Help please! Unsure what to do!! :/

jackieash
jackieash Online Community Member Posts: 20 Listener
in Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
hello,

I claim UC and PIP for epilepsy, depression, anxiety. 

I got so fed up with my GP that I went to see a psychiatrist and she said I don’t have depression but I do have anxiety disorders. 

My UC claim says I suffer with low mood in the form of depression and panic attacks. I do still suffer with low mood every day and I disagree with the psychiatrist doctor but I think I may have to do a change of circumstances now for all of them. 

I don’t understand. I am anxious and I feel down every day because I can’t leave the house. I don’t socialise with people anymore and my partner helps me with every day stuff. How can I not have it. My friends say I am worse than them. 

She says I don’t have depression. I’m not depressed. I said you have only seen me for an hour and challenged this but she says anxiety is my main disabling problem not low mood. Low mood stems from the anxiety. 

I am worried sick. Is this a change of circumstances. 

I keep thinking maybe get second opinion or speak to GP. 

Help!! Please :///

Comments

  • pantry
    pantry Online Community Member Posts: 2 Connected
    Symptoms - Clinical depression - NHS (www.nhs.uk) see if this fits you
  • jackieash
    jackieash Online Community Member Posts: 20 Listener
    pantry said:
    Symptoms - Clinical depression - NHS (www.nhs.uk) see if this fits you
    They do! But she also said anxiety is a worse condition and the symptoms overlap 
  • janer1967
    janer1967 Online Community Member Posts: 21,922 Championing
    Hi 

    This isn't a change of circumstances pip isn't awarded based on a diagnosis or condition.  It is awarded based on how your condition affects you in daily life and mobility against the pip descriptors.  So if there has been no change to this then it doesn't need reporting 
  • jackieash
    jackieash Online Community Member Posts: 20 Listener
    janer1967 said:
    Hi 

    This isn't a change of circumstances pip isn't awarded based on a diagnosis or condition.  It is awarded based on how your condition affects you in daily life and mobility against the pip descriptors.  So if there has been no change to this then it doesn't need reporting 
    But what about UC?!  :/
  • janer1967
    janer1967 Online Community Member Posts: 21,922 Championing
    It's the same for uc you are assessed on your ability to work not your condition or diagnosis 
  • jackieash
    jackieash Online Community Member Posts: 20 Listener
    But say you have 4 conditions and 1 is explained by something else 

    or disappears

    But you still have difficulties?
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    jackieash said:
    But say you have 4 conditions and 1 is explained by something else 

    or disappears

    But you still have difficulties?

    It makes no difference. Janer is correct, neither of those have anything to do with any diagnosis. For UC have you been found to have LCWRA after a work capability assessment? If so then that's the highest award you can have an no diagnosis or different diagnosis or more conditions will make any difference to your award.
  • jackieash
    jackieash Online Community Member Posts: 20 Listener
    Hi poppy, so I don’t have to worry?

    My psychiatrist said: You gave me a lot of information which has been extremely useful but all of the symptoms you described could be parts of the diagnoses that I have already given you.

    this is in relation to the reason I had to put a claim in. I still feel confused. 

    She did actually say to me that working right now isn’t something I should be focusing on
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    As has been advised neither benefits are about a diagnosis, so you don’t need to report anything. 
  • jackieash
    jackieash Online Community Member Posts: 20 Listener
    but if you tell them about that diagnosis and it changes. What do you do. 

    I find my nhs records aren’t up to scratch either
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    As advised, it's not about a diagnosis and as you've already been found to have LCWRA then there's no need to report changes.
    jackieash said:

    I find my nhs records aren’t up to scratch either
    This sounds familiar to another member, are you an existing member using a new username?

  • jackieash
    jackieash Online Community Member Posts: 20 Listener
    poppy123456 said:
    As advised, it's not about a diagnosis and as you've already been found to have LCWRA then there's no need to report changes.
    jackieash said:

    I find my nhs records aren’t up to scratch either
    This sounds familiar to another member, are you an existing member using a new username?

    no???

    I can see them through the app.. can see the doctors sending emails but conditions past present not even recorded properly

    they wrote tired down as well… idiots

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