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Pip and counselling.

Doglover2

A while ago I did talking therapy via phone calls. Tbh I got nothing from it. She wasn't qualified to access me for ptsd but stated to me she thought I had it...anyhoo... My question is, will it be used against me for pip that I engaged with her,? She said I had many situational stressers, that I self harmed but it was not risky, and said little else, I've now been referred to a phycologist, this is after 40 years of constant different antidepressants and v little else to help my mental state. Finally my consultant for an unrelated condition has forwarded me for further help. Which i shall be stating on my review form.For what its worth.

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Doglover2

@Emilee Because i was told by someone in the"Know" they practically disregard it.

OverlyAnxious

Theoretically it could be used against you for the 'engaging with people' descriptor, but it's a very weak argument and wouldn't stand up at tribunal if it went that far.

The bigger issue with ongoing counselling is that it suggests there could be an improvement in the near future, which can lead to a lower award or a shorter award length. But as yours was in the past and wasn't of any help it shouldn't make any difference.

There's no need to even mention it unless it's mentioned by another healthcare provider or shown on a GP list within your evidence. I didn't mention all the failed counselling sessions I had for PIP at all. I never managed more than one session each time anyway.

Kimi87

When I had help with my PIP application, I was told they liked to see things had been tried and didn't work. I listed various services I'd been through and discharged from after they couldn't offer anything further.

Doglover2

@OverlyAnxious So how would they consider speaking to a consultant over the phone, would that also go against your claim? I thought engaging was for f-f more than phone conversation. Maybe I'm wrong.

Mijuka

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1100474#Comment_1100474

unfortunately DW CAN DO THAT.. i HAVE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE .. IRONICAL - U TALKED TO THE ASSESSESOR OVER THE PHONE, THEY REPORT, THAT CLAIMANT IS FINE AS HE COULD TALK…donot look for any logics with DWP.. TRY TO DO YOUR BEST

Mijuka

THEORETICALY ONLY; i talked with assessor during inteview . the report came i am fine as i was able to talk, although i did not claim that i cannot speak and not claiming PIP for learning disability… THEY ARE VICIOUS PEOPLE those assessors

WhatThe

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/143812/pip-and-counselling

Hi Doglover, a few weeks of talking therapy with a stranger won't undo 40 years of poor mental health. If that was your first experience of counselling then well done to you.

Your circumstances haven't changed but your referral to a psychologist is a step in the right direction and worth mentioning. There's no quick fix and any possible diagnoses are for another day.

Good luck with the PIP review.

Doglover2

@WhatThe That's a perfect explanation. Tbh the TT was a whole lot of nothing. I found no relevance to my situation in the conversations. I can truly say I didn't get a single positive from it. All she really done was give me a list of phone numbers for other therapy. I felt totally flat afterwards.

Thanks.

Doglover2

@Mijuka My last one assessment...omg... i was a wreck at the end,90 mins of being bombarded.

OverlyAnxious

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1100474#Comment_1100474

You're not wrong. But you have to remember these assessments are often done poorly by people who don't really understand the rules.

They can say whatever they like at assessment stage. That's where they'll mark people down for 'cut & paste' excuses such as working, or driving, or education from 20+ years ago. And many of them do mention how well you engaged with the assessor, either in person or over the phone. There's nothing you can do about the way the assessor perceives anything, that's all in their mind. Just know that you always have the back-up of tribunal even if the assessment does go wrong.

Doglover2

@OverlyAnxious oh I know only too well how they score us And state how we engaged, so we are dammed if we do and dammed if we don't.

I've done two tribunals and a mandatory reconsideration. The reports are works of fiction. I feel its v different ,at least for me talking on the phone short term than trying to get to an assessment center ,waiting with strangers to be called upstairs to a room after two flights of stairs and a long corridor, they must think its stupid we are instead of chronically unwell. Theres no way I could do that these days. The reports are like works of fiction,my last phone assessment i do not rem her listening to one word I said. So your right,And it Being recorded makes little difference, its whatever take they have on it to score us down. My form goes off next week , 😩 The battle commences ,and it shouldn't be that way.

luvpink

@Doglover2

You can request a downstairs room at an assessment center as a 'reasonable adjustment' and as I advised before you can request a paper based review.

Just write it on the form.

They may not agree but its worth trying.

Doglover2

@luvpink I did say on the form about a paperbased assessment. I remembered what you had said about doing it yourself. The assessment center is abysmal,hardly room to move in it . I detest it. Thanks.

luvpink

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1102516#Comment_1102516

I hope it all goes well for you.

Mijuka

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1100474#Comment_1100474

you are right what you think and PIP rules say the same.. however DWP does what it wants. i had pip assessment on phone yesterday for 3 hours and could not continue any more … SHEDULED 6 MARCH TO CONTINUE FOR ANOTHER 2 HRS OR MORE

Mijuka

BRACE YOURSELF . educate yourself and fight. it will only be worse.. dwp AND uk GOVERNMENT IS SQEEZING ON ALL FRONTS FOR ORDINARY PEOPLE

angel335

@Mijuka

I cannot see why any assessment should last more than two or three hours.

Please make sure that you tell them how you felt after your first phone call and how long it took you to recover after three hours on the phone. If you feel you cannot continue during your next appointment after an hour or so, make sure that they are aware how it is making you feel. Otherwise, they will assume that you are okay and that these very long appointments are not affecting you negatively, which they obviously are.
Hang in there and prepare as well as you can. If you are able to, look at the questions that you think they may ask you ( the sections that you have not gone over yet) and see if you can prepare in advance.
Take care and try not to worry.

All the best.

Mijuka

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1100590#Comment_1100590

i was bombarded for 3 hours and three more promises to continue

Mijuka

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1100436#Comment_1100436

thanx for sharing

skyebird

I have had talking therapy’s for over 12 weeks due to ongoing PTSD and severe panic attacks after a very long time in ICU incubated. I found 6 to 8 weeks into the sessions, I was becoming worse because of anxiety, knowing the session was due on a particular day. I was told to try and stick to it, I couldn’t. It works for some people not everyone I was told. You tried it, so why should that go against you,