cirrhosis and Pip

[0range5520]

Hi everyone,

I was just wondering if anyone had experience of giving up work and claiming pip with compensated cirrhosis.

My story is I’ve been in quite a stressful role for nearly 24 years and was diagnosed with cirrhosis about 18 months ago. I am feeling increasingly tired with considerable joint pain although I do have thinning of the bones. My employers are not aware of my diagnosis but realise I am being monitored for something with 6 monthly scans and appointments. I recently had a week off work and had my first back to work meeting ever which I found uncomfortable. I feel I am pushing myself every day and have also noticed changes in my memory although that could be an age thing.

Would I be able to claim Pip or is it only at the point of not physically being able to do my job anymore?

Any advice would be appreciated

[DaveQ67]

Hi, I had decompensated cirrhosis and was refused PIP. It’s very much done in an individual basis.

[0range5520 in reply to DaveQ67]

Thanks for your reply.

I thought that may be the case. Each case is looked at individually as people are affected to different degrees. It makes sense.

[RugbyMama]

It is done very much on a case by case basis. My mother in law hadn't worked for 15 years when she was moved from DLA to PIP with a range of progressively worsening long term conditions and had to go to appeal, my father in law had stable long term conditions and was awarded it immediately. It's also never going to replace the average full time salary.

Can I ask why you've never told your employer? I work in HR and I swear the vast majority of HR people genuinely want to help and support. You have a long term condition that could be considered a disability under the equality act, they have a legal obligation to make reasonable adjustments if needed. If your absence was as a result of your long tern condition your return to work meetings should be about support and understanding and getting referred to occupational health if anything has changed. But we aren't mind readers; if you don't say something is wrong, you aren't going to get the help and support you need from work.

Please consider discussing with your manager or with HR.

[McEwan1962]

I didn't claim in the end however i understand that the form needs to be completed in a certain way and that somewhere like the CAB have experts that can help you. There seems to be many claims turned down, but 95% of people who appeal win them.

[Ollybeak]

Hello, I recommend looking at/subscribing to Benefits & Work: benefitsandwork.co.uk/

They have comprehensive guidance on PIP and detailed information on how to best complete your application - as they explain, PIP is not assessed on your illness/disability but how it affects your daily life.

[Ilovedavid]

I have cirrhosis. Was extremely ill last year just after diagnosis. Couldn't walk, get out of the bath, climb stairs, retrieve things out of the oven, confused, muddled words, couldn't read properly, get to the shops, tired and sleeping all day, neuropathy, sickness. Husband at work 14 hours a day, so alone in house. Couldn't get to hospital and doctors appointments. Applied and was turned down as I was deemed able to adequately look after myself!! Just how ill do you have to be to get this measerly amount of money? I think if I were to get it, I'd be entitled to £26 per week! I only wanted it to help with taxi fees to appointments...so stressful and I didn't have the energy to appeal it. It's a flipping joke. Good luck. X

[milbs2001]

I just got refused have cirrhosis with all that comes with that and have now got a colovesical fistula so after I eat or drink anything I am in the toilet every fifteen minutes I actually scored zero on every point

I wanted to tell the truth and was hoping to get back to work but it's just tick boxes tick tick tick

Boom

Bit of Will for you there

Have a good one everyone