PIP Review - arthritis and diabtes

Hi Kirsty,
Welcome to B&W!
You have managed to post successfully, and no obvious errors- so don't worry.
Have a look at the members guides.Here's the link.
www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip-2
PIP is awarded on the basis of how ill health limits your ability to do the various descriptor activities.
Let's consider mobility as an example.
How far can you walk? What stops you walking further? Is it pain, breathlessness fatigue? Do you fall over, do you have a weird gait?
Consider 4 criteria- whether you can do this safely, repeatedly across the day, in a reasonable time, ie no more than twice that of a non-disabled person, can you do it to an acceptable standard?
The above 4 criteria apply to all descriptors. Consider the pattern whether you can do the activity, with all criteria for the majority of days?
Don't get hung up on whether diabetes causes eg fatigue or poor balance. It doesn't matter the specific disease cause- focus on the disability/loss of function.
Of course, interaction of diseases and medications can also cause loss of function.
A disability diary is a good way to assess what you can do. Get a few pieces of paper or notebook. Write down what you can do So eg
Monday 1st
Couldn't get out of bed- leg very stiff- fell over twice getting to bathroom.
Partner had to help me get into the bath, he helped me wash my hair.
He helped me out of the bath as I was feeling faint.
Hands were very sore and I was not able to put on any of my clothes without help. I was totally exhausted etc etc. .
You get the idea!
Write down the better days too.
You should see a pattern, or perhaps just randomness but that's OK because some illnesses are randomness! However if you do a diary over a week or so you should be able to quantify what limitations you have on the majority of days. All the PIP activities are things that are likely to be done during the day. If you still don't know whether eg you need help to cook, as long as you are safe attempt the activity and see what happens time yourself, what made things difficult, what was the outcome etc. ?
Match your diary entries with the ideas within the guides, then you should be able to fill out the pip form with greater confidence. Ask a friend or relative for their input into how you function, this can be very insightful. Remember that disabled people kind of cope because they have to. Be very critical, what happens if you don't get help? Do you reasonably need help, especially if you are too slow, in pain, not safe etc.
I hope this helps.
Good luck
LL26