PIP for fibromyalgia and osteoporosis

hrun

Hi guys,

First I'd like to say hello, I'm new on this forum but often find myself on here due to the wealth of advice. Apologies that my first post is thread asking for advice from the off.

I have a family member that has suffered constant pain for a long time which was finally diagnosed as fibromyalgia coupled together with oesteoperosis, type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.

She faces colossal amounts of pain everyday and basic tasks cause her a load of pain. Every day tasks such as walking, cleaning, cooking etc are very challenging and give her pain all over her body.

Often her joints swell up and even sitting down she faces a lot of pain.

The osteoporosis makes things worse and coupled together with the diabetes add to it all.

It's actually really horrible to see her like that and although she tries to put a brave face on it's completely transparent that the pain is affecting her quality of life.

She has to take a whole load of drugs every day ranging from diabetes tablets, to calcium tablets etc all just to keep her going. It is really taking a toll.

I've been reading up on PIP and I think that she would qualify, as the things that it seems to assess against are all things that are challenging for her and leave her in pain.

She's not very good with these admin sort of tasks so I've said that I will help with the application process. However I just wanted to get this forums advice, on whether this is a strong case for PIP? I've never looked into this sort of stuff before but I think that she really needs some help to keep her going.

I was hoping to get as much advice as possible on this whole process, and this forum already has such great advice I was hoping to get some too.

I'd like to thank everyone in advance for any advice.

Hrun.

help4help2013

if you feel its effecting there mobility and they need extra help then apply for it its how the illnesses effect the person all you can really do is apply for it then the DWP will decide if the person is entitled to it

pmlindyloo

Most people would advise you to enlist the help of CAB or a Welfare and Benefits advisor when completing the form.

One of the best guides I have seen is this one:

http://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/personal-independence-payment-pip

(click on the guide and upgrade to 100% )

rogerblack

hrun wrote: »

Often her joints swell up and even sitting down she faces a lot of pain.

One important point is that PIP descriptors apply, if they apply most of the day, on more than 50% of days.

Some of the official guidance says 'at some point in the day' - I believe this to be an error.
The legislation

For the purposes of paragraph (1), a descriptor is satisfied on a day in the required period if it is likely that, if C had been assessed on that day, C would have satisfied that descriptor.

this is rather more than 'at some point' - meaning that if you are disabled for 20 mins in the morning, you are unlikely to qualify.

So, if the descriptor applies during most of the day - 51 days out of 100 - it applies.

Also, importantly, if you take more than twice the period to carry out an activity a healthy person would - you qualify on that count.
So, if it takes you an hour, where it might take a healthy person 20 mins to prepare a meal, 51 days out of 100 - you meet the 'can't cook at all' test.
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/377/regulation/4#text%3Ddescriptor

2A) Where C’s ability to carry out an activity is assessed, C is to be assessed as satisfying a descriptor only if C can do so—

(a)safely;

(b)to an acceptable standard;

(c)repeatedly; and

(d)within a reasonable time period.]

(3) Where C has been assessed as having severely limited ability to carry out activities, C is not to be treated as also having limited ability in relation to the same activities.

[F2(4) In this regulation—

(a)“safely” means in a manner unlikely to cause harm to C or to another person, either during or after completion of the activity;

(b)“repeatedly” means as often as the activity being assessed is reasonably required to be completed; and

(c)“reasonable time period” means no more than twice as long as the maximum period that a person without a physical or mental condition which limits that person’s ability to carry out the activity in question would normally take to complete that activity.]

'harm' - in part of the definition of safely would seem to raise the issue of if doing an activity would make you worse.
It could reasonably be argued that this is a harm, even though it's not a prompt harm - you aren't going to fall over and die - but you are going to be sorer tomorrow.

SandraScarlett

Rogerblack - I really think you should be awarded a prize for being one of the most helpful posters on MSE. :A You give so much advice and assistance to others, especially on the Disability and Dosh Forum, and nothing is too much trouble for you.


Arise, Sir Roger! :A


xx

Indie_Kid

The criteria for PIP is here

Housework isn't counted for the daily living (care) component.