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Am i entitled to pip/should i apply?
JadeNoble
Member Posts: 10 Listener
Hi everyone my names jade imm 22 years old and for 8 years i have had an ongoing shoulder/neck issue as i injured it whilst still at school as i turned suddenly and heard something pop/tear and its never being right since and has only gotten worse. I have been sent to everyspecialist and had every treatment option offered via my gps/pain clinic a few include various types of physiothereapy, steriod injections, trigger point injections and accupuncture ive also had an mri scan and xrays and the only thing that showed up was on the mri was that the top of my neck where it should be straight mine has began to have a curve from the muscle spasms. Also in the begining of 2017 i started with numbness and tingling in my toes/feet and ive been diagnosed with nerve damge i am currently on medication that controls the pain and discomfort to a degree but some days are worse than others,(Ive had nerve tests done at the hospital confirming the nerves are not working correctly) making it hard for me to stand for extended periods of time and makes wearing shoes/socks extreamley uncomfortable,but know one knows how or why ive got the nerve damage as i have not injured my feet/toes but some doctors think it may be linked to my shoulder/neck issues as i know have more problems within my back because of the problems going on for so long the rest of my back is compensating for my left side being in constant pain despite trying various medications as well as the other treatments. What im struggling with at the moment is i have always worked in retail but now those jobs are making my conditions worse through all the manual lifting/strain so i have not worked since last year making it the longest ive ever being without a job and im struggling finacially as i currently care for my disabled mother so get careres allowance every week and support allowance every 2 weeks but this isnt eough to life on and only just covers my bills and im currently having to privatley pay for chiropractic care as this is not available on the nhs and seems to be the only thing ive found that eases the pain/discomfort even if its only for a few days, so i want some advice on if i would qualify for pip as in my mind i am practically disabled as i cant work and have an ongoing condition?
Any advice would be much apprectiated
Thanks
Jade
Any advice would be much apprectiated
Thanks
Jade
Replies
Try answering the questions on this, you’ll get an indication of wether you might be entitled to the benefit.
The descriptors are specific - distance not time matters for mobility for example.
Sorry, this is the direct link.
https://pipinfo.net/
1 - Identify those activities you have any kind of issue with.
2 - Identify whether the issue is that you can’t do the activity at all; can’t do it reliably, can’t do it repeatedly; can’t do it safely or in a reasonable time. If any one of these apply to an activity then you can’t do it at all and it’s okay to say so. However, as well as ticking the box saying you either can’t do it all need help or aids, remember to say which one(s) of the above apply.
3 - have a copy of the PIP points scoring system in front of you. The questions in the form don’t match the points scoring so it’s as well to be aware of this.
4 - For every activity you think you score points you need to think of 2 or 3 recent examples of incidents when you tried to do that activity. Describe in detail the what, when, where, who witnessed, what happened next etc. Don’t skimp on detail. It’s often better to type it up in Word first rather than write in the form. If it won’t fit then add extra sheets, remembering to put your name, NINO and the question to which the answer relates on each sheet. Alternatively, reduce the font and cut and paste the Word answer into the form.
5 - Use the extra information section to describe your conditions in detail; the specifics of the symptoms and especially how they interact.
Also use it to spell out that you want an ongoing award and explain why e.g. your condition is degenerative, you’ve done all the adapting you’re going to do etc. If you don’t specifically ask for an ongoing award you will get a short one.
6 - Assuming your diagnoses are not in question and ditto the prognosis then ask yourself what gap in your evidence does medical evidence fill in terms of points scoring? If you can’t answer that then consider not sending it in. 10 reports all saying the same thing are no better than 1. Volume doesn’t win you PIP. Clarity and focus does.
7 - Whilst PIP ask for the form back in 4 weeks they will grant a 2 week extension without question if you ask. However, there is no actual deadline for deadline in the legislation as the deadline can be extended if reasonable and what could be more reasonable than having a medical condition which slows you down. Ask for an extension as a reasonable adjustment under EA 10 if applicable.
8 - By all means get an advice service to do this but if they don’t do most of the above then you’re better off doing it yourself.