Would I qualify for PIP? — Scope | Disability forum
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Would I qualify for PIP?

6080
6080 Community member Posts: 18 Connected
edited February 2020 in PIP, DLA, and AA
I was diagnosed with pernicious anaemia in 2006 and now suffer terrible brain fog when talking to people which is very embarrassing for me as I feel judged by people. Now I have been diagnosed with lower back arthritis, cracked vertebrae L5, crushed discs and a trapped nerve. I am very fatigued and struggle to walk any distance due to pain and swelling in my lower back and my legs feel like they are going to give way at times. I'm now seeing a physio to try help manage the pain via muscle strengthening techniques. I'm really struggling to work full time. Do you think I woukd qualify for pip to allow me to cut my hours but still pay my bills? I've read the assessors are really tough. Any advice would be much appreciated 
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Comments

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 53,360 Disability Gamechanger
    Hi and welcome,

    I'm one of the community champions here on scope and i'm here to help and advise others.

    PIP isn't awarded based on a diagnosis, it's how those conditions affect your ability to carry out daily activity based on the PIP descriptors.

    You'll need relevant evidence that states how your conditions affect you and you should send this with the form. A face to face assessment is most likely because most people have them.

    Although people do claim PIP and work, if the work you do contradicts the reason you're claiming PIP then it can go against you.

    Lots of people claim PIP successfully without any problems at all. My advice is not to read too many stories on an internet forum because mostly you'll only ever read the bad ones. If someone's had a decision they are happy with they have no questions to ask so we don't hear their story. One of the worst places to go when applying for PIP or considering applying is an internet forum.

    Having some understanding of the PIP descriptors, what they mean and the criteria will always help. This link is a good place to start, although it's long, it's definitely worth taking some time to read through all of it.

    If you do apply then when you receive the forms, you need to put as much information as possible about how your conditions affect you. Then add a couple of real life examples of what happened the last time you attempted that activity for each descriptor that applies to you.

    Hope this helps.


    I would appreciate it if members wouldn't tag me please. I have all notifcations turned off and wouldn't want a member thinking i'm being rude by not replying.
    If i see a question that i know the answer to i will try my best to help.
  • 6080
    6080 Community member Posts: 18 Connected
    Thank you so much for taking the time to respond and for  your advice.YYour advice is very helpful and I will have a read through the material you posted. Can't thank you enough ?
  • janer1967
    janer1967 Community member Posts: 21,964 Disability Gamechanger
    @6080 Hello and welcome to the community, I am a community champion. Poop has already give you her excellent advise regarding PIP, once you have read through everything and made a decision about whether to apply, if you have any questions about any stage of the process then please come back to us.  
  • chiarieds
    chiarieds Community member Posts: 16,007 Disability Gamechanger
    Hi @6080 - Welcome to the community, & thank you for joining. I hope the physio exercises are helping a little. I see you've had great advice about PIP, but, as far as your current work goes, I wonder if you've considered asking for 'Reasonable adjustments.' There's some information about this on Scope, so I'll give you a link, just in case. See:  https://www.scope.org.uk/advice-and-support/work-careers/reasonable-adjustments/

  • Ails
    Ails Community member Posts: 2,256 Disability Gamechanger
    Hi @6080 and welcome to the Community.  It is nice to meet you.  Good luck with PIP and I hope you manage to get your hours sorted at work.  All the best.  :smile:
    Winner of the Scope New Volunteer Award 2019.   :)
  • 6080
    6080 Community member Posts: 18 Connected
    Morning and thank you for your replies. I was referred to a local physio. During the first appointment, she couldn't advise much as my MRI results were not viable to her so gave me basic pelvic evercises to do until the next appointment which was yesterday. When I went in she said I have been referred to a specialist physiotherapist that works alongside the nurosurgeon whom I've also been referred too. It seems I also have a slipped vertebrae which is causing the nerve to pinch thus, causing the pain and numbness in my legs. The referal takes around 6-8 weeks to come through and then 6-9 months for the nurosurgeon appointment although this could be fast tracked depending on the physios recommendations. I already have reasonable adjustments in place such as an ergonomic chair, regular breaks etc but it was nice of you to alert me to this had I have not had this in place. My employer luckily is very health & safety conscious. I am abit worried about my finances especially given this bad news as I am in the situation where I could face redundancy as our jobs are being relocated so have the choice of redundancy or moving to another devision. I have credit card and loan including car finance which obviously need paid. The redundancy could wipe my debt but means I would need to seek new employment and worry if I have to have surgery, would a new employer accommodate the time off for me to recover, would it be fair to expect them to take on my problems? Certainly not. At least having pip would allow me to take on a part time role but still manage despite my income dropping hugely. I was staring at the phone yesterday afternoon coaxing myself to phone the pip helpline but couldn't bring myself to do it as I had alot of anxious thoughts going through my head about the assessments and whether I could articulate my issues verbally. I know I wouldn't and because I look healthy and well presented on the outside, people can raise an eyebrow when I complain about my pain as did the doctor at first until the MRI revealed what was going on inside my body. I know its wrong to land these issues on you all. I do however appreciate your advice. It's easier to chat with people who can't judge you by appearance but instead from symptoms described. I thought I was quite a confident person but I shy away from sources of help as I hate being a burden if that makes sence! 
  • 6080
    6080 Community member Posts: 18 Connected
    I just wanted to update this post. I finally plucked up the courage to apply for PIP. I found the process quite straight forward. I submitted letters from my GP. Advanced practitioner and occupational health. Had a phone assessment which took around 2 hours and explained my difficulties on both good and bad days and have just been awarded Pip but surprisingly not the mobility as I scored 4 for that. Overall, I'm really pleased with the outcome and feel the award is fair. It will allow me to drop a day a week at work to cope a bit better which will hopefully help with fatigue . Thank you again for the links to the information as it helped when explaining things on the form. 
  • Tori_Scope
    Tori_Scope Scope Posts: 12,488 Disability Gamechanger
    Well done on the outcome @6080 :) Thank you for updating us! 

