this may seem like an unusual question

Hi freefee

You certainly are not alone. My partner found expressing her disability just as upsetting, embarrassing and humiliating. The whole process is awful but you are right; you must be brutally honest. Always make your answers reflect your worst days. Don’t think or say you have good days only ones that are less bad.

Unfortunately I think you are much too late to appeal the 2016 decision.

It may help you if you could find someone to ask you the questions and query your answers but who has no emotional ties with you. This helped my partner to take a matter of fact approach to the answers and reduced the stress of answering.

Good luck with your submission

Regards
Pete

Hi Freefee

You are no less of a person than anyone else because you struggle with caring for yourself and need assistance. There are thousands of people who feel the same way you do. Try not to be embarrassed about what you need to write. Remember the people reading it do not know you personally. You need to show how your medical condition and difficulties impact on your daily life and/or your mobility. Do consult our guides on how to complete the form, especially if your struggling with fatigue in how to answer the questions.

BIS

Hi freefee,
As per the other answers, I'm afraid PIP claims are somewhat brutal. I suspect that your parents perpetually drummed it into you, to look tidy, and put on neat clothes when going out, and to not use bad language etc. PIP is the opposite of anything and everything you have always been taught. We are told to put on a brave face, and try and be our best. (Not helped because Brits are terribly bad at doing emotion at the best of times.)
Then comes along the PIP form. Suddenly we are confronted with our own disability - there it is in stark black and white. So not only are we now having to portray our worst self with all the disabilities, and potentially embarrassing things, it also makes us think who we really are. When you are disabled, whether this is in a mild or greater way, there are 2 options - try and get on with life as best as possible, because the other option is to sit around and do nothing. Even if you can't manage the activity, at least if you try you have a sense of pride and some sense of achievement. Disabled people sort of manage, they kinda bumble along, taking their time, and even a half done task is better than the alternative. And this is where the PIP process becomes difficult. Ignoring the way the scheme is administered by DWP and the failings that they seem to have from time to time; the PIP claimant has to show disability in order to score points/gain benefit. However, you have always been told to be your best self, so admitting your disability is difficult, and of course in your mind you think you manage, and this stance won't score points.
I have spoken to so many claimants who when asked can you do X, simply nod excitedly and say 'of course'. (And if you stop there that won't give any points!) I have to do a bit more investigation. I am usually aware that the claimant has a list of medical conditions, and has already handed me a prescription list almost as long as my arm. I am not convinced they can manage.
So I then say 'well how do you do X'? There usually follows a small silence, and then a convoluted explanation involving precarious balancing, peculiar twisting, awkward bending and all manner of other unsafe practices etc etc. It is at this point I then politely but firmly say. 'No I'm afraid you can't do X,' adding 'at least for PIP purposes, anyway'.
But this is the important thing. As I described earlier in this post, most people do manage to complete PIP activities, but it is in their own unique way. Remember that DWP need to know about that unique way because it is this that will give you points. The slowness, the lack of safety, the fatigue that means you can't do the activity more than once per day etc is how you gain PIP. It is confronting, and everyone realises this. You can still be your best self, and once the PIP form is complete focus on the things you can do, however small in the great scheme of things, and try and do whatever these are as best you can.
I hope this makes sense and offers some comfort.

LL26