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Hi I claim higher rate care and mobility PIP due to my physical and mental illness.

purplepetal

I have been advised by my spine specialist to join a gym to help with pain management but it’s not that easy I suffer with anxiety and depression and have been toying with the idea for over a year.

Obviously I am really anxious about joining and it’s very scary but I also do want to try and improve my health also.

I’m also scared to death that PIP will think I have made a miraculous recovery and I will get in to trouble. I feel very stuck and the whole situation is just making me more and more anxious what to do.

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calcotti

purplepetal said: I’m also scared to death that PIP will think I have made a miraculous recovery and I will get in to trouble.

PIP is based on the difficulties you have carrying out the specific activities they look at to the required standard on the majority of days. Whether or not you attend a gym is not relevant unless the activities you do at the gym clearly contradict what you have said about the difficulties you have.

purplepetal

Thank you I just worry so much and maybe that’s just me.

Would it be a good idea for me to inform them I wish to join a gym?

I mean they would see i first went to enquire a year ago and have notified the club I do wish to join im just struggling to make the leap because of my anxiety and I’m sure my surgeon has wrote in on a letter he advises me to join a gym?

Sue_Alumni

Hi @purplepetal,
That sounds so positive and its really good that you're thinking about yourself and trying to improve your health and general well being. You're right that if your conditions improve so you are better able to carry out the PIP activities you must report a change of circumstances to the DWP. I'm not a doctor but I cant imagine their will be an immediate transformation in your conditions and I don't know, but imagine that your specialist will have advised "baby steps" and to make sure you are properly supported by someone at the gym. You mention that you're aiming to better manage your pain and it is quite possible that you may continue to struggle with the PIP activities but perhaps, in time, to a lesser extent. The fact that you go to a gym will not in itself mean that you are no longer entitled to the enhanced rates you are getting. The DWP will need to be satisfied that you continue to struggle with the relevant activities for the majority of the time and cannot carry out the activities safely, to an acceptable standard, repeatedly and in a reasonable time period.

calcotti

purplepetal said:

Thank you I just worry so much and maybe that’s just me.
Would it be a good idea for me to inform them I wish to join a gym?

Definitely not. As already advised Pip is based on the difficulties you have carrying out the specific activities they look at to the required standard on the majority of days. Unless those have changed and the change is such that it would affect the number of points you might score when assessed and that change in score would change the Pip entitlement there is no need to tell them anything. People get into a mess when they report irrelevant 'changes' because DWP may instigate a new assessment.

Alex_Alumni

Hi @purplepetal you don't need to inform the DWP that you'd like to join a gym, so there's no need to worry.

If it's helpful, you only need to contact the PIP enquiry line if:

your personal details change, for example your name, address or doctor
the help you need or your condition changes
your condition has worsened and you’re not expected to live more than 6 months
you go into hospital or a care home
you go abroad
you’re imprisoned or held in detention
your immigration status has changed, if you’re not a British citizen

Do you feel like you're getting enough support with your feelings of anxiety at the moment?

Sue_Alumni

I absolutely agree with that. You haven't walked through the door yet ! there's nothing to report. You only need to report a change of circumstances if your conditions have improved and improved to the extent that you can better carry out the relevant PIP activities- which they haven't done.

purplepetal

@Alex_Scope I feel a massive guilt as because you can’t necessarily see my condition and I look okay I feel judged and maybe that’s why I put on this brave face. But no day to day is a real struggle for me and no body really knows the full extent and being on benefits just makes me feel awful like at any given moment I have to prove myself.

And no I haven’t even got to the gym yet I went a year ago and have been driving there and looking at it but haven’t got the strength to actually join it yet. I’d love to be able to in a way they have a hydro pool and sauna which would benefit me so much.

Sue_Alumni

I'm so sorry you feel so anxious and you should not feel guilty. Hopefully @Alex_Scope and the rest of us on the online community have put you mind at rest. Don't feel guilty about doing something for yourself and improving your health and wellbeing ! New things are often scary but you have already got the courage to take on board the medical advice and want to embrace something which is outside your comfort zone. Take your time and do whatever is best for you.

Alex_Alumni

Hi again @purplepetal thanks for explaining how you've been feeling, that's a really strong thing to do.

It's really tricky to unpack these feelings sometimes. I'm sure lots of our members here can relate to the feeling of having to 'prove yourself' while on benefits, I certainly felt that way while I was applying for PIP. So you're not alone in feeling this way.

It sounds as though there's something stopping you from taking those steps over the threshold at the gym. Is there something you might need to let go of mentally, to be able to join?

Do you have any friends or family who might be able to join you, and make it into a shared activity?

I wonder, have you ever considered counselling or talking therapies to support your mental health? It might be able to help you explore some of what you've shared here in a more structured way, so you can work through the feelings that might be holding you back.

Let me know if you feel we can help further with anything

purplepetal

@Sue_Scope thank you!

It’s not nice feeling like this feeling like you have to prove yourself and if you have a good day and go out to feel guilty. Thank you for you advice and help.

purplepetal

@Alex_Scope thanks Alex unfortunately no I don’t have any body to join with so it’s down to me. I’ve had support to go down and view the gym and familiarise myself with it but it’s me who needs to take the jump to join and start.

Alex_Alumni

Okay @purplepetal thanks for explaining

As @Sue_Scope says there's no rush, do whatever feels right for you. Taking a big leap like this is scary, but it can often lead to unexpected and hopefully positive things.

I think we can often surprise ourselves with what we're capable of when we move outside our comfort zone, but we can only ever do it when we're ready!

purplepetal

@Alex_Scope if I were to go more than 3 days a weeks say on a good week would they deem this as me “ being okay “ do you think?

It’s such a worry over my head.

Alex_Alumni

@purplepetal could you explain who you mean by "they" for me?

Sue_Alumni

@purplepetal first of all you don't need to tell the DWP you are joining the gym. Even if you have scored points because you have shown that you struggle to engage with people when you go out I still think you have nothing to worry about as the gym is a prompt and motivation for you to go out and, furthermore, it has been recommended by your spine specialist. Yes, if you are finding you are enjoying the gym and wanting to go more than 3 times a week because you are enjoying it and your conditions have improved then in that situation you may need to think about reporting a change of circumstances but that would moment might be some time away.
Don't rush into anything and do take your time. Have a look at the gym again and make sure you like it and that you feel comfortable there. Have a look at other ones to compare. Its totally relatable to feel anxious about joining. Good luck

purplepetal

@Sue_Scope Thank you.

I’m worrying here about joining and going more than three times a week all ready yet it’s been well over twelve months and I haven’t even got through the front door yet 🙈
It’s certainly some thing I would like to aim for in the future it would be a massive accomplishment for me so like you say I’m going to take my time and build up to it.

Many thanks for all your help and support I really appreciate it.

Sue_Alumni

Don't put too much pressure on yourself. Take your time

purplepetal

Guess who joined the gym today with the help of the gym and my son coming with me tomorrow for my first session!

Alex_Alumni

That's fantastic @purplepetal well done

I'm glad your son is coming with you today, I hope you both enjoy it!

Sue_Alumni

WOW ! @purplepetal that's amazing

Well done. Thank you for sharing your news !

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