Should I be getting enhanced mobility?

[isitworthit124]

I’ve had my decision letter back to say I’ve been awarded enhanced daily living and standard mobility, which I’m greatful for. But I am housebound due to agoraphobia, and also have chronic stomach and joint pain that comes on and off throughout the day and makes getting around painful. I regularly have to take ibuprofen and use a hot water bottle. I don’t know if it’s worth fighting.

The DWP guidance is here

To get the enhanced rate you need 12 points across the two activities.

Aside from the issues with agorophobia do you also have problems with the physical action of walking - for example becuase of the joint pain?

Are you willing to risk the rest of your award?
If you ask them for an MR/appeal the decision, they look at your WHOLE award, not just one or 2 questions

No, you need to be serious levels of pain often with an official diagnosis of a job issue and it's very very hard to get high rate mobility. I barely scraped by and I'm waiting for two knee replacements as my knees are bone on bone with zero cartilage and I have 3 auto immune diseases that affect my joints. I am also reliant on a wheelchair at times and use a cane or crutch 24:7. I need an adapted bathroom and kitchen.

In your case I would honestly be grateful for what you have and not push it, Reviews
can see your award go down instead of up.

I wouldn't. You could end up loosing points which happens more regularly than people think.

Also, ibuprofen can cause stomach issues. The stomach issues won't affect your mobility. But you should make sure you take a stomach protector like ommeprazole. Tbh I would have thought that a serious/ painful joint problem would be treated with more than ibuprofen ! I'm on dihydracodeine and when it's really bad , patches to manage the pain.

I have severe anxiety and hypermobility

I have to go to bed and lie down or I faint. I can’t go to a gp because of the agoraphobia so I self treat with ibuprofen

How many points did you score for activities 11 and 12? To get enhanced mobility you need to score 12 points across the two of them.

11 looks at psychological and similar factors and 12 is concerned with the physical actions of moving around.

You say the agoraphobia means you cannot get out to the GP. Does that mean that you cannot undertake any journey without overwhelming distress? If so then 10 points.

If you struggle cannot walk 200 metres but can manage 40 then that would be four more points.

As others say, the risk you take is that you'll lose what you already have.

I’ve decided I won’t contest it incase I get a bad assessor and lose points

As a side issue, I think you do need to be seen by your GP re the ibuprofen/stomach issue. Can you request a home visit to review your pain management regime?

Op most GPs will offer phone appointments especially if they have recurs of your issues. Please see them as self prescribing ibuprofen can really really mess up your stomach.i know from experience, I was on NSAIDS for 3 years WITH ommeprazole and I have GERD as a direct result of taking them for so long. Alternatively you can pay for a private gp phone/video consult with your PIP?

As an aside, I think you really need to see a GP re the self medicating and stomach issues - they could actually be part of the same thing

Long term use of NSAIDs can (and do) cause stomach issues, potentially serious ones. Please book an appt, a home visit if needed

I am thinking I need to apply for pip.
I currently own my own staffed business that I work in but I'm really struggling with pain levels.
Hyper mobility, fibro, widespread osteoarthritis and awaiting two knee replacements for bone on bone arthritis, this surgery won't even be scheduled until I'm 50 even though it's needed now at 47.
Walking is unbearably painful after a while and naproxen, pregabalin and morphine taken together daily isn't helping with the fire like burning pain after a shift.
I would love to be able to reduce my hours or pay for a cleaner at home to help with the house work but would I be accepted even if I work.
I feel like I have no quality of life I'm fit for nothing after work my house is a tip and my children are missing out.

All the questions don't seem to apply to me though I can walk I can get dressed and I can cook. We eat far too many takeaways as I literally can't stand to cook some days it's all so depressing.

I can't really do much else Iv always worked full time on my feet and feel trapped

That is unfortunately a risk that you would take. Again it is just tactics to put people off from disputing an award level.

I have diarrhoea everyday. Using the toilet is painful, i get hot flushes too. i experience daily shooting pains and sharp pains, and dull pains. Walking is painful, and can get to the point that it is so painful that i can collapse. These symptoms are with varying levels of pain and come on and off throughout the day and are managed with ibuprofen and a hot water bottle. I am drinking a lot more water. I feel like it might be caused something else and I don’t know what it is. I will see about getting a home GP appointment, but I’ve been fobbed off being told it’s my severe anxiety before