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Claiming PIP with severe Emphysema advice please?

michael88

Hi, i know it may be hard to get an answer but just an idea would be helpful. I suffer from severe Emyphsema and have done for 10 years and while I am still working I am soon giving up due to illness and wonder if you think I may be able to claim PIP. I am 63 years old male. I was awarded a Blue Badge about 7 years ago as I have trouble walking and need some assistance with dressing and washing from my wife. I have never claimed a penny from the state in my life and have always worked.
Any thoughts, please?
Thanks
Michael

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Comments

janer1967

Hi and welcome to the community

Pip isn't about a condition it is about how much the condition affects your ability to do the task as outlined in the descriptors

Have a look in our pip section for more details on the descriptors

Ross_Alumni

Hello @michael88 and welcome to the community.

A good way to figure out if you have a chance of being awarded PIP is to have a look at these descriptors and consider how your condition applies to them. Think of what happens when you try and do the activities, and whether you need any help to do them from another person or aid.

wilko

@michael88, hello and welcome to the community. PIP is not awarded on a diagnosis, disability or illnesses but on how you cope and manage the PIP descriptors in a timely manner, safely and in a repeatable fashion fo 50% of you daily life. I would advise you take a self test on the benefits snd works site and see how you fair. Remember the answers you give in your application form will have to be justified at your assessment should you decide to make an application for PIP.

Emilyb81

Hiya ? @michael88
just wanted to say I have the same illness and I get PIP (thank God!) So it is possible for sure? However it really is about how having it affects our ability to do the descriptors though as people have said above? I had never heard of them before I came on here but honestly completely changed everything for me!
I fully believed (as many do) that as long as I have a serious illness and diagnosis I would get dla/pip no matter what? As I thought that's what it is for? But since I saw the pip descriptors list etc I now see what they are actually interested in or looking at? And it's not got as much to do with what is wrong with us it's about what we can or can't do? Because 2 people can have exactly the same illness but they are affected in completely different ways? For example I know a lady who also suffers from emphasema and she only has to use an inhaler when outside? I have to use one all day every day no matter where I am or what I'm doing most of the time? So I now see why diagnosis isn't as important as the descriptors ??
Same as before I came here I thought an assessment was me telling them what happens to me on a daily basis and them writing it down word for word and telling DWP? Then someone at DWP makes a decision based on what I said?! But I found out it's actually not that way at all?
Anyhoo I won't go into all that now but this site has definitely helped me understand the whole process a lot better ?? so you are in a good place! So wish I'd known these things before I claimed but at least you will now! ?? Good luck with it all!

michael88

Thank you all so much for taking the time to advise me, I will keep you informed.

SueB1962

Thank you I am also in the process of applying for PIP again after getting turned down last year as I was holding down a job! I have been off work sick since March but do not get sick pay so really am struggling financially. While I am feeling a bit better my illness has affected my severe emphysema and I know I am not physically able to return to my current post. Due to being on statutory sick pay and claiming universal credit this has impacted me terribly affecting my health and ability to manage financially! My mistake last year was taking annual leave when off poorly due to the financial implications! My work feel I am unable to return due to such a long period of illness. Emily you offered Michael some excellent advice but I really feel I need assistance to complete my application to ensure I am successful this time!

Any further advice will be gratefully useful. I do wish I could get assistance from Professionals but services are so stretched and everywhere I have approached has advised they cannot assist!

Trevor_PIP

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/81675/claiming-pip-with-severe-emphysema-advice-please

Hi Michael, I would say yes, you will be able to claim PIP. What you have is bad and I know with the odd asthma attack, you can't do anything if you cannot breath.... You fill out the PIP form and describe how your condition limits you to do every day tasks, as per the descriptors.

Zipz

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/81675/claiming-pip-with-severe-emphysema-advice-please

Hello @michael88 I'm so sorry to learn about your very disabling illness.

Yes. You can claim PIP. First, as other members have advised you, read through the discriptors. In my experience, it is common for people to underestimatte their disabilities when they've been living with them for a long time. With PIP, you can only "do" something if you can do it safely, reliably, in a timely fashion.

My suggestion is that before you start the process, you draft out answers, neither exaggerating or underestimating your limitations. Gather and phot-copy all medical evidence. The PIP1 form gives very little space for you to get your position across. It's certainly not enough just to tick boxes! You can attach as many additional sheets of A4 as you wish and write please see my 100 page answer in the box!

You write that you many have to give up work. PIP is for people in work as well as out of work. You're entitled to pursue your claim now.

All the very best

SueB1962

Dear Santosha12 I really do want to thank you for your detailed and helpful reply! Bless your heart as I do think the whole process is far too difficult. I also know of others who have accessed PIP without being labelled as disabled! I think my case is going the same way as yours as my employer wants permission to contact my GP. While I do not mind it does seem intrusive when I am submitting sick notes and only getting SSP! She knew my diagnosis when she offered me the position as I would always be honest when accessing employment! I will keep you informed but honestly my experiences have also highlighted how difficult it is to access financial support when you should be entitled! Especially when you have always worked hard even with a diagnosis in 2006! I am 4.5 years from retirement and my health has seriously deteriorated in 2025??

But seriously THANK YOU for all your support!

SueB1962

O bless your heart and here's me moaning about the financial implications of being so ill. You take care and my best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Kindest regards

SueB1962

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