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
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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.
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.
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.
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
I was exactly the same as you, I suffered terrible vomiting, neuropathy memory problems, I have my bedroom down stairs and I also have hepatic encephalopathy, weakness ect ect we all know the score but I also got refused pip. Its quite upsetting when I know someone claiming it has IBS.they made me feel like I didn't matter, I wasn't important!!!
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
My hubby has received PIP for the past 12 years with cirrhosis albeit also with Hepatic Encephalopathy and chronic fatige. The first application was only processed after 2 years of trying - he scored zero points at face to face with a report that was a pack of lies. We appealed with the help of local council benefits rights and at tribunal were awarded the Enhanced Daily Living portion and some points for mobility but not enough for an award.
At renewal a couple of years on the face to face was a really different affair and the nurse went in search of points for hubby and basic rate mobility was also added.
Over subsequent years I've used the excellent PIP guides on the Benefits and Work website to complete the review/renewal forms and he was awarded it without any face to face until 2027. I provided loads of evidence including brilliant leters from his liver consultant.
When he ended up on the t/p list earlier this year the hospital social work team put in a benefits claim for him under the terminal illness category which should mean an automatic upgrade to Enhanced Mobility and Enhahced Daily Living - though that will barely have kicked in and he's now been transplanted so we'll be having to go back on that merry go round sometime soon.
It's not the illness but the way it affects you day to day and what level of help and assistance you might need to carry out the various descriptors.
I recieve PIP for a different condition, and like you I've been working for the same place for 24 years.It very much comes down to whether you meet the criteria, and I used lots of medical evidence and also evidence of the reasonable adjustments that work have made for me to back up my claim.
I personally used Fightback to help with completing the form, although it is a paid service, I think it was worth it.
Well if you don't try you will never know, so try and if they refuse appeal it, remember that you have to show them the way you feel at your worst, any other medical issues hopefully not but it can help, evidence is key from consultants,GP'S etc.I get pip for different medical issues with severe headache conditions,my assessment is today and I have added decompensated cirrhosis to my current claim when they ask for any changes, not looking forward to the face to face assessment, and remember that they aren't your friends they will do anything to stop you even lie,
But definitely worth trying to get it, good luck
I have had to give up working as a maintenance fitter for 20+ years get nothing else help wise, it's so hard when you can't get any help but too ill to work
I believe PIP is not based on diagnosis but how is affects you daily. If you read up on the descriptors such as bathing, mobility, food, social interaction you may understand more. If you can claim Universal Credits or be moved to it then you may be able to claim LCRW which is based on support with work. PIP is not deemed as an alternative support to working, as there are many who claim PIP but are still able to work, depending on individual circumstances. As a previous poster mentioned getting the support in the work place may be the first step and if this is still too much of a struggle for you, you know you have tried and then moving forward with any claims this will be evidenced.
I appreciate what you are saying, but, there may be a better way. But, you need to start being a bit more open with your employer. In fact it's in your interest that you do. Remaining in employment is a much better long term arrangement.
With cirrhosis you have certain protections under the Equalities Act. One of those is the ability to ask for some reasonable adjustments in your working arrangements. But your employer does need to know, so they can get things set in motion to determine what is needed and get them put in place. This is usually done through an occupational health assessment.
You don't need to tell them the cause of your cirrhosis, just what effects it has. If they ask and you don't want to sound like your hiding something just tell them they've not determined that yet or tell them it's cryptogenic cirrhosis, which just means 'of unknown cause'. If you are comfortable telling them then by all means feel free to do so. You may even say you have advanced liver disease if you don't want to mention cirrhosis.
Reasonable adjustments can be very varied too. Any thing from working time adjustments, equipment or even a change in role if another suitable role is available. If you enjoy your work, despite the stresses, then it may be worth exploring some way of lightening the work load but remaining in your current role. It may even just be case of acknowledging that you may just need a bit more flexibility when it comes to those return to work meetings, e.g. the trigger levels don't apply to you, or the meetings are more of a 'what can we do to help' as opposed to a more formal disciplinary type arrangement.
There are advantages to staying in employment. Even if its just a reason to get up and out of the house in the morning. But some more certain financial security is certainly way up there.
I do not have any experience of PIP but have been on DLA for a long time. I knew someone years ago who failed to get any further help. When I asked him about it, he had given responses about what he could do sometimes. I told he must stick to what he was like on the worst days. He got it on appeal I think.
So paint the worst picture you can. No need to lie but you are trying to get blood out of a stone.
Thanks so much for all the replies. Everyone has been so informative about their personal experiences and some excellent suggestions as to how I can move forward.
I thought that maybe applying for Pip may have been an option and perhaps still trying to remain in work. I don’t think it’s possible. I will try and have a chat with my employer and see if there is any flexibility. One back to wrk meeting in 24 years and made to feel so bad.
It absolutely is an option. You can get PIP and work. But do contact one of the organisations that others have suggested and get some help with the PIP application, and do talk to your employer about your needs.
hello there. I applied for pip for my husband. He has PSC cirrhosis , ulcerative colitis, portal hypertension and many other probs. He was medically dismissed from his job. PIP refused him and then refused his appeal. 16 months later I went to a tribunal on his behalf. The judge was fantastic. Very understanding. Sometimes it is easier saying it all in person. It never comes across properly in writing. Hubby was awarded enhanced rate on both parts. Always remember when answering the pip descriptors, you have to be able to do them safely reliably as often as needed and in a decent time frame. Chronic fatigue is horrendous and is very difficult to life with day to day
I had no choice.. after 15years working for the nhs, I had my contract terminatedas the d.w.p. class me as terminally ill and they informed me I couldn't work there as I could fit within their insurance policy. Unfortunately though as I meet all critical physically for higher pip. I can't claim as mim mentally sound. This is frustrating as I know numerous ppl that claim the highest rate plus vehicle that have nothing wrong with them but claim high anxiety
Looking at the replies overall, I think it would be extremely difficult to get. I understand why this should be the case, but it also seems to depend greatly on how the application is filled out. Some of the responses indicate some very poorly patients being turned down which is so disheartening.
I tried for pip after my liver transplant. Scored a 0.
Around 9 months later after a chance meeting with my local MP they told me if I’d of contacted them and appealed they probably could’ve got me it.
I’m still struggling after my transplant, but like you, I’m going to work struggling. My boss does know, and helps where he can, but it is a struggle. I hope you apply and get it.
Only just seen this post which is 3 months old however all the advise given is spot on. If you have not needed to tell your employer then I suspect, but don't know, that a lot of the criteria would not be made. The benefits and work website is well worth the investment for the information it supplies. When I retired I claimed DLA as it was now PIP and it was it was done on advise on NHS Pain Management clinic but the process in my own experience has been very very stressfull although I am now in receipt. When I look back on my experience I just swapped the stress of working with pain to not working and the worse stress of claiming benefits. If you can manage work and enjoy what you do and of course we are all different is adapt yor work enviroment if it helps and keep working as long as you can but also check the website out and check the criteria and make a claim then you will have a better of idea of what is involved. Good Luck
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