    Do you mind me asking how you've been doing since you last posted here? How's your health been? 
    National Campaigns Officer, she/her

    Join our call for an equal future.
  • 6080
    6080 Community member Posts: 18 Connected
    Thanks 🙂
    I was told to refrain from all forms of exercise pre pandemic until seen by the advanced practitioner but then everything was put on hold. I would say I haven't been in as much pain and its because I haven't really been doing anything apart from going to work and coming home. I did go for a walk not so long ago but didn't get far as my back was stinging and burning to the point I was almost crying. Had to sit for 15 minutes to try ease the pain. The tiredness and motivation is the biggest issue for me. Still have little energy to do anythin so find I prioritise tasks. I would like to be more mobile and hoping physio may help built core strength but as it's a trapped nerve, arthritis etc I don't know if can be fixed. They sent me for another MRI to check for further slippage of the vertabrae and my SI joints. I think the SI joint could play a big factor in my symptoms. I'm on Naproxen and Paracetomal which have helped too but after experimenting with that recent walk, I realise I'm by no means any better. 
  • 6080
    6080 Community member Posts: 18 Connected
    Just to add, I haven't yet dropped my hours. That's a conversation I'm building up to with my employer that I'm not looking forward too. I've used some of the backdated money to buy new crutches, walking poles and a newer backbrace. I want to save the rest to purchase a walk in shower which will make a huge difference in the morning when getting ready for work rather than trying to step over the bath into the shower which can be painful. The money really makes a huge difference to purchase things needed to make life just that bit more comfortable. 
  • L_Volunteer
    L_Volunteer Community Volunteer Adviser, Scope Member Posts: 7,979 Disability Gamechanger
    You are welcome @6080. It is the very least you deserve.

    It is positive to hear you haven't been in as much pain, especially due to following the advice provided by the advanced practitioner and being on Naproxen and Paracetamol. 

    Has anyone, such as the advanced practitioner, been able to support you to start incorporating exercise into your routine? I can hear how much pain you were in when you started trying to go for walks again.

    It sounds like the pain might be affecting your tiredness and motivation. Have you got any support in place for helping you to manage the tiredness and motivation? As you said these are the biggest issues for you.

    Prioritisation is super important! Especially when you deal with chronic pain. Hopefully, the physio will be able to help, even if physio is unable to 'fix' the root cause. 

    I can hear how you are not looking forward to talking to your employer about reducing your hours. Would anything, in particular, make this feel more manageable for you at the moment?

    Best of luck with the physio and MRI. Please feel free to keep us in the loop, we are all here for you  :)
    Community Volunteer Adviser with professional knowledge of education, special educational needs and disabilities and EHCP's. Pronouns: She/her. 

    Please note: if I use the online community outside of its hours of administration, I am doing so in a personal capacity only.
  • 6080
    6080 Community member Posts: 18 Connected
    Hi, just a further update for anyone whom may be in a similar situation... the advanced practitioner I saw a few of months ago referred me for physio again and has arranged  for me to get injections in my back to hopefully cure the nerve pain but there is, apparently a 6-7 month waiting list as, it needs to be done by a specialist in hospital. I had my first session with a senior physio whom has given me some exercises to do starting around 4 weeks ago. Pelvic tilts etc, very gently exercises. So far I can feel a slight difference I. E. I don't feel quite a stiff in my lower back. The leg weakness hasn't eased at all. Still feel dead legs after a walk but I'm starting to loosen off slightly at the back which is great progress for me. 

    As for the fatigue and lathargy, that's very much still present. I have pernicious anaemia and receive B12 injections every 8 weeks but it doesn't relieve the tiredness. I will keep working away at my exercises and try the injections in my back to explore any pain relief available. 

