Claiming benefit

[Jahill]

Hi out there does anyone know what are my chances of claiming personal independance payment.I am diagnosed with essential Thrombocythamia

[Tico]

Hi Jahill,Benefits are not actually awarded for the condition but how it effects your day to day life or your ability to work. You haven't given a lot of information but I hope you get more helpful answers from others here. Atb,tina.🤗

[Ratton726]

Hello Jahill- MacMillan C.Care should be able to give you some advice-/info.

You can look on line to access this.

[Jahill in reply to Ratton726]

Thanks will do

[Ebonyuk72]

Absolutely zero. My daughter has Aspergers and severe anxiety, she recently returned to work after a ten week break down during which she had her assessment for PIP. I won’t bore you with the details but the report from the assessment was complete lies, saying there was nothing wrong with her. Yes we are appealing but if she gets refused for that, then I wouldn’t waste your time.

[Arknj]

Hi jahill. As Tico said, It all depends on how the disease affects you. There are different levels and components to pip. You may qualify for some and not others. You can go online to check what questions you will have to answer but my advice is don't do it on your own. Either McMillan or welfare rights should be able to help and advise you. Good luck.

[Val_P]

Hi I applied for PIP when I was at my very worst. I was turned down. I had to retire on ill health grounds luckily I was able to claim my retirement pension from my work. I’m not sure what I would’ve done otherwise. I know I certainly was not able to continue in my employment as a nurse manager as the chemo, Depression and the fatigue Had a very debilitating effect on my health. To be honest I do believe that I could work if I changed jobs to a less demanding profession. In a way I’m glad that my PIP was declined .

[Jahill in reply to Val_P]

Hi val thanks for replying .I am going through what you have experienced. I also work and I am finding it difficult and some of my colleagues are aware of the change in my personality. I just realized it's not the illness that counts but the effect it has.. thanks.

[jillydabrat]

I get PIP but I don’t just suffer with PV.

We know a friend who applied to be an assessor but they told her she must turn down 80% of applicants. She told them she couldn’t do that as she would have to assess each individual on how their illness affects them, not stick to a government quota.

My husband appealed after they had reduced his care package. We were in the courtroom for 5 1/2 hours. The assessors broke up twice for a drink while we were offered nothing. He ended up in tears and said the criminals in the Court had not had to go through what he did that day. It was obvious the tribunal panel got paid if they did the appeal or not so when they asked us if he wanted to go through with the appeal and we said yes, we saw them roll their eyes and heard them huff. I think they wanted to get paid and go and play golf.

He did win his appeal. He has a degenerative spinal condition and at the age of 55 walks stooped over his walking sticks. He suffers with severe depression and anxiety. He went for help with his mental health problems and scored the highest possible score on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression test but when he went for assessment the woman who assessed him said he showed no signs of depression!

The whole process of reassessment and appeal made him a jelly of a man. Before PIP he had been given DLA for life, this, again, was after appeal which took a year. During this time the DWP had lost his file 3 times and we ended up losing our house and our car because there was only my income coming in.

To say I hate the government for what they have done to countless of people with genuine medical problems is an understatement. They have no qualms on spending £9 million on the Nottinghill Carnival but they will cut off payments to people with life altering illnesses. I am stopping my rant now.

[Wyebird in reply to jillydabrat]

Oh your ordeal has been absolutely horrendous. No words I can think of could possibly console you. I think your story is one that the national media would find extremely interesting.

I totally understand why you hate the government.

[Tico in reply to jillydabrat]

Hi jillydabrat, luckily the tribunals at the first-tier level are now wising up about these farcical assessments and reports as day in,day out they see the different assessment reports by so called' medical professionals', repeating the same lies almost as if they have colluded together, I think the DWP just copy and paste the same reports just changing he from she and vice versa! But the tide is turning as now more people than ever are having the secretary of states decision at first -tier set aside but a lot of people give up after the 'bog standard' mandatory review because of the stress it as caused. I have just been awarded PIP but nothing to do with my Et as I do not believe it impacts me as much as the early days but I also have other medical issues, Asthma,epilepsy and left over cognitive issues as a resort of last stroke. I received my tribunal decision last week after fighting for 18 months and living on £73.10 a week JSA . I was actually awarded more than previously but only having to put up with constant delays and lost files. The people who carry out these assessments(Capita) should be ashamed for the lying numerous lies they spew out every day in their reports and I wonder how they sleep at night. Am I happy they will now have to backpay me Nearly £9000? No, like you I'm angry too for the stress it as caused and for having to struggle for so long! Atb,tina.🤗

[Cja1956 in reply to jillydabrat]

What a horrible experience for you and your husband. I live in the US and I know that applying for disability benefits is also very difficult and people generally have to hire a lawyer to represent them. I’ve been reading your posts for a while now and you’re always so supportive of everyone. No one would have guessed what a terrible time you’ve had. Please know we are here for you to rant any time.

Cindy

[jillydabrat in reply to Cja1956]

That’s so kind of you Cindy, thanks for that x

[Kari1961]

Hi Jahill - I get PIP.

As has been said before, it's awarded due to how your illness affects you on a daily basis. Mine was awarded due to the after effects of a stroke I had in 2012. Not so much the PV, although that actually caused the stroke. The stroke affected my right leg and balance. I also have some cogniative impairment.

The letter my GP wrote which accompanied my application stated that I had PV and that I had, had a stroke, but the health issues relating to my claim was all based on the stroke.

I work . So whether you work or not has no barings on whether your claim will be successful. It's all down to the evidence you provide. I provided letters from my GP and both Stroke and Haem Consultants.

I got help from the Citizens Advice Bureau, they helped me fill out the forms and also advised on the importance of providing evidence.

Good luck with your application. Kari.

[Jahill in reply to Kari1961]

Thanks Karl I will give it a try

[Wyebird]

Arknj has given good advice definitely don’t fill form out yourself. If you are over 55 then age uk will do it for you. If your age doesn’t qualify then take someone who does. You’ll qualify for their help then.

[Jahill in reply to Wyebird]

Thanks will take up your advice

[nodmeister]

Go to the benefits and work website. If you can pay the joining fee and the information they have to refer to is invaluable for applying and appealing for pip/esa. I cannot emphasis enough how invaluable this site was for me. It's a slog getting your head round everything as the powers that must be obeyed will try and trip you up at every turn. DO NOT GIVE UP. Good luck.

[Jahill in reply to nodmeister]

Will do thanks