CFS/ME sufferers and PIP assessment

Rozp

Hi, I was wondering if anyone suffering from CFS/ME has successfully applied for PIP? It is a very debilitating condition yet PIP assessment seems to fail to recognise it's impact on sufferers!  

wilko

@Rozp, hello and welcome, PIP is a benefit to help you with your daily living activities and mobility issues. PIP is not awarded on a diagnosis or illness or the amount of prescription drugs you are taking, but on your ability to preform the PIP descriptiors in a safe repeatable and timely manner. So when applying for PIP read and understand the descriptiors and how they apply to your circumstances. 

chiarieds

Hi @Razp & welcome to the community. As mentioned above the onus is on you to describe any difficulties you have in any activities of daily living; 'going out' & 'moving around.' 

You also need to mention if you can't do anything 'reliably,' i.e. if it's not safe to do so; causes you pain during/after an activity; if it exhausts you afterwards, or you're very slow at achieving an activity (such that it takes you more than twice as long as someone without your problems would face).

The following link is lengthy, but shows the 'descriptors', how & why points are awarded, etc: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-assessment-guide-for-assessment-providers/pip-assessment-guide-part-2-the-assessment-criteria

Adrian_Scope

Hi @Rozp and a warm welcome to the community. 
Some people with ME/CFS do successfully claim PIP, but it's about how these conditions affect you personally, not what your diagnosis is. I hope @chiarieds and @wilko's responses have been helpful explaining this in greater detail.

If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask.