Claiming PIP

[Tommygurl]

Can I ask a question?I work 5 days a week 5 to 6 hours a day I am struggling so much with work, life and fibromyalgia I can't afford to go on the sick . A friend told me to apply for PIP are ppl with fibromyalgia eligible? I need to cut my days and this would help me to do so .I am 61 in July

[Hazel_Angelstar Administrator FMA UK Staff]

Pip is based on how your condition affects you on a daily basis, not on diagnosis.

You may want to speak to our benefits team for information and guidelines on applying

FMA UK benefits helpline information leaflet

[Tommygurl in reply to Hazel_Angelstar]

Thank you

[Blue-52]

you might want to apply for universal credit as well, as pip, is about your disability and how you can adapt to every day and especially walking, uc, will deduct any hours you work, pip won’t, but it really depends on your disability, uc can top up your hours, if you are on a low income, I would do a online calculator to see how much better off you would be, they are on the government website.

Good luck.

[Tommygurl in reply to Blue-52]

Thank you x

[redkite55]

I got PIP in 2020, I have Fibromyalgia, arthritis and nerve damage to my spine, so it may depend if you have any other conditions as well. I am not sure of the waiting times for a first applicant now, I got mine within 10 weeks and backdated for 3 months. I had to renew mine last October and filled the forms out in August, I kept getting messages to say they were working on it, and they would keep paying me. Last week, I had a letter to say that they are very behind with applications and have forwarded my claim until March 2025. There's is no harm in making a claim though if you feel it is impacting your daily life and mobility, just be prepared that you may have a long wait. Good luck.

[Tommygurl in reply to redkite55]

Thank you for your reply .I am still waiting for bloods taken then have to go back to the doctors to see about pain management x

[mrdarcy1]

Totally OK to apply for PIP. 2 of my friends have Fibro and both on it. Just foe the fibro. ( Thats enough anyway )

[Tommygurl in reply to mrdarcy1]

Thank you for your reply . I will look into it x

[Fra22-57]

yes there’s no harm in applying but they will assess you strongly on what you are able to do.People are able to work and claim but not sure what work they are able to do so it’s best getting helpful answers and advice from them.

[Blueoxo]

Hi, I work and claim PIP. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and pernicious anemia at the time and had to reduce my hours at work to 18 hours a week. Similar to yourself I couldn’t manage to continue to work full time. It was about 3 years ago when I made the claim and took about 10 months from filling the forms in to being awarded PIP. This included a mandatory reconsideration after I was initially awarded no points at all. I was seen by an occupational therapist at work who gave advice around adjustments such as reduced driving, longer processing time etc. I can work from home if needs be and this has given flexibility in bad days. it’s very difficult to find a balance between working and home life but I think your health has to come first. I hope this is helpful and wish you al l the best

[Lillylilac]

Hi Tommygurl I was the same age as you when I had to give up work due to Fibro.

I applied for PIP and got the standard rate for both. PIP isn't about what you have but about how it affects your daily life. So definitely apply.

Make sure you get support though as the wording is very important.

There are quite a few support groups such as, the benefits advisor on here, CAB, SCOPE, Benefits and work, Fight back 4 justice, Welfare rights are but a few.

Look on the government website and make the phone call. If you get your award it is backdated to the date of your call.

Good luck.

Take care Lilly X

[Tommygurl in reply to Lillylilac]

Thank you x. I work 5 days a week in housekeeping its killing me . My bosses have cut my workload but I now feel I need to drop a couple of days I finished work at 3pm today sat waiting for my lift am feeling light headed hands are swollen am tired my body hurts !!Now am home am sat on sofa I probably won't move again I won't be making tea as my hands and arms hurt ( a job for my partner )

How do I ask for help with pip on here am useless with forms and the understanding of them x

[Lillylilac in reply to Tommygurl]

Sorry Tommygurl for not getting back to you sooner. If you go onto the government website you will find the phone number for PIP on there. You will also find information about claiming for PIP. Ring the number. You may have to wait a while for them to answer but don't be put off by this. You will then need to tell them your name, address, NAT INS number, bank details, can't remember what else sorry. They will then send you a form which you usually get a month to send back. If you need more time you can always request it. Once you have done that start gathering your evidence from all your professionals that are or have been involved with you. Also have people who know you write a supporting letter. They can see how you struggle with everyday life. The form can be quite daunting. Do a little bit at a time and get support with filling it in. It does depend on how you say things.

