Claiming PIP with a good job

Muttleythefrog

leeloolee said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

leeloolee said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

leeloolee said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

poppy12345 said:

PIP is based on how your conditions affect you the majority of the time over a 12 month period. So at least 50% of the time. If you can complete an acitivity for 3-4 days per week, each week then you will not score any points for that activity.

This link may help, don't know if it's been added as haven't looked back through the thread to check. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-assessment-guide-for-assessment-providers/pip-assessment-guide-part-2-the-assessment-criteria#daily-living-activities

Yes, but only if they can do it to an acceptable standard without unacceptable aftereffects.

To elaborate for the OP, "can" means "can without impacting your ability to do the other activities, and can do it as often as you need to".  Reliably is the most important concept here, especially with fluctuating conditions.  Do not make the mistake of interpreting 'can do it' literally - if doing an activity depletes your spoons and means you can't do other daily activities, that is not what's meant by 'can do it'. 

Nondisabled people don't have to budget their energy or brainpower to be able to do these activities, that is the huge difference between us managing to do it with a struggle, and them simply doing it as the most basic part of their day.

Further info: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-assessment-guide-for-assessment-providers/pip-assessment-guide-part-2-the-assessment-criteria#reliability-1

Rather more in-depth if you wish: https://pipinfo.net/issues/reliably

Yes, exactly...that's the thing. Technically I 'can' cook most of the time, but it takes a very significant toll on me. It's one of the reasons I hardly ever go outside the flat. Preparing a meal often means my entire afternoon/evening is gone - it takes me forever to do the prep, do the cooking, and then gather the energy to do all the washing up afterwards. I've slowly realised that it really isn't normal to have to spend so much time and energy on these basic survival tasks that you have none left for anything else. 

If I need to do anything else other than cook, then I can't cook, if that makes sense. I couldn't, for example, make dinner, wash up, and then go to a yoga class or meet a friend for a drink. I just don't have the executive function or the energy for that. I am basically limited to one activity a day, and that includes essential things to keep me alive. I'm not sure how to convey this stuff to an assessor. 

Makes perfect sense.

You convey it by explaining, every part of it and every effect it has on you.  So like you've said above - "it takes me forever to do the prep, do the cooking, and then gather the energy to do all the washing up afterwards" (although the washing up isn't counted, but you can include it to paint a full and consistent picture) you'd explain why it takes you forever and then the effect afterwards, especially on any activities you'd reasonably be expected to do if you were to live a typical, nondisabled life.

The basic formula is 'tell them what difficulties you have with the activity' + 'explain why you have those difficulties', for typical days and on worse days.

To get a good idea of exactly what descriptors you would meet and thus how much you should score, you would need to read through the PIP guidance on gov.uk that's been linked a few times.  Knowing how it's assessed and therefore how to tailor your answers may help to be able to tackle the form (you may wish to prepare thoughts and maybe draft something before actually applying, or you might be someone who needs the pressure of a deadline to actually be able to start; there's no one right or wrong way to approach it).

The irony is that with my ADHD, it's really challenging to even start the form. I've missed out on so many things in my life through not being able to fill in forms. I think I'll need to get advice from a charity or something, ideally get someone to support me and check what I've written. 

If I did get awarded PIP, would it be backdated to the date I submitted the claim?

Qualified help most definitely sounds like a good idea.

An award is backdated to the date you phone up to start the claim.

I've just realised you need to call to start a claim...I really have trouble with phone calls...what a dreadful system! Unbelievable you can't do it online. 

Yes the system is anti-disabled...there's that to start claim..but the horrific forms are still I understand in the process of being made available for completion electronically. Many disabled almost by definition of their disablements will struggle to claim. Even for my current PIP review they give you 4 weeks to send the form back... however it took 2 weeks to get to me so half the time gone... try to call them and get automatically cut off time and time again over 2 days.. panic sets in... eventually get through after a 45 minute wait and get 2 week extension. The government has refused to publish its own research into the disabled claimant experience despite assurances to those who took part it would. Don't be surprised if your 'disabled journey' in the benefits system leads you to a place of feeling untrusted and deliberately targeted and frustrated.... but do please reassure yourself you will not be alone.

Alice_Holt

leeloolee said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

poppy12345 said:

PIP is based on how your conditions affect you the majority of the time over a 12 month period. So at least 50% of the time. If you can complete an acitivity for 3-4 days per week, each week then you will not score any points for that activity.

This link may help, don't know if it's been added as haven't looked back through the thread to check. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-assessment-guide-for-assessment-providers/pip-assessment-guide-part-2-the-assessment-criteria#daily-living-activities

Yes, but only if they can do it to an acceptable standard without unacceptable aftereffects.

To elaborate for the OP, "can" means "can without impacting your ability to do the other activities, and can do it as often as you need to".  Reliably is the most important concept here, especially with fluctuating conditions.  Do not make the mistake of interpreting 'can do it' literally - if doing an activity depletes your spoons and means you can't do other daily activities, that is not what's meant by 'can do it'. 

Nondisabled people don't have to budget their energy or brainpower to be able to do these activities, that is the huge difference between us managing to do it with a struggle, and them simply doing it as the most basic part of their day.

Further info: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-assessment-guide-for-assessment-providers/pip-assessment-guide-part-2-the-assessment-criteria#reliability-1

Rather more in-depth if you wish: https://pipinfo.net/issues/reliably

Yes, exactly...that's the thing. Technically I 'can' cook most of the time, but it takes a very significant toll on me. It's one of the reasons I hardly ever go outside the flat. Preparing a meal often means my entire afternoon/evening is gone - it takes me forever to do the prep, do the cooking, and then gather the energy to do all the washing up afterwards. I've slowly realised that it really isn't normal to have to spend so much time and energy on these basic survival tasks that you have none left for anything else. 

If I need to do anything else other than cook, then I can't cook, if that makes sense. I couldn't, for example, make dinner, wash up, and then go to a yoga class or meet a friend for a drink. I just don't have the executive function or the energy for that. I am basically limited to one activity a day, and that includes essential things to keep me alive. I'm not sure how to convey this stuff to an assessor. 

         Then you can't prepare & cook a meal "reliably" on the majority of days. If it takes you more than twice as long to complete the activity, then you should be assessed as not able to do it reliably and score points accordingly.
       Note, that washing up is not part of the PIP activity.

    If you can't repeat a task as reasonably required (due to the effects of the disability / illness), then this should also score points.

   If you do decide to claim PIP, I  would suggest seeing if you can get help from an experienced adviser at your local advice charity with the PIP2 form.  Alternatively Benefits & Work have good members guides (but membership costs c.£20 p.a.) - https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip/pip-claims 

  The form is important, as assessors vary and some assessments are poor at taking reliability factors into account. If you do need to appeal a DWP decision to tribunal, then having a detailed, thorough, & consistent PIP form will be important.