Would I be eligible for PIP?

[wheresmymojo]

It's not something I've looked into before because I was a high earner until just before the pandemic - I realise it's not means tested but it wouldn't have seemed right to claim and be earning a high salary.

Things have changed...I've taken a step down in terms of seniority and changed industries because of my disability and we are short of money now but not sure if I would be eligible?

I have bipolar disorder and so sometimes I can be perfectly well and need little assistance day-to-day.

I would say on average although I do a responsible job I need a fair amount of help from my DH who makes sure I take my medication and makes sure I eat/cooks my food. I am very bad with personal finances and need DH's help with that. I have to employ a cleaner we can not really afford because doing the job I do and keeping on top of my share of chores would be too much for my MH to take.

On bad weeks I can do very little at all...I'm not able to do anything for myself really and DH is basically a full time carer during those weeks/days. Thankfully this is usually around 4 weeks total per year - obviously it has impacted my work a lot but, other than the pandemic, I've managed to stay fairly continuously employed although I have changed employers a lot because of the impact of my time off.

Would I qualify for PIP?

Pip isn’t based on conditions it’s about how your disability affects your everyday life. pipinfo.net/#activities will give you an idea on what the assessment looks at; it should give you an idea of whether you might qualify. It does seem very hit and miss about who actually gets it though.

Does your husband have to do things like make sure you eat, get washed or showered? Does he have to go out with you sometimes as you are overwhelmed? These are all things that you would be asked about if you applied for PIP, do you have a lot of evidence of how your bipolar affects you? Best thing is to Google the forms & look at the type of thing you would be asked about, do work have to make any adjustments for you?

You need to meet the PIP descriptors for more than 50% of the time to score the points. PIP looks at what difficulties you have in relation to the PIP descriptors and whether you can do an activity repeatedly, reliably within a reasonable timeframe etc.