Claiming PIP... Yes or No?

[Copepod]

Fightback4justice appear to be a non profit making social action group - their claims to have 95% success are astounding (and somewhat hard to believe unless they're talking about appeals)

http://www.fightback4justice.co.uk/network-page-3

You're right, 95% success rate is astounding - I'd use the word incredible, as in unbelievable. For DLA / PIP, it's higher than 50% for people attending their own appeals in person (oral appeals), and slightly lower for appeals heard on papers. Levels fluctuate from year to year and between regions, but success rates are always higher for oral than paper appeals.

 

[mikeyB]

Amigo is right, the qualification to get PIP is stricter than the old DLA system, and many prople have lost out in the switch, particularly with regard to the mobility component. The government would say that the money goes to those who are genuinely disabled and unable to work, and if you look at the broad parameters in daily living that Amigo has listed you can see how disabled you have to be. If you don't have difficulties under any of the points listed, then you won't get PIP no matter who fills in the form.

If you can walk more than 50 metres, with or without aids, then you won't get the mobility component. Only if you can walk less than 20m will you get the full mobility award that opens the way to get a motability car.

Is this fair or reasonable? I really don't know. PIP fulfils it's intent, for sure, so it really depends on what you think of that intent.

 

[Northerner]

The government would say that the money goes to those who are genuinely disabled and unable to work

I've always hated this justification, that they are 'targeting those in most need', implying that people who do not fulfil the strictest standards do not need help Deliberately tightening the rules in order to exclude those who would once have qualified (and may still do, on appeal) in order to save peanuts, whilst at the same time proposing unlimited spending on something that has no use is immoral (yes, I mean Trident)

 

[Amigo]

Mikey is right but remember the mobility component is still available to those who can satisfy the very strict criteria (12 points) in terms of being totally unable to go out unaided and in many ways this is more applicable to the severely mentally impaired and learning disabled than those with physical difficulties. People with debilitating mental health/emotional/psychiatric problem will have the devil's own job proving this one. A friend of mine has just been turned down at appeal for her brain damaged daughter on the mobility element even though her daughter can walk but won't/can't get on a bus. As a result she's lost her motability car which is iniquitous in my opinion. It would cost the country thousands to provide the care she provides for £60 a week! So I totally appreciate your point northerner. Screwed priorities!

 

[mikeyB]

There is the lower rate mobility payment, which is paid if you cannot walk more than 50 metres, or if you need help in finding your way around unaided,or would easily become lost. Amigo, it sounds like your friend's daughter, falls into this category, which does not entitle you a motability car.

As the decision has been upheld at appeal, it is probably appropriate within the regulations. The appeal board cannot change the rules, they can only decide on whether the rules have been wrongly applied, and quite often do overturn decisions.

The whole system is morally wrong, but then a government that can order weapons of mass destruction like Trident is morally bankrupt anyway.

 

[mikeyB]

Here in Scotland we have a government which is more caring - at least that's what they say. About 15% of the social security budget is being devolved to be under the control of the government (the majority of the budget is pensions). There is a public consultation on how this money should be spent, and anybody can contribute with comments on PIP, or any other benefit- though they are minded to abandon the word "benefit". Whether they will take on board any comments, I don't know, but if every single person who has lost their motability car chips in, they might pay attention.

Interesting times ahead...maybe.

 

[Alba37]

Fightback4justice appear to be a non profit making social action group - their claims to have 95% success are astounding (and somewhat hard to believe unless they're talking about appeals)

http://www.fightback4justice.co.uk/network-page-3

Fightback charge and can be very expensive. You should never have to pay for help to fill in the form or representation.

I know many people with Type 1 that get PIP. A lot depends on who's desk it lands on. The best thing to do is get help filling in the form, expect to have to do a Mandatory Reconsideration and Tribunal, as many do now, but I've not heard of anyone to be turned down at the Tribunal stage. Just ensure you have representation. You have nothing to lose by trying Sarah.

