Can they ask you about looking after your child ?

delizabeth91

Hi I recently applied for pip I'm a single parent of 11 year old son I applied for anxiety and depression and agrophobia. I'm worried they will ask me how can I look after my child but not my self. Any ideas how I answer this question I can obviously look after him fully. But worried they will call social services if I say the wrong thing about my mental health

Noidea19

Does any family or friends help out? That is one way of explaining care.

delizabeth91

@noidea19.

Yes. He is 11 so he's not exactly in capable he does everything mostly herself part from cooking lol 😆 he goes to school and from school he self he's a very mature 11 year old. If I mention I have a son they will probably give me zero points.

delizabeth91

My boyfriend of 7 years stays most nights who's he's step dad so I do have support also.

Noidea19

They cant decline an application as you have children. The only time they will likely ask you is when you have an assessment.

You can simply explain what happens in self care and partner helps out. It’s actually quite sad for you to be worried when you are doing nothing wrong.

Hope it all goes well for you.

delizabeth91

@noidea19

I have really bad anxiety and over think things I'm wondering if I just say that he's 11 and does things independently he's self because he does and I have my partner that helps on bad days if I say that would that be ok?

Jimm_Scope

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/121396/can-they-ask-you-about-looking-after-your-child

I would tell them the truth of exactly how it affects you. If you do happen to go out with your son, I imagine you still find it incredibly stressful and distressing? For instance, you can say that you still take your son to say, the GPs, because of how important it is for him. But, you add on that it is a very, very distressing and overwhelming experience that leaves you drained and unable to do much else for the rest of the day. Something like that, if that is how you are affected.

delizabeth91

@Jimm_Scope I don't actually leave the house if my son has any appointments he's dad or my mum takes him. I think they ask you about have you ever self suicidal I don't want to say yes I have in the past but I never done anything because I wouldn't leave my son I'm scared they will take my son away. I have said if I did try and leave the house I would have a panic attack and can flip out and I have fainting episodes from heart racing. I have said I can do evening mobility wise. It's just the mental health side of not been able to go out need promoting for making food and bathing etc.

Jimm_Scope

I would be honest @delizabeth91, I understand it is quite scary, but as you say you have his dad and your mum to help you take care of him. I am not sure where being suicidal would come up in a PIP assessment exactly, unless that is something that affects your day to day life directly. I would keep it at what you've told us here. That if you try leaving the house then you have panic attacks, fainting episodes due to heart racing etc. If they follow up with how your son gets around you can mention that you have other people who can take him to things. That shouldn't affect your claim, and your son is still going to things he needs to so there shouldn't be a parenting concern I imagine.