Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

PIP - going to the gym

14 replies

Mamabear256 · 27/04/2024 18:43

Hi everyone

I’m really worrying and overthinking this now. I’m genuinely quite an overly anxious person anyway. I applied for pip and sent off my form mid March. I have SI joint dysfunction and struggle with a lot. I’ve been an on and off gym goer to try and strengthen my joints, where I do struggle with the exercises but have been told by many physios that if I were to not do any exercise I’d be in a lot more pain. However at the time of application I mentioned in the application that my pain levels were so bad at that point I had to give up the gym (which is true). However, the last few weeks I decided to try it again but even more gentler and less than before. I didn’t mention it in my assessment as exercise wasn’t brought up so I just didn’t think. I then thought later that night I should have mentioned it so I wrote a statement explaining how I now go gym once maybe twice a week on advice of the physios. I explained I’m still in a lot of pain as a result but it’s better than being completely immobile. I wanted to be honest. I didn’t want them to find out later and it look bad. Now I’m worrying they will use that as a reason to reject me, or think I’ve lied / contradicted myself.

I genuinely suffer so much, and I’m only young (in my 20’s) so it is quite deflating.

Has anyone applied for mobility for PIP and mentioned about gym/exercise and still been successful? Or have I shot myself in the foot by being honest. Was I unreasonable for being honest with them? Did I give too much information?

OP posts:
Bryonny84 · 27/04/2024 18:48

You did exactly the right thing. If your condition gets worse or better you also have to tell them. You've been upfront and you go to the gym on a physio's advice which I'm sure you could confirm by letter if you had to. Always be more than straight because you don't want to have to pay money back later if they think you're trying to hide something. If you have a genuine illness or condition that hampers your everyday life then I'm sure you'll be entitled to PIP. I hope your condition improves.

Ponoka7 · 27/04/2024 18:49

My DP like many gets PIP post heart attack coupled with breathing issues. Gym is part of the rehab programme. You've answered how your condition affects you day to day. You are supposed to include your worst days. Exercise is an important part of health management and recovery. It doesn't necessarily prevent PIP being awarded.

Locutus2000 · 27/04/2024 19:03

Mamabear256 · 27/04/2024 18:43

Hi everyone

I’m really worrying and overthinking this now. I’m genuinely quite an overly anxious person anyway. I applied for pip and sent off my form mid March. I have SI joint dysfunction and struggle with a lot. I’ve been an on and off gym goer to try and strengthen my joints, where I do struggle with the exercises but have been told by many physios that if I were to not do any exercise I’d be in a lot more pain. However at the time of application I mentioned in the application that my pain levels were so bad at that point I had to give up the gym (which is true). However, the last few weeks I decided to try it again but even more gentler and less than before. I didn’t mention it in my assessment as exercise wasn’t brought up so I just didn’t think. I then thought later that night I should have mentioned it so I wrote a statement explaining how I now go gym once maybe twice a week on advice of the physios. I explained I’m still in a lot of pain as a result but it’s better than being completely immobile. I wanted to be honest. I didn’t want them to find out later and it look bad. Now I’m worrying they will use that as a reason to reject me, or think I’ve lied / contradicted myself.

I genuinely suffer so much, and I’m only young (in my 20’s) so it is quite deflating.

Has anyone applied for mobility for PIP and mentioned about gym/exercise and still been successful? Or have I shot myself in the foot by being honest. Was I unreasonable for being honest with them? Did I give too much information?

If you are on PiP for mobility it can easily be argued attending the gym forms part of your therapy and you should not be penalised.

The issue is more where someone is claiming PiP because, for example, they can't manage leaving the house and interacting with others. In that case then attending the gym could be viewed as contradicting the reason for their claim.

Tahinii · 27/04/2024 19:40

It’s fine if it is for your condition. When I’m in hospital, the physios come and drag me to the gym!

BobbyBiscuits · 27/04/2024 19:44

If you told them you now can go to gym sporadically, and it's for therapeutic purposes and how it helps your disability then that's good.
There is a chance you may be given a lower award, but based on that alone it's unlikely. Equally if you can't go to the gym for a while and think that will be the case for 3 months or more then also tell them.

Original poster
Mamabear256 · 27/04/2024 19:54

So yes me now going gym again is purely for my condition, it’s been advised by physios and my osteopath in the past that I do certain exercises to gain strength because I am also hyper mobile which exacerbates my SI joint dysfunction and strength is key for me. I explained this in my statement, and that there will be weeks I don’t go and weeks I can only go once. It is not for social purposes at all, I don’t talk to anyone when I’m there (I suffer with social anxiety).

I have just read so many horror stories online about how people have been awarded nothing as the decision maker will use anything to reject a claim. I’ve already had my assessment yesterday. The further information I gave about going to the gym was a statement I wrote on my phone and screenshot and uploaded to the online portal as further information. Obviously in March I had given up on the gym for a while due to my pain levels so I said that in in application form - this is where I am worried about the contradiction.

