PIP in the uk

[Tim12]

I have just got some forms through the post to claim for PIP but have been told its nearly impossible to get it . I am sure that because Cirrhosis is not reversible its termed as a Terminal illness anybody have any thought on this please

[AyrshireK]

Cirrhosis is not deemed a terminal condition, that's only applicable if you are likely to pass away in 6 months.

The diagnosis of cirrhosis itself isn't enough to get you PIP - it depends on how the illness affects you on a day to day basis and how much you struggle with the various descriptors. I guess you only have a short time frame from now to complete and submit the paperwork so are unlikely to get in to see Citizen's Advice or similar for help with the forms.

I strongly suggest you spend the few pounds it cost to sign up to the Benefits and Work website - they have a member only guide on how to complete the How Your Disability Affects you paperwork so as to include the key facts and evidence for your claim.

benefitsandwork.co.uk/

My hubby and I had a hell of a time the first time we claimed, hubby was about to be listed for transplant but at the face to face assessment scored zero points. We got help from local authority welfare rights department to take the claim to appeal and at tribunal he was awarded enhanced daily living and some points (but insufficient for an award) in the mobility section.

On renewal and at subsequent renewals he was awarded enhanced rate daily living plus standard mobility. All largely due to fatigue and the issues it brings plus cognitive difficulties and difficulties with information handling and more due to minor HE.

You will need to provide sufficient evidence from your own doctors too so that it is harder for them to turn you down. DWP will NOT seek out any medical evidence which might actually support your claim.

Katie

[Tim12 in reply to AyrshireK]

Thanks for you info

[Readlots in reply to Tim12]

Hi Tim, do try and get to speak to Citizens advice asap. You can request an extension to the deadline from DWP. Excellent advice from Katie. Get as much evidence as you can to go with the form, including from friends and family on the impact it has on you and the help they have to give. Think worst day scenario.

If you are refused appeal because a really high proportion get approved at appeal and definitely get support from Citizens Advice for that stage.

Good luck

Kirsty

[WOOLKITTY]

hi Tim, the advise from others sounds very sensible. We tried to apply for my husband. He can barely walk and is in constant pain. He also continues to drink so definitely not employable. He scored zero after a telephone consultation where he was told he could walk because he had answered the telephone - it’s next to him! He’s too proud to take further action but it has truely annoyed me. Alcoholism is an illness but it seems it is not recognised as such. He has cirrhosis of the liver but that apparently doesn’t count either. We have to use a wheelchair chair for all of his hospital appointments but he’s not entitled to a blue badge. It’s a very lonely nightmare

I hope you have more success with your pip form

[X19Dave]

My wife gets PIP both at the higher rate but you do have to play their game and make yourselfe a lot worse than you are

Dave

[NoMorePlease]

Hi,I'm not sure where you are in the UK, I live in Scotland.

I have recently applied for Adult Disability Payment (Scottish equivalent to PIP) through the normal application process not the special circumstances route. I applied because of the symptoms I have and how they affect me every day.

Having since read the criteria for the new definition of terminal illness I believe that Cirrhosis could/should qualify as a terminal illness. Cirrhosis is used as an example but following other applied criteria!

The Scottish government have quite recently taken over certain benefits that are usually delivered by the DWP (UKGOV).

The Scottish government, through new legislation have changed the definition of *Terminal illness* :-

"An individual is to be regarded as having a terminal illness for the purpose of determining entitlement to disability assistance if, having had regard to the (Chief Medical Officer’s (CMO) guidance), it is the clinical judgement of an appropriate healthcare professional that the individual has a progressive disease that can reasonably be expected to cause the individual’s death."

An appropriate healthcare professional is defined as a registered medical practitioner.

The above can be read by going to

gov.scot/publications Terminal Illness - definition for the purpose disability assistance.

The difference between the DWP and the Scottish government's version of a terminal illness is that the DWP require that a person has 6 months or less to live but the Scottish government set no time limit and do not expect a medical practitioner to predict end of life.

Hope this helps a little, fingers crossed you are successful with your application.

Don't give up, having any condition /illness that changes your life dramatically is very hard. No-one chooses to be ill.

Take care and best of luck,

Sam x

P. S. I originally tried to fill in the form myself but my Adult ADHD, Fibromyalgia and chronic Fatigue and pain wouldn't allow me to concentrate/focus for long enough to get anything done.

Luckily though I was put in contact with an (independent) client advisor through the Scottish Social Security (SSS). The advisor came to my house and went through all the questions on the form, typed the answers on an online form and voilà done, application submitted.

I can honestly say the experience of applying for ADP has been so very different to when I applied for PIP, (emphatically refused).