Hypothyroidism and PIP Awards

HealthyUnicorn

I was more wondering if people have been success with a claim based on how their hypothyroidism affects them? 

poppy123456

PIP isn’t awarded based on any diagnosis. As we are all affected differently by those conditions then it’s not possible to compare 2 people. Please have a read of the link I posted in your other thread. 

chiarieds

Hi @HealthyUnicorn - & welcome to the community. As everyone is affected differently, then as far as PIP goes, other's experience of hypothyroidism may not be at all similar to your own situation.

As poppy has already mentioned on another of your posts, PIP is therefore not based on any diagnoses, rather how your functional ability might be affected with regard to the activities/descriptors that are looked at with PIP.

I have hypothyroidism, but the cause of mine may be very different to your own. In my case, for example, it has a negligible impact on any activities of daily living, & none whatsoever on my mobility.

Please look at this link about the PIP descriptors: https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/asset-library/personal-independence-payment-descriptors-and-scores-april-2023.pdf

You might also find this link helpful to give even more detail as to what's looked at with PIP: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-assessment-guide-for-assessment-providers/pip-assessment-guide-part-2-the-assessment-criteria

PIP really is about how your disability affects you, & if you can do any applicable activity 'reliably.'

HealthyUnicorn

Thank you both. I certainly do understand that 1 condition can affect 2 different people differently and that the benefit awards are nor based on diagnosis alone.

Nonetheless, my enquiry remains to know if it has been heard of and how often if people are awarded PIP for (the symptoms) hypothyroidism. 

HealthyUnicorn

Cressida said:

I also have hypothyroidism but mine is controlled with the medications so does not affect day to day life. If you are recently diagnosed and trying to learn a bit more about the disorder you may find this site useful. I was referred to an Endocrinologist but am now just under GP care for regular bloods.

https://www.btf-thyroid.org/pages/category/types-of-thyroid-disorders

Thank you for sharing. I have been educating myself as far as possible while being symptomatic (not easy). 

One thing, I do often get confused by is how some people are treated by endocrinologists and others by their GP with this disease. 

Nashota

Sorry to jump in, I saw the title and thought I'd have a read.

My son was diagnosed with hypothyroidism, his GP has been poor at giving my son any useful advice, they don't keep a proper check on him at all and the only time he's asked to do a blood test is when he has a med review, in the meantime he struggles with carpal tunnel syndrome which is caused by it and other symptoms, like being tired, pain etc. he takes medication for it. He's never been referred for it either, I'm the one who's had to go and look up the condition to try and help him.

I'll pass that link onto him and mention endocrinologist, thanks for posting that @Cressida

I hope someone can answer your question.

HealthyUnicorn

Nashota said:

Sorry to jump in, I saw the title and thought I'd have a read.

My son was diagnosed with hypothyroidism, his GP has been poor at giving my son any useful advice, they don't keep a proper check on him at all and the only time he's asked to do a blood test is when he has a med review, in the meantime he struggles with carpal tunnel syndrome which is caused by it and other symptoms, like being tired, pain etc. he takes medication for it. He's never been referred for it either, I'm the one who's had to go and look up the condition to try and help him.

I'll pass that link onto him and mention endocrinologist, thanks for posting that @Cressida

I hope someone can answer your question.

Thank you for sharing. 

It seems many patients are mistreated with the disease and I too suffer all sorts of symptoms as a result, since the thyroid affects everything. I believe Levothyroxine doesn’t work for everyone, and often people are left on too low a dose or their doses are heavily handled. It doesn’t help that too many professionals, including endocrinologists don’t seem to understand the very tests the order and ignore or fail to understand the symptoms as they are ‘non specific’. 

As for PIP, my guess is that those that suffer with the disease are too too symptomatic to ever reach the stage of calling the PIP helpline.  

HealthyUnicorn