No 4 point PIP descriptors results
| Submission ID: 1163243 |
| Date: 2025-04-09 12:14:02 |
| Nickname: Gandalf's mum |
| Age: 63 |
| Main health condition: Both physical and mental health |
| Main conditions that affect daily living: Polymyalgia Rheumatics Spinal stenosis Degenerative Disc Disease Osteoarthritis of the ACJs in shoulders Osteoarthritis of both knees IBS-D Depression/Anxiety |
| 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: Difficult to say without seeing a firm with new descriptors but think its unlikely. |
| Tasks you struggle with on a day-to-day basis: Dressing/Washing I need help to do this. I use lots of aids but also need physical help or somebody in my flat when I shower. A shower physically drains me. Cooking - I cannot cook a meal using a cooker. I use lots of aids and rely on pre prepared food as the effort involves exhausts me. Medications. I am on a lot of drugs and need someone to check them when I put them into daily dosette boxes. My pharmacy cannot do this as my daily dosages vary. My husband was my carer but he died 2 years ago. I moved into a sheltered flat where I have monitoring each day and the ability to summon emergency assistance. Going out socially I need someone with me as I suffer from anxiety which can be triggered when out at a venue. |
| Expected income you will lose if the Green Paper cuts are imposed: I would lose my standard care element which would be about £300. Not sure if I would lose my enhanced UC or ESA. I need my car but the cost of it is more than the standard mobility award so losing the money will jeopardise my freedom. I also pay for a cleaner/PA and I wouldn't be able to afford this. I use part of my PIP to maintain my medical insurance that I have had for years and which covers me for most of my problems. I had to use it to get a nerve unstrapped 2 years ago. This was because I was referred to the NHS but didn't even get a consultation with a neurosurgeon as the backlog is horrendous.. |
| Expected problems if you tried moving into work, with support from a work coach: Due to the way my conditions affects me and the medications it is unlikely I would get a job offer. Since reading the green paper I have asked people I know if they would employ me. The answer is always no. I wouldn't know until the morning of each day whether I could work that day. Some days I cannot walk at all due to excruciating pain. Fatigue is also a problem. As much as I would like to, realistically it's just not possible with or without help from a work coach. I was previously self employed which allowed me flexibility but it got to the stage that I could no longer keep up my business and had to close it down after falling asleep at the wheel of my car in 2016! |
| Anything else to tell us: I don't think this "cost saving" cuts have been thought out. It will have such a detrimental effect on me and my mental state. I do not lie or exaggerate my conditions and genuinely need PIP to help me live a reasonable life. I am not a "cheat" or a "Scrounger". I worked all my adult life and now I need help. Plus the pension age keeps moving. I thought I would retire at 60 now it's 67! |
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