Should I be getting PIP? Currently on UC (LCW).

BlueTurtle
BlueTurtle Online Community Member Posts: 1 Listener
in PIP, DLA, ADP and AA

Hello,

I'd like some advice regarding PIP. Specifically:

  1. Am I eligible for PIP? Details of my symptoms are further below.
  2. If I do proceed, with the application forms that come in the post, are they discreet? Or will it be obvious to everyone what's in the envelope?
  3. It's been quite some time since my last doctor appointment. I understand that DWP may contact my doctor, so would this be an issue? I have discussed my issues with my doctor, and have gone through various attempts at treatment over the years. But unfortunately none of it's really been any help, and the doctor at this point just basically shrugs and has no advice.

So, I'm currently 36, and I've had health issues for most of my life, which have only ever gotten worse over time. Mostly mental health related, but some physical. First was social anxiety that started in secondary school due to bullying, then sleep issues beginning in sixth form college (sleep paralysis, non-24 hour sleep-wake cycle, sleeping 16-24 hours, etc.), then depression beginning in university. At some point I started getting IBS-like symptoms as well.

The combination of these things had had a significant impact on my life. So many missed opportunities due to these things acting as obstacles. I still live with my parents. I've never worked, although I did try volunteering. I graduated university around 15 years ago, and for 9 of those years was not on benefits and just suffering alone. Around 6 years ago my doctor referred me to some care thing and they instructed me to apply for benefits, so I did as I was told and got on Universal Credit. I didn't race to jump on 15 years ago but only did so 6 years ago when I was directly told to.

So I've now been on Universal Credit for 6 years. I had a health assessment shortly after applying, and was placed into the LCW group (limited capacity for work). I kind of feel like I should be in the LCWRA group instead, but I've never had any follow-up health assessments.

Over those years, my health has only gotten worse:

  • Around 5 years ago I started getting heartburn and acid reflux, and it seems to have progressed to a swallowing issue with my esophagus, as I've recently been diagnosed at the hospital with achalasia.
  • Around 2 years ago I started getting some kind of immune system or allergy issue. I've never had allergy symptoms at all before in my life until this suddenly started. Every day I get an itchy hives rash all over my body, and sometimes I get swelling as well. I don't really know what the cause is and the doctor's been no help. I've searched online and think it might be "MCAS (mast cell activation syndrome)" but I really don't know... I can reduce the symptoms by taking 1-2 antihistamine tablets every single day, but it doesn't make it go away entirely.
  • Around the same time as the immune/allergy issues, I started feeling what I can only describe as "chronic fatigue". I don't know what the cause is and don't know if it's actually the official "chronic fatigue syndrome" (i.e. ME) or something else. But I just always feel so exhausted, drained, can't focus, brain foggy, etc. I've always been low energy due to my depression and sleep issues, but a couple of years ago it became significantly worse. Due to the timing, I suspect it probably has the exact same cause as the immune/allergy issues that started at the same time, but I can only guess. I do also wonder if it might be a "long covid" type thing as I've read stories about that in the news sometimes; or otherwise maybe it's a side-effect of all the antihistamines I'm now taking.

So to summarise, here are my current issues and how they affect my life:

  • Social anxiety. How bad it is depends on the situation, but I have difficulty going out and being around people, especially large groups or strangers or informal settings, or doing things like phone calls or video calls.
  • Depression. I always feel miserable, lonely, drained, and unmotivated.
  • Sleep issues. I have no consistent schedule, and can't stick to one no matter how much I try. I'm often awake during the night or just any random time. I sleep for 16-24 hours every time. Sometimes I just miss days entirely as I've slept through them. It's difficult to attend appointments or sign up to regular events because of this.
  • Toilet issues. Every day I spend 1-4 hours in the toilet due to IBS-like symptoms, and stress or anxiety can trigger sudden diarrhea.
  • Swallowing difficulties (achalasia). Every time I eat, I get a tightness in my throat, start wheezing, and feel like I can't breathe well. It genuinely makes me feel like I might be about to die, and I've considered calling 999 due to it many times. It takes me a very long time (hours) to get through my meals, or sometimes I have to just give up trying to finish my meal entirely. I sometimes suddenly regurgitate my meals — sometimes while I'm asleep, which makes me worry that I might choke during my sleep. I often feel like I'm going to throw up after eating, or just randomly after drinking water. I get bad heartburn sometimes too.
  • Immune/allergy problems. Every day I suffer from an itchy hives rash all over my body. Sometimes I get swelling in my hands and feet, which aches and which can make it painful to stand/walk. Rarely I've had swelling in my face (cheeks, eyelids, lips) which is a bit scary, but I've never had anaphylaxis (yet).
  • Chronic fatigue, probably caused by the immune/allergy problem, or maybe it's long covid. I always feel so drained, exhausted, brain foggy. Most days I just sit around and can't get on with anything at all, even though I want to. Not just productive tasks, but I can't even do lazy unproductive things either like just watch TV, as I feel too drained and unable to focus. Very rarely, I'll have some days where I suddenly feel a bit better, and am able to actually get on and do something productive... but it's rare and I don't know what causes that.
  • I feel like I'm 90 years old or something. Most days are just wasted. It takes me weeks or months to do things that a normal person would probably be able to do in a few minutes, hours, or a day. Just making this post took me months.

I recently heard about PIP, and wonder if I should be getting this at all. Nobody ever mentioned it to me or told me to apply for it, so maybe that means it's not for me? I hadn't even heard of it until recently. I've searched online and gotten mixed messages about it, with some people saying that yes it's for things like depression and such, and others saying it's really more for proper disabilities like mobility issues.

I've taken a look online at the questions they ask, and it does leave me feeling like I'm probably not eligible, as it does mainly ask about mobility issues. For example, if you have difficulty preparing meals or bathing, and if you need someone else to do it for you — well no, I can put something in the microwave, and can shower, those things aren't an issue for me.

Given the symptoms I've described above, should I be applying for PIP, or no? Is there any point in me bothering? I'd appreciate any advice. Sorry for the long post. Due to my fatigue it's taken me months to make this post.

Thanks in advance.

Tagged:

Comments

Categories