Pip

[Robert1888]

Can I ask this ?. I'm 61 always worked since I was 16. I've recently been in hospital with heart failure. I have other manageable health issues. I know I'll never work again. Would I qualify for PiP. I'm totally shattered if I walk 40 feet.

Hi - PIP doesn't go by diagnosis but how it affects you with your every day life and you have to literally ensure you put exactly how much you struggle.
I'm naturally an optimistic person and it went totally against me in my initial application and I had to take it to court, where I won on appeal.

Google lots of PIP forums and they will give you a much clearer idea but for example, instead of saying "I can walk xx amount of yards before I feel out of breath" go for the more "negative" way of explaining it - "I feel really breathless within walking xx amount of yards and I have to sit down/rest for xx amount of minutes before I can move on"

It felt really alien to me to answer questions in that way but they need to see how difficult it is on your bad days.

Good luck - PIP is really hard-going and stressful.
I have just had my very first review and got a message today saying that my review is complete (exactly 2 weeks after they received it) despite me saying that I'd be sending in copies of more medical reports by 20th of this month, and them not asking for further assessment, so I have no idea whether I've succeeded in my review or not until I get the decision letter - mentally it is hard but there are plenty of support groups and places to help you.

Thank you. I'm also Addicted to books 😆

Do you have any letters from your consultant describing your condition and how it affects you?
PIP isn’t related to earnings, you can claim it if you’re working.
If you have medical evidence of your condition and how it affects you, send the letter with the application.

There is very good website called Benefits and Work that has very specific guidance. There is also a very good forum there. I think you can join for the year for about £20. It’s worth every penny, particularly if you’re refused first time, although as you have a diagnosed medical condition that affects your mobility there’s an outside chance you’ll get it awarded. I recently applied for my sister (MS) and my mother (Heart Failure) and was successful.

Always wanted to add, sorry about your diagnosis, that’s hard news as you’re only 61, but the medication and treatment for the condition is incredibly good now. My mum has lived with heart failure for 20 years thanks to modern medicine.

Would also recommend Benefits and Work
as a useful site for guides and information.

They also have a forum which is much more supportive on disability issues than MN.

Lots of MN threads about PIP turn very nasty.

@AddictedToBooks have you heard about the gov. UK ONE website? If not and you want to see the outcome of your review online, you can check it there. It's what I did earlier in the year after the text message saying my review was complete. Rather than wait up to a fortnight for the letter I created a log in for that website and was able to read an updated statement on the rates and length of my award. It's not exactly the same as the letter you'll get in the post because it's intended as a proof of award, but it's updated immediately after they finish the review and make the new decision. For example, before I got the text message saying the review was complete, it showed the rates and duration of the award that they had set on my previous review. When I checked after the text message the dates had changed to reflect the new award, which in my case is from this year until 2032. Sadly the rates hadn't changed, but I suppose you can't have everything!

https://home.account.gov.uk/services-using-one-login

It has to be related to symptoms which would not improve with treatment or recovery time. I think unless a terminal diagnosis you need six months of evidence, such as a paper trail of appointment summaries, admissions and test results, to establish your need. Agree PIP is about how your condition affects you rather than the diagnosis itself. So how it limits your ability to walk, drive, shop for food, work, sleep, wash, cook, feed yourself and any support, supervision and aids required to help you function. Does your condition make you a falls risk if you feel faint or out of breath? Do you need to use taxis to get to hospital appointments?