I'm raising £1,000 to fund my PIP appeal.

I have been out of work since January 2025 due to my ill health. Despite fighting to continue working with chronic pain for the last ten years, my health took a big decline last year. I have since been diagnosed with ME/CFS which was most likely triggered by my surgical menopause.

As the NHS support for surgical menopause and ME/CFS is both pretty much non existent, I am seeing a private menopause specialist to try and find the right HRT levels. This alone costs £90 a month, plus an extra £200-300 for regular blood tests and prescriptions.

I am so lucky to be supported by Liam (and Maple - although she doesn't bring in much money) and my Mama, and Liam's parents - who all contribute to these costs. Since my health decline, other costs have also gone up, with needing to buy mobility aids, travel by taxi more and have ready meals as I'm unable to cook 95% of the time.

I applied for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in February 2025, with the help of an advocate service. The application alone is time and energy consuming, incredibly stressful and depressing as you have to focus on all the things you can't do and struggle with. Applying makes you feel like a burden. Unfortunately, I was only given the mobility award and not the daily living award (I missed out by 2 points). Many of the reasons they gave for this were incorrect. For example, they said I must be able to do certain activities because I had a job, despite me telling them I had been off work for months and was going through the process to be let go due to ill health. (Also never mind the fact PIP is an in-work benefit). I followed the process, which is to ask for a Mandatory Reconsideration back in July. I have just received the decision for this as they had scanned the documents but not actually had any person look at them...

I have again had the daily living award denied. This is unfortunately very common. Many disability charities believe the DWP have brought in the Mandatory Reconsideration process to stop people appealing and the liklihood of a changed decision at that stage is very low.

I am determined to appeal, but I also know that with my capacity currently, I can't do this on my own. Again, this is so depressing that I am unable to stand up for myself and voice my struggles in the way that will be believed. I want to work with an advocacy service that will support my appeal. They have legal representatives that will help me to prepare the documents that are most relevant, and be able to be there at the tribunal. They have a 98% success rate at appeal. Unfortunately, this company costs £1020, which is not an amount we have spare.

Two friends have both told me to create a crowdfunder, even though asking for money feels so hard and weird. At this point this is the best way for me to appeal this decision and hopefully have PIP support going forward.

If you do have anything you can spare to donate I would be incredibly grateful for the support. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

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