I woke up early this morning, not sleeping well following the latest flair-up, and I noticed this article about claiming Personal Independence Payment for IBS. I'm not normally a daily record reader but the headline caught my eye. I didn't realise I could be entitled to any benefits to support the extra costs of living with this.
Does anyone in the UK claim PIP for their IBS? And was it a difficult process?
I'm not sure that IBS entitles you to PIP. It about being independent and your daily care needs. If it was so severe that it affects your mental health and mobility you may qualify but many are refused for bowel conditions on there own.
Like someone has commented on the link you attached, it isn't easy.
That was my thoughts too but according to this article people are. I was just curious to see if anyone here had and if it was difficult to make a claim.
Also it might be of help to anyone who wanted to claim 🤷
Any benefits can be really difficult to claim. I know someone who has a serious disability that prevents her from driving and having full time work and she's still going through hell trying to get PIP. They immediately set genuine candidates up to fail first time around and wait to see if they've got the gumption to appeal. This is very sad since many people aren't well enough to fight their own corner. I can imagine in some instances IBS can make people house bound and unable to work, so theoretically PIP should be available in such cases. The best people to ask would be citizens advice.
I was refused pip and I have ibs, diverticulosis, gerd, osteopenia, arthritis, back pain. As other people have stated unless you’re prepared to fight and appeal you’ve got little chance of getting it. I live alone and struggle through as the stress and anxiety of appealing is not worth it.
Hi there, I'm new to the IBS Forum and just saw this post. Did you ever apply for PIP? I used to be a Disability Benefits Adviser. Putting aside the fact that the outcome of your assessment does seem to depend on the mood of the Assesor on the day, what is important is not your specific condition, but whether it's effects on your daily life match the set criteria. For example, if you are unable to use public transport because of diarrhoea, or because of anxiety associated with the possibility of diarrhoea, you might get some points. If you have incontinence issues and regularly have 'accidents', that would also get some. Or if you are often in so much pain that you can't get dressed or make your meal. Or if your condition (physical or mental or both) often prevents you from leaving the house or interacting with people, that would match too. If there are quite a few aspects of looking after yourself, interacting with people, going out or physically walking that are often affected by your IBS, then it's worth applying.
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