A question about PIP criteria.

Thanks  Poppy. I appreciate your help. 

Jimm_Scope said:

PIP generally is if it affects you, roughly, the majority of the time. As in >50% of the time. I have Crohn's which can go into remission, so they asked me how often in a month I am severely affected, how often I am quite affected, how often I'm not/barely affected.

Since Crohn's is somethin that can flare for 1-2 weeks and go into remission for a few months possibly, I just averaged out over the year my symptoms.

Edit: from the governments own documentation on assessment criteria

The HP should also consider the variability and fluctuation of a claimant’s health condition and the effect on their needs. Where there is variability, the HP should consider what the need is on the majority of days. For example, if a claimant can usually prepare food unaided, but occasionally needs to use an aid due to a particularly acute period in their condition, they’ll not be assessed as needing to use an aid as this is not needed most of the time.

Menieres and my arthritis are similar. However, I find there are far fewer days between remission as I get older. For example, my arthritis seems to be every day but in different places, today it's my back, yesterday it was my wrists and the day before my knees, sometimes I get it in all places, but it's pretty consistent on a daily basis. My Menieres comes and goes, but when I have an attack I have months of it, losing my balance and dizzy spells,  each time it comes back again it does with a vengeance worse than the time before.  Then there is my irritable bowel syndrome, I was diagnosed in my early 20s, Im in my late 50s now and this past couple of years or so it has really stepped up. At first, I thought it was just medication or something, but then the light bulb went on, I thought I had an upset stomach every day and have for the past couple of years which is getting worse, the funny thing is my son was also diagnosed with it recently and I never connected the dots, I have read it can be hereditary or you are more susceptible if you have a relation with it.  To be honest, there isn't one day I am not suffering from something, the anxiety is every day, and the depression will then take over, and back to anxiety, they might as well put me in a circus as the juggling act.

Hannah_Scope said:

@shellbell20 I'm sorry to hear your health hasn't been at it's best. My friend has Meniere's and have heard the attacks can be brutal. I just wanted to check in that you have support around you? 

Thanks Hannah. I am OK, I have an appointment with ENT, well I have to make one as I have been referred again.  As for support, well kind of if we are talking about professionals. I was basically let go by my psychotherapist as I moved and she couldn't practically help me with the distance like she wanted to do, I am kind of in a void, losing my psychotherapist who wanted social services to get involved. I have an appointment via telephone with the MH nurse in November who can then steer me in the right direction I hope.

I think the worst thing for me is being placed in the middle of nowhere cut off from friends and family after being attacked by a previous neighbour, the Housing Association in their wisdom decided to put me in a small village in the middle of nowhere knowing I couldn't drive and have Menieres Disease and arthritis. My psychotherapist wrote a very strong-worded letter to my GP which I have given to housing and it has been totally ignored. Not my fault I got attacked by a neighbour who bullies women, he has done it to others 3 times before and each time landed in court.

I must admit I feel very helpless, I have tried to sort it out to no avail, but it just falls on deaf ears. I didn't realise there was such discrimination in this country but it is rife. I wish I had an advocate to help me but there is no one, my family goes a long way to look after me each day, but I can't burden them with absolutely everything as they do enough already, they get me out of bed, dress me, cook for me and give me my meds, they also help with bill payments.

Anyway back to the question you asked, sorry for the rant. Menieres is brutal, I found myself nearly falling into oncoming traffic when walking down a single pavement as they whizzed past, I nearly fell into the traffic on three separate incidents, so I stopped going out with my anxiety and my loss of balance and my painful arthritis. In the end, I didn't know if I was having a panic attack a Menieres, or both.  They say that at the end stage of Menieres, you tend to lose your balance and that's what I am doing, it will last forever and the only way forward for that is rehab apparently. Its was becoming embarrassing to be honest, as I walk like a drunk. I remember one young man coming up to me and ask if I was OK, I said yes, I am not drunk, I just lose my balance. lol

Hannah_Scope said:

@shellbell20 I hope the appointment goes well! 

I'm so sorry to hear that you have been cut off from friends and family because of your neighbour. If you need any additional support with your housing. I'd encourage you to reach out to a Shelter advisor or to your Local MP. Hopefully that will give them the kick needed!

And you rant away! it's no problem

Awww was nice for him to check on you! Hopefully something just clicks and they find something to help! 🤞

I've actually been thinking of consulting an MP about it all, but not sure which one, whether to contact the MP where I am living now or the MP where I want to move.  I know nothing will happen quickly if I don't take action, it's just so hard to fight my cause when I just don't have the energy to do so and every time I try to sort it out, I face barriers.