PIP form - Communicating and mixing with other people with severe fatigue
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MissMarple
Community member Posts: 187 Pioneering
Filling out the daily living section of the PIP form and I'm feeling a bit discouraged. I have lung impairment, postural tachycardia and chronic fatigue. Among other symptoms this causes constant, severe fatigue that impairs my cognitive functions. Sometimes I'm too exhausted to even stay awake, or I'm awake but can't concentrate, can't find words, just stuttering incoherently, can't understand what I'm reading etc. This happens if I 'overdo' things (which can be as minimal as having a shower). As long as I plan my activities and pace myself, I have a couple of mentally okay hours each day so I can get essential things done, but I'm limited in how long I'm able to maintain a conversation, what time of the day I am able to get engaged with people to begin with, and if I have to push through these limits (e.g. for a medical appointment), the symptoms get horrendous afterwards.
I believe the sections about communicating and mixing with other people should apply to me as I do need help to get things done. E.g. during my work capability assessment I was losing concentration after about fifteen minutes and needed a friend to repeat and explain to me what had been asked. It's very tiring trying to think of a way to explain my issues clearly with details and examples. I don't think I'll score enough points for an award for the physical activities as I manage the showering, dressing up etc. part, just about. Should I even bother, am I supposed to score any points in this section for the issues mentioned above?
I believe the sections about communicating and mixing with other people should apply to me as I do need help to get things done. E.g. during my work capability assessment I was losing concentration after about fifteen minutes and needed a friend to repeat and explain to me what had been asked. It's very tiring trying to think of a way to explain my issues clearly with details and examples. I don't think I'll score enough points for an award for the physical activities as I manage the showering, dressing up etc. part, just about. Should I even bother, am I supposed to score any points in this section for the issues mentioned above?
Comments
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Thanks @Username_removed. I’ve looked at the link and I’m afraid I can’t say I’m much wiser about what they actually mean.
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@MissMarple
You say you don't think you would get any points on the physical descriptors, but if the likes of having a shower wipes you out then that surely means points...with chronic fatigue surely many things would be difficult for you?
Have another think about each descriptor because sometimes you don't mention things simply because you're used to doing things without giving thought to how much of an actual drain it is on you.
Good luck -
Constant severe fatigue will affect most of the descriptors. Make sure you understand the concept of “Reliably, in a timely fashion, repeatedly and safely”
https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip/pip-points-system
Information I post is for England unless otherwise stated. Rules may be different in other parts of UK. -
Username_removed said:DWP think you can socially engage if you can say hi to the bloke at the till in your Aldi. It’s actually more to do with whether you could hold a long conversation with them and read every aspect of it correctly including body language; understanding different emotions; when you were or were not being spoken to and so on.
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@MissMarple
A diagnosis or reason why you can't do this isn't the issue, more so explaining what happens when you attempt the activity what difficulties you have. -
Cress said:@MissMarple
You say you don't think you would get any points on the physical descriptors, but if the likes of having a shower wipes you out then that surely means points...with chronic fatigue surely many things would be difficult for you?
Have another think about each descriptor because sometimes you don't mention things simply because you're used to doing things without giving thought to how much of an actual drain it is on you.
Good luck
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calcotti said:Constant severe fatigue will affect most of the descriptors. Make sure you understand the concept of “Reliably, in a timely fashion, repeatedly and safely”
https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip/pip-points-system -
@MissMarple
Just my opinion, but being able to engage for an hour or so seems good to me, I usually avoid it completely.... -
Cress said:@MissMarple
Just my opinion, but being able to engage for an hour or so seems good to me, I usually avoid it completely.... -
MissMarple said:Thanks @calcotti So, basically, if it causes overwhelming fatigue during or after the activity then I cannot do it because I couldn't repeat it?MissMarple said:... don't even try to cook anything that needs any preparation more often than once a week because I just don't have the energy. But I don't feel comfortable claiming I 'cannot prepare or cook food' at all because I could, it just leaves me so exhausted that it is not worth it.Information I post is for England unless otherwise stated. Rules may be different in other parts of UK.
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This is how I was advised: Apply the following to each question: Reliably, Safely, Repeatedly, and fast enoughSo can you prepare say a basic omelette with onions from fresh each day (or on the majority of days), within say 20 minutes or so, safely without cutting or burning yourself, or causing a fire riskBoth frequency and impact matters, so if say you're at risk of forgetting the hob/causing a fire risk, or cutting yourself due to fatigue, that's going to count in your favour.Answer honestly, so for example: "I cannot prepare food on the majority of days due to the energy expended and my constant fatigue. There is always a risk of falling asleep whilst the hob is on, or cutting myself due to tiredness when chopping vegetables. Nonetheless, approximately once a week I gather the energy to focus, and although these risks still remain, I can slowly and carefully complete the task of preparing a meal.This does however severely deplete my energy for the remainder of the day, meaning I am unable to complete any other tasks. If I was to attempt to prepare and cook a meal each day, it would impede my ability to complete any other task, and would be inherently unsafe."Apply this to every activity, but for walking include discomfort/fatigue as a prerequisite too.
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Username_removed said:You’re in danger overthinking this and seeing issues where there are none.
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Thank you @Cress @Username_removed @lemurlover @calcotti for taking the time to give me advice on this topic. I much appreciate it.
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