Would I be able to claim PIP?

[CrushingSheep]

Hi, can anybody help me with benefits advice? I wasn't sure which board to post on.

I'm claiming Universal credit & not working currently but for the last few months I've had my work coach say to me 'Why don't you just get signed off for a break?'
I've kept ignoring this as I don't want to be seen as 'giving up'. I havn't worked in a long time & I think, if I did work, then it would get me out a bit, get me meeting more people, little bit of socialising, stop me sitting around feeling low etc.

BUT, I have problems with my feet. I CAN walk. It's hard, but I can. It's very tiring for me & I need to stop often & I'm slow. I walk up & down the stairs sideways, leaning heavily on the wall for support. But I CAN do it.
Because of the foot problems I'm being pushed into work from home roles, so I won't be socialising or meeting people anyway.

I also have double incontinence problems. These are generally managed with pads but sometimes wet/soil through clothes. Need access to a toilet instantly so care/cleaning in the community jobs are out.

My mental health is bad I suppose. I mean, I feel worthless & like I bring nothing to the world but that's just how I feel. I take the job knock backs REALLY badly. I go instantly to my 'bad place' & think 'Well why would they employ me? I'm stupid & worthless anyway'.

I used to walk all over the place with my kids, walking was my 'clear my head' thing too when they were with their dad, but I can barely do it now. I hate it. I feel like I've lost 'me'. I have to get buses everywhere, it costs a fortune & I hate it. I want to be able to walk again. My kids sit at the end of the road waiting for me to catch up, when it was never like that before

I've been on ADs on & off for years. I've just done an anxiety & depression workshop with the jobcentre.
I'm having to do all these courses for my UC which I understand so I'm not just 'claiming free money' but I do find them difficult to do. Staring at the screen (they are all online) gives me a headache. I'm also tired. If I sit still for any length of time I fall asleep.

I don't know weather I should try to get signed off for a bit? How do I even go about it? I'm waiting for a call from the GP today. There's being signed off & then there's claiming PIP which is 2 separate things, isn't it?

Years ago I applied for PIP but my mental health was ignored & I got 2 points for the incontinence & as far as I can tell I wouldn't get any help with mobility so it would be 2 points again.

Sorry that's soooo long!

Definitely apply. Part of my job is helping people fill in PP forms and you need to know how to do it so you get the right amount of points. Your issues sound very much like you would be entitled to both mobility and Living. Call Citizens Advice as they have trained advisers to do it with you

Thank you Mangolist That's kind of you. I hadn't thought about CAB being able to help.

I spoke to the GP, she wants me to go back on AB's & blood tests for my feet, but I didn't ask about being signed off, I'm not sure why, I suppose I don't want to admit how much I'm struggling.

If you get a sick line from the GP you can also apply for the sickness benefit of UC which again is separate to PIP.
You sound like you would get PIP and it's certainly worth applying.

Use www.benefitsandwork.co.uk website, there are detailed guides re ESA and PIP. How to apply, fill in forms using the correct words to describe your situation that will trigger points. It’s not what you have but how it affects you - mentally, daily life, mobility etc. it is absolutely well worth the £20 annual fee

Thanks TOADfan but I don't think I would as the mobility element is all about if you can walk 200 metres, & I do that every day for the school run... The fact that I'm in a lot of pain, not walking 'properly', & can barely walk for the rest of the day doesn't count for anything.

I was trying to Google but was getting a bit lost. The GP asked me how I'm supporting myself, I suppose that was my chance to ask.

I'm not wanting to apply for anything for extra money (although some help with bus fares would be nice) but I just wanted the jobcentre to back off a little bit tbh. It's just too much. Constantly having to explain why I can't do certain jobs (because of my feet). Constantly having to explain why I'm trying to change my career at 40 with no other experience (because of my feet)
& Being told to 'Just move on' when I've had yet another rejection that reinforces my thoughts that I'm absolutely worthless

Linnty I will have a better look but that's the website where I filled in the form earlier & only came up with 2 points again.

Have you got a diagnosis for the foot problem? You usually need to evidence everything for PIP.
When you fill the forms out, you fill it out as you feel/are on your worst day NOT your best day.

Claiming PIP doesn’t remove UC work commitments, that would be the LCW and LCWRA elements of UC (what used to be ESA).

You can meet the PIP criteria even if you technically can do the task as you have to be able to do it repeatedly, reliably, to an acceptable standard and in a reasonable time. So if you can do it but are in extreme pain and are much slower you can still get points.

If you do it based on your worst day, this is fraud. It's how you are at least half the time.

You need a lot of evidence on how you're affected. Not just the diagnosis or the medication you're on.

You're absolutely not worthless.