I am just trying to be as honest as possible about my situation. I’ve read online some people say not to tell them this kind of stuff but it causes me more anxiety not to hence why I told them. I only found out recently I could apply for PIP and still work! I’ve been suffering for years hoping I’d improve and thinking I wasn’t entitled to any help. I’m so worried I’ll score 0. And the 8 weeks after assessment that they say it takes for a decision does not help my anxiety!

OP posts:
Universalsnail · 27/04/2024 19:56

I would tell them if the improvement changes your descriptors / points. I wouldn't tell them if it doesn't change anything. For example it you have said you can't walk more than 100 metres and now you can walk further I would report the improvement. If you are just trying to go to the gym but the improvement doesn't impact any of the descriptors they score on I wouldn't put yourself through reporting the change as reporting a change triggers a reassessment. It's reasonable to be going to the gym to try and improve your health.

Babyroobs · 27/04/2024 20:00

Mamabear256 · 27/04/2024 19:54

So yes me now going gym again is purely for my condition, it’s been advised by physios and my osteopath in the past that I do certain exercises to gain strength because I am also hyper mobile which exacerbates my SI joint dysfunction and strength is key for me. I explained this in my statement, and that there will be weeks I don’t go and weeks I can only go once. It is not for social purposes at all, I don’t talk to anyone when I’m there (I suffer with social anxiety).

I have just read so many horror stories online about how people have been awarded nothing as the decision maker will use anything to reject a claim. I’ve already had my assessment yesterday. The further information I gave about going to the gym was a statement I wrote on my phone and screenshot and uploaded to the online portal as further information. Obviously in March I had given up on the gym for a while due to my pain levels so I said that in in application form - this is where I am worried about the contradiction.

I am just trying to be as honest as possible about my situation. I’ve read online some people say not to tell them this kind of stuff but it causes me more anxiety not to hence why I told them. I only found out recently I could apply for PIP and still work! I’ve been suffering for years hoping I’d improve and thinking I wasn’t entitled to any help. I’m so worried I’ll score 0. And the 8 weeks after assessment that they say it takes for a decision does not help my anxiety!

So you haven't actually been awarded it yet?

Original poster
Mamabear256 · 27/04/2024 20:00

Universalsnail · 27/04/2024 19:56

I would tell them if the improvement changes your descriptors / points. I wouldn't tell them if it doesn't change anything. For example it you have said you can't walk more than 100 metres and now you can walk further I would report the improvement. If you are just trying to go to the gym but the improvement doesn't impact any of the descriptors they score on I wouldn't put yourself through reporting the change as reporting a change triggers a reassessment. It's reasonable to be going to the gym to try and improve your health.

Thanks. I’ve already let them know. This is a first application for me. I already had an assessment so am just waiting on the decision now. I did call up to check they’ve received my statement and they said they did and the decision maker would review it all and make a decision so it’s just a waiting game now.

OP posts:
Original poster
Mamabear256 · 27/04/2024 20:00

Babyroobs · 27/04/2024 20:00

So you haven't actually been awarded it yet?

Show quote history

No not yet. This is my first application I’ve put in.

OP posts:
Original poster
Mamabear256 · 27/04/2024 20:02

Babyroobs · 27/04/2024 20:00

So you haven't actually been awarded it yet?

Show quote history

I uploaded my statement about the gym after my assessment on the same day, as I forgot to mention it in the assessment, and in my original application I had said I gave up the gym (which I did at that time).

OP posts:
Original poster
Mamabear256 · 27/04/2024 20:09

This is what I’m worried about now. By telling them I go to the gym now have I basically made it so that I’m awarded nothing

OP posts:
CountryMumof4 · 27/04/2024 21:02

The assessors go over all your medical info using the contacts you provide on the form. Given you've been advised to go to the gym to help, this is likely to be fed back to them. So long as you made it clear that at the time of your initial application, you were physically unable to go, but now are able to a bit (to help), you should be ok - you've just been honest about this change. They'll hopefully be aware that with some conditions there are some bad spells and better spells - your medical professionals will corroborate with this too.

Hope it all goes ok - it's a tricky process sometimes x

imnewhere2024 · 27/04/2024 21:21

my dad receive PIP and DLA both at the enhanced rate following a series of strokes. He’s been receiving for at least 8 yrs so I don’t know much about new applications but he did have his annual review where he was deemed to be fit enough to not receive any disability benefit. Ridiculous - obviously appealed, rejected (of course) and then went to appeal panel and within 5 minutes they restored his benefits (panel was due to last over 2 hrs)

the reason I share this is because the people assessing applications are pencil pushers, not medically trained AND are contractors who are given targets by their own company and DWP. Maybe cynical of me but they are looking for reasons to reject so I’d be prepared to fight just in case. We got letters from his GP, carer and members of the community - maybe get something similar ready to go ?

New posts on this thread. Refresh page