Claim PIP for Fibromyalgia

Just (optionally) type in your email address in the box below if you would like us to email you a copy of your results. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose and will be deleted when we do our regular housekeeping. (Emails come from noreply@benefitsandwork.co.uk. Please check your spam box if it doesn't arrive within a few minutes of clicking 'Submit'.)

Invalid Input

PLEASE NOTE, When you are assessing yourself, the law says that you only count as being able to do something if you can do it safely; to an acceptable standard; repeatedly and in a reasonable time period. Guidance also says that 'pain, fatigue, breathlessness, nausea and motivation' should all be taken into account.

Daily living

1. Preparing food

For example, Fibro fog or the effects of poor sleep may mean that you sometimes forget that you are cooking and so leave pans to burn, meaning that it is not safe for you to cook unsupervised.

Extreme fatigue may mean that you are unable to cook even if you have help or that you would be so tired after doing so once that you would not be able to prepare food as often as is reasonably necessary.

1a. Can prepare and cook a simple meal unaided. (0 points)

1b. Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to either prepare or cook a simple meal. (2 points)

1c. Cannot cook a simple meal using a conventional cooker but is able to do so using a microwave. (2 points)

1d. Needs prompting to be able to either prepare or cook a simple meal. (2 points)

1e. Needs supervision or assistance to either prepare or cook a simple meal. (4 points)

1f. Cannot prepare and cook food. (8 points)

Invalid Input

2. Taking nutrition

For example, you may have difficulty cutting up food because of pain, fatigue or stiffness in your hands.

You may not have any appetite for food because of stomach pain, bloating or nausea and so need prompting or supervision to eat and drink.

2a. Can take nutrition unaided. (0 points)

2b. Needs either - (i) to use an aid or appliance to take nutrition; or (ii) supervision to be able to take nutrition; or (iii) assistance to be able to cut up food. (2 points)

2c. Needs a therapeutic source to take nutrition. (2 points)

2d. Needs prompting to be able to take nutrition. (4 points)

2e. Needs assistance to be able to manage a therapeutic source to take nutrition. (6 points)

2f. Cannot convey food and drink to their mouth and needs another person to do so. (10 points)

Invalid Input

3. Managing therapy or monitoring a health condition

For example, you may need someone to prompt, supervise or help you whilst you do physical therapy to help with strength or stamina.

3a. Either - (i) does not receive medication or therapy or need to monitor a health condition; or (ii) can manage medication or therapy or monitor a health condition unaided. (0 points)

3b. Needs any one or more of the following - (i) to use an aid or appliance to be able to manage medication; (ii) supervision, prompting or assistance to be able to manage medication; (iii) supervision, prompting or assistance to be able to monitor a health condition. (1 point)

3c. Needs supervision, prompting or assistance to be able to manage therapy that takes no more than 3.5 hours a week. (2 points)

3d. Needs supervision, prompting or assistance to be able to manage therapy that takes more than 3.5 but no more than 7 hours a week. (4 points)

3e. Needs supervision, prompting or assistance to be able to manage therapy that takes more than 7 but no more than 14 hours a week. (6 points)

3f. Needs supervision, prompting or assistance to be able to manage therapy that takes more than 14 hours a week. (8 points)

Invalid Input

4. Washing and bathing

For example, because of restricted movement, stiffness or fatigue, you may need to use an aid to wash and bathe such as a shower seat, handrails or a long-handled brush.

Someone might have to prompt you to wash because of low mood, forgetfulness or fatigue.

4a. Can wash and bathe unaided. (0 points)

4b. Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to wash or bathe. (2 points)

4c. Needs supervision or prompting to be able to wash or bathe. (2 points)

4d. Needs assistance to be able to wash either their hair or body below the waist. (2 points)

4e. Needs assistance to be able to get in or out of a bath or shower. (3 points)

4f. Needs assistance to be able to wash their body between the shoulders and waist. (4 points)

4g. Cannot wash and bathe at all and needs another person to wash their entire body. (8 points)

Invalid Input

5. Managing toilet needs or incontinence

For example, pain, fatigue and stiffness may make it difficult for you sit down or rise from sitting from the toilet without supervision or help. Or you might need to use everyday items to help you, such as holding on to the radiator to help you rise from the toilet.

5a. Can manage toilet needs or incontinence unaided. (0 points)

5b. Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to manage toilet needs or incontinence. (2 points)

5c. Needs supervision or prompting to be able to manage toilet needs. (2 points)

5d. Needs assistance to be able to manage toilet needs. (4 points)

5e. Needs assistance to be able to manage incontinence of either bladder or bowel. (6 points)

5f. Needs assistance to be able to manage incontinence of both bladder and bowel. (8 points)

Invalid Input

6. Dressing and undressing

For example, Fibro fog may prevent you from making appropriate choices of clothing to suit the time of day or the weather, so you need prompting.

You may be able to dress yourself in the morning, but extreme fatigue means that you cannot undress or put on nightclothes at the end of the day without help.

