Applying for PIP - is it worth it?

tillyenna

Hi,


I'm relatively new on this board - but am thinking about applying for PIP, (I suffer from M.E./P.V.F.S. and arthritis) but I was turned down for DLA a couple of years ago (The actual words the letter used were that although day-to-day living caused me immense pain, this wasn't enough)


Currently I'm avoiding applying for it, as I suffer from anxiety and depression (side effects w00p) and the stress of filling in the forms and then being told I'm not eligible, again, is gonna be pretty tough


But, on the other hand, anything that could help with the costs associated with having this would be ace.


Any help appreciated - how much effort is the form (HOW MANY SPOONS DO I NEED?) and is there anyone else with M.E. who has been successful?


p.s. Andy (I may not have been here long, but I know who you are...) I appreciate that you do not believe M.E. exists, that's fine, please ignore this thread and move on mmmkay? :-D

Indie_Kid

Here is the criteria for PIP. To get the lower rate of care or mobility, you need to score 8 points. To get the higher rate of care or mobility, you have to score 12 points.

I don't know the answers to your other questions, I'm afraid. I don't have ME and don't claim PIP. There are some people on here who have gone through the PIP process.

Morglin

It is always worth applying, if you think you might fit the criteria.

Have plenty of medical evidence, and give them lots of info (on an A4 sheet if you need to) about the impact your disability has on your life.

There does appear to be long delays at the moment, but look at the criteria, and apply if you think you are eligible.

Lin

Poppie68

Do you have care or mobility needs or issues? If you think you may fit any PIP descriptors apply..
Get every bit of evidence that you can physically lay your hands on from all medical professionals seen, copy of your repeat prescription etc. Read the forms properly and re-read before you answer, maybe have someone sit and help you complete and answer honestly..you have more to gain than you have too lose.
Good luck if you do choose to apply.

joydivisionforever

I would try to get welfare rights on your case to help fill forms in for you,as they are dealing with this every day.

fed_up_and_stressed

I have M.E and have had done for about 18 years and have been quite poorly with this . I don't give a flying fig what Andy thinks.... My illness is genuine and unlike his disability isn't resolved by medication and unlike his mine severly restricts what activities I can partake in.... At 18 my partner (now hubby) had to lift me in and out of the bath cause i didn't have the energy. Despite my ME I went to medical university AND I work full time so am no scrounger.

I currently receive High Rate Mobility DLA no care component ...probably should have appealed because My husband has to do all the cooking due to my illness but was just relieved to get the HRM so I could get my much needed blue badge automatically. I also never bother my gp with it.

When I first applied many years ago I was assessed by a gp who was so full of his own prejudices that it didn't exist couldn't tell i was a high achiever who was really angry at not being able to work at that time. This was before the DLA guidance was issued stating ME is classed as a physical illness.

pmlindyloo

I would also recommend your getting help to complete the form.

There is a very useful guide which addresses some of the problems that ME sufferers experience and how they can be addressed as regards the criteria for PIP here:

http://www.actionforme.org.uk/Resources/Action%20for%20ME/Documents/get-informed/PIP-filling-in-the-form-factsheet.pdf

tillyenna

Thanks everyone - this is super helpful! I figure I will prepare as much as I can before calling to get the form, as I know there is a time limit on the form.

Morglin

fed_up_and_stressed wrote: »

I have M.E and have had done for about 18 years and have been quite poorly with this . I don't give a flying fig what Andy thinks.... My illness is genuine and unlike his disability isn't resolved by medication and unlike his mine severly restricts what activities I can partake in.... At 18 my partner (now hubby) had to lift me in and out of the bath cause i didn't have the energy. Despite my ME I went to medical university AND I work full time so am no scrounger.

I currently receive High Rate Mobility DLA no care component ...probably should have appealed because My husband has to do all the cooking due to my illness but was just relieved to get the HRM so I could get my much needed blue badge automatically. I also never bother my gp with it.

When I first applied many years ago I was assessed by a gp who was so full of his own prejudices that it didn't exist couldn't tell i was a high achiever who was really angry at not being able to work at that time. This was before the DLA guidance was issued stating ME is classed as a physical illness.

There were issues around ME/CFS some years ago, but I would think this has long been resolved as far as the DWP are concerned.

As for Twinkletoes Andy, I wouldn't worry what he thinks - he needs to sort out, in his own mind, who he is, what he is claiming etc., as he is confusing himself now lol

Lin

TOBRUK

tillyenna wrote: »

Hi,


I'm relatively new on this board - but am thinking about applying for PIP, (I suffer from M.E./P.V.F.S. and arthritis) but I was turned down for DLA a couple of years ago (The actual words the letter used were that although day-to-day living caused me immense pain, this wasn't enough)


Currently I'm avoiding applying for it, as I suffer from anxiety and depression (side effects w00p) and the stress of filling in the forms and then being told I'm not eligible, again, is gonna be pretty tough


But, on the other hand, anything that could help with the costs associated with having this would be ace.


Any help appreciated - how much effort is the form (HOW MANY SPOONS DO I NEED?) and is there anyone else with M.E. who has been successful?


p.s. Andy (I may not have been here long, but I know who you are...) I appreciate that you do not believe M.E. exists, that's fine, please ignore this thread and move on mmmkay? :-D

Hi tillyenna, I have suffered with M.E. since before 1997, and it was eventually diagnosed in 1997 after a long time and many visits to an M.E. specialist. I applied for DLA back then and after being refused I went to tribunal and won.

I am still on DLA but soon I'm sure the P.I.P. form will arrive! I will be applying for it although I don't know whether I will be successful with that. What the form will be like I don't know but I spent around a month to fill in the DLA form - doing a little at a time, as you know yourself, with M.E. you can become exhausted very quickly - going from a little tired to extreme tiredness in an instant!

It is difficult applying for such things, but as Morglin has advised:

It is always worth applying, if you think you might fit the criteria.

Have plenty of medical evidence, and give them lots of info (on an A4 sheet if you need to) about the impact your disability has on your life.

When I have applied for DLA I also write on another piece of paper giving as much information as possible on HOW THE ILLNESS AFFECTS YOU and giving many examples. Things that are obvious to you with regard difficulties as result of the M.E. will not be obvious to someone who is healthy. You should always spell things out no matter how trivial you think it is - even if you manage to do something you should point out the difficulty of doing it. The pain in the muscles, twitching, weakness, total exhaustion, 'brain drain', foggyness, short term memory, at times unable to put words together etc everything counts.

It does help if you have a GP who has an understanding of the illness and who is supportive. You have nothing to lose in applying for PIP even if you were refused DLA years ago, I know how exhausting it is just in filling out such forms, but just do a few pages a day. Unfortunately I lost my job due to M.E. and it was devastating.

Good luck with your application.;)

DominoCat

I applied for PIP back in June last year (no response since my face to face yet) and when you initially apply by phone you have the opportunity to say that you suffer from a condition which makes filling in forms difficult. I think this gives you an opportunity to ask for an additional 2 weeks (on top of the 4) to actually complete the main form after they've sent it to you.

I'm having a blurred day today so perhaps someone might like to comment/correct further?