PIP telephone call

[Ra35]

hi, I feel completely overwhelmed I had PIP in 2016 and felt like I no longer needed it so when my review came in 2020 I didn’t reapply. I have been gradually building back up to full time and over the last five years my symptoms have returned to regular bad days so I reapplied a few months ago.

I just had my telephone assessment and feel rubbbish, she was lovely but was asking me questions about good days, but some days are medium and I feel like a fraud. I work full time and lots from home- and this tires me but I love my job. Everything else suffers as I am so fatigued. I have tried going swimming for mood and mobility and again it helps me but again I’m fatigued, I try to mask this as much but I now feel like I should never have applied …

[Love2camp]

I came on here to vent after my telephone assessment. I felt awful after it and went into a flare a few days later from the stress. You're not a fraud at all so don't think that way. I think the system is set up to be deliberately stressful so you don't want to go through the process and just try to cope without. The fatigue that comes with ra is awful and can make working very difficult. It's not normal tiredness, it's exhausting. Remember that contrary to what is implied in the media, pip is not an out of work benefit. Plenty of people claim pip and work full time. It's there to help with the added costs associated with managing your condition.

I hope your application is successful. For now just put it behind you and wait for the decision. That's what I'm doing. If we fail we can come back for a rant and hopefully get some kind and helpful advice on the next steps. Best of luck x

[Ra35 in reply to Love2camp]

Thanks for this… I just feel like rubbish, my employer is actually pretty good and lets me work from home a lot and I almost feel like that went against me. I go swimming and as I was telling her I couldn’t quite get out of my head if I can do this - then why am I applying!! even though I’m so slow and almost everyone overtakes me. It helps me so much but also fatigues me greatly.

[Madmusiclover in reply to Ra35]

I feel for you. The assessor makes all the difference. I felt like you in 2018 when I applied. Terrible person interviewed me face to face. Report commented on my appearance! Of course I was clean but it might have taken two helpers to get me clean. Awful. Applied again in 2024 and had a kind assessor who helped me with the right answers to give based on my application.

[Vixen2]

Hi Ra35. I think all we PIP PEOPLE are nervous! It’s not fair that Starma’s ‘picking’ on us. I’m only on the standard rate. I’m the type he’s after. This is a non means tested benefit. So as was said earlier. People that are working are entitled to it. RA is a very complex, depressing, exhausting disease. I find the fatigue as bad as the pain. As i’ve said before on here. I live alone. But i have a partner. He stays at mine a few days. Then i stay at his. The other day he was at mine. We went food shopping. It took about 20 mins to walk to Tottenham Court Rd from mine. Then we shopped. I was exhausted in the supermarket. There were absolutley no chairs, or stools to sit on. I always panic when i can’t sit down. I was miseable in the shop. My partner had to do most of the packing. Then it was a 10 min walk to a bus stop. I could only carry the lightest bag. I was totally shattered when we got back to my place. This condition is so bloody frustrating & very emotional. I’m actually feeling emotional as i write this. I see people jumping about, full of energy & they just annoy me. I can’t stand crowds. Incase someone treads on me! Plus it’s such a pain pushing through them. I’m feeling especially annoyed about this diesease, as i’ve had it since i was 21. I’ll soon be 54. I’ve been having infusions the last 20yrs. I’m very grateful for my treatment. As without it. I cannot walk. So this is a longterm thing. No cure, as yet. But maybe in the future. The next generation might never hear of this awful disease. Sorry i’ve rambled again!!! Just good luck everyone with your PIP. X

[strongmouse]

As has been commented on it does depend on individual assessors. If you have a long term health issue (six months and ongoing) which effects you day to day then there is nothing wrong with applying for PIP.

The descriptors are based on what you can or cannot do compared to an average healthy person. The general rule is if you cannot do something 50% of the time, safely and in a reasonable time then you are classed as being unable to do it. I joined Benefits and Work - benefitsandwork.co.uk/ - as they have very good, accurate guidelines about applying and what to do if you think your assessment is incorrect. You can ask for a mandatory reconsideration. The assessors, although trained are not necessarily medical people.

[Retirednhs]

I think you were very good to have given it up when you were feeling better but RA does at times improve and you did very well but inevitably it has returned as it does and fatigue is the reason you should reapply as usually that is followed on by other symptoms which you are feeling. Now you are feeling by the sound of your message fatigued and not wanting to do anything after work so that is no surprise . I would not worry about applying for your DLA again you are entitled to it you need to slow down and stop pushing yourself it only makes the fatigue worse. Hydrotherapy may help speak to your RAzhelp desk at your hospital if they have one or write to your consultant you may need a change of therapy and they can sanction hydrotherapy for you. Don't be a martyr and suffer that's what they are there for to help you live with the RA. Good luck on your health journey .