PIP, disabilities and working

[RestUp]

Yep totally unreasonable. Move on.

Just wondering what disabilities you have and if claiming PIP was easy.

Seems such a minefield!

Are you needing to claim, yourself?

Urgh I have 2 autoimmune conditions, yes I work but part time and yes I get pip. Wasn’t easy the first time as the advisors are dicks but the second time was fine.

It's based on what difficulties you have - can you cook a simple meal unaided or without difficulty, can you wash and bath yourself, manage your own medications, dress yourself, communicate, mobilise - can you do these activities to an acceptable standard within a reasonable timeframe etc ?
A colleague of mine has just been awarded PIP after a lengthy tribunal. I've no idea how she was awarded it, she has increased her work hours to full time , taken on a more demanding job etc but reckons she needs meals on wheels delivering etc.

I've no idea how she was awarded it, she has increased her work hours to full time , taken on a more demanding job etc

Steven Hawking was director of research at the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology at the University of Cambridge at the time of his death. Being able to work doesn't mean someone has no issues with other aspects of daily living.

@PickAChew yes I would like to.

Best advice I can give is to fill out the forms based on what your worst days look like you really have to be clear about why you need this help, have also been told it's common to be denied first and then accepted when you reapeal

@gobbynorthernbird

I've no idea how she was awarded it, she has increased her work hours to full time , taken on a more demanding job etc

Steven Hawking was director of research at the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology at the University of Cambridge at the time of his death. Being able to work doesn't mean someone has no issues with other aspects of daily living.

True . I guess it depends what type of work you do and that it doesn't contradict what you are saying you can't do.

@NekoShiro

Best advice I can give is to fill out the forms based on what your worst days look like you really have to be clear about why you need this help, have also been told it's common to be denied first and then accepted when you reapeal

It's fine to describe a worst day but you must also explain how often a worst day occurs if your condition is variable. If you only describe a worst day and for example say you have to use a wheelchair because you cannot mobilise 20metres, then on the day of your assessment you have a good day and walk into the assessment centre it is going to undermine your credibility ( particularly when the assessors watch people )

There are scoring guides online so you can estimate how you would compare to the criteria. The assessors' guides also give examples of what should and shouldn't score. I found them the most useful when claiming for Ds1 so I knew what to highlight.

@babyroobs, it's perfectly feasible that your colleague might, say, have perfectly good communication skills but not be able to be safe with a cooker, or whatever. (hell, I'm not at all entitled to PIP but there's days when I genuinely forget that I can't pick up an oven tray that only came out of the oven a minute ago with my bare hands! Imagine for one minute the risks for someone with frequent absence seizures or involuntary muscle spasms)

Not me, but my mum, who has arthritis.

She was awarded it in early 2000s. She was rejected after initial assessments but I wouldn’t give up and took it to the tribunal. I would have given up if it was now as I’m older and less optimistic. She was awarded higher rate DLA and has had periodic assessments. Later assessed for PIP. Her last assessment was 2-3 years ago and it was surprisingly easy. The assessor was matter of fact about it and not difficult at all, perhaps as mum is now 70 and deteriorating.

@Babyroobs I did the same thing. The fact was in work I didn't need dress and undress nor did I need to wash myself or cook a meal but outside of work I did, but others weren't aware of how much I struggle and still aren't now.

It's possible to work and claim PIP but you must take into consideration what work you do and if it conflicts. Example, if my job required me to wash/dress/cook a meal from scratch everyday it would have been a problem.

Well no it's not easy to claim - it's a 33 page document and quite tough to get awarded PIP. But it costs nothing to apply so you might as well try. Call up and ask them to send you a claim form as that can take a few weeks to arrive.

I haven't applied myself but done so for others.

Top tip would be to completely explain the answers to every question as they are stand alone points and your award is based on those points.

Get as much evidence as you can gather and refer to it and your condition in relation to the needs they ask about.

My old manager got the highest rate pip she worked full time and managed a team. She was severely disabled and had a PA. She was wheelchair bound and could only move her fingers to control her chair. She was an inspiration. We worked in a role where she would advise people about benefits and they would tell her they are too unwell to work and she would just tilt her head and give them the eye

get some help if you can from people who are used to filling them in, eg welfare advisors, charities/ self-help groups, disabilities rights.
approx 75% of appeals succeed, so it's obvious they decline too many initially.

