Has any successfully been accepted for pip for hidradenitis?

tania12 · 3 November 2020 at 9:29PM

I suffer with bad hidradenitis - I've had several abcsesses lanced and and operation on my armpit last year to remove infected cysts and abcsesses again then yesterday I under went an operation to remove 3 large abcsesses from my other armpit. I have boils daily and I'm on long term antibiotics for the condition and I roughly have antibiotics prescribed for a flare up by my gp. When my flare ups are bad wich ks roughly every 2 weeks at present I need help washing my hair, help dressing my upper body, help with my son when he needs bathing and things like and sometimes I need help with my bottom half clothing and I currently cannot wear shoes that need tieing as it's literally so painful to bend down that I've previously applied for pip before my condition worsened but I was refused but I was asked by a Dr if I currently recieved pip and was told to try again but I've heard no success stories

KatrinaWaves · 3 November 2020 at 9:34PM

I’m sure you know this but a diagnosis means nothing. You can get PIP with no diagnosis for anything if you can demonstrate care and mobility needs above the typical, and likewise you could be diagnosed with 100 things which have no impact on your care and mobility needs.

I think the only thing potentially hindering your application would be how often it affects you. How long are the flare ups?

tania12 · 3 November 2020 at 9:40PM

My flare ups can last week's I have usually need 2-3 different antibiotics before the boils become better. When I get my abcsesses they generally need lancing and more serious ones need removing. When I have flare ups on my groins and inner thighs I care barely walk due to pain I also told them this last time but according to them it means nothing. When I was working it restricted my ability to do my work effectively as I worked in care so I had to swap to nights as they wasn't as busy and wasn't a lot of running around to do this also made no difference at all

Spoonie_Turtle · 3 November 2020 at 10:59PM

tania12 said:

My flare ups can last week's I have usually need 2-3 different antibiotics before the boils become better. When I get my abcsesses they generally need lancing and more serious ones need removing. When I have flare ups on my groins and inner thighs I care barely walk due to pain I also told them this last time but according to them it means nothing. When I was working it restricted my ability to do my work effectively as I worked in care so I had to swap to nights as they wasn't as busy and wasn't a lot of running around to do this also made no difference at all

With PIP the main criterion is that it affects your ability to do daily living activities for more than 50% of the time over a whole year. So it depends how often you have flare-ups over the course of a year.

I'm not sure what you mean about your son in your original message but PIP is about your ability to do the assessed activities for yourself. Care needs for other family members don't come into it; there may be help out there but it doesn't come into a PIP application for yourself.

I don't know if you've read much about PIP before but these links might help (and it might be useful to refresh your memory even if you have looked at them in the past)

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/appeals/how-decisions-are-made/

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/help-with-your-claim/fill-in-form/

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-assessment-guide-for-assessment-providers/pip-assessment-guide-part-2-the-assessment-criteria

tania12 · 3 November 2020 at 11:12PM

Thank you for your help, really useful thank you so much

poppy12345 · 3 November 2020 at 11:17PM

tania12 said:

When I was working it restricted my ability to do my work effectively as I worked in care so I had to swap to nights as they wasn't as busy and wasn't a lot of running around to do this also made no difference at all

PIP isn't awarded based on any diagnosis. Not being able to work makes no difference to a PIP claim because this isn't what it's about. People claim PIP and work.

Bathing your son will also not score you any points, as mentioned above.

I'd advise you to have a look at the links above so that you'll have more of an understanding of the descriptors and what they mean.

Speaking to an advice agency near you will also be advised, this way you'll be able to tell them how your conditions affect you and they will be able to advise you whether an award can be successful.

I note also that you've applied previously and been refused. Did you request the MR then Tribunal for that decision? If not, was there any reason why you didn't? To constantly start another claim using the same evidence will very likely see constant refusals. Requesting the MR then Tribunal is always the answer but further advice would be very useful here. For that, start here. https://advicelocal.uk/

Alice_Holt · 4 November 2020 at 3:24PM

Key to getting an award is -
a) Majority of days (as spoonie-turtle said) - does your condition mean you can't do the PIP activities reliably for more than 50% of days?
b) Reliably - can you do the PIP activities safely, to an acceptable standard, in a reasonable time scale, and repeatedly?
c) What aids do you need?

8 points are needed for a standard award. So for Daily Living, you are likely looking at Preparing yourself a simple meal, dressing, washing (yourself), & possibly toileting (can you clean yourself without an aid afterwards, rail to hold onto to get safely on/off toilet, raised toilet seat). Difficulties with all of these may get you to the necessary DL 8 points.

As your condition is unusual, the form will need to fully explain the help /aids you need and why - so getting help as poppy has suggested would be useful. It may be you will need to go to appeal, to get an award - so again getting advice and demonstrating difficulties clearly on the form will help.

poppy12345 · 4 November 2020 at 4:36PM

Alice_Holt said:

demonstrating difficulties clearly on the form will help.

This ^^ is really important when filling out any form like this. Clearly stating which descriptors apply to you and then adding a couple of real world examples of what happened the last time you attempted that activity for each descriptor that applies. With a detailed explanation of who was with you, where you were and exactly what happened.