6a. Can dress and undress unaided. (0 points)

6b. Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to dress or undress. (2 points)

6c. Needs either - (i) prompting to be able to dress, undress or determine appropriate circumstances for remaining clothed; or (ii) prompting or assistance to be able to select appropriate clothing. (2 points)

6d. Needs assistance to be able to dress or undress their lower body. (2 points)

6e. Needs assistance to be able to dress or undress their upper body. (4 points)

6f. Cannot dress or undress at all. (8 points)

Invalid Input

7. Communicating

For example, you may be unable to express complex information because of fibro fog and the effects of your medication.

7a. Can express and understand verbal information unaided. (0 points)

7b. Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to speak or hear. (2 points)

7c. Needs communication support to be able to express or understand complex verbal information. (4 points)

7d. Needs communication support to be able to express or understand basic verbal information. (8 points)

7e. Cannot express or understand verbal information at all even with communication support. (12 points)

Invalid Input

8. Reading and understanding signs, symbols and words

For example, fatigue and Fibro fog may make it difficult for you to follow written information, leading to you having to read it repeatedly and taking more than twice as long as someone without fibromyalgia.

8a. Can read and understand basic and complex written information either unaided or using spectacles or contact lenses. (0 points)

8b. Needs to use an aid or appliance, other than spectacles or contact lenses, to be able to read or understand either basic or complex written information. (2 points)

8c. Needs prompting to be able to read or understand complex written information. (2 points)

8d. Needs prompting to be able to read or understand basic written information. (4 points)

8e. Cannot read or understand signs, symbols or words at all. (8 points)

Invalid Input

9. Engaging with other people face to face

For example, low self-esteem resulting from the effects of fibromyalgia may make you too self-conscious to mix with other people without support, or you may become so overwhelmingly distressed at the thought of meeting people that you are unable to do it at all.

9a. Can engage with other people unaided. (0 points)

9b. Needs prompting to be able to engage with other people. (2 points)

9c. Needs social support to be able to engage with other people. (4 points)

9d. Cannot engage with other people due to such engagement causing either - (i) overwhelming psychological distress to the claimant; or (ii) the claimant to exhibit behaviour which would result in a substantial risk of harm to the claimant or another person. (8 points)

Invalid Input

10. Making budgeting decisions

For example, poor concentration or low mood may mean you need prompting or help to manage your household budget.

10a. Can manage complex budgeting decisions unaided. (0 points)

10b. Needs prompting or assistance to be able to make complex budgeting decisions. (2 points)

10c. Needs prompting or assistance to be able to make simple budgeting decisions. (4 points)

10d. Cannot make any budgeting decisions at all. (6 points)

Invalid Input

Mobility activities

11. Planning and following journeys

For example, low mood or anxiety may make you reluctant to start a journey and you may need someone to prompt and encourage you to leave the house.

You may suffer sudden and extreme episodes of fatigue which prevent you continuing your journey, this may make it unsafe for you to follow even a familiar route without someone with you.

11a. Can plan and follow the route of a journey unaided. (0 points)

11b. Needs prompting to be able to undertake any journey to avoid overwhelming psychological distress to the claimant. (4 points)

11c. Cannot plan the route of a journey. (8 points)

11d. Cannot follow the route of an unfamiliar journey without another person, assistance dog or orientation aid. (10 points)

11e. Cannot undertake any journey because it would cause overwhelming psychological distress to the claimant. (10 points)

11f. Cannot follow the route of a familiar journey without another person, an assistance dog or an orientation aid. (12 points)

Invalid Input

12. Moving around

For example, even if you can move a certain distance once, you may be so exhausted that you would not be able to do so again for many hours and so cannot do it as often as is reasonably required.

12a. Can stand and then move more than 200 metres, either aided or unaided. (0 points)

12b. Can stand and then move more than 50 metres but no more than 200 metres, either aided or unaided. (4 points)

12c. Can stand and then move unaided more than 20 metres but no more than 50 metres. (8 points)

12d. Can stand and then move using an aid or appliance more than 20 metres but no more than 50 metres. (10 points)

12e. Can stand and then move more than 1 metre but no more than 20 metres, either aided or unaided. (12 points)

12f. Cannot, either aided or unaided, (i) stand; or (ii) move more than 1 metre. (12 points)

Invalid Input

Claim PIP for Fibromyalgia

1. Preparing food

2. Taking nutrition

3. Managing therapy or monitoring a health condition

4. Washing and bathing

5. Managing toilet needs or incontinence

6. Dressing and undressing

7. Communicating

8. Reading and understanding signs, symbols and words

9. Engaging with other people face to face

10. Making budgeting decisions

11. Planning and following journeys

12. Moving around

Information

Members

Terms of Use

PIP, ESA & UC are changing.

Don't get left behind!

Over 110,000 subscribers trust our FREE
fortnightly newsletter to keep them informed and prepared.