Pip

[Debbiedoos]

Why don't pip personal independent payment beleve that liver cerroces and hep c aren't a disability.

Can anyone pleade answer

Thank you

[Chelle_]

I assume it’s related to how people

Deal with it. I have blood cancer and Cirrhosis of the liver and yet work full time so I have no requirement for PIP.

I believe it’s assessed on a case by case basis...

[Millie09 in reply to Chelle_]

Hi chelle, how are you feeling today? Better i hope xx

[Debbiedoos in reply to Chelle_]

Bless you it's difficult hun

it must affect you some how surely , but the point system don't work for everyone's needs that makes it difficult

X

[AyrshireK]

It's not the diagnosis that decides PIP but how the condition affects you with day to day tasks and with mobility (either making a journey unaided or being able to mobilise a set distance).

PIP is difficult to obtain but not impossible if you meet the criteria. My hubby scored zero across the board at his first assessment and was subsequently awarded enhanced rate PIP and even some points for mobility when we went to appeal tribunal. On renewal he was awarded enhanced rate PIP and basic rate mobility which was recently reviewed and renewed till 2020.

I use the excellent advice on the Benefits & Work Website to complete the paperwork plus get amazing support from his consultant who is happy to write a letter detailing medically why he has the limitations we explain he has. Hubby has cirrhosis with mild HE but it does affect his cognitive function, memory, concentration etc. and there is no way he could do the forms himself.

I would always recommend you don't do the forms yourself (it actually goes against you) plus if you use services of CAB or Council Welfare Rights service they will know the 'buzz words' that score the points.

DWP don't want to award this to anyone and many of the horror stories in the press actually arn't exaggerated. We were basically called liars all the way through hubbies first report & appeal tribunal totally went our way (hubby was on liver transplant list at time of appeal).

If you've not already done so then definitely get support of CAB or Welfare Rights to take your case to appeal.

All the best,

Katie

[Debbiedoos in reply to AyrshireK]

Thank you ...I have an apptment tomorrow with CAB they helped refill it out.

The problem is they never mentioned my liver and how my day to day affects me it was 4 month's ago and I had only been on meds a few weeks now the meds are in full force iv a rash on my leg and back in having swallen legs cant stand long periods i have to sit constantly

I have counselling to and comming up soon rheumatoid therapy they know all this

I was 1 point away from middle daily living and 4 points only for mobility I wasn't expecting mobility at all even though iv arthritis in the spine foot neck shoulder arm hands hip. Somdays I can't get out of bed the fatigue and anxiaty is so bad.

iv a constant pain to in my right side liver area .

Tomorrow I'm to go through the 'left out' information the face to face person left out and put her own words in as she wished.

I never took off my shoes she examined me I think not she never touched me

She asked can you walk to your local shop I said no why she said

I said becouse I don't have any local shops , but if you did could you walk there No I would drive and park as close as i could

She put on the report she can walk to her local shop so no points

How many steps can you do I said I dont know she said guess I said 15 oh that's 15 metres I said I dont know what is meters

On the report it says she can walk 50 to 200 meters I never said that at all

she put so much fibs on there if anything I want to clarify that up

Iv other issues going on in my life and iv been trying to cope but I'm backing down.

Just wish this never happened so difficult but what's ment to be will be

It's just a nightmare

Thank you for listening x

[AyrshireK in reply to Debbiedoos]

Sounds like CAB will be able to flesh all that out for you and hopefully put in a mandatory reconsideration request, failing that go all the way to appeal.

Like I said hubby scored zero at his first face to face, the report was a pack of lies from start to finish, closed questions - yes no answers and the 'nurse' who did the assessment was aggressive from the get go and I would say she bullied my hubby into answers then regardless of the answers she wrote down complete falsehoods.

