At the time of 1st line chemo and debulking surgery I was on sick leave from work and the HR dept ( among others) encouraged me to apply for PIP. I did not feel entitled to claim from the state as I had worked all my life and was getting by pretty well with the cancer situation. Anyway, after encouragement I did apply. I am pretty competent at form filling and report writing after being a social worker for over 25 years, so I was sure to put the emphasis on my worse day rather than my best. A person come to the house to interview me. I was refused PIP, based on the assessment carried out I did not score a single point in any of the domains.
I thought of appealing but but at the time I believed I would be returning to work. [edited by moderator]
Two years later, I didn’t return to work, I have not been out of treatment for cancer since the day I was diagnosed, nor will I ever be.
I feel well and I am completely able to look after myself.
I have recently become acquainted with a retired DWP manager. She was surprised to hear my PIP was declined first time and is strongly urging me to reapply. What do you think ladies? Am I entitled to this state benefit? I am interested in your comments
Best wishes
Christine
Written by
Duskygem
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I am following this as I am also considering PIP having had similar thoughts at diagnosis (I did go back to work but now I have dropped most of my contracts due to fatigue) xx
I just wanted to message as I was wondering if you were aware that Macmillan Cancer Support have a Welfare Rights Service that is available on their national helpline 0808 808 00 00. They may be able to offer you further information and advice about PIP and any other benefits that you may be entitled to.
In addition to this, the Citizen’s Advice Bureau may be able to help. Here is a link to their website for more information: citizensadvice.org.uk/
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Hi Christine, please contact your CNS or Maccmillans for support. I was too old to claim PIP but able to claim Attendance Allowance. Both of these have special rules forms which are a fast track claim. Like you I did feel quite well and at first didn't feel I should claim , I'd only retired a month before at the age of 69. I was diagnosed as stage 4a primary peritoneal cancer in March 2020, I actually filled in both forms wasn't sure if I could claim under special rules.I spoke to my CNS and she sent a letter or form ( not sure which) to the benefits agency.Apparently my diagnosis was classed as terminal and even with treatment no one can predict how long any of us have. I was awarded full benefits after about 7- 8 weeks. I've been in remission since September 2020
Hi. Similar to yourself I too have not been out of treatment since diagnosis in 2019. Despite doing my initial application myself when I had a request for further medical evidence I called on McMillan nurse for that evidence. She supplied this which included the part of my diagnosis I guess I was in denial about which was the 'incurable' tag.. However this speeded the application and everything was sorted.The money pays for extra help for those 'deep cleans' I can not manage myself and extra things that prescriptions don't cover. The claim is dated from your inital claim so if awarded it is backdated to that date. I too have worked all my adult life. I also found I was able to draw down my employer pension, early, due to ill health without it affecting my payments.
Hi Christine. Sorry I'm not doing great at the moment. McMillan helped me with my pip claim which was successful. Take care and good luck with pip Amy xx
Hi Dusky. I had almost same story with different outcome. I had my debulk op last March, first line chemo after, and only 3 month sick leave pay at my work. My management told me that they can not pay me sick pay longer because I worked part time not full time and only work for them for 2 years, which is faire enough. But if I to resign they could transfer me to insurance company AVIVA who will carry on paying me 50% of my earnings for up to 3 years . I didn't wonted to resign wishing to come back to work because i loved it )) Work was happy to keep my till i back. So I applied for ESA with Universal Credit and nice the help from Macmillan lady. They never mentioned PIP to me though. And I thought I can't have PIP on the top of ESA. I got ESA pretty quick. Am also good with forms after my middle daughter who lives with me have BPD and we've been doing this forms for the last 10 years. Am also her paid carer with Carers Support. After about month or two i came upon information that I might be still entitled to PIP as well. I called them, They send me the form. I done it and of course like you emphasised on my bad days more and a lot. Because I v learnt over the years if we wont "emphasise" we wont get anything sadly. I waited for about 3 month for PIP decision then called them and learnt that my form probably been lost in the post and they sending me new form ! After new form been send, another month past, then they send me a letter that I be interviewed on the phone on this particular date. Interview was about half hour and Lady was nice and sympathetic. She hinted me right away that I will be awarded based on my points and should have letter in 3 weeks or so. And yes they send me award and lump sum backed up from the date Iv applied.
Am now actually back to work same part time literally from last week Waited how Niraparib will work and settle first. Its not very demanding job and they now looking after me at work, giving me hours I wanted and even a short break when I want ! ))) But of course I expect PIP now to slash my pay ( hopefully not much )))
Your have to appeal dear Dusky. How dare they forget that Cancer is Cancer and if person feeling OKish at the time of first applying, this can change any time and if the person feeling very unwell it be impossibly hard to appeal again and cause them more distress which will have an impact on the illness ! I firmly believe that benefits should be given to all C people in fast truck without much question and just a report from the doctor. no matter what stage they are. I wish you all the best and good luck.
Definitely reapply and ask your CNS or oncologist to endorse your application. I filled in my form- for me it was nausea stopping me carrying out daily tasks- then I sent it to my CNS and she wrote her bit and sent it off. I was awarded the higher rate without an interview.
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