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Applying for PIP Is it worth it ?

dullman

I am strongly feeling due to my age and that my local job center are about to hassle me to look for work I need to apply for PIP due to mental health reasons and the fact that my mother died late last year who I cared for 24/7 for 6 years, but simply stating on the form how I feel ie depressed worthless etc how can this convince anyone I am eligible. It all seems pointless trying to convince the powers that be. My GP was totally useless she practicality laughed in my face when I told how I felt as I was wondering if I could get a fit note while I wait for a PIP outcome

Also I read it can take up to 4 months for a decision to be made which seems a ridiculous amount of time to wait. I need support someone to understand and help me here but there is no one it seems so reluctantly I ask on here...TIA

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poppy123456

PIP is not about your ability to work, people claim PIP and work. You do not need a fit note for a PIP claim. Whether there's any entitlement to PIP will depend on how your health conditions affect you. It's not awarded based on any diagnosis. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/Global/Migrated_Documents/adviceguide/pip-9-table-of-activities-descriptors-and-points.pdf

You mention looking for work and the job centre, are you currently claiming Universal Credit?

dullman

Yes I get UC still. OK about PIP I know nothing about it yet all new to me. Somehow due to my life long struggle to find any work ie it took me 1000 applications to find my last job before my mum became ill so I was on CA for 6 years looking after her (and my Dad for a year)

But to answer what I ask is it worth applying ? yes I realize a fit note and PIP are obviously two separate entities

poppy123456

I can't answer that question because I don't know anything about your health conditions or how they affect you. Whether you're entitled will depend on how your conditions affect you and I can't tell you whether it's possible to score enough points needed for an award.

I'd advise you to spend a little time to have a read through this link and it will give you some understanding of the descriptors. It always helps to have some understanding of the descriptors and what they mean before applying. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-assessment-guide-for-assessment-providers/pip-assessment-guide-part-2-the-assessment-criteria

For your UC, if you haven't already then you can report your health condition, supported by a fit note within 7 days of that. This will then start the work capability assessment process off. You must continue to provide the fit notes without any gaps until a decision is made on the work capability assessment.

dullman

OK thanks it's all so long winded. I doubt I'll get anywhere. I think my UC is not fir note related has'nt been since Jan anyway.. I'll find out when I next go to the JC

Hannah_Alumni

Hello @dullman

Welcome to the community!

As Poppy has said, PIP isn't about ability to work or diagnosis. It is there to help with the additional costs that people have because of their disability or chronic health issues. I would say that it is always worth applying, and Scope has an information page with more about the PIP process I'd encourage you to read.

dullman

Hannah_Scope said:

Hello @dullman

Welcome to the community!

As Poppy has said, PIP isn't about ability to work or diagnosis. It is there to help with the additional costs that people have because of their disability or chronic health issues. I would say that it is always worth applying, and Scope has an information page with more about the PIP process I'd encourage you to read.

OK so there is no way to opt out from having to look for work then it seems regardless of your mental state

Hannah_Alumni

If you have LCWRA with Universal Credit, you are not encouraged to actively look for work in the same way as being on Universal Credit. But they will send emails and journal messages about job fairs...etc in case you'd like to attend

Have you used a benefits calculator to see what you could be eligible for?

poppy123456

dullman said:

I think my UC is not fir note related has'nt been since Jan anyway.. I'll find out when I next go to the JC

I'm sorry but I'm not sure I understand what you mean here. You can report a change of circumstances on your journal, (assuming you have access to one) and click "health condition" then report your health condition through there.

You will then need to provide a fit note within 7 days of that. This will then prompt them to refer you for a work capability assessment from day 29 of your claim.

Once referred you will receive a letter on your journal to tell you they have referred you. A few days later you will receive the UC50 form in the post to fill in and return with all your information and any additional evidence.

Once they receive that back you will most likely need an assessment to determine your fitness to work. There's more information here. https://www.gov.uk/health-conditions-disability-universal-credit

dullman said:
OK so there is no way to opt out from having to look for work then it seems regardless of your mental state

When claiming UC you're treated as a job seeker until a decision on your work capability assessment says otherwise. You can't just "opt out" from having to look for work. It's a work coaches discretion to either turn off or reduce commitments while you wait for a work capability assessment.

If you don't report your health condition then yes, you will highly likely be expected to look for work.

dullman

Hannah_Scope said:

If you have LCWRA with Universal Credit, you are not encouraged to actively look for work in the same way as being on Universal Credit. But they will send emails and journal messages about job fairs...etc in case you'd like to attend

Have you used a benefits calculator to see what you could be eligible for?

Just checked I am not eligible for anything at all it seems. I had to google LCWRA

>They’ll say you have 'limited capability for work-related activity' (LCWRA).