I've no idea how she was awarded it, she has increased her work hours to full time , taken on a more demanding job etc

Ugh. Fortunately for us, it's not a disabled person's job to try and cure your rudeness educate you about invisible disabilities.
What an astounding lack of awareness and tact.

@gobbynorthernbird actually Steven hawking is a great example to use really as it's hard to understand when your not in that position. There's should be a beneficial way for anyone disabled or of any ability to work however they can and do well. Everyone has a different contribution to make. If Steven hawking was made to fix cars or paint pictures he would have failed, but he was a genius. Same as our kids now no ones the same

The problem is someone can look very disabled and actually be able to do more than others. For example looking at me (outside my wheelchair) I look okay. But people don’t see the pain, joint dislocations, mobility issues, fatigue and all the other problems that go alongside it.

My friend is paralysed from the waist down and can’t walk, but has very limited pain and no fatigue. She can work full time while I can’t. But looking at us wouldn’t give that information.

When I first was awarded DLA (which was a nightmare to get) it meant I had more support to stay in work longer. I could pay for therapies outside of work I couldn’t afford before. People might have seen me in work and said I looked okay - they didn’t see my collapse when I got home in agony and spend the next day in bed to recover.

I now can’t work, but getting DLA/PIP certainly doesn’t mean you can’t work. It depends on how it impacts you.

@GlitterNails I don't want to pry too much, I don't believe it should be anyone's involvement, but do you have to now be assessed to get help? If you found a job to tey and improve yourself with but obviously so hard for any disability, would that stop any benefits.

I am struggling with disability rights etc at the moment. The system is trying to be good but there's so many faults and failures that could be improved.

I get PIP, I've got Fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, Sensorimotor Axonal neuropathy in both legs, Underactive thyroid, Autism, Arthritis, Anxiety, Depression, PTSD & Pancytopenia. I worked when I was on DLA for 5 years but am now unable to work, I'm waiting to be assessed for a wheelchair.

When you fill the forms in you need to assume that the person reading the form doesn't know anything about your condition. Every question spell out how you do what they ask, don't forget that unless you can do something over 50% of the time reliably repeatedly & safely then you can't do it. Some of the questions are very personal, you need to describe everything in detail. If you get a face to face assessment, be aware that they are watching you from when you approach the building, can you open the door, get things out of your bag, handle papers, do you hear your name being called, how you walk. They are looking to trip you up if they can, my assessor didn't believe I had bladder problems even though I showed her I wore pull ups, I actually wet myself because she said she would terminate the assessment if I left the room to go to the toilet. When you get the text to say the report has been sent to the DWP, ring up for a copy, it will give you an indication of the points awarded.

@Nat6999 how is that legal to not allow someone to use the bathroom. You shouldn't be made to wet yourself to prove anything

You will have to write out everything in detail of what you can and can't do. There are some guides on citizen advice bureau website.
PIP assessors will also lie about everything.
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/help-with-your-claim/fill-in-form/

Don't tell them anything that isn't asked on the form. Don't tell them you drive as this will go against you even though its not a question in the form. Don't volunteer any additional info about personal life. It will go against you.

Have as much evidence as possible to send.
Write a diary of what you do on a daily basis and what you need help with.
Be prepared to receive 0 points and a report full of lies.
Always ask for a copy of your report. Always have someone with you when you have an assessment.
Good luck

@Nat6999

When you fill the forms in you need to assume that the person reading the form doesn't know anything about your condition. Every question spell out how you do what they ask, don't forget that unless you can do something over 50% of the time reliably repeatedly & safely then you can't do it. Some of the questions are very personal, you need to describe everything in detail. If you get a face to face assessment, be aware that they are watching you from when you approach the building, can you open the door, get things out of your bag, handle papers, do you hear your name being called, how you walk. They are looking to trip you up if they can, my assessor didn't believe I had bladder problems even though I showed her I wore pull ups, I actually wet myself because she said she would terminate the assessment if I left the room to go to the toilet. When you get the text to say the report has been sent to the DWP, ring up for a copy, it will give you an indication of the points awarded.

hope you complained about the assessor

don't tell them you work either