    My employer is turning some others down for reduced hours which is why I feel awkward asking them. I'm also weary that I reduce my hours then lose this extra financial support at the next assessment if these injections and physio help relieve the pain. 
    My MRI came back and the vertebrae is showing further slippage at grade 2 with nerve impingement at L5/S1 with pars fractures. They say it's degenerative. 

  • 6080
    6080 Community member Posts: 18 Connected
    PS sorry for the commas and typos... My phone adds them without me noticing! 
  • tigs123
    tigs123 Community member Posts: 18 Listener
    Hi 6080 I have suffered with chronic and acute nerve pain for years now, after suffering a major stroke in 2006.  I recently applied for PIP and received higher component for daily living and mobility due to how bad i had got.  I had forminal epidural on the 6th June 2022, it was requested in November 2021.  So i waited 7 months, as your doctor quoted.  Message back if u need support this forum is here for you but so am i 


  • tigs123
    tigs123 Community member Posts: 18 Listener
    When i say forminal epidural, that is the injections in my L4/L5
  • bg844
    bg844 Community member Posts: 3,887 Disability Gamechanger
    @tomm This post was from over 2 years ago. Poppy gives exceptional advice to many people on this forum and the majority thank her for her time. If you needed anything specific answering your should of started your own discussion and be polite too.
  • 6080
    6080 Community member Posts: 18 Connected
    Hi Tomm,

    I personally have found Poppy's advice and link a fantastic source of information otherwise I wouldn't have known where to have started. It gave me a real insight as to what pip need to know and how to evidence this. I used a letter from my doctor explaining the result of my MRI, reports from occupational health in support of reasonable adjustments covering different timeliness and follow ups from the advanced practitioner about ongoing treatment. These reports highlighted to my employer the issues caused by conditions. Maybe having a diagnosis helped. I'm not quite sure what evidence could be presented for an undiagnosed condition. Maybe evidence showing you are going through a diagnosis? Such as with MS which can take a long time but meanwhile a person can be really struggling with symptoms associated with such a condition?  I'm not sure if this could be your meaning I. E. Without a confirmed diagnosis, what supporting evidence can you use to claim PIP? 

    All I can say is when I was assessed, the assessor  thanked me from the off for providing my evidence and acknowledged she had read my form and so the questions began. I think she herself was an advanced practitioner so was very knowledgeable about my condition. I was well prepared and had things noted down as my mind can go blank at times. I had an example of what happened for each of my symptoms. The decision letter I received basically commented on it all corresponding so I guess what I stated on my form matched what I said during my assessment and tied in with the symptoms relating to my condition ?

    I was awarded the standard daily. I think this is, as poppy mentioned, because my job conflicts with my anxiety complaint but I expressed that in my job, I have a strategy for coping with people because I'm forced too but In my personal life, I shy away from most social settings and gave examples of what this had happened. This was commented on within the decision letter. Hope it helps

    Tigs123. 

    Thanks for your input. Did you find the injection made a difference to your pain? We're you able to walk further after them and did they cure the aching numbness when walking especially around the hips and foot? 


  • L_Volunteer
    L_Volunteer Community Volunteer Adviser, Scope Member Posts: 7,979 Disability Gamechanger
    @6080 How have things been for you more recently? I appreciate it has been a little while since you last posted on this thread now.

    I want to make sure you have access to the support you need and deserve but I am also aware that things might have changed since.

    Please don't hesitate to let us know if there's anything we can do to help. We are all here for you  :)
    Community Volunteer Adviser with professional knowledge of education, special educational needs and disabilities and EHCP's. Pronouns: She/her. 

    Please note: if I use the online community outside of its hours of administration, I am doing so in a personal capacity only.
  • 6080
    6080 Community member Posts: 18 Connected
    Hiya, turns out that along with the spondylolisthesis grade 11, I also have foraminal stenosis contributing to the nerve impingement. I think I have 1 more physio session left. I've been okay and thank you for checking in! So kind 😊 still awaiting the injections in my back. Although I'm doing the physio exercises I still get a burning stabbing feeling when walking and now feel like I've got a ball on my foot when walking even though there isn't one but this is new. The pain on the whole is a little better I think but due to fatigue after work I haven't been doing it as much as I should. I'm on leave soon which will give opportunity to do more! Thanks for asking. I hope someone else with similar issues can share their experience and symptoms etc 
  • Hannah_Alumni
    Hannah_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,912 Disability Gamechanger
    Hello @6080

    Thank you for keeping us updated! :) I'm glad to hear that they're able to diagnose everything, hoping that they can continue to help you and for you to be in less pain! :)  

    Have you got any plans whilst on leave? 
    Hannah - She / Her

    Online Community Coordinator @ Scope

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