Hi, my name is Rae! denied PIP because I don't see my GP regularly

mxraec

I got my decision letter back denying me PIP for mental health, undiagnosed ADHD and such. They denied me this because I don't see my GP regularly. 
Is there anyway I can prove that my anxiety is bad enough that I am unable to contact my GP, and I'd rather suffer than have an awkward appointment? 

em203

Hi Rae, 
to recieve pip it really is down to the wording you use in the form as apposed to the regularity of seeing the dr, obviously it does help but overall it should make no difference you have to be very precise in how its filled and dont be fooled by the questions ie do youy need help to eat. i have bipolar and indiaganosed adhd so my answer is yes on bad days i have to be prompted to eat and someone has to make that food for me and shop for it  or maybe bring something around. when i am in hypermania/manic i dont eat i forget and have to be reminded etc 
please forgive my spelling etc

em203

also regarding anxiety they prob would have asked how you got there i never go on public transport as my anxiety is to bad and always try to find someone to take me to an assesment.
i cant always go outside because of my anxiety and can become too overwhelmed if things on my journey change, it means i need help to shop either by someone or with someone. if you need to appeal i suggest cab as they can be really amazing filling in forms for you 

mxraec

em203 said:

also regarding anxiety they prob would have asked how you got there i never go on public transport as my anxiety is to bad and always try to find someone to take me to an assesment.
i cant always go outside because of my anxiety and can become too overwhelmed if things on my journey change, it means i need help to shop either by someone or with someone. if you need to appeal i suggest cab as they can be really amazing filling in forms for you 

Hi, thank you, I did my assignment via a phone call as my mum was unable to take me as planned, which makes it worse(My anxiety is more physical than in my voice) 

Albus_Scope

Hi @mxraec and welcome to the community!

I can see you're already getting support for your query, but I just wanted to pop in and say hello.

bookrabbit

I haven't been able to to cope with the doctor for years so I lack a lot of evidence and am really hoping they don't hold it against me. Recently someone started supporting me and took me to the doctor in order to get some evidence but I am concerned that not everything got documented because I get so stressed I can't speak properly and the doctors get fed up with me. Autism is my main problem with sensory issues and severe social anxiety but now I can hardly walk anymore although I don't have a clear diagnosis as to why. I refused x-rays because I couldn't cope with the hospital appointment which got discussed during the assessment. I am sure I fell for lots of trick questions during the assessment and fell back on muttering about managing to get it over with when I really shouldn't have to manage by myself the way I do. I was so stressed that they nearly cancelled it and I had to beg them to continue saying that I would be far more stressed if it all had to start over. Luckily the person with me convinced them that she could make sure I was safe and they reluctantly continued and we got through it in the end. But not well. I forgot lots and conceded things I shouldn't have and hadn't mentioned other things to the GP. I am really hoping they haven't turned me down. 

Rosie_Scope

Fingers crossed it comes out okay for you @bookrabbit, that sounds like it was really stressful. Well done for getting through it, it can't have been easy. We are always here if you need any support

Ramonica

mxraec said:

I got my decision letter back denying me PIP for mental health, undiagnosed ADHD and such. They denied me this because I don't see my GP regularly. 
Is there anyway I can prove that my anxiety is bad enough that I am unable to contact my GP, and I'd rather suffer than have an awkward appointment? 

Just to share, due to my mental health I can not exit home, but I speak with my GP at least once per month on the phone. They accepted that just fine when I applied for my PIP and it was mentioned as a supporting point on my report. You can request phone appointments from your GP. This way your GP will put notes on your record regularly, and decide on any medication or referrals (ie Autism assessment).

Nashota

I don't see my GP or speak to them much and haven't for the passed 2 years or so due to my mental health and stupid mistakes that one of them made, it shouldn't go against you providing you explain on your form. Not everyone can leave their home due to them not being able to be around people.

Jimm_Scope

When it comes to mental health there's often not much the GP can do. For instance, when I most recently applied for PIP, I got back that "anti-depressants medication has not changed for some time, this means you are mentally stable". Of course, I was titrating my ADHD medication and the last thing any of my doctors wanted to do was start changing my anti-depressants at the same time. But this was not even considered, I wrongly assumed it would be, but it's something you do have to explicitly state. 

dani09uk

As I haven’t changed my medication for my depression/anxiety for years, the decision maker also assumed that they were stable. They completely overlooked me mentioning that changing/starting new medication terrifies me as I was once put on weight-loss medication that made me suicidal (it was later pulled from the market). Like other people here, I also avoid trips to the doctors as I have to rely on other people to go with me and it’s unbelievably hard to see the same GP more than once. 

I have issues with my back and knees too, but these were overlooked because I haven’t felt able to seek out help for the pain I experience as the thought of having to go for scans etc is overwhelming. 

It’s amazing how much you have to spell everything out to the DWP, which I have done in my MR letter.  You really have to join the dots for them. 

Autism_at_40

It took me 6 months to pluck up the courage to get an appointment at the doctor's, so I understand that.  You'd think that would go in your favour, not against it though.

When I did my PIP assessment I had an Autism specific charity that dealt almost entirely with PIP assessments, which I think made all the difference.  It might be worth seeing if there is something like that you can go to in your local area to get you the help you need with the appeal if you choose to appeal it.

My local council also offers benefit support, but it's difficult if they don't understand Autism.

Just having someone help you I think would make the world of difference.  I am currently in the process of re-doing my LCWRA assessment and my support worker is helping me, I put a lot of questions last time as being ok, but I realise now, that I should've said that I need help.

Being a late diagnosis for me, sometimes, I just don't realise that I do need help with stuff, because I just plod through.

I hope you can sort it out.

poppy123456

dani09uk said:

It’s amazing how much you have to spell everything out to the DWP, which I have done in my MR letter.  You really have to join the dots for them. 

The reason for that is because PIP isn't awarded based on any diagnosis. Everyone is affected differently and you never get 2 people the same.