We need to make a change within the Personal Independence Payments system.

I am witnessing first hand the struggle my poor mother is facing post stroke. She had suffered from a stroke back in May 2022 and has yet to fully recover from this. The mental and physical effects people suffer from strokes leave them impacted for the rest of their lives. 

a stroke happens every 5 minutes in the UK and just over 100,000 people suffer from a stroke per year in the UK alone. With 1.3 million people being survivors of strokes in the UK currently.

Which sadly I can imagine each and every one of us know of someone close to us who have suffered from this and can witness first hand the life changing impact this is having in individuals.

Strokes cause irreparable damage to a persons brain which leaves them with symptoms that may not always be physically seen but are constantly leaving the victims vulnerable and stripping away their independence. 

Long term symptoms from strokes can include: impaired speech, restricted physical abilities, weakness or paralysis of limbs to one side of their body. 

The mental strain and invisible effects this can have on victims really are crippling and some days are leaving them bed bound with no energy to care for themselves due to the crippling fatigue.

My mother has had a hard recovery from this at only 45. Strokes had usually majorly effected people of the age of 55 and over. Within the past year my mother has constant communication with specialists in the community who are stating the ages of stroke victims is just getting younger and younger!

After having her stroke my mother had no choice but to leave her job as it was physically no longer in her capabilities to complete these duties, sadly PIP (Personal Independence Payments) has rejected her claim to apply for this. With research on this topic is has become quite evident that fellow stroke survivors are not seen to be deemed eligible for this payment as this isn’t inline with the ailments they believe fit the requirements. 

I do believe and I hope I am helping be a voice for many in the UK in this sad position that are not being heard when they say stroke victims are living with life long damaging effects which are preventing them from easing back into society after recovering as many would so desperately like to return to their normal lives but are unable to do so.

I have located an article which can be quite informing to just explain how severe the lasting effects of a stroke can be and how PIP do not seem to consider this.

We as a country need to make sure we are not alienating and leaving our poor friends and families who are suffering or are caring for someone from these tragic events. And make sure we are making their recovery procedures as easy as possible through these trying times.

 

https://www.thenational.scot/politics/20582994.bad-experience-applying-pip-serious-stroke/​

 

https://differentstrokes.co.uk/blog/my-experience-with-pip/