Bethen Thorpe, a 47-year-old Wells resident living with multiple sclerosis (MS), has joined forces with a national campaign to overhaul the current personal independence payment (PIP) system. Diagnosed with relapsing MS in 2014, Ms Thorpe is among many who claim the benefit system is causing undue stress and exacerbating symptoms for MS patients across the UK.

Her main symptoms include numbness, exhaustion, blurred vision and burning sensations – meaning she struggles with household tasks, is rarely able to leave her home, and needs extra help to pay for travel.

A recent report from the MS Society, titled 'PIP and MS: a Decade of Failure', highlights a range of issues with the existing PIP system, which replaced the disability living allowance in 2013. The study found that 65% of people going through the assessment process experienced a negative impact on their physical and mental health, and 69% reported heightened levels of stress.

Ms Thorpe has personally navigated the complexities of the PIP system, going through three assessments and appeals since her diagnosis.

She said: "My first assessment was when I lived in London, and I had to travel 40 miles to Chelmsford for the meeting. The report stated I could 'carry a handbag' so I wasn't awarded anything. At my second assessment, my dad was supporting me but the report stated there was nothing wrong with me – so we had to appeal and go to tribunal again.

"Earlier this year, I was told I'd have another assessment out of the blue. I felt awful in the build-up; I was so stressed that I couldn't get out of bed.

"On the day, I had all the paperwork and the legal files open in front of me so I could answer questions. But in doing so the assessor said I had 'no problems with interpreting signs' – but I can barely see – everything is blurred!

"I could tell I was being judged because I speak articulately. For example, they marked me down because I was able to name the medication I'm on.

"I was awarded the standard amount where I was on the enhanced level before – around £100 a month difference. This additional money allows me to pay for escalating transport costs, including taxis to appointments and the cost of railcards.

"I appealed and thankfully the decision has been changed to the higher award for both elements of PIP – which covers daily living and mobility costs.

"I've had quite severe depression and my symptoms have worsened with the stress of PIP. I've been upset about it, as you shouldn't have to go to court two times.

"I try to be pragmatic and sensible, but the fact you have to keep being questioned isn't fair. I'm getting older – my MS is progressing, and I I don't know whether I can keep fighting it. But further down the line, are they going to take even more away?"

MS Society policy manager Anastasia Berry said; "Living with MS can be exhausting, painful and debilitating – yet on top of managing gruelling symptoms, too many people with MS like Bethen and Julia are forced to fight for the basic support they're entitled to.

"MS is a progressive, incurable condition, which will usually worsen over time -yet people with MS are regularly reassessed and made to prove their condition hasn't improved.

"Ten years of a broken PIP system has meant a decade of stress, indignity and humiliation for people with MS.  Our latest report  reveals the devastating impact it can have on both physical and mental health.

"Politicians across parliament don't have a plan to make PIP right, but we can't allow this to continue. The government must fix PIP now and stop failing people with MS."

Somerset Council was approached by the Local Democracy Reporting Service but said it was unable to comment since it does not directly deal with the PIP process or the distribution of DWP funding.

To sign the MS Society's petition calling for a review of PIP, visit  www.mssociety.org.uk/fix-pip.

While Somerset Council stated it could not comment on the PIP process or the distribution of DWP funding, the experience of Ms Thorpe and many others underlines the urgent need for reform.

For more information or to support the MS Society's petition for a review of PIP, visit their website at www.mssociety.org.uk/fix-pip.