PIP home assessment

I am new to claiming benefits. I have osteo arthritis in knees, severe ongoing anxiety and panic and degenerative disc disease and 3 slipped discs that are causing agonising nerve pain and numbness in my legs. Had to pay for a private MRI to find out what it was even though I've been going to the doctors for 3 years with back pain. My works are going to make me redundant as I am on sick now. Could I get PIPs or any other benefits for these conditions? I really need help and advise from anyone as I don't know where to start with all this and it seems so overwhelming to me.

To add to Gordon's excellent advice - it is possible, and perfectly proper, to claim both ESA and PIP, you do not have to choose between them if you feel you qualify for both.

I have got my PIP medical next week. I suffer from Agrophobia and they have agreed to come to my home. I am terrified about what to expect. I did a thorough application form showing all of my health conditions one of which is paralysed nerves in my legs and waiting for an accurate diagnosis of a muscle wasting disease which means it's impossible for me to stand up and walk for more than a few min ties d effort thnumbness starts going up my legs. Also get numbness in hands. Will I have to do the physical part? What should I expect? I'm getting into a state about is. Any advice is appreciated.

Hi Debbie,

I have merged your query with the previous one relating to your PIP claim. It helps us enormously when everything dealing with the same claim is kept in one topic - and I hope you will find it useful too. You might want to favourite/bookmark this on your web browser now so that you find it easily in future

I'm sorry you are so stressed about this

There is a section in our PIP guide that tells you what to expect at the assessment. It will not be like any 'medical' you have ever been to and there should not be a lot of physical activity. You are perfectly entitled to refuse to do anything that would cause you pain - but you need to be very clear about the reason for refusal (and, even then it might still be reported just as 'refused').

PIP help for claimants

It is up to you to decide which room of your home you want the assessment to be carried out in. The assessor does not have the right to look anywhere else in your home - and we have not heard of them asking to do so. However, you might want to show him/her any aids or adaptations that you have.

It us also up to you to decide who you want to be with you throughout the assessment/

You should be aware that the assessor might turn up on time, early, late - or even not turn up at al!

Please come back and tell us how you get on