PIP

[Ginny70]

Anyone have any advice/ experience of claiming the enhanced rates of PIP daily living and mobility. I have ET and MF and finding life increasingly difficult because of fatigue, weakness etc and the hydroxy side effects

[EleanorPV]

Enhance mobility is nearly impossible unless you are house bound, apply all the same. Join all social media groups. Lock down FB so only your friends can see what you post. Macmillian can help with completing forms. Get supporting letters from GP, haematologist, CNS etc. Have an OT assess your needs and that’s another letter. Remember this benefit is to help with extra expenses incurred completing only the tasks on DWP questionnaire. Look on the ME/CFS website for how to word issues around fatigue. Which words you use are very important. Hope this is helpful and good luck. Xx

[JediReject]

Hi Ginny, , agree with Eleanors sound advice esp with regard to a GP letter as it seems to carry weight esp if GP details how your condition affects you carrying out daily activities upon which the PIP scoring system is based. Consultant letters can be short and to the point but serve as confirmaton of treatment etc.

It will be difficult to secure a successful claim but not impossible. 8 points are needed for standard rate and 12 for enhanced for both parts being how your condition impacts carrying out daily activities ie preparing food, eating, drinking, toilet needs, communication etc and for the mobility , Moving Around.

Do some fact finding as Eleanor suggests i think a copy of the lengthy application is ont t'interweb and if you feel confident to go ahead check out :

benefitsandwork.co.uk

For a modest annual fee they walk you through the application and point up pitfalls etc and cover dealing with face to face interview and how to lodge an appeal if unsuccessful.

To be honest it's rather over facing , designed to put folk off I think but don't be deterred , rough out your responses and pare them down to the nitty gritty. The form unless it's changed is designed around boxes and allows a generous response for the activities scoring the least and a smaller box space for qs scoring higher. BUT you don't need to stay within the box and there is a continuation sheet at the back. Say too much you might risk losing the person assessing it.

I reckon when someone gets a potential life changing diagnosis like MF they shouldn't be made to jump through hoops to claim some assistance with their living costs esp if they need to reduce working hours or stop altogether.

Anyway rant over and I've rambled enough.

Good Luck whichever way you decide to go.

Regards - Chris

[Kari1961]

Hi Ginny70 - I get the Enhanced Daily Living allowance, but not mobility. As EleanorPV & JediReject have said, firstly make sure you have plenty of supporting evidence - Letters from your GP, CNS and Consultants. I sent a copy of everything... nearly all of the letters my consultant had ever sent me were sent. I also went to the Citizens Advice Bureau who helped me to fill out the forms.

My claim was mostly based on the remaining symptoms of a stroke I had in 2012 - right leg weakness, dizziness and essential tremor, but I still 'scored points' for the fatigue and issues relating to PV.

Good Luck with it.