First PIP Claim

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Malty

Hi All

I am new here, I have recently been diagnosed with CFS/ME and have dyslexia, dyspraxia and asthma that was diagnosed when I was a child.

We have submitted my first ever claim for PIP (read plenty of guides which helped). I feel really anxious about being award money due to my illness, in the sense that it gives me anxiety that DWP may ring me up one day and say “you should of never been given this money, you owe us £xk’s and we need paying back”.

I also feel guilty being a drain on the system. Some days, I can’t walk very far due to pay and physical exhaustion, take a bath etc. on my own and generally look after myself with cooking etc.

On better days, I can walk with mild discomfort and just feel rubbish and unrested.

I feel like I am taking someone else’s “space” in the system who needs the money and help more then we do.

My wife thinks I’m mad for feeling like this. While I can and do work at the moment (desk based from home) I am self employed so I have little choice but to work (no sick pay) and often make my illness worse by doing so when I already have bad days.

I won’t go a long distance without my wife anymore as I get incredibly anxious about feeling unwell while away from home (and often do still feel anxious when I’m with my wife, to the point it makes me ill).

To be honest, I’m amazed that the company I’m working for hasn’t terminated my work. My performance has really dropped and I can’t remember important information and decisions.

I don’t know, is this a normal way to feel?

Thanks,

malty

chiarieds

Hi @Malty - & welcome to the community. It's good that you've read up more before applying for PIP, &, as I'm sure you'll have completed the form honestly, then, if awarded, you have nothing to worry about, & won't ever be asked to repay any of it.

Please don't ever feel that you're any less deserving than another person with a disability/health condition.

I may very well be wrong, but it sounds like perhaps you're at a crossroads, where you want to carry on working, but are struggling due to how your fluctuating disorder can make you feel some days.

I have been in a similar situation, when as a self-employed person in partnership with my husband, I realised that I just couldn't carry on working 7 days a week. For a while I tried half days but then having to travel back home by bus increased my pain so much more. I was able to still do all the accounts & answer phone & email queries, & later, when my son took over our shop, I looked after it once or twice a week to give him time to be with his wife.

Gradually I came to realise that I had to listen to my body, & ease off as it was just making me worse. However, now I can give more time to my family, & help my son & his wife by looking after their dog whilst they're both working full days, so have him 3 times a week, & also look after my neighbours little dog so he could return to work after losing his wife.

Perhaps you could ask your employers if, as a 'reasonable adjustment' you could just work on those days you felt up to it, or perhaps it's time to stop, & if awarded PIP this would help you & your wife financially a little. Don't resign, see what your employers say first.

My son's wife has post-viral fatigue, but hasn't sought a diagnosis of ME, & is also asthmatic. I see how much this has affected her, & tho a change of job has helped, she really has to otherwise rest up as much as she can.

Anyway, you can't help having disabilities, & can still, & will be, a valuable member of society.