Criteria for PIP 21 January at 12:43PM in Benefits & tax credits 21 replies 1.1K views

sevenhills

I have looked on the Government website and it's vague. My ex-wife got the lower PIP payment for having a bad back. She doesn't work, so it doesn't stop her from doing anything.
Her income is similar to mine. I went to see my GP about a arthritic knee a few years ago. It causes me discomfort when I walk upstairs.
I expect it to get worse, as I get older. I am 60 now and working. I drive in my job and my knee can click when I change gear, but the right knee is worse. But, at the moment it doesn't stop me from walking my dog.
The only savings I have are pensions, aside from monthly wages, I pay a mortgage.

elsien

Your wife would not have PIP for having a bad back because it’s not based on diagnosis. It’s based on any care and support needs and impact on daily living activities arising from the condition, and it’s not to do with work so the fact that she doesn’t work is irrelevant. It’s also not affected by income because it’s not a means tested benefit.

Have a look at this to give you an idea of the criteria, but just having an arthritic knee that doesn’t affect your mobility isn’t going to qualify you for anything.

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

Rubyroobs

sevenhills said:

I have looked on the Government website and it's vague. My ex-wife got the lower PIP payment for having a bad back. She doesn't work, so it doesn't stop her from doing anything.
Her income is similar to mine. I went to see my GP about a arthritic knee a few years ago. It causes me discomfort when I walk upstairs.
I expect it to get worse, as I get older. I am 60 now and working. I drive in my job and my knee can click when I change gear, but the right knee is worse. But, at the moment it doesn't stop me from walking my dog.
The only savings I have are pensions, aside from monthly wages, I pay a mortgage.

If it doesn't stop her from doing anything why exactly is she getting it ? Being awarded PIP is about having significant difficulties with daily activities ( such as washing, dressing, cooking a simple meal, communicating )  and/ or mobility.

sevenhills

Rubyroobs said:

If it doesn't stop her from doing anything why exactly is she getting it ? Being awarded PIP is about having significant difficulties with daily activities ( such as washing, dressing, cooking a simple meal, communicating )  and/ or mobility.

I am not sure why she gets it. But as she displays no symptoms now, I thought I might qualify in years to come.
She did see a GP and physio, so that medical facts should be clear, she does make a drama out of everything.
I looked on the link and the questions are quite clear. 

Rubyroobs

sevenhills said:

Rubyroobs said:

If it doesn't stop her from doing anything why exactly is she getting it ? Being awarded PIP is about having significant difficulties with daily activities ( such as washing, dressing, cooking a simple meal, communicating )  and/ or mobility.

I am not sure why she gets it. But as she displays no symptoms now, I thought I might qualify in years to come.
She did see a GP and physio, so that medical facts should be clear, she does make a drama out of everything.
I looked on the link and the questions are quite clear. 

If her condition has improved and she has no symptoms now then she needs to report the change rather than just continue to claim. PIP is a payment made towards the extra costs to a person with a longer term disability !

sevenhills

Rubyroobs said:

sevenhills said:

Rubyroobs said:

If it doesn't stop her from doing anything why exactly is she getting it ? Being awarded PIP is about having significant difficulties with daily activities ( such as washing, dressing, cooking a simple meal, communicating )  and/ or mobility.

I am not sure why she gets it. But as she displays no symptoms now, I thought I might qualify in years to come.
She did see a GP and physio, so that medical facts should be clear, she does make a drama out of everything.
I looked on the link and the questions are quite clear. 

If her condition has improved and she has no symptoms now then she needs to report the change rather than just continue to claim. PIP is a payment made towards the extra costs to a person with a longer term disability !

She retires this year, I assume that means that she will get it for life!
I was very surprised when she got the PIP, it was only last year.

poppy12345

sevenhills said:

Rubyroobs said:

If it doesn't stop her from doing anything why exactly is she getting it ? Being awarded PIP is about having significant difficulties with daily activities ( such as washing, dressing, cooking a simple meal, communicating )  and/ or mobility.