We got the help of welfare rights to fill in mandatory reconsideration - it was also turned down but at appeal tribunal awarded enhanced daily living and 4 points for mobility. Hubby can walk fine its the going out on his own and making unfamiliar journeys bit. On renewal he qualified for basic rate mobility on top of his enhanced daily living.

DWP or Atos/Capita will NOT send of for medical evidence from your own doctors to support your claim and it is up to you to supply as much detail as possible.

The Hep C trust used to have a benefits advisor who could provide information on the effects of the treatments and how these in themselves can limit your ability to do daily living things though I am not sure they still have these advisors. Might be worth checking with them - they have an advocacy service and can be contacted via helpline details at:- hepctrust.org.uk/support/ad...

Wishing you the best of luck.

Katie

[Faithfull in reply to AyrshireK]

It's like worste nightmare wen over yrs got worste mental PHYICALLY it set me in a traumatic state of fear in end sent exactly what I ment et I lose lot me illness filled two pages . Asked in daily c-PTSD effect me all day every day and were I'm not going threw that again I said can't say as its confidence Police ect it they get info why by them and also in mentally aggressive at end of form told them Iim not getting enough T need more notability as I'm imobile in house let alone outside

I couldn't take anymore bet they strike me off completely anther fight to live

[Millie09]

Hi , i had a pip assessment in oct last year. Due to how some symptoms affect me every day with cirrhosis i also have osteopenia in my hip and two prolapsed discs middle to lower back.

I had a lot of medical support from hospital and drs and occupational therapist.

I was awarded high rate mobility and standard for every day .

Pip will not just pay out like esa etc.. have you got a support worker? My supporter worker completed the form for me and was at my home on assesment day .good luck

[Debbiedoos in reply to Millie09]

Hi no hun iv not a surport worker I never knew you could have one I sent them 75 pages of medical history. I. An apptment at citizens advice with a lady 20 years experience I was told.

I'm still on hep medication and I get upset very easely and have annoyed her allready becouse I said the pip people are lying

Anyway if spoken to my GPS today and she said go and see what they can do and if I want a report it will cost me 75.00

She also said I can give you a month off work but will you be payed I said no im self employed

It's just not that simple and im shatterd all the time I just don't have the fight left in me.

Anyway If 2 weeks left on this rat poisen then detox hopfully I'll feel better but my cerroces may not and depends on the damage left.

Thanks for your reply

[Millie09 in reply to Debbiedoos]

Hi deb, yes you can get a support worker, just ask your dr and they refer you to one. .so you say you sent them loads of medical history back up ? Thing with PIP they assess you on how your life is affected now not in the past. I had given them all medical letters from the hospitals and bone drs that were less than 3 months old.i could give them the last 10 yrs of my road on cirrhosis but it would not count im afraid

So your still working for yourself. Fair play to you. I cant due to several reasons.

Are you still drinking alcohol then deb ? You really shouldn't if you have cirrhosis, every mouthful kills off another healthy liver cell. Have you an alcohol councillor or support group, if so they need to be backing you up . I have been through many home deroxes and each one is harder than the last. I was on diazepam to help the withdrawal. Plus i had 12months cbt therapy. I really hope you can get something sorted. You need to and first priority is to quit the drink asap x

[Debbiedoos in reply to Millie09]

Darling i dont drink at all my cerroces is caused by hepatitis c virus and fatty liver due from pain medications.

I did when I was younger drink but on weekends

Never mind even when I'm in the black cloud I manage to come out of it

I understand it's on how your day to day life is affected and not on highly qualified medical Drs.

It's just funny how they work it all out . She said I'm mot on any medication funny that my liver nurse said what I was on and if they know better my medication cost 11thousand pounds and that's not paracetamol

I guess they have never herd of abby3D hepitittis medication so I'll send them the huge box I get every month and the leaflet with common side effects

That affects my day to day life.

X

[Millie09 in reply to Debbiedoos]

Oh im sorry hun , i misread your post..

To be honest with you lots of people do not get awarded pip first time round, i know plenty who have been turned down and had to appeal against the decision.

