PIP appeal next week, any advice?

Nige_S
Nige_S Community member Posts: 5 Listener
Hi, I have my PIP appeal next week, I had the assessment for it over the phone, I explained as best as I could my symptoms of ill health, fatigue, that I keep getting ill and am suffering from really bad anxiety. My social anxiety is so bad I avoid all social situations, even family get togethers.

It's taken a while but I have now finally managed to get seen by a psychiatrist and have been diagnosed with social anxiety disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder.

My bad stress has been ongoing with the doctors since 2009 and I have been to stress awareness classes once a week for 8 weeks and stress counseling once a week for 6 weeks. The doctors think that my bad physical health is being caused by my anxiety = my ill health is stress related.

The PIP assessment I had didn't seem to take into account my mental health, it seemed to be more concerned with physical ability health, but when I get ill it's my stomach that becomes really bad, my back gets bad, really bad headache, sickness and my anxiety gets terrible and I become very confused and depressed ( I also lose weight and have become very underweight).

The problem I think is that the assessor was not a mental health expert so it was unfair for me. 

Can anyone give me any advice for the tribunal? 

Comments

  • chiarieds
    chiarieds Community member Posts: 16,331 Championing
    Hi @Nige_S - altho you may not feel it, PIP does look at both physical & mental problems relating to the activities that are looked at with PIP; some are quite specific to those suffering from the latter.
    The assessors have some understanding, but not even a Dr can know about all disorders.
    All I can say is that with a tribunal (& they're totally separate from the DWP) they will listen to you. Just answer their questions to the best of your ability.
  • Hannah_Alumni
    Hannah_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,906 Championing
    @nige_s Good luck with the tribunal! :) Please keep us updated! Keeping everything crossed. 
  • Nige_S
    Nige_S Community member Posts: 5 Listener
    chiarieds said:
    Hi @Nige_S - altho you may not feel it, PIP does look at both physical & mental problems relating to the activities that are looked at with PIP; some are quite specific to those suffering from the latter.
    The assessors have some understanding, but not even a Dr can know about all disorders.
    All I can say is that with a tribunal (& they're totally separate from the DWP) they will listen to you. Just answer their questions to the best of your ability.
    Thanks  :)
  • Nige_S
    Nige_S Community member Posts: 5 Listener
    @nige_s Good luck with the tribunal! :) Please keep us updated! Keeping everything crossed. 
    Thanks  :)
  • durhamjaide2001
    durhamjaide2001 Scope Member Posts: 11,209 Championing
    Good luck for your appeal @Nige_S I had one when I was 10 years old to get into a private school but we unfortunately lost