Yesterday I had a health assessment in my own home to see if I qualify for a UK benefit called PIP (Personal Independence Payment). I have been stressed and anxious at being ‘tested’ and I was in a lot of pain yesterday. I am still in pain today. That pain is being worsened by another ‘test’ that I have been summoned to take on June 18th. I have spoken to quite a few of my followers who have been going through similar things; applying for welfare, seeking medical support, financial worries and dealing with prejudice relating to their conditions. I have also been amazed at how despite some people I have talked to being from countries outside the U.K., even as far a-field as Australia and America, their experiences are so similar to ours in the UK. And I have also been shocked to find that the institutional and societal prejudices that have been increasing in Britain regarding chronic illness and invisible disabilities are also present in other countries.
In the belief that key to The Modern Girl’s Guide to Being Sick is the importance of information and that as knowledge is power, the more we share and add to that knowledge the stronger we become I would welcome people to post any links they have found useful in managing life with their conditions, or share any advice or tips they would give others.
Two links I have found useful the past few days regarding UK benefits have been:
http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip/pip-points-system
I have given longer descriptions and analysis of the processes on my sister blog: https://theillrepresented.wordpress.com/
A wise blogger advised me to be incredibly thorough.
Get letters written from every Specialist you are currently seeing, advising that you are in no condition to work. Get results from the past six months, medical bills, referrals… anything you have and create a medical file.
Also write down how many times you have seen the Specialists and what medications you have been prescribed.
They are cruel when giving payments and being “tested”. Mine first appointment with them is on the eighteenth too so I am busy collecting all that I can to present to them… How stressful! I wish you luck
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That sounds like very good advice! I will be thinking of you on the 18th. Best of luck too. Sad though that it depends on luck. x
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I really hope you get what you need, good luck.
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Thank you. Fingers crossed! x
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I had my PIP assessment a few months ago, but I’m still waiting for my ESA one, and it’s been over 6 months! They ask you about what movements and activities you can do, my advice would be make sure you highlight you may be able to do things once, but not repeatedly. The box you have to check is whether you can do it “reliably, repeatedly, and safely”. So make sure you highlight when that isn’t true. I’ll be really interested to read about the ESA one, seen as thats the one I haven’t had yet. Good luck! xxx
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Thanks. That’s good advice about the criteria of ‘reliably, repeatedly and safely’ and I’m annoyed with myself for not referring back to this enough in the assessment. There is just so much to think about and process and so much riding on those 30 minutes that it overwhelmed me somewhat especially, as you know, the fatigue gets so much worse with stress. I will let you know how the ESA process is going. I sent a letter today with some extra evidence and stated why I feel that I should not be having an assessment at this time and have referenced the exceptional circumstances rule, but who knows what will happen? This is the fourth month that I’ve claimed ESA and everything has moved so fast. I went from having a job 4 – 5 months ago and not claiming any benefits to being faced with two assessments. I feel completely underprepared! Thanks for passing on your experience. x
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After my assessment I thought of loads of stuff I should have said as well, I think it’s natural. I know, it feels like the assessor is judge, jury and executioner! haha. I’ve got my fingers crossed for you! xxx
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Thank you, executioner definitely entered my mind! Did you get what you needed with the PIP and ESA? xx
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I got the mobility part of PIP, but not the daily living component. I should get both, but don’t have the energy to appeal at the moment. I’m still waiting for my ESA appointment. xxx
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I hope you can wait for a while before the ESA horror. Just know that you can request a home assessment if your doctor supports that (they have not been letting people know about this!), I’m glad you got the mobility but makes no sense that you wouldn’t get the other part. It is a screwed system that sees appeals as part of the normal application process rather than a rare occurrence, xx
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Yeh, I’m fine with waiting! Haha. I might try to do that, because otherwise by the time I get in there, I’ll be too exhausted to answer any questions. Exactly, appealing should be a last resort! We’re in a lose lose situation though aren’t we really… Xx
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