Have you had your assesment yet hun? I know how frustrating it is , and i really feel for you . If there was anything i could do to help i would do. You need to keep on at them .. its the only way regardless of how tiring it can be x

[Debbiedoos in reply to Millie09]

Oh thank you thats so kind of you to offer any help bless you x.

Yes iv herd lots of people having trouble getting it and having it taken from them

Iv had low living for 3 years for my arthritis my liver nures said contact them and tell them your situation has changed

So I did but they just gave me the same as befor not recognising my liver condition and how it affects me .

If anything it sets me up for nexed time becouse my condition with arthritis will never change and I can't keep this up much longer

My body is breaking down

And my mind it's not easy being ill there's lots of apptments to go to remembering medication

Lol list goes on as I'm shor you can relate

Thank you for listening you have been a grait help x

[Millie09 in reply to Debbiedoos]

Aww bless, your most welcome 😊.. Yes they can take it off you just as quick as they give it out.

I too have arthritis of the hip and osteopenia and two prolapsed discs middle to lower back. On top of cirrhosis and now fatty liver 🙄.

You need to tell them your health has deteriorated and get all the back up you can and get on their backs and re apply

Yes.. appointments. I have 3 next week !! All for different reasons. I have physio, oral surgery, blood tests; and that's just next week so i totally understand.. xx

[Debbiedoos in reply to Millie09]

It's not easy is it.

Iv a rethink they called it in a few weeks so I can get more letters hopfully.

The thing is my liver is responding to treatment and all normal so that dosnt look good for me. But I do have 21% cerouses and fatty liver iv a scan comming up soon they say all normal but I'm in pain they think it's medication and muscle pain and will go after treatment but I will be left with cerroces.

Oral surgery omg I can't face dentist at the minute last time they injected 3 times nothing worked so I feel for you there hun.

Physiotherapy didn't work for me at all they didn't want to touch me said it was in my head lol omg I could right a book just on my medical experience

Well hun you have a good evening take care

Well chat again if you like and if you want to talk I'd like to listen and help if I can.

Night hun. X

[Millie09 in reply to Debbiedoos]

Hi hun , sorry im late replying, well im end stage f4 fibrosis and my liver function is fine; but that can change from day to day so they cant really take that as a negative if they know what they are on about 🤔.

My pain is constant; not so much from the liver but my bones..

I cant stand dentist either but i have to have any extractions done at a hospital where i have to go for a blood clotting test a week before to make sure im not going to over bleed

Im not giving much hope to physio either, but i have to go through all the rigmarole before being put forward for surgery.

How's things? Ive been busy with electricians and even more electricians early am and a new washing machine tomorow; they best disconnect and take away my other one as im paying for that privilege as i cant do it myself even if i tried..

Hope your as well as can be hun..take care xx

[Saintgeorge]

I had hep c for 44 years before it was diagnosed at 64yrs age and cirrhosis went with the territory, worked till I was 68 and harvoni cured me of hcv in 2016. I am no hero, working can be a medicine when everything crowding in. 71 now and enjoying life 😌. I miss having a drink but never mind.

[Debbiedoos in reply to Saintgeorge]

Good for you hun and I'm glad

I wanted harvoni but the put me on Abbie 3D with ribavirin rat poisen (Sorry thats what I call it now I'm a experamental rat )

But I must say I'm undetected have been for a few months but have to go through the 24 weeks

I am graitfull don't get me wrong

It's just difficult most days .

Take care

X

[b0nnie12]

Hi

Sorry to hear about your situation. My brother has end stage cirrhosis and is on the transplant list and he was awarded pip last year. When I was filling the form in for him as he had encephalopathy at the time and couldn't complete it himself I was advised to complete it with the way he is on his worse days. To be honest we were shocked when he did get it as everybody else we'd spoken to had been refused it. Good luck with your appeal.