So get on that phone you have nothing to lose.

Love and comfy hugs Lilly

[Tommygurl in reply to Lillylilac]

Thank you Lilly xx

[morag37]

Hi i applied and got standard allowance, and was able to cut hours/days, but had to go for early retirement to illness which thankfully i got. I would dearly loved to have carried on as loved my job, but was so painful, not sleeping at all fatigue was awful.Go for it and appeal if you don't get...take a copy of forms supporting evidence etc just in case. Good luck.

[Cotswolds25121]

hi, I’m 63 next week and my colleague encouraged me to apply for pip, I kept putting it off because I couldn’t face filling out the form, you know what it’s like with the brain fog 🤦‍♀️but I am so grateful that she persisted or nagged me as she says not me 😊because I finally did it and it wasn’t as bad as I’d imagined. I felt such relief once I’d sent it off, a weight was lifted for sure. I was working 5 days, 7 hours a day 😔and on top of the terrible pain and exhaustion each day, I was sleeping all weekend before starting the whole saga again and absolutely dreaded Sunday nights. I was existing, not living. I dropped every other Wednesday and the difference it made I cannot put into words. I was also caring for my poorly elderly Mum too. I was awarded pip to my great relief 😮‍💨 and it meant I could then drop every other Monday, so 1 day off a week as I could now afford it and not worry myself sick about paying my bills etc. I choose to be single due to many very bad past relationships as I’m so much happier on my own so this means financially I only have my wage to rely on. I really don’t know how I kept working for so long as I’m a carer for people with pmld( profound multiple learning disabilities and this involves pushing wheelchairs, carrying out personal care, moving and handling people and many other tasks so at almost 63 and with my own numerous chronic health conditions you can imagine how tough it is even though I live my job, I am literally exhausted and in pain all the time. I would like to only work 3 days to be honest but can’t afford to do for the time being I have no choice but to carry on. There is absolutely no way il be able to continue until 67 until retirement so at some point in the next two years if I can make it that long then I will have to take I’ll health early retirement and live on benefits of some kind because if I don’t then I can’t see me lasting much longer and I really do want to spend some time with my family after working since I was 16 I believe I’ve earned that right no matter what the government says 😡😡 Do please apply for pip as you have nothing to lose and everything to gain 🤗xx

[Tommygurl in reply to Cotswolds25121]

Thank you am glad you applied 🙂 .I wanted to drop a day last year, when I spoke to my boss about it she said she would drop my workload which she she as but still work 5 days .

Now I am finding working 5 days a week a real struggle with everything i feel I am going down hill so I need to put something in place as I can't afford to just drop 1 or 2 days .

I was only diagnosed 8th February still waiting on bloods then pain management my doctor doesn't seem all that bothered either 🤷‍♀️ x

[Cotswolds25121 in reply to Tommygurl]

Most Drs don’t seem to bother but I’m very lucky with a lady at my surgery who I see so don’t have to keep repeating myself and she is a very good listener xx

[Tommygurl]

My doctor is lovely I went to see him in 2018 and asked him to find out what was wrong with me !! I had a head scan is that a MRI ? was diagnosed with neuralgia because of my headaches but there was lots of other symptoms too was also diagnosed with costochondritis he was very good got me appointments for different things but nothing else came back then we had covid so then I had to start all over again .I had also been off work on sick with musculoskeletal that's what they would put on my sicknote.

I had spoken to the doctors about fibro but they wasn't interested no one was but every time I went to doctors I brought it up then 1 day a lady doctor said let's do bloods to rule out arthritis in your neck if that's ok we will talk about fibro but with covid and backlogs didn't see doctors etc time has gone by pain and symptoms getting worse.. then just having groin and abdomen pain for 3 months that was it for me I got my diagnosis waiting on bloods then pain management. But I've been seeing a different doctor who isn't really bothered x

[Ajs1510]

Hi, I was diagnosed with FB today as I was ignoring the symptoms as I have issues with my thyroid and put everything down to that. But anyhow that was not the reason I am replying. I also work full time for the Civil Service as a Case Manager on Mandatory Reconsiderations in (yes you guessed it) PIP.

So my advice is look at the forms. Check out CAB as I am sure that they explain more in laymen terms what is needed for each activity. I did try to write an example for you but for some reason it keeps deleting what I wrote but any questions just ask and I will try and help the best I can x

[Tommygurl in reply to Ajs1510]

Thank you for your reply I have loads of questions lol and will get back to you x