No 4 point PIP descriptors results
| Submission ID: 1162138 |
| Date: 2025-04-08 15:50:34 |
| Nickname: Ellie |
| Age: 20-25 |
| Main health condition: Physical health |
| Main conditions that affect daily living: ME/CFS |
| Rate of PIP daily living component: Standard |
| 4 point descriptor score: No |
| Possibility to score at least one 4-point daily living descriptor at the next review: It depends if the assessors take into account the reliability and repeatedly aspect which they didn't last time. |
| Tasks you struggle with on a day-to-day basis: I have so little energy I am in bed for 21 or more hours a day. I can only shower once or twice a week. I can't go for walks or do meal preparation. I am taken out maybe once or twice a week but any extra physical or mental effort like this a makes me "crash" and experience increased fatigue for days afterwards. I cannot focus well due to cognitive effects. My mum is writing this as I don't have the energy. I was at university when I became ill and desperately want to be well but there is no medical help out there. The only advice available is on energy pacing despite being referred to specialist services. |
| Expected income you will lose if the Green Paper cuts are imposed: I would lose standard pip of £73.90 per week. I would then lose entitlement to LCWRA (£423 a month) or the new health element of universal credit. I then will only get the basic universal credit allowance of £313 a month for under 25s which will come with conditionality. Unfortunately I probably won't be able to attend the jobcentre or prepare for work without making myself more unwell and so I will probably receive sanctions and could lose this too. So potentially I will lose all my benefits except housing which already doesn't cover the rent on my small flat and the mobility side of pip. My rent is higher than housing allowance plus mobility pip. I will be unable to buy anything at all. The stress is likely to make my illness worse and I may require more than my current family carers. |
| Expected problems if you tried moving into work, with support from a work coach: I would experience "post exertional malaise" causing my condition to worsen possibly permanently. I am not able to spend hardly any time with family or friends as it is too fatiguing and makes me ill in the following days and weeks so time with strangers and work preperation will definitely harm my health. I would not be able to attend work so would quickly lose any job I was offered. |
| Anything else to tell us: I don't understand why the government wants to use an assessment on living needs (pip) to decide if someone is able to work. Different abilities are needed for work as lengthy periods of energy are required for work whereas you can rest between tasks at home. Have the government made provision for conditions such as ME/CFS and long COVID when the smallest amounts of energy exertion can make people sicker? Will they update the pip assessment guidelines to reflect this if the assessment is now used to decide if people are able to work? And why have the government decided not to fund further research into ME/CFS through the ME/CFS Delivery plan despite identifying a need for it and instead have chosen to remove disability benefits from those affected by this horrible condition? |
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