You won’t have to work or do anything to get ready for work. You'll usually get £390.06 extra each month.

>> is this on top of UC ?

I just feel it's all going to hit the fan with me, story of my life

poppy123456

dullman said:

Hannah_Scope said:

If you have LCWRA with Universal Credit, you are not encouraged to actively look for work in the same way as being on Universal Credit. But they will send emails and journal messages about job fairs...etc in case you'd like to attend

Have you used a benefits calculator to see what you could be eligible for?

Just checked I am not eligible for anything at all it seems. I had to google LCWRA

>They’ll say you have 'limited capability for work-related activity' (LCWRA).
You won’t have to work or do anything to get ready for work. You'll usually get £390.06 extra each month.
>> is this on top of UC ?
I just feel it's all going to hit the fan with me, story of my life

LCWRA is part of UC but you need to report your health condition and provide fit notes first. You will then need to go through the work capability assessment process. If found to have LCWRA then you'll be entitled to extra money from the 4th month after you provided your first fit note. You must continue to provide fit notes until a decision is made on your WCA.

dullman

OK well I've also just found out as my savings (rather my late mum's transferred to my bank account) are greater than 16k I am not even entitled to UC so it really is going to hit the fan for me

honestjon

dullman said:

OK well I've also just found out as my savings (rather my late mum's transferred to my bank account) are greater than 16k I am not even entitled to UC so it really is going to hit the fan for me

Some people need benefits because they have no money and they are starving and can't put the heating on when it's freezing cold.
If you have got savings that means you can't claim benefits then it's not quite hitting the fan for you because you are lucky

poppy123456

Did you have capital of more than £16,000 when you first claimed UC? It does ask you how much savings you have when you claim.

dullman

honestjon said:

dullman said:

OK well I've also just found out as my savings (rather my late mum's transferred to my bank account) are greater than 16k I am not even entitled to UC so it really is going to hit the fan for me

Some people need benefits because they have no money and they are starving and can't put the heating on when it's freezing cold.
If you have got savings that means you can't claim benefits then it's not quite hitting the fan for you because you are lucky

Lucky for now maybe yes but not for long

dullman

poppy123456 said:

Did you have capital of more than £16,000 when you first claimed UC? It does ask you how much savings you have when you claim.

No much yes just a few k

honestjon

dullman said:

honestjon said:

dullman said:

OK well I've also just found out as my savings (rather my late mum's transferred to my bank account) are greater than 16k I am not even entitled to UC so it really is going to hit the fan for me

Some people need benefits because they have no money and they are starving and can't put the heating on when it's freezing cold.
If you have got savings that means you can't claim benefits then it's not quite hitting the fan for you because you are lucky

Lucky for now maybe yes but not for long

Sorry I didn't mean to offend you in any way.
I was just saying it's not all doom and gloom and you have some good in your life.

dullman

honestjon said:

dullman said:

honestjon said:

dullman said:

OK well I've also just found out as my savings (rather my late mum's transferred to my bank account) are greater than 16k I am not even entitled to UC so it really is going to hit the fan for me

Some people need benefits because they have no money and they are starving and can't put the heating on when it's freezing cold.
If you have got savings that means you can't claim benefits then it's not quite hitting the fan for you because you are lucky

Lucky for now maybe yes but not for long

Sorry I didn't mean to offend you in any way.
I was just saying it's not all doom and gloom and you have some good in your life.

No not offended just realize I need to find work asap even if I do have mental health issues if anyone will believe me see it etc. Can't live off savings

poppy123456

If you've received any payments from UC since you claimed then you will need to repay that back to them. You need to report a change of circumstances on your journal and click "money, savings and investments" then report all of your capital on there. Your UC will then end.

You may also have a small fine on top for not declaring your capital when you first claimed.

Once your capital goes below £16,000 you can reclaim but there will be a deduction of £4.35/month for every £250 or part thereof over £6,000.

If you have any debt to repay you can repay that and then reclaim UC if your savings are then below £16,000. Paying off debt is allowed when claiming UC.

If you're also claiming council tax reduction then you'll need to report the changes to your local Authority. Some LAs have a maximum savings limit of £6,000 before entitlement ends.

dullman

Thanks for info. Surely I can claim for JSA or whatever it's called now but of course I'll have endless hassle because of it

poppy123456

The only JSA possible to claim now is New style JSA and this is a contributions based benefit only so you will have needed to have worked at some point in tax years 2021/22 and 2022/23. If you haven't then you won't be entitled to payments.

The only other benefit will be PIP but as I advised whether there's any entitlement will depend on how your conditions affect you. A claim for this could take anywhere up to about 6 months, possibly longer.

At lease for now you have the means to support yourself due to your savings. The most important thing now is to report a change of circumstances for UC and tell them about your capital. It's always better to tell them rather than they find out because they will eventually