Would I have any chance of getting PIP while pregnant?

[99Samblaze]

Hi everyone, I’m just wondering if anyone has been in a similar situation or has any advice. I’ve heard that it can be difficult to be awarded PIP while pregnant because some people see pregnancy related difficulties as temporary, but I’m struggling quite badly with anxiety and depression and have been referred to the prenatal mental health team.
On top of that, I’m suffering from severe pelvic pain, to the point where I have to lie down after sitting for around 10 minutes.

Mentally, I feel completely exhausted and overwhelmed, and even the simplest everyday tasks take me forever to get done. My husband does most of the cooking before he goes to work because I struggle to manage everything myself. I’m also worried about how PIP would view my situation, as I’ll soon have a newborn as well as a toddler to look after. Would they hold that against me and assume I’m coping because I have children to care for, even though I’m genuinely struggling both physically and mentally? I’m not expecting anything I’m not entitled to, but I was wondering whether I might have a chance of being awarded the standard rate of PIP?

I heard also on FB forums that it’s extremely difficult to get PIP, has anyone got it after going birth?

Thanks

This is a wind up.

Sadly not. But what do we expect? Every thread urges the OP to claim benefits and see what they are ‘entitled’ to

I’ve been advised by two cancer charities and I don’t qualify. I will later on when I become “terminal”.

If you don’t mind my asking, why did they turn you down ? I know it’s not the illness/disability itself that counts but the effects on daily living. Stage 4 cancer and any treatment involved can be exhausting - if that’s the case for you did they take it into consideration ?

Because people believe everything they read online they're under the impression anyone can get pip easily for anything but the reality is very very different and people don't realise this until they have to go through the process themselves. I get pip and part of my claim is anxiety disorder but its also bpd, bipolar, multiple organ failure, mild brain damage. I've been sectioned multiple times I'm under 9 consultants across 4 trusts, I have a cpn a care coordinator. Average about 2 surgeries a year take 60 plus pills a day. I still got denied pip first time I got it at MR. In the official records I will be classed as one off the people getting it for anxiety as thats on part off my form. It is however not the reality. But the reality doesn't work for places like the daily mail

Don't you need to have extra costs incurred by your disability to qualify for PIP? I thought it was supposed to be a levelling benefit to give people the same lifestyle than able bodied people in the same income bracket have access to. It doesn't sound like anything you describe is costing you extra?

@daisypond

Other posters are correct with regard to the SR1 form and receiving PIP
Hiwever it is your consultant/oncologist which needs to complete it, you cannot do it yourself nor csn CAB help.
Speak to your medical team

I’m so sorry the prognosis isn’t good. I wouldn’t rely on the advice of either cancer charity. Sometimes the advice is poor quality and can be a generalisation instead of condition specific. As an outreach worker l counselled a number of cancer patients who had been given similar advice, ignored it, applied and secured an award. It’s not the condition that is looked at but the effects on a range of daily living and mobility activities, and l can’t imagine that a stage 4 cancer expected to be terminal at some point doesn’t qualify you.

If you have a terminal diagnosis, which is what it sounds like, then l would ask your oncologist/consultant if they are willing to fill in a PR1 form and send it to DWP. This fast tracks you to the enhanced rate of PIP daily living component without you having to fill out the application form.

This isn’t entirely correct. SR1 form is for evidencing you’re approaching end of life (defined as life expectancy less than 12 months). We don’t know which cancer this poster has but many people live for many years with stage four cancer. Stage four does not always equal terminal. As an extreme example, it’s not unheard of for people with stage four breast cancer to live 10 years or more depending on the specific receptor status and genetic mutations of their disease.

But yes, if your life expectancy is less than 12 months then SR1 is very helpful.

They have given you incorrect advice. I work for two complex health groups advising on these sorts of things. Many charities don’t actually understand the criteria. You just need to address each point in the PIP form as fully as you can.

Please dont twll peoole to give it a go when realistically there is little chance of them being successful
Its,a waste of everyones time and just clogs up the system.

I've read it's very difficult to get first time, you should consider appealing or trying again. You are exactly who PIP is for. I'm so sorry to read you've been turned down when your health is as it is. That's awful.

I find this surprising. I would assume you’re on treatment of some kind. Did you focus on your treatment weeks for answering the questions? If you have the energy I’d reapply with heavy focus on how you are in the days/week immediately post treatment, which I assume is about 1/3 to 1/2 of the time.

As PIP eligibility only starts at age 16, most teenagers aren't eligible and no toddlers would be.

And no-one gets a medal for not claiming something they're entitled to. I've got PIP for clients with severe psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis, but in both cases they were HLA-B27 positive and had other issues arising from that as well.

How would getting PIP help you with your anxiety and managing of your tasks at home?

I'm afraid I'm inclined to agree with this. It also (as already seen above) helps feed into the narrative tbat it's easy to get PIP and everyone on it is on the take.

The time to apply is after pregnancy and a period of time for the body, mind and spirit to heal and settle and any longer term problems still remain.

Tbf op I’m not sure why you need pip with spd? I had this during pregnancy, also had two pregnancies back to back and I know it is very painful . But you are entitled to nhs physio for it, I had physio with the women’s team and they also gave me a belt to wear under my bump which really helped relive some pressure. Speak to your gp about getting referred ?

Im sorry to hear of your diagnosis
PIP is very specifc so.if you cant or need help with washing and dressing ,preparing a meal etc you should be eligible for the care componant .

Leave the PiP support for the people who actually need it. Pregnancy is not a condition covered by it - rightfully so. How can you be so greedy? Put a sock in it and stop having kids if you can’t cope with carrying them.

Yes, I don’t understand this either. I have got ADHD and have been anxious my whole life. The ADHD means I often struggle to organise myself with daily tasks, and that I tend to take longer to complete tasks than other people do. I’m often miserable/stressed but having more money wouldn’t make any difference to any of that.

Where there is a terminal diagnosis, strictly speaking, the life expectancy has to be 12 months or less to be considered for SR1 fast tracking. You can live for years with stage 4 cancer - that’s why there are time limits. And the poster can’t fill in an SR1 form herself - neither can MacMillan or CAB. It has to be done by a doctor involved with treating the patient as they are giving a medical opinion on prognosis.

Having said that, the poster seems to have a terminal diagnosis so it might be worth asking the consultant if they are willing to complete the SR1 - dependent on their opinion on timescales.

I wondered this.

Although to be honest, I don't know how much the payment would be.

It depends on how you complete the form and how effectively you demonstrate that your issues meet the criteria set out in PIP regulations, and on how you answer the questions at the assessment.

Imo, no-one should fill in the form without at least reading the descriptors and points details which are easy to find online. I'd also recommend reading the 4 tests set out in PIP Regulation 4(2A) and Regulation 7 which explains the "majority of the time" rule.

Even knowing all that, applications are often turned down initially, but the success rate at appeals is in the high 60s in percentage terms. I supported people with PIP applications and appeals for 12 years, and never lost an appeal, and I must have done hundreds in that time.

I suspect that the next move will be an application for a blue badge.

I would give them a medal actually.