PIP query relating to T2D and other health conditions

[Guybrush77]

Hi

Just joined the forum to get some advice really as not sure what do really. I have type2 diabetes and wondered about claiming pip. Now before anyone says about not being able to claim on this alone, I know I can see this being very difficult.

However it's the other conditions I've had develop as a result of having T2D. So I have angina (essentially chd) as well as a frozen shoulder. Now these two conditions do stop me from doing certain things at the moment that pip ask about in their assessment such as being able to bathe, walk a certain distance etc.

I'm not wanting to claim for sake of trying it on, trust me I work and have been able to for all my life, but recently I've experienced the frozen shoulder twice in my diabetes life and they take a prolong amount of time to fully recover from. This makes doing certain everyday tasks right now very difficult. Had it for past 3mths now. Last occasion I had this took me nearly a year to fully recover from it.

With this in mind and the angina which can get me breathless on exertion, is it really worth me claiming for pip?
Does anyone in their experience have similar story to share....

I can't get my partner to care for me as she has her own carer and suffers from a rare form of arthritis, lupus and raynards.

 

[MarkGeordie]

I thought I would give you a response as I have successfully claimed PIP for myself and I've done some voluntary work with organisations that help people with their applications.

The first main point to get across is that PIP is not awarded on the basis of what conditions or health conditions you have, but it is awarded purely on how you can demonstrate your daily struggles in relation to the descriptors set out under daily living and mobility.

Please whatever you do, do not send endless amounts of supporting evidence, for example doctors letters, medical reports, medical records and consultant letters as they are meaningless, the people that write them of course are medically qualified, however they can only confirm what your diagnosis is, or what results showed, or confirm what it is you have told them, they don't see you day to day, they cant assess your struggles day to day and you need to bear in mind that the assessment you receive for PIP is not a medical assessment, its a disability assessment.

The best evidence you can send is evidence by yourself. So for each descriptor, what you need to do is explain what happened the last time you attempted to do that activity, and give a few examples each time, explaining what happened when you attempted it, who were you with, who was around, did you need support, did you use an aid, what actually happened when you attempted, did it cause injury or distress, did it stop you from doing it properly.

PIP takes into account for carrying out a descriptor in a reliable manner in a satisfactory timeframe and in a safety compliant way, so if you feel you cant carry out a descriptor either in a reliable way, to a satisfactory standard or their is a safety risk of doing so, explain this.

Alongside this I would include a list of medication you take just to confirm this.

If you have a carer, neighbour, friend or family member that has to do any of the tasks identified in the descriptors for yourself and on your behalf ask them to maybe write a supporting statement.

I've seen many claims be successful without any medical evidence, its possible.

I have type one diabetes and a visual impairment and therefore I'm registered partially sighted, I did not try and claim because of these, I claimed because of the limitations having a visual impairment has on my day to day activities and the restrictions I have with mobility and getting about safely, I ensured my examples were based around this and nothing else and the only things I submitted with the form was a copy of my CVI (certificate of visual impairment), a copy of my low vision assessment carried out by the sensory team and a prescription list. Nothing else. I claimed successfully first time, no need for a mandatory reconsideration or a tribunal.

If you have any questions then please ask.

Bear in mind too, I'm not trying to say you are trying to claim just because of a condition, Imp just trying to get across that many people do try that and fail.

 

[Guybrush77]

Hi Mark

Thanks for that, makes sense as I know from how my partner has to fill hers in.

It was more to get an idea from anyone who has the same health conditions as myself on top of the diabetes type 2.

Makes sense though what you say as they are only interested in how your not able to do the things they ask and how it impacts your everyday life.

Thanks for that I'll bear in mind, still not sure whether to try n claim for this though. Don't have much of evidence to even give them yet I know they can contact my go and physio for more info if they need it.

 

[MarkGeordie]

My pleasure. If you find you need any help let me know.,