Universal Credit PIP and ESA - Frequently Asked Questions 1 - Does my health condition qualify? 

Yay!

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Yes this is true, its about how it effects you not what it is or whether you have a specific diagnosis - however it must be something that has been presented to your GP at least. If it's not recorded on medical records then you won't be able to evidence it.

@@StuartMcGoo , I have bilateral knee pain but no actual reason behind it, scans and xrays show nufin, yet im on opiode pain meds... waitin for tribunal as awarded 0 points. The whole system needs tearin down & startin from scratch.

Great idea

PIP and ESA are separate presently so the outcome of one won't effect the other but that will change in 2026 so it might be better to do it now than then. Find one to one support with your claim from a local support service before you begin as it will make it easier

Are you under the guidance of a recovery centre near you?If so,I know there’s an organisation that specifically helps people in recovery from drug &/or alcohol problems.The one local to me has a 100% success rate of appealing pip claims for people with substance abuse problems.Otherwise,citizens advice bureau will help you fill in the forms as they know how to write out these forms properly.

Yes you can apply for PIP on ESA you will not lose your ESA it's a different benefit. I'm claiming both.

Good question and will form part of my next FAQ video. You will get transitional Protection so you should stay in the equivalent group and receive the same money but there may be a delay in your payments as UC works on a 5 week cycle in the first month.

It's one or the other, not both, so if you applied for AA when you already have PIP, it would be turned down.

That's how the system is set up. It's designed to make getting ESA/PIP as awkward/stressful as possible. I just spent 14 months fighting an appeal, and another two months still waiting on my backdated money after winning. All based on a 10min phone call, neither they nor the DWP bothered turning up. Still waiting on my money, 16 months into the worst cost of living criss in living memory. What they did do was remove the last paragraph from the assessment, which got me moved into the ESA support group. The section which said I should be assessed in 18 months because there was scope for improvement if I got the professional help I needed. Help I'm still waiting on over three years later. Right before my first tribunal, the judge sent the clerk of the court out to tell me I had a case against Atos if I so wished. Then she introduced me to the woman sitting right beside me in the waiting room. Who was the only person from the DWP I have ever seen show up for any of my PIP/ESA tribunals. When I'd finished having my say, they asked her if she had anything she'd like to add on behalf of the DWP. She just looked at the floor and shook her head. They just want to piss off. When I was trying to give some context to a reply to a question. One assessor said, "listen here, I just want to get this form filled in". That is not acceptable from a supposed medical professional. They have also lied about me being on time, and have all the proper ID etc for an interview.

Definitely

Much of the evidence you used for ESA will need to be used for PIP and you will have to resubmit it as they don't share it between departments

@@StuartMcGoo Thank You mate, there is a lot, so would they pay the postage, and I also have bus pass im 51

The short answer, to be safe, is yes.

The length of time between each assessment may vary, but yes probably.

Hi Kelly, I can't find your original comment, could you direct me to it please?