Hmmmm, 
I use mine for cutting garden string and nibbing fruit buds. 
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It took me over 2 years to get PIP, the most degrading thing I have ever gone through.
Think of it this way, it is designed to make you fail and it is designed to make you give up. If you truly believe you are eligible for PIP do not give up. My only concern would be that you are getting zero points for both living and mobility, there must be reasoned arguments for refusal for basic living at least.
Citizens Advice are the best people for you to talk to and take your application forward. Take all your hospital and GP letters with you, especially Neuro Rehab Consultants letters and listings of your incapacities affecting your daily life. Citizens Advice will not waste your time or theirs if there is not a case to be put forward.
If you can use a microwave you can feed yourself a hot meal according to PIP. Can you lift a boiling kettle safely?
Remember PIP want you to give up, so if you have a legitimate claim keep on going.
I wish you success.
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Using a microwave, they can sod off… that costs too much lol
I can boil a kettle, it doesn’t take as long. I can watch the pan. I have issues with boiling potatoes (for example), start it boiling…. Leave the kitchen (it’s small, can’t wait in there)..then forget what I’m doing until I hear something or smell burning.
I don’t cook now. I told them that. I said my dad has to do the cooking as I’ve almost set fire to the house or let things cook till dry… it did not matter it seems.
I can lift a pan, I’m ok. I guess. I didn’t say that, I said specifically I can’t do cooking as I’ve nearly started a fire three times. It wasn’t relevant enough I assume.
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Okay you can put the clothes on to wash and dry, but does that mean no time left to get dressed, put kettle on, or get something to eat?
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I can put the kettle on, but so often forget it’s boiling so some bother to start with (not electric kettle, it’d just boil, so I don’t bother).
If I really try, I’d remember if I stayed in, but not really worth it. I drink water (that’s something I learnt from from the rehoming centre after my 6 months in Hospital, I now drink water all the time lol)
I just don’t try making things, because I forget. Which is ridiculous - it makes me lazy as anything, but it’s failed countless times.
Not a breakfast person, sometimes have a bit of fruit or a sandwich for lunch..but usually it’s just dinner my dad has made. And I have a bottle for water, that I refill at the tap when I remember/when I dry out.
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Hi @Toonah, I have read through this and there has been a lot of useful/ good advice. I done my ADP / PiP forms and think you may benefit from an advocacy worker to assist how you self -assess.
Look at your issues with vision and getting lost- clearly an issue around independent travel- my dad was the same and was given a NEC or national entitlement card for travel as post stroke his vision was poor and required support, unlike me post stroke no visual issues. ADL or associated daily living, highlight the worst days and talk more about them, I still can’t have a bath as my left hand cant support me getting back out but I can do other stuff, same as cooking can manage some stuff but not others. Getting dressed is an issue with shirts, jeans and some other things on my best days simple but some days a massive task.
Appeal, appeal again but get support and get the financial support you deserve.
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This sounds like it falls into their safely criteria. Nearly setting fire to the kitchen because of your memory issues is definitely something you should score for, in my opinion, if they follow their own rules.
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I’m a squillion percent sure I deffo mentioned the cooking issues on the phone to the guy last time, I specifically said if I leave the kitchen things burn, I know I mentioned the boilding potatoes, that were then burnt into a dry pan, as one of them… and that stuff like that scares me to do it.
I’m by no means in a terrible state post stroke. I’m doing well all things considered, just is seems as my issues aren’t strong and steady (i.e. If you asked me to stand up and hop on one leg, I could… I’m lucky that way) so I seem normal, so I score nothing. I don’t want them to say I’m 99% terrible, I’m not… I don’t want to seem worse than I am, but they’re not noticing/caring the issues I have that are issues, even when I say them.
This is seriously hard work.
Years and years and years, and dammit I will try and progress.
Thank you all for your help - however small
(argh, seeing spelling mistakes - I spell them wrong, but they’re actual words so the computer doesn’t notice… d’oh)
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Just to add to what all others have said and it may help. Ask for a wellbeing visit from your fire and rescue service. They can visit and check the safety of your home and will also take details of any mobility issues and the issues you are having. All this may also help with the PIP claim. Not sure if it would help. Just a thought.
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This is a brilliant suggestion. @Toonah - you should really do this regardless of your PIP application. They will check and install free fire alarms for you.
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Hi @Toonah
I’m sorry to hear you’re going through a hard time with getting PIP. It can be difficult to go through the process and get awarded PIP.
As others and yourself have said, you should definitely speak with Citizens Advice. You can always call our Stroke Support Helpline:0303 3033 100 for advice on this too. Also as @Mrs5K mentioned you can also have a look at Turn2us PIP helper - this is run by people who have applied for PIP themselves and know the process so could be of help to you.
Wishing you well and keep us updated on how you get on with it.
