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NEW RULES REGARDING SLEEP APNEA

em444

Hi Everyone
I was diagnosed with Severe Sleep Apnea, In 2010. I have a cpap machine, but not able to use It, as I struggle with the mask. I suffer with excessive sleepiness, and not allowed to drive.
I've was told previously that Sleep Apnea doesn't qualify for PIP. But just been made aware, that rules have changed.
Does anyone know of any news, regarding this ?
Thanks In advance
EM444

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Alex_Alumni

Hi @em444 and thanks for sharing, I wasn't yet aware of this change I must say.

Can I ask how you were made aware?

Do you think you'd apply for PIP under these new rules?

em444

My friend Is a support worker, and she advised me. She said that if you have Respiratory conditions, they are now considered for PIP.

I'm not entirely sure, what it comes under. That's all I'm aware of.

Alex_Alumni

Thanks for explaining for me @em444 that's really helpful

I'll see if I can find out more about it next week, as I'm sure it would be really useful for a lot of our members to know.

Cartini

em444 said:

Hi Everyone
I was diagnosed with Severe Sleep Apnea, In 2010. I have a cpap machine, but not able to use It, as I struggle with the mask. I suffer with excessive sleepiness, and not allowed to drive.
I've was told previously that Sleep Apnea doesn't qualify for PIP. But just been made aware, that rules have changed.
Does anyone know of any news, regarding this ?
Thanks In advance
EM444

Hi @em444, I`m not qualified to give advice, so what I am about to type here has been seen on Scope and Benefits & Work:

"PIP is awarded not for a diagnosis, but for how that diagnosis affects you. You can actually PIP without a diagnosis"

I don`t have sleep apnea, but have had an atrocious sleep pattern all my life. I know after a really bad night, I`m light-headed the day after which affects my thinking. Being constantly tired affects my mood, for which you could argue that it affects your mental health. I know the day after a really bad night, I can`t be bothered with anything.

Andy

em444

Hi Andy
Thanks for your support
I can fall asleep, Instantly
I've even done this when I was walking back from the kitchen, holding my breakfast bowl. Its pretty serious stuff. It takes about 3 days, of sleep, to feel like I've had an actual night's sleep, of 7/8 hours.
It does affect my Anxiety, and also blood pressure

Em

Cartini

Hi Em,

As tired as I have been / can be, I`ve never been that bad; that must be a real pain and a concern over your safety.

You could use you falling asleep while walking as evidence in that you aren`t safe and need help to take nutrition.

I take high blood pressure medication which I used as evidence for PIP. I have a 7 day dosette box to store my medication, of which I took a photo and included it with the PIP2 (form you fill in for PIP).

I also use my phone as a reminder to take my medication.

Both are allowable as "aids".

Bathing (shower or bath) could also be dangerous, evidence of which I provided for my application. I`ve had grab bars fitted, and these are accepted as evidence.

If you haven`t already, have a look at "Work & Benefits" website forum; the wealth of advice there, combined with the excellant advice here on Scope, will put you on a good path to let you understand if have a good chance of being awarded PIP.

As I said earlier, I`m not qualified to give advice, but one major theme for PIP (both here and B&W) is "most of the time".

There are more elements, but I`ll let someone who is qualified explain those.

Andy

em444

Many Thanks 😊
Really appreciated
I should of said, I do get PIP, but the Lower Rate.
My Sleep Apnea, wasn't taken into consideration.
Its for difficulty with social anxiety and depression. Also I have lower back pain and difficulty walking, because of degenerative progression.
My Friend was suggesting that I might qualify for the higher rate, now that Sleep Apnea is on the new list.

calcotti

em444 said: My Friend was suggesting that I might qualify for the higher rate, now that Sleep Apnea is on the new list.

There is no such thing as a list because PIP is assessed based on impact of a health condition not on any diagnosis.

Tiredness is relevant to assessing PIP if fatigue prevents you carrying out the descriptors to the required standard on the majority of days.

Driving, or lack of, is not an activity that is considered.

poppy123456

em444 said:

But just been made aware, that rules have changed.

There's been no recent changes to the PIP criteria.

Donald1971

Hi, i have an assesment by phone in 2 days time and im trying tonsee if anyone can gove me some tios and advice…. I have Instructive Slep apnea, and its killing me. A wake up more fatigued and tired than before using it as if i have not slept att all… My life is fuelled by energy drinks really….. I am applying for pip as i was told that i would get it my respiratory issues…… I am an honest person so realistically it doesmt effect me on most discriptors otjere than depression n anxiety and feeling demoralised with out a will to do things. This includes food and washing myself as too tired

Numan

It obviously depends how your sleep apnea effects your daily living,but going by the DWPs own stats from Feb 23 , those with sleep apnea as a main condition had a 28.8% chance of a successful claim. So yes the effects of sleep apnea can lead to a successful claim.

luvpink

@em444

There is a guide on the benefitsandwork site advising about how to claim pip for sleep apnoea.

Donald1971

lets see whay happens on thursday

Rachel_Scope

Hi @Donald1971. Sorry you're having such issues with your sleep apnea. As numan has said, PIP is based on how your condition affects your daily life. I'd recommend going through each descriptor and thinking about how your lack of sleep affects you. If you need some guidance you can come back here or you could try Citizens Advice.

Keep us updated 😊

luvpink

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/919201#Comment_919201

what is happening on Thursday?

Donald1971

hi @Rache_scope , appreciate your help in this matter. I have tried contact the CAB but i am actually work lates at the moment and in ly kind of industry its hard to get time to make a call at times. So I would appreciate as much help as possible frim this group or site if this is possible and there is someone who might want to direct DM to help le out with the discriptors

thank you

donald

Rachel_Scope

Hi @Donald1971. Here's a link to the PIP Descriptors that should help. Remember to talk about how you cope with each activity on a day-to-day basis. We can help you here, just let us know if you're struggling with any particular part 😊

Donald1971

hi and thanks,

when infilled in the form it was early stages of me dealing with using a CPAP never mind accepting I was diagnosed with Sleeo Apnea after been in hospital with suspected hear problems. It was then I knew something wasnt right…

Now that I have been trying to use this machine things have gotten a bit worse… Especially getting slightly forget full aswell so im sure if Sleep Apnea is related to this.. I am not imbarsased as telling anymore how this is effecting my dialy lifestlye but here i am now sitting on the sofa in my living room bouncing in and out of sleep knowing im in work in 3 hrs…. So what worries me is how this assessment is going to be…. I am going to be honest with them and not lie…. But if it wasnt for my wife or kids I wouldnt do as much as i am doing. But feel im fighting tiredness dialy which them make me be in a mood….

thanks

Donald1971

IMG_5725.png

ive just filled in a self test but not sure if this will be correct to he honest..

Thanks again for assistance..

poppy123456

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/919641#Comment_919641

The self test is not reliable at all unless you fully understand the PIP descriptors and what they mean, not everyone does.

It's very easy to under score and even over score yourself. This is the reason why I would never recommend using this. This link is much better to have a read of and will hopefully give you a better understanding.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-assessment-guide-for-assessment-providers/pip-assessment-guide-part-2-the-assessment-criteria