The UK's Personal Independence Payment (PIP) application process is notoriously difficult – a confusing, stressful, and often dehumanising system that puts immense pressure on people already struggling with disabilities and long-term health conditions. I know this firsthand because I've been through it myself, and I was eventually awarded PIP, but it was a brutal fight. It shouldn't be this way. I was constantly left feeling overwhelmed and worrying about how I was going to afford the extra costs that come with being disabled. It made me realise how many others are struggling to navigate this process, especially while dealing with the daily realities of a disability or long-term health condition.
I remember one particular day, spending hours on hold with the DWP, trying to get clarification on a single, confusingly worded question on the application form. I had all my medical evidence spread out around me, feeling completely lost and utterly defeated. It ended up being a process lasting months and months, with page after page of medical evidence, and writing for the application. On top of that, the assessment lasted a gruelling 2 hours and 25 minutes! That experience, and countless others like it, solidified my determination to do something.
That's why I'm building mypipapp, an AI-powered chatbot and comprehensive guidebook designed to make the PIP application process easier, less stressful, and more accessible. I want to empower people to fight for the benefits they're entitled to, and to ensure they don't miss out on vital financial support because of a needlessly complex system.
mypipapp will provide:
- 24/7 Personalised Guidance: Instant answers to your PIP questions and tailored advice.
- Step-by-Step Form Completion: Help understanding and completing the complex application forms.
- Evidence Gathering Support: Guidance on collecting the right medical evidence.
- Assessment Preparation: Tips and practice scenarios to build your confidence.
- A Comprehensive Guidebook: An in-depth resource covering all aspects of PIP.
- Information on your rights: Giving you all the information, all in one place.
I've already poured over six months of my life, countless hours, and my own money into developing a working prototype and writing a substantial guidebook. You can see my progress at mypipapp.co.uk. But to transform this into a fully functional, secure, and user-friendly application – available as both a website and a mobile app – I need your support. Proposed reforms to PIP also mean people will need help navigating the system more than ever.
How Your Donation Will Help:
I'm raising £3000 to bring mypipapp to life. Your donation will directly fund:
- App Development: Hiring a professional developer to finalize the app, ensuring it's secure, reliable, and easy to use. This includes integrating the chatbot, payment processing, and making it accessible on all devices.
- Essential Platform Costs: Covering the necessary software subscriptions and hosting fees to keep mypipapp running.
My Commitment:
My immediate goal is to launch a fully functional version of mypipapp that can start helping people immediately. I'm driven by a deep passion to make this process fairer and less traumatic. With proposed government reforms making the PIP process even more challenging, the need for mypipapp is more urgent than ever.
Every donation, big or small, will directly contribute to getting mypipapp into the hands of those who need it most. Any funds raised beyond my initial target will be reinvested to make it even better – adding new features, expanding the guidebook, providing even more comprehensive support, and reaching more people. I'm committed to full transparency and will provide regular updates on how the funds are being used.
I believe everyone deserves fair access to the support they need. Please donate today and share this campaign to help me make the PIP process less of a nightmare for others.
Thank you for your support!
Organizer
