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Just looking for a bit of advice about PiP claim

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4 years 1 month ago #256679 by Liam
Hi all, so i recently applied for pips and i have my form to fill out, i was advised my CaB to claim this and universal credit. i currently have a two month fit note from my doctor as my grandad recently passed away and i was his main carer for over ten years, now i struggle to even get out of bed and dont eat unless my family bring me food, i've had a lot of mental issues in the past and was once sectioned by the police because i was suicidal they literally arrested me and took me to a place with padded beds and people talking to themselves etc,, it was pretty traumatising but my familky got me out the same night but after that i refused all help and support because i didnt trust them,

I'm now getting help from primary care mental health but my appointment isnt til thursday so i'm gonna wait before i send the pip form back but i'm just wondering if i even qualify? the few months before my grandads death i couldnt care for him anymore as i had terrible fatigue, i had tons of tests done and my doctor put it down to stress and depression, also i suffer from terrible migraines once a week and it puts me out for days, i've now got medication for them which eases the pain but makes me terribly tired and this along with my anti depressants can make me sleep 15 +hours a day for 3+ days a week, i've never been a sociable person and always had somebody go with me to appointments etc and i would never even answer the door to delivery people, but i honestly don't know whther i'd even qualify as i was a carer, even though the past 4 months i wasnt able to do it anymore. I have tons of issues about going out too as i get anxious i once weighed 32 stone and lost over half of that calorie counting but now with my loose skin im ashamed to even go out and if i do i wear baggy clothes, my family thinks i have body dysmorphia and dyspraxia as im also clumsy and cant do things like tie shoelaces even though im in my 30s... i've also got IBS and fear going out incase i have an accident and theres no toilet, i used to fast for days if i had an appointment or had to go out just so this wouldnt happen, is this all relavent too?

So yeah sorry for the long read and i'm bad at explaining things but should i even bother with the claim?

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4 years 1 month ago #256689 by BIS
Hi Liam

For you to qualify for PIP a claimant has to have suffered from a condition for three months before the PIP claim is made and an expectation that they will have the same issues during the following nine months. It is not so much the condition but how it impacts on your daily living or your mobility.

Just because you have been a carer it doesn't mean that you shouldn't apply for PIP. Some people get carers allowance and PIP at the same time.

Only you can decide whether you want to put in for PIP, but we have a comprehensive guide that has helped lots of members through the process.

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/help-for-claimants

BIS

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4 years 1 month ago #256692 by denby
Hi Liam, sorry to hear of your various problems but you are in the best place now for support with your claim. Everything BIS says is useful, I would just add you might want to call DWP or ask CAB to do it for you, to get an extension on the time for returning your form all filled in.
Also you can return it with a note on saying you may submit extra information later. This is a handy thing to do, for instance it gives time for the mental health people you are seeing soon, to not only see you, but get a letter of support out that you can send in too.
I would also suggest you look in the guide on here for the diary templates and try to keep a diary for several weeks to show yourself and them how the fatigue and other fear etc issues affect you. 3+ days a week is quite important, if it actually is 4 days a week or more over your diary period, then the effects on your ability to do those 'descriptors' is counted as if it was all the time. Come back if you need more detail or don't understand things in the guides, there's lots of great info in there.
Best wishes, Denby [not a mod but a fellow traveller].
The following user(s) said Thank You: Gary

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4 years 1 month ago #256694 by Gary
Hi Liam

As BIS and Denby have stated you need to contact the DWP and ask for an extension.

From a previous post today by a forum member, they posted 'This is mentioned in today's Rightsnet newsletter.
www.rightsnet.org.uk/forums/viewthread/17082/'
. I am not sure if the extension length is the same for everyone, let us know how you get on with the extension request.

Gary

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