Should I apply for PIP?

danny69

I am sure every claim is subjective, and people with various conditions will be impacted in wildly differing ways. 

I suffer from Ulcerative Colitis and have done for 20+ years now. I have had various surgeries, though nothing recently. 

My condition impacts me in different ways and to varying degrees over periods of time. Sometimes I suffer bad fatigue. Some cynics may call it laziness, but I can have energy one minute and need to lay down the next. I often struggle with basic day to day tasks which someone in their thirties shouldn’t normally struggle with.

i work full time. Do PIP claimants typically work full time? I wonder if I would be entitled to claim. Is it worth getting the ball rolling and seeing if I would be eligible?

Spoonie_Turtle

It can definitely be worth applying.  Fatigue definitely counts, and fluctuating conditions are taken into account - it's based on how your condition affects your ability to do the daily living activities on more than half the days.

I'm not sure there is a 'typically' about it; plenty of people do work full-time and claim PIP, and plenty of others are too ill to work.  It really does just depend on your individual circumstances.

Have a look at the Reliability section here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-assessment-guide-for-assessment-providers/pip-assessment-guide-part-2-the-assessment-criteria#reliability-1

This is an overview, and do check the PDFs of the descriptors and language used:
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/help-with-your-claim/how-decisions-are-made/

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

The first link also contains the full guidance about what each activity encompasses and how it's assessed, it's just a long read which is why I tend to recommend the CAB links first before the assessment guide.

Muttleythefrog

Great advice above... the reliability criteria is important particularly given difficulties mentioned.

I would honestly appraise yourself against the criteria and determine if you should qualify. If you determine you would not I would advise against applying. Claiming PIP can be quite a demanding and difficult process including assessment and so my view is always do not apply for it speculatively.... do so with a conviction of what descriptors (point scoring statements of disability in an activity) should apply to you and create your application focussed on them. Any supporting evidence can be helpful including any reports detailing diagnosis which although doesn't lead to awards can underpin explanation and justification of applicable disablements/descriptors.

I understand around 1 in 6 PIP claimants work. (Many could be part time)

I've never really seen data on success rates of applying based on main condition until just looking now prompted by your thread.... this link has some October 2024 data
https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip/success-rates
Suggesting Ulcerative colitis is of low success as a main condition - around 22% successful and in a linked page to the above regarding classifications of main conditions in claims it suggests Gastrointestinal disease running at around 30% success. Around half of all new PIP claims are currently successful.

Often specific illness or disability related groups/charities/websites provide guidance for claiming benefits. GI Disease is such... refer to https://crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/info-support/information-about-crohns-and-colitis/all-information-about-crohns-and-colitis/benefits-and-finances/claiming-pip

BridgetTheCat

I get PIP and I’ve always worked full time. 

As already mentioned the application process is quite arduous - the form is 40-odd pages and I wrote about 15 pages of additional notes. The words you use to describe your condition are important. I used an application guide from Disability Rights UK, and my friend got help from the Citizens Advice Bureau.

Good luck!

ElsieAtOps

It's worth trying if you have the time and patience and high frustration tolerance. God knows how and when things will change under new Govt proposals though.
It seems real luck if the draw. I have many chronic activity-limiting but fluctuating conditions, diagnosed and medicated to the extent they can be. I can't work reliably because of many. I need someone to do quite a bit of stuff for me sometimes, but not others. When I feel bad I just don't get up, go out or do anything I can't do (including using various parts of my body or eating).
I did the whole form, had a phone interview which I was in pain during (because of its length), got asked a load of irrelevant questions - and scored 0 points on every single section of the assessment.
Which is utterly ridiculous - but I hadn't the strength or help to fight it, so just gave up. Be prepared for that, get specialised help if you can, and good luck.

Spoonie_Turtle

ElsieAtOps said:

I did the whole form, had a phone interview which I was in pain during (because of its length), got asked a load of irrelevant questions - and scored 0 points on every single section of the assessment.
Which is utterly ridiculous - but I hadn't the strength or help to fight it, so just gave up. Be prepared for that, get specialised help if you can, and good luck.

How long ago was this?  If it was within the last 13 months you can still challenge it, if you are more able to or have access to some help now.

[I'll note that it is terrible the burden falls on us, the least able to fight, but given how the system is currently set up we have to navigate it and advise in line with how it is, rather than how it should be.]

ElsieAtOps

Thanks Spoonie Turtle. I'd have to check. Might have another try if so. Not sure I can cope with it, though; too many other issues to gave to fight ATM, my own body very much included 🙄😄
My conditions are mostly medical (like the OP's), and the assessment processes does seem set up to disregard (or not fully understand the effects of) these much more than the permanent physical disabilities.

Spoonie_Turtle

Medical conditions that have physical effects definitely count as physical disabilities   I'd encourage you to have a read of the information I linked in my first post, if/when you're able to.  Reliability is the big big factor that a lot of people don't know about (and assessors / DWP are all too happy to forget about or ignore for the initial decision).

breed1981

Thanks for sharing your experience. 
I have MS, and although I'm currently doing well, I often wonder what the future holds for me in terms of PIP battles. There doesn't appear to be any consistency regarding decisions/appeals.

born_again

breed1981 said:

Thanks for sharing your experience. 
I have MS, and although I'm currently doing well, I often wonder what the future holds for me in terms of PIP battles. There doesn't appear to be any consistency regarding decisions/appeals.

My Wife has M/S & has gone from std in both parts in 2019 to enhanced in both parts in 2025 reassessment (took over a year)
There again she struggles a lot with mobility & constant dropping items.