Hi, I am new here. I also am suffering with Fibromyalgia along with depression and anxiety. I am female and 26 years old, I have a fiancé and together we have a beautiful son who is 2 in July.
I have put in a claim for PIP (Personal Independence Claim). Can anybody give me some help please on useful things to put, how to word things and anything else that will help my claim along with what my partner could add in his supporting statement.
Thankyou very much,
Kind Regards,
JessFM
You can contact our benefits team on 0300 999 0055 (Mon, Wed, Fri 10.00-12.00) or email benefits.advice@fmauk.org and they can send you guidelines on applying for pip
Thankyou very much, I have just emailed. 😁
Give as much supporting evidence that you can. My GP always says think about your worst day and base it on that. Get a report from your GP which states a record of your past history and the illnesses that you have now. Get a letter from your Gp if you can and also from various consultants you have been seeing lately. Go to the benefits and works page there are loads of useful information there on how to answer the questions that you might be asked. The more evidence that you have the better. Get your boyfriend to write a letter about what the condition is like for you and how you struggle with pain etc. he can also put in how he sees you every day so and tries to understand how much you are struggling with the condition. The benefits and work page gives so much information from others who have been through it and also the professional people who run the website. They can help with answering the questions and how best to word your answers. There are also many people on here who have been through it and you should get many replies on this question with words of support. I wish you all the best in filling out your forms. Cx 😀
Just read your post and empathised with you. Check out my posts in recent months about PIP for some of my personal experience. Take your time researching the PIP descriptors before compiling your answers. read posts from @releasethemagic on this forum too - they invaluable. I followed these and was awarded 11 points for standard daily living at the first attempt.
I included my OH assessments at work, a letter form my husband explaining the difficulties I face and how much he needs to help me, a summary of my medical history and prescriptions list from my GP via a Subject Access Request, a report from my Occupational therapist and confirmation of my diagnosis from my rheumatologist.
I had a telephone assessment. My assessor spent a lot of time questioning me on my meds and how they affected me. You need to get across that it’s not just the fibro that affects you - the side effects of meds can be just as debilitating. I also suffer irritable bowel and balance problems associated with vertigo and emphasised these aspects of the ‘fibro package’ as well as the pain and fatigue. It helped that I had separate diagnoses for these conditions prior to being diagnosed with fibro.
I was asked in detail what adaptations I’d made to the house - lever taps for poor dexterity, eye level oven and grill/over counter fridge due to difficulty bending; grab rails installed in bathroom next to bath and wc, shower stool and bed rail recommended by OT and supplied by social services ( you can also buy online or at Bush healthcare shops). Explained I relied on my Google Nest to remind me to take my meds.
Use real life examples to explain the difficulties you encounter. Tell them what aids you use in the kitchen, bathroom, getting dressed. Tell them what your husband does for you that you used to do yourself. I got upset and broke down towards the end of my interview - this evoked empathy form the assessor and whilst distressing at the time, with hindsight it didn’t harm my case.
I also had a few quickfire questions thrown in, such as “what are you hobbies”. My answer was “they used to be gardening, cooking and embroidery but now due to the dexterity, concentration and fatigue issues we’ve already discussed, I can no longer do them”. I was asked how could I grip a steering wheel if I had dexterity issues in the kitchen - I said you don’t grip a steering wheel the same way you grip a knife! So be aware that there is potential to be tripped up - or maybe I’m just cynical!
I don’t say this to worry you - just to prepare you. Forewarned is forearmed! Good luck!
This is a great help, thankyou soooo much!! Your claim sounds very successful! 🌼🌼
Always tell of your bad day’s not your good one’s it’s hard trying to talk about your self so the best way of doing this is to talk about it with your partner can let him take notes for you that you can then transfer to your own hand. This was an exercise class I took in a business corse when we had to do a personal statement for our business plan say for a bank or to promote our self in CV’S Writing first on a separate pice of paper it would be good to then leave it on a table with pen and walk away and do something different for a bit and put it out of your head
The whenever something pops into mind add it don’t worry at this point about spelling or grammar you can sort that out when you feel you have got all you need to say. And if you feel it’s a lot don’t worry about that use an A4 size paper but don’t write on back if you need always use a new page so when this is read the reader just has to turn the top page to carry on reading never end the page with a sentence that has a full stop using a sentence that makes them have to carry on to the next page makes them carry on reading.
Including in your text should be everything you feel is going on I know sometimes when writing it down it sounds strange or makes you feel uncomfortable with your words but it’s what they need to fully understand your situation and how this is affecting your lives not just your life but your whole family hope this helps I know how hard it can be taking to a faceless person but remember you doctors are also there to help with anything including this xx if your doctor is unavailable the there are help lines that are run by charities that help with these forms so ask around for links and contact numbers good luck to you xx
This is great and a hugeeeeee help, you're a star. Thankyou!!!
Thankyou very much sweet, I didn't think I would get so much help. This website is amazing!
Hi JessFM state the following—. I’m in constant pain and discomfort. X🙂
Hi JessFM
Your post is spooky👻, I have just applied for P.IP on Monday this week. It is my first time claiming benefits, although I had briefly been in receipt of J.S.A over 10 years ago.
