Can You Get Disability Benefits For IBS In The UK?
By
HuutiMoney
If you are interested in knowing whether or not you can get disability benefits for IBS in the UK, you will find the answer to your question in the blog post below. While our key focus will remain on the eligibility criteria for disability benefits in case of IBS or Irritable Bowel Syndrome, we will also discuss how to claim disability benefits if you qualify for them and how much to expect in payments.
Can You Get Disability Benefits For IBS In The UK?
Yes, you can get disability benefits for IBS or Irritable Bowel Syndrome in the UK if your condition is severe enough to make it difficult to perform daily tasks; whether you are at home or work.
This means that having a condition such as IBS or Irritable Bowel Syndrome will not automatically qualify you for disability benefits, even if you are diagnosed by a medical practitioner.
To qualify for disability benefits such as Personal Independence Payments, someone with IBS would have to be facing the swallowing conditions:
- they have experienced issues with everyday living or getting around for at least three months
- they expect these difficulties to continue for at least nine months in the future
This means that if you intend to claim disability benefits such as PIP for suffering from IBS, you will be required to share your symptoms, the severity and frequency of these symptoms as well as how these interfere with your ability to perform work-related tasks with the DWP.
You must also keep in mind that once you apply for a PIP claim for IBS, the DWP will not only require details of your medical records and a note from a medical practitioner to substantiate your claim, but they may also arrange a visit by an Occupational Therapist to visit you and discuss your condition before your claim is processed for approval.
How Do You Make A PIP Claim For IBS?
You can make a PIP claim for IBS by following these steps:
- Call the PIP new claims hotline at 0800 917 2222 or send a letter to Personal Independence Payment New Claims at Personal Independence Payment New Claims, Post Handling Site B, Wolverhampton, WV99 1AH
- The DWP will send you a form titled “How your disability affects you” within two weeks. You must fill in the form using the guidance that accompanies it. Once the form is complete, you will need to submit the form at the address mentioned in it. It is advisable to share your medical records as supportive evidence when you submit the form.
- While you have one month to complete and submit the PIP assessment form, if you need any help, you can call the PIP helpline at the Disability Service Centre or check how to fill in your claim form with guidance from the Citizen’s Advice Bureau.
- You will then be asked to appear for an assessment to check how your condition affects your ability to perform everyday tasks and remain mobile when needed.
- If your claim is approved, you will receive a letter from the DWP confirming this as well as the mention of the first date from which you can expect to start receiving your PIP payments.
How Much Can You Claim With PIP If You Have IBS?
Once your Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claim for having IBS is approved, you can expect to receive between £23.70 and £152.15 each week or between £94.80 and £608.60 each month.
However, the amount that you can claim with PIP depends on your circumstances and the benefit classification you qualify for. If you qualify for the daily living component of PIP, your payments can be classified as follows:
- the standard rate of £60.00
- the enhanced rate of £89.60
On the other hand, if you qualify for the mobility component of PIP, your payments will be as follows:
- the standard rate of £23.70
- the enhanced rate of £62.55
Conclusion:
The above discussion helps to conclude that if someone has IBS, it may not automatically qualify them for a PIP claim; unless their condition is long-lasting and severe enough to impede their ability to perform everyday tasks whether at home or work.