Hi, my name is Rosiep123! Want some advice over whether I should try and claim PIP

Rosiep123

Hello all new here  :#just want some advice on whether I should try and claim PIP.  All advice would be greatful. many thanks x

Rosiep123

So I should probably explain a little about myself.  I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism 6 years ago which made sense with all the conditions that come with it, shortly there after I had a mental breakdown and had good while off work due to this. After returning back to work I was in terrible with my shoulder and arm (numbness pins & needles) after a MRI I was diagnosed with a bulged disc and cervical spinal stenosis, also they found a goitre on my thyroid too!  I then was diagnosed with hashimotos disease. I had spinal surgery but unfortunatly the radicalopathy is still there and is constantly in pain ,now I have arthritis in my toes making hard to walk with the pain and also in my knee, they are each on different sides so I don't have a good leg. It would be lovely to talk to somone who knows what this feels like xx

Jo_2022

Hello @Rosiep123, a warm welcome on the community 😊. Thank you for your question.

Would you like to tell us a bit about yourself? 

PIP is not a means - tested benefit. PIP is usually awarded to a person with a diagnosed health condition, who struggles with everyday tasks, or mobility. 

If you feel you have care needs, then I think you should try to claim PIP.

You may find these links useful:

https://www.scope.org.uk/advice-and-support/personal-independence-payment-pip/

https://pipinfo.net/#activities

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/before-claiming/check-you-are-eligible/

Kind Regards

Jo

Rosiep123

Thank you Jo, I have written about myself after my hello post. sorry

Ross_Alumni

Hello @Rosiep123

Wishing you a warm welcome to the community, I hope you had a nice bank holiday weekend and I'm happy to see you join us. 

Thanks for explaining about your situation, and for asking your question about PIP. Deciding whether you should try to claim can be a difficult decision because the eligibility criteria isn't always the easiest to interpret. 

I have moved your discussion over to our PIP category and altered the title so that other members know the subject of your thread. 

Have you taken a look at the PIP descriptors? It would be hard for any of us to say how likely or not it would be that you successfully claim PIP because points are awarded based on how your condition impacts you when carrying out a range of activities, and of course everybody is different.  It might be worth having a look through the activities here and determining how you think your condition impacts you against them.

calcotti

Jo_2022 said:..PIP is usually awarded to a person with a diagnosed health condition, who struggles with everyday tasks, or mobility. 

To be clear, PIP is not awarded based on a diagnosis. Entitlement is based solely on the impact health conditions have on the ability to carry out the specified activities to the required  standard.
Different people with the same diagnosed condition may be affected very differently.

SueHeath

Morning @Rosiep123 welcome to our great group.
When you get chance have a look around the site, there are some very good threads/chats and you can join in with any you wish.
Sorry to hear about your conditions, i know what the pain feels like, especially in the toes when i first get out of bed in the morning.
As the other members said every one id different but it wont hurt for you to look into the PIP sites.

Rosiep123

Thank you all for getting back to me and putting me in the right discussion group xx

L_Volunteer

You are welcome @Rosiep123. It is the very least you deserve. How are you doing? If you have any questions or need any support with anything, please don't hesitate to let us know 

Rosiep123

Thank you all sorry for the Long delay in responding, my mother tragically died in December and I'm really struggling lately, as I said I already struggle with anxiety and depression, and with my mother's passing it's hard. . I know it's not just on a diagnosis it's on my day to day life, my quality of life has  deteriorated to much . I can't walk  far at  all, I limp to try and stop the pain putting more pressure on my knee on the opposite side causing pain on my knee. Naproxen doesn't work for me at all. Xxthanks  all.

Alex_Alumni

Hello there @Rosiep123 I'm so sorry to hear about your mother's passing, if you'd like support with feelings of grief and managing day to day then I can recommend Cruse Bereavement Support who can help in whatever way suits you best.

You don't have to manage alone, and I hope this community can also help in supporting you as well. 

Can I ask what support you're getting for both your mental and physical health at the moment?

As Teddybear12 has mentioned you can apply for a needs assessment to see if you'd be eligible for additional support day to day.

Please do let me know if you feel there's anything else we can do to help

Alex

Rosiep123

Hello both, thank you for your kind words,  I've not received any support with my mother's passing, it's been so hard I won't lie. With regards to my health problems work was great until they changed the occupational health nurse, and he is quite dismissive and told me in January he doesn't want to see me unless I want to see him , nothing actually mentioned about my mother or my mental health .

L_Volunteer

Thanks for your response @Rosiep123. It sounds really difficult that you haven't received any support with your mother's passing, including not but not limited to, from your occupational health nurse.

I can hear you have found the occupational health nurse quite dismissive. Do you feel comfortable sharing with the occupational health nurse that you would benefit from some support around your mother's passing? 

Rosiep123

I would have found comfort from the OH nurse on my return back to work speaking with him, but unfortunately now no I wouldn't, it would feel like an afterthought and that I would be like a burden. I have just been sent home from work as it goes as I mentioned at the beginning I have problems with my spinal stenosis and had a spasm  for 3 hours which inables me to use  to work, had to be driven home. Really gets me down.

L_Volunteer

I am really sorry to hear this @Rosiep123. It sounds like things have been and continue to be really difficult for you at the moment with your employment and OH nurse. 

I can hear you feel down and potentially frustrated. It is understandable you are having these emotions in response to these difficult circumstances.

What do you think might help you the most moving forwards? We are here with you and listening to you 

Rosiep123

So I had yet another spasm episode Tuesday and was sent home, so the OH has been informed so I'm awaiting an appointment promptly! So maybe I might get some more support 🤔 but I'm feeling extremely down lately, as it's my mother's birthday next Friday 😭 . 

SueHeath

Bless you @Rosiep123 sorry to hear about your spasm, have you thought any more about pip.

Yes can feel for you with Mom's birthday coming up darling, unfortunately you will have a year of 1st anniversary's to go through, i am affraid this is part of the grieving process, try not to dwell on things to much, to work yourself up. Every one deals with these days different, my parents died a long time ago, on certain days/dates i say hello and make a point of knowing what day it is. Other people go to church or the pub, as i say everyone is different, but you choose. 

Rosiep123

@SueHeath thank you, well I spoke with OH this morning explained all what's going on and also with my mother , but he dismissed that and told me to carry on with the meditation exercises he gave me, which I do anyway. Straight after the meeting I had another spasm 😏 and I've just come from the doctors after having a cortisone injection hoping it will help me. I am to see the works doctor in the coming weeks too. I really would like to try for PIP as I am unable to work with one hand with my job when my pain and spasms come or do much of anything else really x

Rosiep123

Bit of an update on my condition , my DR has finally read through my notes and is referring me to Pain Management with the condition CPRS  and has now put me on oramorph, it feels good to have a name to the condition.

SueHeath

That's good to hear @Rosiep123 i always think it's half the battle knowing what your dealing with and the pain relief clinics are good.

Ross_Alumni

Rosiep123 said:

Bit of an update on my condition , my DR has finally read through my notes and is referring me to Pain Management with the condition CPRS  and has now put me on oramorph, it feels good to have a name to the condition.

Thanks for the update, it's good to hear that you are making some progress. Hopefully the support with pain management helps you