If this is your first visit, check out the community guide. You will have to Join us or Sign in before you can post.
Receiving too many notifications? Adjust your notification settings.
Epilepsy and PIP

Hi, I was hoping for some advice. I have epilepsy and have had uncontrolled seizures for the past 15yrs. I was receiving DLA at the lowest level, and when I applied for PIP in 2016 I received no points. I appealed the decision but it was unchanged. I didn't take it to tribunal as I had no confidence it would be changed. My seizures vary in severity from short periods of confusion to blackouts and usually occur a couple of times a month in clusters over the course of a day with no warning. Due to this I do not cook, iron or bathe without supervision of a family member (I have burnt my hand with an iron, and boiling water while having seizures). I do work and travel on public transport alone as there is no other option, but I do not feel safe as I have had seizures on buses, trains and while walking which would have resulted in injury if it hadn't been for the help of strangers. The seizures and medication have also caused problems with my long term memory and tiredness. I have recently been considering applying for PIP again, but is there any chance I would have a successful claim? I do not really want to go through the stress of the process, as stress can aggravate my seizures, if there is little hope of success. Help!
Replies
supervision when cooking. This is because they could not show that it is ‘more likely than not’ that
might occur and also at how great the harm might be. The greater the potential harm, the less likely
then they reasonably require supervision for this activity, even though the chances of a seizure
or taking medication, for example. But, because they are at risk whatever they are doing, then we
would argue that they still reasonably require supervision during these activities, because they
cannot do them safely without supervision.'
Good luck
Hi again @s_haria
Putting this all hopefully together:
Please look at the link of the 'descriptors' that Poppy first mentioned.
Then look at the Benefits and Works PIP Guide's section on 'Safety and supervision.'
Read ilovecats' comments about 'variability' in epilepsy.
See a previous long thread as mentioned by mikehughescq: https://community.scope.org.uk/discussion/64646/pip-and-epilepsy#latest - This, together with woodbine's comments, shows the experiences of at least 3 other epilepsy sufferers, which I'm sure may prove helpful.
Having looked at all this, I hope you can then make an informed decision as regards PIP, & if you do decide to re-apply, where you may be awarded points.
Scope
Tell us what you think?
Complete our feedback form to help us to improve your community.