Can my sister claim PIP

If you follow the above link then click through to PIP, there is masses of information.
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/help-with-your-claim/fill-in-form-pip/
This link takes you through the claim form.
Check the criteria and how points are scored.
There is no substitute for having the help of an experienced adviser eg from Citizens Advice, or AgeUK or a specialist charity to complete the form. But their time is better used if the claimant has done some preparation. PIP is awarded based on points scored, not a diagnosis, though medical evidence is important.
Keep a diary for a week or two of how long things take, what difficulties are encountered, what help is needed.

If you cannot do the specific activities listed reliably, that is safely, repeatedly, to an acceptable standard and within an acceptable time frame, then points should be awarded. But it is not that easy. It often seems that the assessors have targets of how many people they can turn down!
Please investigate the criteria for PIP thoroughly before trying to get an appointment with an advisor. There will be a backlog of people needing appointments after the Christmas break so be patient. Once you have got the form there is a limited time to return it, though an extension of two weeks can be requested. Then it takes a long time, months rather than weeks to be assessed and get a decision. It is not for the faint- hearted. Many claimants are refused ( especially if they have not had help to claim) and will need help to appeal.
I hope this is useful.
Another useful website is Benefits and Work. They have guides, but you get more information on payment of a membership fee.
CitA is always free, but heavily booked.

CAB are the best place for help with this.

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/benefits-for-people-who-are-sick-or-disabled/
Have a read of this which covers the whole picture, then follow the relevant links.
I’ll post a bit more in a moment.

RubyRoobs you make it sound so easy to claim PIP. My daughter filled in the forms and according to the information you are given and how many points you get for things I should have awarded it. I sent 45 pages from my neurologist , cardiologist and GP. I was given zero on everything.My phone interview was hour 46 mins and I knew she didn't listen to me.

The MRN letter was a copy of the PIP decision letter the woman had just moved the sentences about.

The Brain Charity got me a solicitor. I requested a copy of the assessment. For her it was 23 pages long the only page without an error was the last page were she signed it and put how long it took to write. 38 mins .

It took me 2 days marking what she had wrong and writing an email saying what I had said to my solicitor.

The solicitor applied for a tribunal in July 2022 I had my tribunal end of August 2023. A support worker from the Brain Charity went with me. Thanks to Cabbie telling me about the tribunal she witnessed made me if easier.
The judge explained everything that was going to happen he took notes and it was recorded. The doctor had all my letters from neurologist in front of him and there was a disabled man who asked very probing questions but I answered everything. The hearing should have taken hour but after 50 mins the judge said they had enough evidence. We waited 10 mins and they awarded me enhanced living and enhanced mobility indefinitely so they can't take it off me. It was back dated until 7th March 2022 the date I asked for the forms. The judge apologised that I had to wait so long to get the correct decision.

A representative from DWP was supposed to attend but they didn't turn up . The judge was not happy and stated so in the letter I received with my decision.

I had been fighting for 35 years for disability benefits after my health got worse in 1988. I was born disabled and also born with a hole in my heart. And have been in constant pain and fallen all my life since I could walk. I am 65 .

Also as others have said she could look at Universal credit with the limited capability for work element, but would need to reduce hours to be earning less than 16 x nmw per week to be assessed unless she gets PIP awarded in which case she could be assessed whatever hours she works. Again a difficult situation to reduce hours so much without any guarantee that she will be awarded the limited capability element ( hopefully she would), and also reducing hours to this low is so much less than what she will currently be earning. Does she have rent to pay / If so she could get help with that form Universal credit but not with a mortgage. If she has savings over 16k she cannot claim Universal credit.

PIP isn't really about a diagnosis but how her illness/ disability affects her in relation to the activities that PIP looks at.
Can she wash and dress herself, cook a simple meal for one from scratch, get to the toilet, communicate, mix with others etc. Can she do these things reliably, in a reasonable timeframe without pain etc ? Then they look at mobility, how far she can safely walk, does she use any walking aids etc. For the best chances of being awarded then she needs to provide good , relevant medical evidence - Consultants letters, physio letters, maybe Occupational health report if she has had an assessment. PIP isn't about whether someone can work ( there is a different assessment for ESA or Universal credit for that ), but being able to go to work full time in a manual job is likely going to go against her I'm afraid. She would need to explain if questioned on her job that she is struggling and needs help from others. I am struggling to se where she might score points if she is going to work each day except maybe on mobility. I do understand it's very hard for people - they need to give up work or reduce hours but can't afford to until they get help from a disability benefit but sometimes the fact of being in full time work especially in a manual job is going to be questioned by the assessor as they can and do ask about working, job role etc in relation to how a typical day looks. I would say it's worth a try but expect to be knocked back as many first time applications are.

PIP tribunal thread

Yes she can but she will have to fight for it. I started a thread PIP and back in July. It's way down the list.

Cabbie is the best person to advise you.

She will need someone who knows how to fill in the forms . I had to fight for 35 years for disability benefits. As she has heart problems now kidney get in touch with the British heart Foundation and Kidney charity they will help her.

CAB and Age UK refused to help me but the Brain Charity did but it took me from April 2022 until August 2023 to get PIP and only because the Brain Charity got me a solicitor pro bono after PIP gave me zero on everything. I was born disabled

The tribunal couldn't have been kinder . I was awarded enhanced living and enhanced mobility indefinitely which they back dated until March 7th 2022 when I asked for the forms. Because the tribunal is a court they can't take it off me.

Your sister should stop work and she can claim universal credit and health universal credit.

She needs a unavailable to work note from her GP.

For the first time since my husband died in 2004 I haven't worried about money for the last 4 months.

You need to get advice from somewhere like Citizens Advice or a disability rights group. She also needs to see if she can be signed off sick by her GP. She may be able to get contributions based ESA which should take her into her retirement. Does she have a works pension? If she can no longer work she may qualify of ill health payout and not have to wait until she retires.

That’s certainly a lot to deal with. I’d look in to pip if I was her.