As evidence uploaded pictures of my meds. I take 5 different meds everyday. I also took pictures of the aids that I use everyday (my wrist supports and my two coccyx support cushions) I also explained that I can't go bear foot anywhere and I wear flip flops in the shower. I also explained that I have moved my bed downstairs as I'm unable to climb the stairs.
I not only have Fibromyalgia, but I also listed I have Osteoporosis of the spine, Irritable Bowel and I also have a mental illness.
I also listed my G.P and my Rheumatologist as health care professionals. I wish I had taken pictures of my hospital letters, I'm guessing that they do not contact these people????
I also explained that my husband does everything in the house, prepares all main meals... even down to taking my meds( I normally fall asleep in the evenings and my husband admisters my pills and I would miss my pills if it wasn't for him!!)
I had a text from the DWP yesterday saying that they had received my form. I applied online and they said they may need me to attend a consultation before they make their decision.
P.IP would really help me out as I have reduced my hours at work, from 5 days down to 4 days a week. I'm starting to feel the pinch now and my gluten free and dairy free diet is getting ever more expensive!! 😯
I'll let you know how I get on, not sure how long the process takes!!
Tips - explain exactly how Fibro affects your daily life. Don't be afraid to tell the truth on how much you are suffering. As Ajay575 said use words like exhausted, debilitating and try and get doctors letters etc. Don't use the word difficult, explain exactly the things you can't do anymore.
Good luck 🤞🤞
Sending Fibro hugs to you Xx 🤗🤗💕
......QUICK update- I looked through my emails from the DWP and it gave me the choice to upload more evidence, hurrah 😁😁
APPLY ONLINE!!! Xx
Hi seaside living and Jess fmMy husband is on pip, I was his carer, before I got ill. It was very difficult for us too, it was at the time they were taking people off it. I asked for a home visit as it was to far and exhausting for him to travel, I was at work, big mistake, my hubby is a proud man, he found it hard to accept what was happening, anyway cut a long story short, he lost his claim. I appealed, spoke to his GP and told him to send all my hubby’s medical history, I had a diary for 7 days that i sent. I also asked why he had been refused, they sent me a copy, they said that hubby could climb the stairs using the two handrails we only had one, they said he took his own meds he’s in morphine, which I hide! I was appalled and angry. So the next visit I was there hubby hadn’t taken his meds so he was irritable, he never moved off the chair they asked him to stand he refused, they asked him the same questions he refused to answer he said it’s all written down he closed his eyes. I told the professional, this is how he is, no quality of life and more stress with this. The professional left. Hubby got his PIP back. So beware they do trick you. Sorry it’s long. If I can be of any help let me know. Good luck to you both. It’s a silent illness. We look ok on the outside but they need to be in our shoes xx
Oh Goodness, i have heard a few times about them lying. I'm glad that you got the PIP sorted sweet. I am ever so anxious for it. My fiancé will have to fill my form in because i have a lot of pain in my hands and wrists. I struggle to mix my sons porridge and feed him because my arms ache holding them up aswell. Having FM is ever so depressing!!!! Sendjng gentle hugs x
It sure is depressing and worse for some than others, try not to stress too much I know it’s easier said than done, but the stress will make your Fibro worse. When you fill in the forms concentrate on what you can’t do not what you can do. If you do have a face to face appointment, make them come to you make sure you have someone with you, and let them see you at your worse. Take care sending gentle hugs 🤗 🤗
Hi Jess it’s been really helpful reading the responses. I wish I had joined this site before I applied for PIP . It’s been a disaster from start to finish . Over a year and still going on it’s exhausting .
I had a face to face assessment the lady was awful it really set me back. I got 4 points but refused PIP I am now on my 2nd reconsideration.
I am 61 with Arthritis, Fibromyalgia snd severe uncontrollable esophyllic asthma.
I am under the local mental health team for depression & anxiety .
I have sent more information in the post recorded delivery they say they have not received it . Can I email ? They say you can’t .
Sorry for the long garbled message . Lots more I could say & want to say . Just feel like giving up thank you for listening.
Good advise Ajay 575, a few words can paint a true and accurate picture. It’s all in the wording of your answers so think before you put pen to paper.
Hi everyone, I’m new to this site,…this thread is invaluable…Thank you …. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and osteo arthritis in January after a year of hell. I have just been accepted for ESA and had applied for PIP in January after my diagnosis. I have my PIP assessment on 27th of this month, I’m dreading it but this thread has really helped me to get a taste of the kind of questions they ask. I think if I someone hasn’t got fibromyalgia they really can’t understand what it is like and how it affects everything we do.
Just tested Positive for Covid, that explains the cough I have had for the last 2 weeks.
Hope you don’t get too poorly with the covid. I had it last month for the second time and had different symptoms than the first time. You need plenty of rest and regular paracetamol x
Take a look at my previous post and you should find the links to PIP Guides helpful in putting your claim together. healthunlocked.com/fibromya...
Thankyou very much, I have got my PIP form now 😍
Transfer from DLA to PIP
to day what i did
Supporting evidence for PIP
Petition to Government re PIP Requiring Signatures
