My pip assessment

[Laceygreen]

Had my pip today after waiting over a year, found it quiet upsetting telling the lovely lady that I had how it isto feel so tired and old, I'm 58 don't consider that too old, but feeling it....I feel I won't get the pip which means I will have to go through the ordeal again,feeling tired and weepy

[nomoreheels]

It sounds as though you do need a good cry Laceygreen. At times like this it really helps to get it out of your system & if I'm trying to be terribly brave I put on a film like Ghost or Dirty Dancing. They distract me throughout the film but both are guaranteed to make me cry at the ending, it always works for me.

I haven't had my assessment yet but when I completed the application form & read it back it made me teary for the days I could do all I had admitted that I couldn't. Seeing it all there written in spidery writing was a bit of a jolt, I think it's the realisation of all RD has taken away don't you think?

I hope you are awarded PIP & it wasn't as bad as you fear but if not you've a positive advantage, you'll have a really good idea of what questions to expect & the way it's preferred you answer them. x

[Hobbits]

Hello, Im sorry I dont know what a PIP is, I keep seeing this term pop up on this forum. I am from canada and maybe we dont have that, sounds like some kind of interview with questions?

I just wanted to send a virtual ((hug)) to you to cheer you up, we all have shite days and nights dealing with RA, your not alone Laceygreen...no 58 is not old...60 is the new 40.

[nomoreheels in reply to Hobbits]

PIP is Personal Independence Payment which replaced DLA Disability Living Allowance & a non means tested benefit for people in the UK under 65 who have a long term disability. It was set up to help with getting out and about, buying any aids we may find helpful, pay for a gardener, help with cleaning the house, basically whatever we may need help with. It's split into two parts or 'components' - daily living component and a mobility component.

You may have something similar in Canada?

[Hobbits in reply to nomoreheels]

We have something called ODSP Ontario Disability Suppliment Plan. I haven't been through this system but I understand they have a lot of rules and regulations and criteria you need to meet in order to qualify. It is a lot easier if you have a visible disability. RA is often an invisible disease, you look fine on the outside and these autoimmune I imagine are harder to get coverage for. The amount they give disabled people is very meager, bearly enough to live, but you do get free healthcare with only s $2.00 co pay and your access to other services such as assisted living also opens up.

We also have a completely different system called Trillium to help people with high medication costs. You pay 4% of your gross income called a deductable, you pay this in quarterly installments and any healthcare costs, after that are covered. I am going to be using Trillium to help pay for my Humira I start in December. Humira here cost $20,000+ per year.

Thank you for explaining what PIP is, I read that term on here a lot and wondered what it was.

[nomoreheels in reply to Hobbits]

No probs. We do just whitter away & assume everyone knows what we're talking about! We have an increasing number of members who aren't based in the UK & it would be so much easier if where in the world they were flagged up next to their username. We obviously welcome overseas members & don't do it on purpose, it's often interesting for us to hear of differences in treatment etc but unless generic names are used it can be difficult to determine just what they are as brand names can differ from the country to country. Also, we have the NHS which obviously differs to the healthcare systems in Canada, the US, Australia etc & as you have informed us too. Sometimes where a member lives is added on their profile page but otherwise, unless mentioned in a post as you did, we're in the dark, with newbies especially, so please do ask if you don't know, I do!

Many people here have struggled with the face to face assessment for PIP, as you say we have an invisible illness & at one time the assessors didn't seem to have medical training/knowledge. This does seem to be being addressed recently though as those who have let us know how their f2f went have said they had retired doctors/physiotherapists etc, resulting in more understanding of how limiting the disease can be & of course can make a difference to the scoring & in turn whether they gain enough to be awarded the benefit. Maybe your system works in a similar way? The application form for PIP is 40 pages long, 36 of which require detailed information & so quite an ordeal for people with hand issues. I filled in mine over 2 days & it really brought home to me just what I struggle with both can't do anymore. Even if it only helps you with extra money towards to cost of your meds it may be worth applying. Please at least consider it, free healthcare must help & why should you not be eligible, you have a very real chronic disease & if you couldn't afford your meds they'd certainly see don't have an invisible disease!!

I hope my rambling makes sense!

Ps we have another member who lives in Ontario!

[Hobbits in reply to nomoreheels]

Oh yes a flag would be great. It would be helpful as sometimes only someone from your own area can answer certain questions. In Canada all provinces have their own medical insurances.

Awesome suggestion!

[Hidden in reply to Hobbits]

Hi Hobbits

Here in the uk disabled people under 65 can apply for a benefit to help find the cost of being disabled. Until recently it was called Disability Living Allowance but the government decided to re-assess every body getting it and change the criteria and name to PIP. Some people have lost out. The process is very anxiety provoking.

[Hobbits in reply to Hidden]

Thank for explaining what PIP is. That's sad that people no miss out, sounds like they made the criteria harder to meet in order to qualify.

[Jacki08]

Im so glad you asked the question ie- what's a pip-- ive been wondering that too! Just didnt like to ask. Hope you feel brighter soon.

[Hobbits in reply to Jacki08]

[d-creasey]

It's replaced the DLA. I think it's personal independent payment . Hugs to you from me. Hope your claim is agreed. X

[Hidden]

gov.uk/pip/overview I hope this explains what PIP is

[Hobbits in reply to Hidden]

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[lin62-65ze]

Sorry you feel so down. Unfortunately the only way up is find something you enjoy.

I have spent years with depression, my family were neither use to me. In the end I used meditation tapes and take pregabalin for anxiety, I managed to continue to work as unable to claim anything.

Things will improve slowly, you need a supportive family and if like me you do not have that then join some groups, my advice is to get some medication and rest then face things, depression is an illness which these idiot assesses do not recognise, you cannot work as you will make mistakes because you are too tired.

You will conquer this you are not alone.

[Hidden]

Hi there sorry to hear you were feeling low hopefully this morning you are a bit brighter. I haven't been re-assessed yet. I've been getting disability living allowance since 1995 and use the money to lease a Motability car. It's perfect for me, nice high seats, automatic gears. If I'm re-assessed for Persoñal independence payment and they decide I do not qualify I will be lost without my car. I live in a rural area and the bus fares are very expensive. All you can do with these things and be truthful and if it doesn't work out there always an appeal. Sending hugs x x

[IainM]

Hope you get the decision you need, I have just been successful with PIP, so not all is lost x

[Hidden]

Hope you feel a little better today. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that you get a good result. Well done x

[Metal-legs]

Hi laceygreen

It's so unfair genuine people with a genuine illness have to go through this ordeal. I haven't had my PIP assessment yet, and I am dreading it. It is so upsetting because it magnifies the impact this disease has had on your life. But don't give up, you never know how things are going to turn out. Try and focus on something uplifting, give yourself a pat on the back for getting through the PIP interview.