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Please Help. Really need advice.

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6 years 10 months ago #189790 by Nasmamu
Please Help. Really need advice. was created by Nasmamu
Qualifying for PIP with Cerebral Palsey


Hi

I'm new to this site and need help please. Not sure if this is the correct place to post, sorry if it isn't. I have just received the dreaded "your DLA is stopping, apply for PIP letter. A bit about myself. I have had Cerebral Palsey (spastic Dyplegia) which predominantly affects both my legs. Ive had this since birth (38yrs old now) I've been on HR CARE and HR Mobility DLA Indefinite award since approx 11yrs old. I also have had Crohns for approx 11yrs. My CP has never gotten any better and over the years it has deteriorated considerably. I was told many years ago nothing else would help my condition and to basically get on with life. My mobility and overall health is so bad that my wife (My carer) is virtually my shadow. She helps me get out of bed in the morning when my body is so stiff I can hardly move due to the pain in my joints. Helps me with toilets needs (Crohns = incontinence) helps me to shower/bath as well as to get dressed. My CP means I can't walk more then approx 5 metres without pain kicking in and i fall approx 15-20 times a week due to pain and loss of balance even with a walking stick. Walking also causes me a great loss of breath and pains in my chest. I regularly see my Gastro consultant for the crohns (every 6 months) and due to its severity go for infusions to help with the symptoms every 8 weeks. Even with this treatment I need to go to the toilet approx 10-12 times a day. My lack of mobility accompanied with Crohns means I hardly leave home except to go to work and even then my brother or my dad has to drop me off/pick me up and help me in and out of work.

I've Heard/read that it is virtually impossible to claim PIP with Cerebral Palsey, especially the mobility component. Is this true? Has anybody with CP successfully A) Claimed PIP? and B) qualified for the Mobility component?

I'm extremely stressed at present which is causing me no ends of issues with my illness/condition and would be EXTREMELY grateful for some advice/infomation/guidance.


Sorry for the long Biography I just felt it best to explain my disability and how it affects me. Thank you once again.

Nas.

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6 years 9 months ago #189807 by Gordon
Replied by Gordon on topic Please Help. Really need advice.
Nasmamu

Welcome to the forum, you might want to have a look at the following FAQ which explain where everything is

Welcome to Benefits and Work

In case you are not aware, your real name appears to be showing in the forum, if you want to change this then follow the instructions in the following FAQ

My full name is showing, how can I stop it?


You don't need to post your questions twice. All posts are moderated and will not appear in the forum until approved by a Moderator and we are only on at certain times of the day.

I'm not aware of reasons why someone with Cerebral Palsy would be unable to qualify for PIP, but it is important to understand that it is not your conditions that are being assessed but the limitations that result from them, so two people with the same conditions could receive very different awards.

Have a look at our PIP Claim guide to understand the process and the criteria against which your claim will be reviewed.

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

If yo have further questions then please reply to this post and we will do our best to help.

Gordon

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
The following user(s) said Thank You: Nasmamu

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6 years 9 months ago #189835 by Nasmamu
Replied by Nasmamu on topic Please Help. Really need advice.
Thank you for your response Gordon, much appreciated. i think i'm just in a panic about the uncertainty i now face after years of just getting by. i'll certainly take a closer look at the guides and get back in touch should anything else pop up.

sorry about the 2 post of the same thing!

Nas.

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6 years 9 months ago #189885 by Nasmamu
Replied by Nasmamu on topic Please Help. Really need advice.
Hi again,

I've taken the time to read the online guides since the last post, THEY ARE AMAZING.

1 thing I would like to mention about my circumstances is I haven't seen a consultant for my Cerebral Palsey since god knows how long due to the fact that the last time I saw him many many years ago he basically turned round and said "there's nothing we can do to improve your condition, the best you can do is try and have as normal a quality of life as you can" (or words to that effect) I therefore never consulted anyone about my condition again. I've done exactly as the consultant said and tried to make the best of my life with the disability as I possibly can. I've deteriorated in that time but just learned to cope with the help of my amazing family. My question is,Could this count against me when applying for PIP? I'm referring to evidence wise?

I was on HR DLA Indefinitely since childhood and thought to myself I'm getting all the help I can so no point in consulting anyone especially if they can no longer help me. even as my condition worsened.
On top of my Cerebral Palsey I was diagnosed with Crohns 11yrs ago, I regularly see my consultant (every 6 months) last seen in March 2017. He knows the struggles I face with dealing with that disease, i still receive treatment for that as an outpatient ever 8 weeks but don't take any other medication for it as the steroids for helping with crohns made the physical pain of CP worse. He would probably write me a letter/report regarding my struggles with Crohns and how it affects my life but I have not seen anybody regarding my CP for at least 15yrs. I just didn't see the point because back then I was on an indefinite award and learned to cope.

Any comments and advice would be greatly received.

Once again many thanks for taking the time to read my waffling.

Nas.

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6 years 9 months ago #189925 by Gordon
Replied by Gordon on topic Please Help. Really need advice.
Nasmamu

A lack of evidence certainly won't help, but it is common for people with life long conditions to struggle to get up to date evidence. Have you spoken to your GP about any help they can provide?

One of the ways to overcome a lack of evidence is to provide a detailed explanation of your problems, try and break the activities down into smaller tasks to show the extent of your problems.

In particular make use of "reliably" and "on the majority of days" as relevant. The PIP Claim guide explains these terms in more detail.

Gordon

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
The following user(s) said Thank You: Nasmamu

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