Hi, my name is inaspin! Can I request a telephone assessment for PIP?

inaspin

hiya, started reading this forum several months ago for reassurance as much as anything else, I was born with a disability and unfortunately the damage is done so it’s a case of making the best of it, since COVID I’ve found my mental illness far outweighs my physical health.

Recently I went through a UC bank statement review took over two weeks and I was mentally shot, it turned out that I’m within the rules, I’ve been waiting for my PIP review decision since Sept last year, like others have said the mental anguish is at times unbearable, up until 5 years ago I held a job down and had the usual anxieties about “what if I lose my job.” being on benefits doesn’t decrease this anxiety as rules and proposed changes are constantly being implemented, in fact I’m pretty much unable to function with the least amount of adversity being on benefits and having DWP and UC hanging over you in many respects is worse than having workplace anxiety, I live alone and isolate myself, I don’t leave the house and even struggle to speak to strangers over the phone as people judge, this isn’t getting any better.

Currently I’m in talking therapy and although my therapist is lovely and offers comfort and empathy I feel my life is on hold, my ability to rationalise is zero any issues I go from trivial to catastrophic in no time at all.

With the constant stress and my inability to function normally I really can’t see myself returning to work anytime soon, and I’m petrified with the constant pressure that I’ll be forced down that route.

Apologies for the negative thoughts contained in my first post I’m just in a spin.

Albus_Scope

Hey there @inaspin and its a big welcome from me too. 😁

I'm sorry to hear you've been struggling with your mental health since covid, but I can empathise to some degree. I was a total shut in and couldn't speak to anyone on the phone, the smallest thing would case me to have meltdowns. I know what a tough cycle that can be to get out of, but I'm glad you have some talking therapy available to you. And as Beaver has said, there's really no need to apologise, we're all here to help each other. Many of us know the daily struggle of having the DWP constantly in your head.

I'd agree that speaking to your GP again could be a good move if you haven't recently?

inaspin

Hiya @Beaver79 @Albus_Scope , thank you so much for the kind welcome, regarding my GP unfortunately it seems he isn’t with the practice anymore, and one of my many challenges is speaking to new people ( partly due to a two hour grilling session from DWP during covid) I spent weeks analysing that particular conversation in my head to the point where it made me ill, it affected me to a point where I won’t speak to anyone new now.

I’m planning to speak to my therapist next session about my GP and getting new medications, she previously offered support in that area.

One thing I can take solace in is the fact that it seems many others ( on here) have similar anxieties which in a way makes me feel slightly more normal.

Albus_Scope

Sorry to hear your usual GP is no longer around, again, I can empathise there. It's so tough taking that first step to make that new GP not be a stranger, I get that. Would it maybe be possible to see if your therapist and GP could organise a call when you're next visiting your therapist? Maybe have it on speakerphone so you could hear them and maybe say a quick hello with no pressure?

I know it'll be different for everyone, but I found hearing the persons voice first helped lessen those anxieties a bit and kept the brain a bit quieter.

inaspin

@Albus_Scope thats the plan hopefully a three way call, my therapist was good enough to call me before my UC bank statement review just to re-assure me, one of the things that did ring true was her saying the call would end at some point and to focus on that, it’s silly that someone of my age gets upset when stressed on the phone, it’s embarrassing more than anything but I suppose that’s my release valve.

Thanks again for the welcome and advice 🙏.

Albus_Scope

Nope it's not silly at all, I'm in my 40s and although I'm a lot better than I was, I still have panic attacks about talking on the phone. It's just our brains being really really awkward. 😆

But your therapist is right, you just need to remember that call won't last forever and every second you're on the call is a second closer to it ending. Then you can have a victory cuppa or cake. Always have a treat after facing those demons. 😁

inaspin

hiya yesterday I received a text from independent assessment services regarding my PIP, as someone who suffers with anxiety I was wondering can you object to face to face assessments either in your home or at the assessment centres? I have a physical disability and worse than that without going into details I was involved in a well publicised tragedy many years ago and I suffer with PTSD and the fear of being somewhere unknown and getting trapped has greatly affected me, my home is my safe space which I never leave, do I have the right to object to face to face but agree to possible telephone assessments ( not sure if I can handle the call as I tend to become emotional when stressed, which is embarrassing but it the lesser of the evils)

thanks in advance. 🙏

Adrian_Scope

Good morning @inaspin. Have they already offered you a face-to-face asessment? Did you request on the form for a telephone or video assessment or explain why one in person might be difficult for you?

inaspin

Hiya just thought I’d update you all, as I previously mentioned I had a bank statement review and i was waiting to hear from DWP regarding my PIP claim-review, it took just over a year from receiving confirmation that DWP had received my forms back to getting the decision through, it turned out that they had all the information they needed and a consultation wasn’t necessary, nor should it have been as I have a condition that I was born with and unfortunately it will see me off.

Although I was relieved at that news the year long anguish waiting for decision has certainly took its toll, this is something that I fed back to my specialist, anyone waiting for a decision hopefully it will be quicker than the time it took for mine.

Rosie_Scope

Sorry it took such a long time to get your decision @inaspin especially as it sounds like it really affected you, but I'm glad it's finally sorted and you can relax a bit. Thanks for keeping us updated 😊