PIP Help

[Mybrowsaresisters]

I have a bad back condition that causes me significant pain constantly. It’s got to the point that I am unable to do most things without the help of my dh. I don’t work, I had to stop because I wasn’t managing it. On top of the pain I get dizziness with it and wake up several times a night with pain. I never sleep for more than 2 hours without being in pain. I’m tired, in pain and miserable. My condition is lifelong and surgery isn’t an option sadly. My only treatment is constant physio and pain medication/injections. I’m going to try and claim PIP but am almost scared to due to the awful stories of how difficult and stressful it is. I’ve put it off for ages for fear of this. I have had a look at various info online and everyone says providing evidence is the key. I’ve seen a consultant a few times but now am discharged and referred to the pain clinic as there is nothing the consultant can do.

In terms of evidence I have and can send the things below. Will this be enough or will they just reject me on lack of evidence? Is there anything else I could send?

Consultant appointment letters
Physio appointment letters
Letter from GP confirming diagnosis
X-ray/MRI reports
Pain clinic appointments

Anybody know anything about PIP that could advise? I’m happy to fill the forms in correctly, just worried that I don’t have enough evidence to help.

You have some evidence, just send copies of those letters, etc.

With PIP it’s really helpful to
know what the descriptors are for each category, the way you word things can make a big difference. There’s lots of help if you just google it. It’s a very long form with lots of info needing to be filled in so take your time and work out what you want to say first.

Thanks both. I suppose all I can do is send what I’ve got. I will also go through the form carefully and include everything that applies for me.

Appointment letters are specifically listed as something that you shouldn't send, unfortunately. It needs to be evidence of what was diagnosed, treatments discussed and decided on, impact on you, etc.

Have you had an OT assessment for adaptations? That sort of thing would help as evidence.

@Mybrowsaresisters citizen advice bureau are very good at helping fill in the forms. They know what to put on the application. Good luck 🤞 🫂💐

This website was useful when I was helping my daughter apply for PIP (she was successful)

https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip

Request your medical record from your GP. Answer each question as honestly as possible. It will help if you can discuss each question with someone close to you.The form is very long but is pretty self explanitory. You sound just like the sort of person PIP is intended for.

I suppose it would be helpful to know that pain in itself won't get you PIP. What they are interested in is whether you can do the activities as described on the form, how well you can do them, and what stops you from doing them.

For example, can you dress yourself? If you can, does it cause you pain or fatigue, or does dressing stop you from doing something else? Does it take a long time? Do you need help, etc.

Thanks so much for all your replies, they are all helpful.

I’m more confident now in applying. I can explain how things impact me rather than just focus on pain. Examples being I can’t even tie my own shoelaces without help and am constantly fatigued and depressed at how limited my life is now. I can include all the examples of the impact it has on me daily due to pain and fatigue.

Do a symptom diary for a few days

Your husband can do a letter as your carer, explaining what he does, how often etc

A&E reports. Social services assessments.

Work O.T reports.

A GP letter plus consultant letter forms an evidence base. More recent the better.

You would write something like
" I cannot walk more than 20 m, safely, reliably, repeatedly, without severe discomfort from (back pain condition).

I highly recommend you get the pip guide from benefitsandwork. Long guide, but essential reading. I've never lost while helping people with it. £20 but a successful claim is worth £1000s.

I found this YouTube channel very useful for helping with filling out the forms - particularly with identifying relevant evidence (much more than I'd thought of), and in pinpointing how my condition affects me day to day, and how it linked to the PIP descriptors.

https://www.youtube.com/@CharliesJourney/videos

Benefits and Work, I used the key descriptors, and I was successful first time.I knew what I had to say, but their guide helps you format the replies in a way which captures the key criteria, eg you cant do activity x to the same standard as a non-disabled person for over 50% of the time.
Make sure the assessment is recorded, and make sure you have your phone on speakerphone so they can't imply you're not in pain if you;re able to hold a phone to your ear for 90 minutes!!!!😯

Try this Op
https://rightfuluk.co.uk/blog/pip-for-chronic-pain-back-problems

It really horrifies me how specific some of these guides are. Its like a how to fir building up the necessary evidence bank and then wording a claim to meet criteria for maximum awards. The potential for abuse is epic.

I know what you mean @ToffeeCrabApple but PIP can be so difficult for people to navigate and unfortunately wording matters hugely. If you’re not generally good with words but applying for PIP for the right reasons these type of guides are a huge help. It does sent make a person less deserving.

*doesn’t

I agree with you. It’s so easy to see how people that do like to abuse the benefit are able to, while people who are genuinely in need due to how their condition impacts daily life struggle to get awarded. However I don’t know how they manage it, they need evidence to show a diagnosis alongside evidence of how it impacts them. How do they get awarded without this? Surely there can’t be many people who manage to get awarded that are fraudulent claims.

Saying that though my husband was speaking to someone about it recently who was a father in a family of 5, two adults and 3 children (aged 14-22) and he was laughing and almost bragging saying that every member in his house got PIP for mental health reasons and how ‘easy’ he found it to claim. They get full award on both living and mobility and says it’s great the extra cash they have. They all live without much impact at all, holiday several times a year, (whereas I couldn’t even sit on a plane seat to travel), the mum and daughter have both just been to Turkey for plastic surgery, they have a very busy social life, need nothing in terms of help with mobility and just said he knows how to fill in the forms to get awarded. Now that winds me up but I really hope that there aren’t many who get away with that while genuine applicants get refused.