Positive experience at benefits assessment

[UnXmas]

I've read a lot of unhappy stories about people having to fight to get approved for various disability benefits. I'm not sure this will apply to many on this forum, as IBD was not the reason for my application and I wouldn't have thought many would qualify for this with IBD alone, but I recently got reassessed for PIP (in the UK, it's non-means-tested payment for those who need help getting around and/or help with personal care).

The nurse who assessed me could not have been lovlier. The complete opposite of the horror stories you hear - she literally told me I was downplaying my condition and that I should say I need more help (I didn't think I was downplaying anything, just trying to be honest - I think I'm more capable than my medical records suggest, so she thought I must be downplaying things). She's not the one making the decision though, and I won't know the result for a while yet, but since it's natural that people go online to vent about bad experiences, where assessors give them a hard time or don't seem to understand people's difficulties, I thought I'd share something a bit more encouraging.

 

[UnXmas]

Well I got approved for the full amount, so being honest paid off.

Btw, if anyone in Britain on this forum thinks they may be entitled to PIP, I'm happy to answer questions about it, having just gone through it, I know a bit about what qualifies, what the assessments involve, etc. If you're relying on other people due to health issues - to help you travel, get shopping, at work, around the house, with dressing and washing, etc. for an extended period of time (so not just for a few weeks while you recover from surgery or something, but for months), or if you require equipment - e.g.aids to help you walk or supports to get you in and out of the shower, you may be entitled. It includes psychological issues too, such as needing support to go out because of bad anxiety.