Do you need a diagnosis for PIP?

Ducky_Duck

I currently work within the emergency services and have had repeated symptoms of depression and anxiety for over a year now and it got to a point last year where I was suicidal and made attempts on my life. I gave myself a couple months to improve taking sertraline which I didn't think help much while on sick leave and returned to work only to again have my the symptoms remain with me it started becoming more difficult just to wake up in the morning and head to work and to engage with members of the public leading to complaints and spent my days off in bed I don't feel changing jobs would be the answer I still feel I'd face the underlying problems I am heavily facing and kept bottled up so long and here I am a year later having made attempts on my life yet again I am contemplating leaving work this time for good and applying to PIP or any other available financial aid.

I am just concerned around my eligibility be it to PIP or anything else available as I have had no formal diagnosis of anything yet from a GP or anyone else. I have spoken with someone from a local Mental Health Crisis Team that recommends I take a Neurodivergence / ADHD test I imagine this is done by a GP?

There's so much on my mind right now with my state of mental health and also having to support a partner who's pregnant and a feeling of so much pressure on myself I can't describe I just need some clear answers and support to ensure I'm financially stable and get things planned out for should I ultimately decide on leaving my job, I'm currently on sick pay but any help / advice is appreciated.

I never thought I would find myself in a position like this but here I am and hope I can get some answers.

Rosie_Scope

Hi @Ducky_Duck., welcome to the community. Sorry to hear things have been so difficult for you lately. PIP is not based on diagnoses, they look at how your conditions affect you day to day against a list of descriptors and you are awarded based on the points you score for each activity. I'll link the descriptors below so you can have a read through and see if you think you'd gather any points:

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) points system (benefitsandwork.co.uk)

The process can be a little stressful, but lots of members have made it through and I'm sure you'd get some advice here if you had any questions about it.

Does your partner work at the moment? Some means tested benefits will be assessed on your joint income as a couple, but that doesn't mean you won't be eligible for anything. You could try using a benefits calculator to see if there is anything else that you'd be eligible to claim:

Turn2us Benefits Calculator

It's definitely worth having a conversation with your GP about ADHD assessments too, are you comfortable speaking to them about it?

We'll be sending you an email later today, so please look out for that 😊