Anna
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I was told by my physio once to answer the questions as if it’s you on your worst day. I went through a patch when I was having repeated epileptic seziures all day every day to the extent of it actually happening in the face to face you still had 12yrs ago and I was rejected a couple times back then and obviously couldn’t go anywhere alone, be safe without another person or have much of a life until they fiddled my meds to get me under control. I’ve since had a huge car accident which also caused my stroke. I daren’t go far alone and I have 0 time management skills or much of a memory now so I’d not get home it’s infuriating isn’t it!
Hi there
Lynne T had a stroke three years ago and i cant get pip either.
I feel for you.
I am going to try again.
Think of what you are like on your worst day? I too use micowave meals so scored nil. I also drive and walk my dog. Nil points.
I did get 2 points for hearing.
Good luck with it x
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Not wading in @Toonah, just my view. I have PIP since late 2022, and a review in early 2025. That was a “tightening up” on PIP.
I have a right-leg limp, my right arm is dead, and I don’t feel my entire right side. But I don’t think they’re interested in that, just my view of course, they focus on my severe Aspasia/dysphasia instead, so much so I “passed” (if thats the word) for PIP two times, and later I got Universal Credit as well. Not that I’m that interested in benefits, I desperately want to work, it’s only the clients/big companies who behave at a distance because of my disability.
As opposed to my friend who applied and got it before me. But then, they did a review after 1 year, she had to appeal x 3 in all and the component was Fibromyalgia. They did not believe her and whip PIP out of her hands.
Lesson learned: jot down your worst day and send it in. You might be lucky if you avoid terms like “Fibromyalgia” or unexplained kind of things, focusing on your behaviours.
M
@ManjiB , just seen the vid. OMG 
. Some of the excuses given for ejected PIP claims are ridiculous. It’s another attempt to cut the welfare bill.
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I contacted Citizens Advice again on Tuesday (had left messages on Sat on the whatsapp, they hadn’t replied to that yet) and went through all info again. They gave me an appointment to go to them on the 30th, so they can look at my papers etc and see how to make a re-claim (forgot the wording, first one was refused, trying to combat that). So at the moment I’m pretty casual on things. There’s nothing new I can do. I called PIP to extend the time I’m allowed, I’ve got to reply within 1 month of the letter date, which was the 27th or 28th of March… and I got it on the 4th April, Citizens Advice first available meeting is the 30th April. But calling PIP got that extended to one month from my call, so I have until the 7th May to reply.
Now I just am waiting for that I think. I tried to be proactive, but it doesn’t work in my head. I want to go to the doc about my meds for my sleeping badly, as it’s not working properly, but it’s one of those meds that I can’t just stop… I’d have to slow it down and ween off it… and before that they said if I was having issues with ringing in my ears to go to the Ear, Nose & Throat hospital. I thought that was excessive. Unfortunately I still have the ringing, and sleep isn’t as good as it should be (better than it was, but I still wake up 3-4 times a night, just don’t stay awake for an hour anymore, phew!). But I didn’t want to go to GP if I was doing PIP…. and I don’t want to do A because of PIP… or B… or C… so there’s a mass of stuff I need to do, and unfortunately I can only really work at one at a time, so atm I’m pondering the GP (general call about meds in a week, so will mention the ongoing issues and ringing ears again), and need to do boring tedius other work to sort out a foreign bank account issue (mother is swedish, I need to get access to the swedish account, it’s in my mothers maiden name, so I need to take my passport to the swedish embasy, but passport doesn’t mention mothers name, so needed birth certificate, took a month to arrive…. and now I need to do all that. Which is only available 9am-12pm M-F. And I’m just awful doing things early morning on my own, and I can’t ask my dad to go with me as it’s daft to ask a pensioner to go with you to hold your hand so you don’t get lost….. and so brain just says “ahhhhh” and I’m going to hide under the sofa now….
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My only caveat would be that you shouldn’t always believe everything you see, especially on social media. I have seen quite a few things that are very hard to believe, for example, 80 year old men developing a six pack through Tai Chi exercise etc.
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It’s pie in the sky to think that most businesses would opt for someone with a disability as opposed to someone without as business operates under the premise of maximising profits and with that comes the need for efficiency. If there are businesses that are suitable the issue then becomes how to find them, do they have vacancies and the problem of travelling to them if mobility is an issue.
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@Rups You are right, those pesky people! 
But, out of nowhere, I got a call from a UK recruiter working with a European recruiter, because of my experience and skill (SME level) in something unique and so niche they’ve got to hire me (the big business that is) because there’s only a handful of people out there in the UK with this.
They said all the right words and send my profile to the client a month ago, who has paused because of money issues apparently.
I’ll let you know the outcome when that is finished.
M
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A very wise man has spoken 
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