Still receiving UC when working?

UKSBD

The trouble with PIP is you wouldn't really know there was anything wrong with her.

When seeing the forms everything really points to the fact she can work, it's just she can't really work to a standard that employers would expect and they don't appear to take that in to consideration 

The hassle of claiming would make her worse anyway, the comment by @Spoonie_Turtle about her current job helping boost her confidence is spot on, don't want to do anything that sets her back, even if that means less money

calcotti

Be aware that PIP has nothing to do with work.

Spoonie_Turtle

PIP is about daily living, nothing to do with work - lots of people claim PIP and work.  Might be worth at least looking into, whether she might meet descriptors that score enough points to qualify.

Alice_Holt

PIP takes into account whether you can do the activity "reliably" - which includes the test of completing tasks within a reasonable time (no more than twice as long as someone without that condition). OCD may well cause her to take longer to complete some of the PIP activities, and may also mean she may not do tasks to an "acceptable standard".

https://www.mypipassessment.co.uk/updates/what-are-the-reliability-criteria-that-are-used-during-the-pip-consultation/#:~:text=PIP assesses your ability to,to undertake tasks “reliably”.

https://www.a1benefitsupport.com/group-file-28-ocd-can-get-points


But I can well understand your point about the hassle of claiming - it can be a stressful process with an emphasis on what you struggle with. 

UKSBD

Thanks again,

I don't really see how she could prove that she qualifies

She doesn't really have a problem with most of the things,  she just tends to have intrusive thoughts so has to avoid things or go through little rituals

Washing for example, perfectly fine doing it and looking after herself, but then may have to switch the taps on and off again a few times, switch the bathroom light on and off a few times and open and close the door a few times - not much fun when she starts doping it at 2 in the morning 

She can't enter certain rooms at times in case she then associates that room with something bad happening,

She walks up and down stairs with her eyes closed

She rarely goes out and only socialises with an Online group of friends

Things have t be in their place and stuff can't be thrown away

Cooking we do for her anyway, but she could do it if she had to, just wouldn't get things cooked at the same time.

She's not really unwell enough that anyone would really know, but things just have to be the way they are.

Answering the questions on the forms and you would think what's the point of even trying to claim?

Spoonie_Turtle

Please don't take any of the following as intended to push the issue; so many people who likely would be eligible don't apply for PIP because they don't understand how it works.  Our intention here is to give people the information so they can make decisions with all the facts


The proof is by explaining her difficulties, how they affect whichever activities.

If cooking would take her a lot longer because of OCD tendencies, she would score some points.  If having someone physically there with her would help her do it in a typical length of time, that would score 4 points.
Engaging with other people face-to-face is another activity; depending on the reasons she stays at home that may score points.
If she needs prompting to wash etc. because she puts off doing it because of all the related compulsions (I've been there), that would also score points. 

Dressing, eating, toileting, budgeting, communicating verbally, managing home therapy/medication and reading/understanding are the other daily living activities.  OCD could affect any of those, including whether not being able to enter certain rooms affects any of those activities.

Going out is also assessed; if she stays home because of anxiety/distress then again she could score points.


Of course we are not qualified to say whether she should qualify or not, and even if we were it would not be our place to say she should apply - ultimately it will be her decision.  It's just best to make an informed decision where possible.

UKSBD

Thank you, really appreciate your posts.

I've been through similar with my wife though 30 years ago before we were married and living together.

She received something like Severe Disablement Allowance,  Severe Disability or something like that due to panic attacks, anorexia and agoraphobia, her benefits were stopped, I helped her get in reinstated and backdated, a few months later she started getting letters from them .and the stress nearly killed her.

She was severely agoraphobic at the time and received a letter saying she had to go for an assessment in the centre of a city nearly 30 miles away, she started just hiding any letters she received from them, her benefits were stopped again and we decide it jus wasn't worth the hassle, I was supporting her by then and we just coped.

Don't want to go through similar with my daughter for the sake of £40 a week and fortunately don't really need to.

Would much prefer she gained the confidence from the scheme and job she has at the moment

Thank you though

Robbie64

^

It would have been Severe Disablement Allowance that your wife received. SDA was the non-contributory version of Incapacity Benefit (i.e. payment of SDA wasn't dependent on National Insurance contributions). It was abolished in April 2001 although people in receipt of the benefit at that point could continue to be paid it.

UKSBD

Yeah I remember it was called SDA  could never remember if it was Disablement or Disability though, must have been late 80's early 90's

She's never claimed or worked since then, caused her too much stress

calcotti

UKSBD said: She's never claimed or worked since then, caused her too much stress

Unfortunately that also means that she hasn't been building up any NI record for her State Pension which depends on NI credits or contributions.