Ploughing on with the day to day grind of getting your children to school, despite your very real and painful problems, shows great determination, as does your work search.

I think you sound exhausted. If you were in employment, you would have annual leave and probably some sort of holiday. Can you think of your work coach's advice as a suggestion that you've earned that kind of recuperative time off?

I do hope things get better for you soon.

Sorry to be the voice of negativity but I would be surprised if they awarded you the mobility element.

I had my old higher level mobility payment (which I had had for 10 years) totally removed when I was transferred to PIP despite my condition having worsened in that time and despite the fact that on my worst day I can only walk from the sofa to the loo and back.

I know what the guidance says but the reality is that they are determined to make out that you are more mobile than you say you are. I was going to appeal but spent 10 months on the appeal waiting list and found it so stressful and it was affecting my mental health and ability to sleep so I withdrew my appeal.

Have now been under review for PIP since last September and am still awaiting a decision about whether they will continue to award my daily living amount.

It's a complete shitshow with no compassion or understanding of what many people are dealing with on daily basis. I am sorry to share my experiences as when I have to think about it again it makes me extremely angry and upset but no one at the DWP seems to give a f!!

Don't be so sure you'll get PIP, it's notoriously difficult. And it wouldn't stop commitments. You need to supply sick notes to then be sent for a work capability assessment

Thank you LargeLegoHaul. That's where I was getting confused I think. I recently got moved to a new work coach & she also said 'Why don't you get signed off for a bit'. But they don't tell you what/how to do that.

TigerRag & Underscore I do have a diagnosis but they are querying something else instead, hence the blood tests. I have evidence of the continence problems in the form of physio letters & evidence of the foot problems with a physio letter (for the jobcentre) & I suppose I can get evidence about my MH & feet from the GP.

I first went to the GP about my feet in January (Physio in March) the problem has been going on longer than that but that's the first official record.

You can get points but probably won't. All they care about is if you can do it.

MissMaple I'm not sure... I've repeatedly said on this thread that I DON'T think I will get it. I'm happy to go for a work assessment.

Then you can ask for a MR and appeal. If the appeal fails because the they erred in law, which they would do if they hadn’t considered if you can do the task reliably (i.e. repeatedly, safely, to an acceptable standard and in a reasonable time) you can apply for permission to appeal to the upper tier.

You can take a pip test here to see if you are likely to get enough points.
www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip/pip-self-test

our experience is like PlattyJubes . Despite DH having a life limiting illness, and previously being awarded DVLA for life, it was removed completely when it was swapped over to PIP, even though his condition getting worse rather than better (it never will). he did appeal but got awarded a lot lower rate. It was very stressful and at one point was on the phone to the GP because he was about to drive at speed into a brick wall. How the physiotherapist who assessed him could declare him fit to work is beyond me. I hope karma hits her between the eyes one day because I wish the woman, who put us through so much, nothing but ill will.

Good luck op, I hope you have a sympathetic assessor.

Thank you PlattyJubes You aren't being negative, it's fine (the poster below you is!)
Thank you for sharing that, I do appreciate it for what it's worth I'm so sorry. I wish I could tell them to help you
It really isn't fair is it.
Since September is an absolute joke isn't it!!!

Gagagardener. Thank you for the kindness. I am exhausted... My oldest has behavioural problems so has to be out of the house & active as much as possible so I won't give up on going out on the weekends (much as I want to sometimes!) They come first, it's not their fault my feet have given up!

The new work coach wasn't speaking in kindness, she was speaking in frustration, in a 'Why don't you just stop for a while if you are finding it so difficult' & I think that's what's niggling at me. (The old work coach was absolutely supportive & had suffered with a similar condition in the feet, & had time off work for it)

How the physiotherapist who assessed him could declare him fit to work is beyond me.

You can get PIP and be in work. PIP isn’t about to fitness to work.

Thank you Dontwanttooffend & I'm so sorry for your experience. They really are heartless aren't they, it's absolutely shocking treatment when people just need some help

I might be off the mark here, but when you say behavioural problems does DS get DLA? If so, you could be his carer which would remove the work commitments. If not, you might find it easier (although not easy) to get DLA for him than PIP for yourself.

Thanks LargeLegoHaul but No, they are only now starting the assessment for SEN needs (I hope that's the right term) until now it's just been 'Challenging behaviour'. 18 month waiting list.

You don’t need a diagnosis to apply for DLA (or PIP) as it is based on needs. The fact he has challenging behaviour and is awaiting assessment signify to me it is something you should seriously consider as I suspect it is the easier route. Have a look at the Cerebra guide.

Thank you for all your help LargeLegoHaul I will have a proper look at everything later... I sound completely clueless don't I!