PIP……. Why you should persevere

[SarahJane1471]

I want to tell you about my 15 month battle to claim PIP. Warning ⚠️ long post.

Having struggled with my mental health for 23 years I was persuaded by my family and friends to try to claim benefits, something I’ve never done before. After giving up part time cleaning nearly 2 years ago I was struggling financially. A small pension was not supporting me. The only thing I was entitled to was PIP. I knew the forms would be difficult as I had filled them out for friends in the past. I’m sure you all know what it is like living with illness so I won’t bore you with how I felt……… you can guess what I’m like on a bad day!

So armed with a Consultant Psychiatrist report and a Consultant Occupational Therapist letter I applied. You would think that diagnoses of PTSD, Borderline Personality Disorder, Anxiety Disorder, Hypothyroidism, ME/CFS that it would be accepted by the DWP that I am unwell. That some days I struggle to walk around my one bedroom bungalow,shower,eat, drink, feed myself. But no! I scored 2 points for the Daily Living Component and 0 points for Mobility.

I asked for a Mandatory Consideration, still only got 2 points. Last March I appealed. Eventually on the 9th of January ( my birthday) I received a letter from the Courts that my appeal has been awarded in my favour. 🙌. I’ve gone from 2 points to 18 just from a judge and a Dr and Occupational Therapist (who are independent) reading all the evidence on paper! I did not have to attend or be online or the phone. Common sense prevailed, not without a great deal on patience on my part and a lot of credit card debt.😳.

I can now pay off my debts and start from fresh. It’s not a great amount as it’s the lower rate if Living and Mobility, but it’s a huge help.

So if you are applying for PIP my message is persevere, don’t give up. If you are unwell and you cannot work and have worked all your life until you are literally on your knees make a claim…… you deserve it and you are entitled to it!!!

Story over 🙏

Sarah

[GlowCoach Administrator]

Amen and well done you.

Really pleased for you!

[Sparklingsunshine]

Congratulations and well done, the DWP are horrible to deal with and often its how you fill out the forms, which is why its worth getting help from welfare rights or citizen's advice if you get a review.

The other site that is excellent is Benefits and Work. I joined when I tried claim Attendance Allowance for my late mum. Bless her she was registered blind, was deaf and riddled with rheumatoid arthritis, which you would think would be enough to qualify, but even though I painstakingly filled in the forms it was rejected.

I used the guides from B&W when appealing, saw a lot of emphasis on key words like reliably, mobilise, repeatedly. It seems there are ways to fill the blooming forms in that make you more likely to succeed in the first instance, without needing to appeal. Its sadly not how disabled you are but how you present yourself. Mum got the higher rate after I appealed.

Its about £15 for the year, but they were worth every penny. They have welfare rights volunteers as mods and very comprehensive forums and guides you can use.

[SarahJane1471 in reply to Sparklingsunshine]

Yup! Absolutely how you fill out the forms. I was completely honest about how I am on my worst days but they originally considered I only needed help for “ wiping my bum” (seriously 😳). I was flabbergasted but determined to get the help I deserved!

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to SarahJane1471]

One tip I saw is that when you get the review forms, depending on your length of award, keep a diary for a week or two, of how you feel, detail any tasks or things you find difficult, if you use any aids or appliances to make life easier, keep a record of pain, fatigue or other difficulties you encounter.

You can also record how you are feeling each day , anxious, overwhelmed, whether you are struggling with intrusive thoughts or panic attacks. How this impacts on your ability to function from day to day.

How often you need to rest or sleep etc. It can be very useful for the assessor at the DWP.

[SarahJane1471 in reply to Sparklingsunshine]

Believe it or not NONE of the points scored were about my mental health! It’s geared toward physical abilities. They seem to have no idea how mental ILL heath affects day to day living 🤦‍♀️

[Buddy195 Administrator]

This is great news SarahJane1471; having to worry less about money is a huge bonus 👍

[helvella]

Aside from being very pleased for you, I want to say thank you for writing up your account.

Over the years, many members have asked about and discussed PIP, so it is clearly of interest and importance.

[SarahJane1471 in reply to helvella]

Thank you helvella . I don’t often share such personal details but I felt it important to let people know it’s possible 🙏

[HandS]

Hi SarahJane , I am so pleased your award has been made - the process for any MH illness is shocking.

My daughter also has diagnosis of BPD, EUPD and PTSD. After her first assessment she was awarded “DLA for life” …..then came PIP.

The process was horrendous - she too was declined and had to go through MR - and we were just about to drive to the Crown Court for the hearing when we got a call from the Clerk to say they had found in her favour and INCREASED her award.

It took another 4 months - and a complaint to our MP to get the accrued benefits paid.

A few years later, as a result of a class action by a disability group against the DWP she was awarded an £18,000 backdated refund. That figure is not a typo!

It is SO hard to not give up and if I had not been here, I dread to think what the outcome would have been for her. The most vulnerable people suffer.

Still, the process has got worse. Because of covid, her award was extended to end of 2024 -but still they sent out renewal forms in September last year - which set off a spiral of stress and decline - and with no community mental health support, these forms triggered events that resulted in her being sectioned for over 10 weeks. The DWP process is almost thug-like in its absence of any safety nets for the vulnerable.

You are 100% correct that DWP are either ignorant or malicious when dealing with mental illness. We only made the initial claim because a MH nurse made us an appointment with the Citizens Advice Bureau - who were brilliant. My daughter had also worked full time before becoming too ill to carry on.

Many congratulations on persevering and be sure to seek out and take any help available going forward.

it’s easy to say ‘don’t give up’ but very hard to do and everyone needs help.

Wishing you the very best

Thank you so much for sharing

[SarahJane1471 in reply to HandS]

Thank you 🙏 that’s amazing for your daughter. I too spent time in a psychiatric unit. DWP are ignorant and don’t understand that some mental health conditions are life long. I have great family and friends but still feel isolated at times. As you know the forms you have to fill in are stressful enough but have little to do with mental illness. It’s 90% physical.

What amazes me still is that the initial assessment was 2 points but after the tribunal it went to 18!!! It’s all about saving money. DWP just want people to give up and most do because they don’t have to strength to persevere.

Since the letter of decision a few days ago I’ve had terrible fatigue. I’ve been so anxious about money, now comes the crash 🤦‍♀️.

This too shall pass

[HandS]

I’m not surprised you’re exhausted !🙂

Mental illness is very isolating even when you have family and friends. No amount of good wishes or well intended advice can help - I do wonder what goes through the brains of people/politicians/public opinion at times.

Don’t underestimate what you have achieved💖

[SarahJane1471 in reply to HandS]

🙏