I am not sure why she gets it. But as she displays no symptoms now, I thought I might qualify in years to come.

I don't understand this. You can't claim for something that "might" affect you sometime in the furture. If you can continue a normal daily life without any issues then you won't be entitled to PIP.

If your ex wife's health condition has imroved and she can complete daily acitivities in the PIP descriptors without any issues then she needs to report the changes.

Having said that how long ago did you live with her?

Spoonie_Turtle

sevenhills said:

Rubyroobs said:

If it doesn't stop her from doing anything why exactly is she getting it ? Being awarded PIP is about having significant difficulties with daily activities ( such as washing, dressing, cooking a simple meal, communicating )  and/ or mobility.

I am not sure why she gets it. But as she displays no symptoms now, I thought I might qualify in years to come.
She did see a GP and physio, so that medical facts should be clear, she does make a drama out of everything.
I looked on the link and the questions are quite clear. 

You need to know that people with chronic pain don't tend to act like they're in pain because if they did they'd never have time or energy for anything else.  Ignorant people tend to expect pain to look a certain way and then dismiss it if it doesn't look the way they think it should (and that includes medical professionals). 

If you don't live with her, how do you know it doesn't stop her from doing anything or making the daily activities of life difficult? 

It is very difficult to get PIP, the descriptors to score are a very high threshold, she doesn't get it for nothing. 

Here is the link you need to read to understand how PIP is assessed https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-assessment-guide-for-assessment-providers/pip-assessment-guide-part-2-the-assessment-criteria

poppy12345

I totally agree Spoonie, which is why i asked how long ago did the OP live with their ex wife. It's terrible when others turn around and say something like "they claim this, they claim that but there's nothing wrong with them"

sevenhills said:

She retires this year, I assume that means that she will get it for life!
I was very surprised when she got the PIP, it was only last year.

Again, this tells me that you have very little understanding of the PIP descriptors and criteria. No one has a PIP award for life. The longest award is 10 year. Those of state pension age and above will receive a 10 year award if their conditions are not expected to change.

Unless you know everything about her health conditions and how they affect her then you can't just assume she's not affected.

Alice_Holt

Spoonie_Turtle said:

sevenhills said:

Rubyroobs said:

If it doesn't stop her from doing anything why exactly is she getting it ? Being awarded PIP is about having significant difficulties with daily activities ( such as washing, dressing, cooking a simple meal, communicating )  and/ or mobility.

I am not sure why she gets it. But as she displays no symptoms now, I thought I might qualify in years to come.
She did see a GP and physio, so that medical facts should be clear, she does make a drama out of everything.
I looked on the link and the questions are quite clear. 

You need to know that people with chronic pain don't tend to act like they're in pain because if they did they'd never have time or energy for anything else.  Ignorant people tend to expect pain to look a certain way and then dismiss it if it doesn't look the way they think it should (and that includes medical professionals). 

If you don't live with her, how do you know it doesn't stop her from doing anything or making the daily activities of life difficult? 

It is very difficult to get PIP, the descriptors to score are a very high threshold, she doesn't get it for nothing. 

Here is the link you need to read to understand how PIP is assessed https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-assessment-guide-for-assessment-providers/pip-assessment-guide-part-2-the-assessment-criteria

        Absolutely. 

        Great post.

    I've heard a few nonsensical faux comparisons whilst helping CAB clients complete forms for disability benefits, but these unkind, self-absorbed assertions are vastly outnumbered by the genuine clients who minimise the real difficulties they face in their day to day life.     

sevenhills

poppy12345 said:

Again, this tells me that you have very little understanding of the PIP descriptors and criteria.

Unless you know everything about her health conditions and how they affect her then you can't just assume she's not affected.

I have zero experience of claiming PIP, but my ex-wifes experience leads my to believe it's easy to get.
I am sitting next to her now and she has no pain now, very little when she claimed. She cleans her dad's house, even though she is meant to have a bad back.