Hello, I’ve been turned down for PIP following an appeal. I’m still working full time as mortgage still needs paying. My husband works full time and is also my carer. Does any one know if any financial benefits are available so I can reduce my hours of work and go part time at least as I’m getting fatigued and cannot
do my contractual job as my GP has said I need to do desk duties or wfh. I’m worried my employer can tell me to leave as I’m still in probation period for my job.
You can apply for a Mandatory reconsideration and if that fails you can go to a tribunal.
You have to show how your condition effects your daily life and your mobility.
You need to get as much medical evidence from your GP , MS nurse , Neurologist , Physio etc to support your claim for PIP.
It would be worth subscribing to the Work and Benefits website to assist you in completing your PIP form.
To assist with working you could apply for Access to Work. If successful they can pay for taxis to get you to work if you struggle with fatigue and your mobility.
Could you consider reducing your hours or take breaks during the day if you are struggling ?
Your Employer should agree to reasonable adjustments to help you continue to work.
Good luck and take care
I feel for you. The way PIP is set up at the moment it is insufficiently graduated. As you know, PIP is not a substitute for employment but could make your difficulties more manageable. You are fortunate that the type of work you do is compatible with being sat down most of the time.
Whilst it is unfortunate for you that you’ve not had PIP awarded, there are many, many undeserving cases who have been awarded PIP (and I don’t mean for MS…), perhaps some of them might have qualified for a lesser award had such a thing existed.
I hope you and your employer come to a suitable arrangement. Most people on here will tell you to keep working for as long as you can - for the socialisation and mental sharpness.
I agree that the lack of graduation in the current system makes it a real “all or nothing” battle. If you do go for a Mandatory Reconsideration, focus purely on the “reliability” criteria—specifically how your fatigue affects you repeatedly throughout the day. Even if work is compatible with sitting, the “invisible” toll counts for more points than most people realize.
I’m sorry to hear your difficulties with PIP. It’s such a difficult process. I would say that if you can, pursue the mandatory reconsideration and tribunal route. I did it in 2022 and won in court. I’m currently in the review process which is just as difficult and frustrating but I’ve got help from a charity called Fightback 4 Justice. They help people with benefit applications for a small membership fee. I think it’s definitely worth looking at them, they’ve helped a lot so far. Good luck with it.
The benefits system is bloody hard work (I think it’s a lot harder than it really needs to be) PIP turned me down 3 times and I got so fed up that I almost gave up. It is doable but you do have to dig your heels in and be determined. I went as far as applying for a first tier tribunal. A few weeks later a lady rang me from PIP) I didn’t really understand what she was proposing - she was talking about adding points all over the place then, she said something about me still having the right to go forward with the tribunal if I wanted to. The whole thing was a bit confusing. When I thought about it after the call. I think they really wanted to avoid the tribunal so, reassessed all of my bits and decided to get rid of me by awarding the claim. I get the impression that they’re trying to avoid costly tribunals now so, please do persevere with it as far as you have to x
Good luck 
Jon.
The whole thing is a circus.
The system is full of risk-averse people who will process claims for a quiet life because they have no personal investment in the outcome.
I have no doubts about my own eligibility for PIP but remember being greenlighted through JSA > ESA > EESA by public sector workers who wanted my case off their desks - and I wasn’t making a fuss, just got given it.
The system rewards the persistent and the liars and maybe a few deserving cases. If anyone doesn’t mind embellishing the truth a bit and can persuade HCP’s to write stuff in support, then under the current regime, why not give it a go? Everybody else is! Let’s hope some commercially-minded people take control of this racket because the message at the moment is to let the country go bust and blag some freebies if you can.
Apparently there are 1 million more people on PIP than pre-covid. Many of those are for mental health issues and have not been subject to a face-to-face assessment. Maybe some of them are taking the piss?
What country are you in? Scotland, England, Wales or Northern Ireland?
Reason I ask is that I was on DLA at the lower level until last year. Apparently that was done away with. I applied for social security additional benefits, I think that is what sssadp stands for. And from £115 every 4 weeks of am now getting £440 every 4 weeks. Granted my MS also progressed from relapse remitting to secondary progressive MS.
Ask your regional ms society for guidance. I got pointed to MS revive for help filling out the forms.