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Mum of T1 and PIP

S

Sedge15

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Parent
Hi all.
My name is Sara. My son is T1, he is now 19 and at university. We were recently advised to apply for PIP (advised to support Paddy whilst he is at uni as he has not been able to secure a job despite applying for literally 100s. His friends are also in the same boat). After filling out the extensive forms and waiting and chasing for months we have just heard that Paddy has not been successful. I wanted to ask if any of you would mind sharing if you are in receipt of PIP for having T1. Thank you for your time. Sara.
 
Hi @Sedge15 and welcome to the forum - Unfortunately I think the chances are very slim - my missus had a reverse shoulder replacement 2 years ago and has trouble and needs help with the most trivial of things but still failed the tests/didn't tick enough boxes - does Paddy have any complications from T1 Diabetes?
 
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Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
Personal Independence Payment is for people who require extra help with their personal
care or mobility needs because of a disability, illness or mental health condition. It has
replaced the Disability Living Allowance.
Full-time and part-time students can claim PIP.
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Cut and paste from a uni document. Does your son need extra help because of the T1 I guess is the criteria they're looking at.

PIP isn't a form of income support for people who are struggling financially but for people who need to fund extra support to help them with day to day living.

If your son does need this support then he should qualify but you may need to appeal.
 
Welcome @Sedge15 🙂 I’m pretty sure I read that only 25% of Type 1s who apply for PIP get awarded it. It’s not awarded for Type 1 alone. If, for example, someone had complications like reduced sight or mobility problems because of Type 1 complications then they might qualify, but ‘ordinary’ Type 1 doesn’t.

Was it a uni welfare officer who advised your son to apply for PIP? It’s always ‘worth a try’, but being advised to apply doesn’t mean a person will necessarily be awarded it.
 
I get PIP but I get 0 points related to diabetes. Which points was he expecting to get that he didn’t get? I can’t imagine why his T1 would mean he needs help washing, dressing, cooking, managing medication etc unless he has complications or other conditions
 
Thank you all so much for your insightful comments. Reading your responses it perhaps appears that PIP is not quite the right ‘support’ to apply for. It’s not so much the help with everyday living such as washing etc but the fact that living with diabetes is a daily struggle. From how poorly you can feel if you are too high/low to not being able to drive if you are too high. To attending endless hospital appointments, eye appointments and so on. I think as a mum I just feel it’s unfair that some people get so much support and you guys living with T1 get so little. What you have to live with every day is very much underestimated. Mentally, many people must find it very hard. Thanks guys. Your comments and advise have been very helpful
 
Sedge15 said:
It’s not so much the help with everyday living such as washing etc but the fact that living with diabetes is a daily struggle. From how poorly you can feel if you are too high/low to not being able to drive if you are too high. To attending endless hospital appointments, eye appointments and so on.
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PIP is to help people who have difficulties with everyday activities such as washing, dressing, preparing a very simple meal, making journeys etc. PIP is not just general extra money based on a condition.

You can look up the scores online. If he feels that he should have scored enough points then he can put in a mandatory reconsideration to appeal the decision but it does sound like you both just didn’t look up the scoring in advance.

You must have explained some difficulties when applying though, it’s a very specific form there’s nowhere you could have answered about hospital appointments it’s not a question. How often are his eye appointments? If they’re so often that they’re causing a daily struggle as you say then does he have sight loss? If he is visually impaired due to diabetes I’m not sure why he’s driving though
 
Perhaps what he needs is more support from his diabetes clinic so he is better able to manage his condition and live a more normal life. Sometimes once somebody moves from paediatric care to adult the support is not so good.
If he is struggling with stuff at university then there is usually a disabilities support officer who may be able to give some assistance to any academic issues.
 
Sedge15 said:
Thank you all so much for your insightful comments. Reading your responses it perhaps appears that PIP is not quite the right ‘support’ to apply for. It’s not so much the help with everyday living such as washing etc but the fact that living with diabetes is a daily struggle. From how poorly you can feel if you are too high/low to not being able to drive if you are too high. To attending endless hospital appointments, eye appointments and so on. I think as a mum I just feel it’s unfair that some people get so much support and you guys living with T1 get so little. What you have to live with every day is very much underestimated. Mentally, many people must find it very hard. Thanks guys. Your comments and advise have been very helpful
Click to expand...

I agree with you @Sedge15 I don’t understand why a parent can claim DLA for a child with Type 1 because, for example, that child needs extra care due to blood sugar/alarms during the night - and yet once that child becomes an adult, suddenly it’s totally fine that they have to be woken in the night!
 
Sedge15 said:
Thank you all so much for your insightful comments. Reading your responses it perhaps appears that PIP is not quite the right ‘support’ to apply for. It’s not so much the help with everyday living such as washing etc but the fact that living with diabetes is a daily struggle. From how poorly you can feel if you are too high/low to not being able to drive if you are too high. To attending endless hospital appointments, eye appointments and so on. I think as a mum I just feel it’s unfair that some people get so much support and you guys living with T1 get so little. What you have to live with every day is very much underestimated. Mentally, many people must find it very hard. Thanks guys. Your comments and advise have been very helpful
Click to expand...
From my perspective with 4 decades in the work place. I’ve received tremendous support over the years. There are “reasonable adjustments” with the appointments. But then I’ve also reciprocated with colleagues regarding their own health issues. It could be worse. I lost a respected workmate due to terminal illness 3 years ago? We do as T1s get a fair few tools thrown at us that help manage this. Wishing your son a happy & prosperous future.
 
Hi @Sedge15 and welcome to the forum! Have any of the employers come back with reasoning as to why he hasn't been accepted? Does he put down his T1 anywhere in the application? I know it's difficult to find a job nowadays as a young adult if you don't have experience (they sometimes expect people to work while they're still in the cradle I guess), however his diagnosis should by no means affect his employability. I'm not sure if you've seen this already, but we have some information on our website relating to this:

Work and diabetes

This information is about how to manage diabetes at work and to support you in knowing your rights at work. Jump to:
www.diabetes.org.uk www.diabetes.org.uk
 
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