I was in the Intensive Therapy Unit at St George’s Hospital when I asked for my prognosis. I was told I'd probably use a wheelchair for the rest of my life. It was awful, and in time I've realised the wheelchair is probably the easiest part of having a spinal cord injury. I suppose at the time I still had some hope about what I might regain, but as time went on the reality set in and I had to face what my life was going to look like and being the best paraplegic I could be.

I was a bit ignorant and naive really. I was fit and athletic before the injury, so the physical side of rehabilitation did not feel daunting. Because of my scientific background, I felt I had a bit of a head start, as I already knew what the drugs did and I was familiar with the medical terminology. At the same time, my wife was 33 weeks pregnant, so my main focus was simply to get through it and reach a level of functionality where I could be at the birth independently. I was so focused on that that I was not really thinking about life beyond it.

The team in Stanmore was great and very knowledgeable about the SCI charities and the support available. They had already mentioned Aspire and then I spoke to Lindsay, an Aspire Independent Living Advisor, who explained everything Aspire could help with. My case manager agreed that I should speak to Aspire's Welfare Benefits team before discharge to start the process. The service was great.

The PIP process is deceptively simple when you read about it. It looks like just a regular form. You think it is straightforward, but it was only when I spoke to Aspire and we went through the criteria that I realised how much I would never have thought to include had I completed it myself. You think having a spinal cord injury is enough, that it should be obvious, but it isn’t. You have to list everything that comes with it, and I’m not certain I would have done that. When the review came around, it was a no-brainer to ask for their help again.

Writing everything down and thinking about your worst days is incredibly distressing. It is something you do not want to admit to yourself, and it is difficult to highlight how bad things are. When it comes to it, nobody wants to admit what they can and cannot do. It feels strange, almost as if you are begging for support by listing how hard it is to live and manage everyday tasks. It is not a nice position to be in at all.

Having the form written for me was a great support. It felt like a kind of validation because it came from someone who has seen many cases like mine and who completely understands. Having someone say, “of course you can put that down because that is the reality” without judgement, was reassuring and made a real difference.

Because it is hard to admit my difficulties, had I done the form myself I probably would have been much more matter-of-fact and assumed that being a high-level para with no motor function would have been enough. I would have expected the DWP to know what that entails and that I would obviously have difficulties with certain tasks. If I had approached it that way, I might not have received the same result”.

PIP means we can afford for me to work part time, four days a week. If I was not injured, I would certainly be working full time, as I always did. Having that one day takes the pressure off and allows me to manage my condition properly. It is a real benefit.

I have access to a Motability car, which is a major part of my independence. I would not be able to get to work without it because so many stations are inaccessible. PIP also helps pay for a cleaner, because it is much harder for me to do those things now, and it takes some pressure off my wife. It helps cover the cost of the random pieces of equipment I need. I have just bought a new foot strap for my chair, for example.

Welfare Benefits Advice

Personal stories

How we help