anyone new to the system to learn the system via all the online guides and support groups, then present their evidence in the way that's most likely to be accepted.^

The problem with that, is it becomes tacit acceptance. And (to quote the Manics) "If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next".

Because some illnesses like CFS, Fibromyalgia ME etc. CAN fluctuate a lot and in some cases resolve (and in others relapse) Therefore DWP think it's reasonable to review people with these conditions quite frequently.

And what about my friend with Cerebral Palsy who had a lifetime award of DLA... are they expecting miraculous spontaneous remission in the next few years?

And what about my friend with Cerebral Palsy who had a lifetime award of DLA... are they expecting miraculous spontaneous remission in the next few years?

No. They're expecting the stress and complexity of the procedure to either deter them from claiming, or (if they are really lucky) remove the need for a claim at all. Again, prove me wrong.

I had a pip assessment last week. The woman who did us a nurse. She was WONDERFUL. So lovely and walked me back to my car after. Don’t believe all the horror stories.

OP I would also ask your GP to refer you to a chronic pain management programme. They can help you manage your condition and improve your quality of life especially if it is ran by physios. They help you by gradually setting goals to improve your function and reintroducing exercise. They also teach you how to manage flair ups and prevent peaks and troughs of your pain. Good luck

WE Are all well aware of fraudsters and those that fleece the system, they want to save money? Well stop giving alcoholics and drug addicts disability money, when women like op have to jump through hoops for a little extra money just to be able to heat her home.

@30hours have you had the decision yet? My nurse was wonderful and honest. I was awarded but I've seen many PIP claimants say theirs was too only to read a report full of lies afterwards.

they want to save money?

They don't

when women like op have to jump through hoops for a little extra money just to be able to heat her home

That's how the system is designed to work. To teach people there's a "right" and "wrong" way to live your lives.

For anyone still deluded enough to believe this government gives a shiny shit about the less able ...

www.disabledgo.com/blog/2018/08/minister-snubs-dpos-and-breaches-un-convention-by-refusing-meeting/#.W4lMOneZP_Q

The minister for disabled people is refusing to meet a coalition of disabled people’s organisations, in an apparent breach of the UN disability convention.

The coalition wrote to Sarah Newton yesterday (Wednesday) to express its “deep disappointment and concern” about her refusal to meet them to discuss the UK’s failure to implement the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

(contd).

Op you are so young to be going through such an illness

I took ds (16) to his assessment, the ex school nurse who saw him was brilliant and listened to him and to me.

However the downfall was the panel who assessed his claim without actually having met him.
They made decisions about him and his abilities. They had not met him.

If your claim gets refused take it as far as you can.

I wish you luck.

armchair how did you manage to see your report?

@30hours Don't count your chickens. I had an absolutely lovely man, couldn't have been kinder, who then lied throughout every aspect of my report, made up things I hadn't said, commented on my appearance in a very negative way and awarded me with 0 points even though I was bedridden and had multiple letters, reports and evidence from consultants and practitioners.

He's since been dismissed.

I was awarded sorry I should have said.

@30hours I hope you're right. The cynic in me thinks she was testing your walking speed and gait for the 'how far can you walk unaided' part of the mobility questions.
Do request a copy of what she's written about you in her report, then and only then will you see how wonderful she is. I hope you're right, I really do.

@DGRossetti I'm not for one moment saying I agree with the system. All my time (besides caring full time for my relative) was taken with presenting my relative's case, taking it to Tribunal and the Judge awarding them enhanced rate of both with the ruling that 'it's inappropriate to set a term" which means DWP can look at the case, but if they attempt to issue another form to fill in, or change the award in any way, they'll be in contempt of court.

Relative had lifetime DLA, but we had to start from the beginning with PIP when DLA transferred to PIP and had to go all the way to tribunal, not because the evidence wasn't sound, just because DWP wouldn't acknowledge anything as evidence except the (in parts) very flawed findings of their assessor which were IMO down to zero knowledge of the conditions in question and how they impact on daily life.

Things are happening to amend that, but the wheels turn slowly. I don't know if any progress has been made with this yet.
www.disabilityrightsuk.org/news/2017/november/senior-judge-says-dwp-evidence-tribunals-so-poor-it-would-be-wholly-inadmissible

30 hours - she probably walked you back to your car to gain evidence that you can walk a certain distance to be used against you ! They watch people to see if they walk to the assessment centre.

The assessor at my recent assessment seemed really nice, kept telling me not to worry and she totally understood how difficult things were for me. I got a copy of the report and it was as if she had been with someone else , She had completely twisted everything we had talked about, missed out vital information and minimised other things. I have panic disorder, general anxiety disorder and agoraphobia. I cannot leave the house alone and only manage that a handful of time s a year. She has put that she does not think I have any MH issues as I was intelligent, well dressed and my house was tidy. She also put I go out of the house for an hour every day and that my grown up children live with me, (they don't). I know I need to take it further but the affect on my mental health has been horrendous and I don't think I have it in me to do it.

Mine wasn’t a physical assessment. My walking wasn’t an issue. It was for a mental health condition.