Pip renewing soon

Smile123x

Hi my pip will renew in June and I will have to resend evidence. 

I currently get 10 points for the standard rate daily living which includes 2 points for managing treatments for cerebral palsy at 32 years old. (cerebral palsy affecting my balance and coordination, walk with a wide gait, tight leg muscles.

 Over compensating injuries such as shoulder and back injury that if not stretched can flare up. 

I haven't had a flare up that's needed anything stronger than Paracetomol lately because I do these exercises. 

I have a left foot stress fracture that required surgery to fix. 

Could I argue that I need to do more than 3.5 hours of home physio a week due to the fact I get fatigued from work I need to have a bath before stretches? Stretches take longer now because I need to do them twice a day. 

Idealy it would be nice if I could pay for physio once a month but I can't afford this so I do it all at home. 

I rest on my days off due to fatugue and muscle pain. 

I don't qualify for mobility as I only got 4 points as I'm able to walk further than 50 m

My dad helps me drive some distances but due to the fact I'm able to drive in my adapted car to work and around where I live I don't qualify for planning and following a journey. 

I didn't get any points for complex budgeting because I manage my own bank account. They said I couldn't possibly have a learning disability when I drive or work. My parents still support me e.g when buying my car or in future if I move out I feel like I will need more support than an average peron to understand a mortgage. 

poppy123456

To score points for therapy then this must have been prescribed or recommended by a registered doctor, nurse, pharmacist or health professional regulated by the Health Professions Council;

Without any of which their health is likely to deteriorate. If it wasn't then you won't score any points for therapy. 

Smile123x

I am encouraged to do physio daily but I don't think it's something specific written in my notes. If I don't my muscles become tight. Currently recovering from my stress fracture operation and finally walking again but I think I have a tight sole of my foot which is making me limp more. This is why Its so important so I don't get secondry issues 

Smile123x

Plantar Fasciitis. Couldn't think of the name of it. 

chiarieds

Hi @Smile123 - & welcome to the community from me also. Must admit I was somewhat surprised that you had got 2 points previously for 'managing therapy,' if that's what you meant, unless it was prescribed by such as a physio which you'd mentioned with your current claim. If, however, it's not currently prescribed, I think, as poppy has said, it would be difficult to gain such points, or more points.

I'm a long-retired physio, but couldn't get any points for this altho I exercise daily, as I didn't see a 'physiotherapy specialist.' Hmmm...., & please don't think I'm minimising your need for gentle stretches due to your CP.

I think when it's time for your review I'd stress that altho you may be able to do some of the activities that are looked at with PIP, the concept of being able to do these 'reliably' is very important. You can read a section about 'reliability' here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-assessment-guide-for-assessment-providers/pip-assessment-guide-part-2-the-assessment-criteria   tho it's all worth a read.

From what you've said, & from what I've learnt, then fatigue is also a consequence of having CP as you get older. Please see Richard_Scope's post about Post-impairment Syndrome: https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/56078/post-impairment-syndrome-and-cerebral-palsy/p1

Considering the 'moving around' descriptor, & you were able to walk more than 50m, how long would that now take you, could you repeat this as often as you'd like, could you walk the same as someone without CP, & would there be any consequences, such as fatigue, in doing so?

Remember that PIP is also about how you are the majority of the time, & concentrate on how you are (at the time of your review) rather than thinking about any future concerns. Hope some of this helps.

Smile123x

Sorry yes I have 2 points for managing therapy at home. 

I will have a link of the links you posted. They will be very useful. I'm sometimes not very good at writing things so that has let me down in the past. 

I've always struggled to know what I'm entitled to because I can walk more than 50 m and have to at work, however that comes with a consequence on my Wednesday and weekends off, I can't go out on long trips. 

I don't cope aswell at work as I used to but I can't see myself doing any other job due to learning difficulties

I don't own any wheelchairs or aids other than hospital crutches I am using temporarily until my limp improves.

I think I will get my doctor to write a note on how all this impacts me

Smile123x

Update, I will be filling out forms soon but they have not been received. I've gone back to work and have adapted to walking again since my foot operation but at a much slower pace than before.

the managing therapy points I got from how I walked they said it was medically probable that i needed 3.5 hours therapy but at review I feel this is more as I get fatigued and have to have baths to help sore muscles as well as exercises which take 30 minutes a day. I see nhs physios for various problems over the years so, that is probably good enough evidence however I am going back to the doctor for a statement and help/advice

They said previously that I can walk for 10 minutes without stopping, Now I think this is 5 minutes and even then I lean on things a lot as I go. I am trying to write in more detail this time and get help from Citizens advice (however sometimes it depends who helps you, I am hoping to get lucky this time). I struggle with understanding the times and distances as I am not good with math.

I also spend many of my days off at home due to fatigued so am not walking more than 50 m on those days. I am writing detailed information on about how far I can manage to walk at work but am estimating 30 m is the longest I can do before sitting down in a classroom for 1 1/2 hours before returning

I think theres no point trying to get points for following journeys as they just don't understand how I can drive short distances, yet struggle understanding bus/train maps. I have evidence of mild learning difficulty and other issues growing up but they will always say doesnt struggle now with this.

Smile123x

I am really struggling on how to use the descriptors even when reading the information link. Has anyone got any examples. 

I'm also terrible at measuring how far or how fast I walk. All I know is its very slow