 

[Matilda Williamson]

Hey I'm a type one diabetic, diagnosed just over a year ago and boy it's tough! I was originally on DLA and really appreciated it as just being alive these days comes with a massive price tag. Despite being eligible for DLA in the transition to pips I was let go, but the reasons were incredibly uninformed claiming that type one diabetes didn't have the effects we all know it does. After making two claims and getting identical replies i gave up and started looking for a job, I am currently working as a waitress.
Sadly recently I have had two fits from hypos despite treating them. The second fit happened at work, where I then hit my head and lost consciousness, then for the best few days suffered a concussion. I have now been informed by my boss that if this happens again I will loose my job!
Should I reply for pips? Is there any point concidering my recent fits?

 

[Copepod]

Welcome to the forum, Matilda.
People with type 1 diabetes very rarely qualify for PIP, unless they have other health problems of complications.
It's very worrying that you have suffered two hypos resulting in fits, so I'd concentrate on getting blood glucose levels under control. How much contact do you have with diabetes specialist nurses or other professionals? Have you discussed your hypo fits with them?

 

[Owen]

Hey I'm a type one diabetic, diagnosed just over a year ago and boy it's tough! I was originally on DLA and really appreciated it as just being alive these days comes with a massive price tag. Despite being eligible for DLA in the transition to pips I was let go, but the reasons were incredibly uninformed claiming that type one diabetes didn't have the effects we all know it does. After making two claims and getting identical replies i gave up and started looking for a job, I am currently working as a waitress.
Sadly recently I have had two fits from hypos despite treating them. The second fit happened at work, where I then hit my head and lost consciousness, then for the best few days suffered a concussion. I have now been informed by my boss that if this happens again I will loose my job!
Should I reply for pips? Is there any point concidering my recent fits?

Talk to CAB, there was something somewhere about two fits, just can't remember where.

 

[AlisonM]

I have PIP but it has little to do with my diabetes and more to do with increasing physical limitations caused by two kinds of arthritis and ME. Unless you have significant ongoing health issues, which you appear to do, there's little chance. Given your problems though, it would be worth talking to CAB about it. They have a great deal of experience dealing with these things and will be better able to tell you what your chances are.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Talk to CAB, there was something somewhere about two fits, just can't remember where.

It's probably the association with the loss of your driving licence if you hold one.

 

[Owen]

It's probably the association with the loss of your driving licence if you hold one.

I think it might be, I suppose the question is the impact on care and mobility. Certainly where I live, if you can't drive, you can't work.

 

[mikeyB]

Matilda, I've had two fits resulting from hypos in my working career, and just carried on working. This was in an office job in the civil service, and they could no more sack me than fly because of the disability at work legislation. That legislation, incidentally, does include diabetes as a disability. However, working as a waitress, the health and safety rules trump that legislation.

Having two fits due to hypoglycaemia would no more get you PIP than diabetes alone. I know one epileptic person who had a full career, and has just retired.

Having a single daytime fit will cause you to lose your driving licence for a year, if reported to the DVLA. If you don't report it, you are driving illegally.

And Owen, if you lose your driving licence for any reason, you can't claim PIP mobility however difficult it is to work or do the shopping just because you don't have a car or live out in the country. It's not a consideration that comes into the assessment for mobility.

Finally, you will never get PIP unless you can demonstrate that you need help dressing, preparing food, taking your medicine, mixing with other people and difficulty in communication. As you are working as a waitress, you simply won't qualify for PIP, because by the lights of the current government you don't remotely qualify. In any event, taking a job because your DLA stopped fatally undermines the claim for PIP.

Your ambition should be living a productive life with well controlled diabetes, not directing your energies to claiming PIP. That may sound harsh, but it's not meant to be. But that does drive the thinking of the DVLA.

 

[Owen]

Not suggesting for one moment that lack of driving would constitute a claim, just an observation.
I think the criteria now requires all limbs to be amputated and bring unable to see, read, write or hear. Plus if you can complete the claim form then you are able to live without it.