PIP DECISION

Mumofone1

Hi, I am new to this online community and no idea how it really works but I am after some information. I have worked since I was 17 - for 10 years. I have always suffered with depression but not to the extent that I do now. I have anxiety and depression which causes me untold physicological distress. I am signed off work and have been for the past 4 months. I have recently applied for PIP and universal credit (which was successful). I have my PIP medical next week and I am severely anxious about this. 
I was wondering if anyone had the same issues as me and we’re  successful in their PIP claim? I will not go anywhere without my mum or a close friend. I have panick attack’s in public. I cannot get on a bus as silly as it sounds it makes me feel physically sick and it takes over me. I cannot make journeys without someone else as I am constantly worried and anxious. 
Does anyone know if I will be entitled to anything? I don’t currently see any specialists but doctor has referred them to councillor and psychiatrist so will be seeing both in the near future. I currently take 30mg mirtazipine and have beta blockers for when I can feel a panick attack coming on. 
Thanks in advance. 
X

wilko

Hello and welcome, as you should know from filling in your PIP application form. PIP is about your abilities to do the PIP descriptors safely, repeatedly in a timely manner. PIP is not about your illnesses, or health conditions or disability. At your acessment the acessor will ask you questions about your answers given on your application form in relationship to the PIP descriptors and you will have to justify the answers you wrote about your abilities to do or not do. After your acessment the acessor will prepare a report to be sent to the decision maker at DWP who nearly always goes with the report recommendations. After a week you can request a copy of your acessment report by phoning DWP on receiving you can work what your award may should be by adding up the points black dots awarded for each descriptors.

Debz56

Hi I had my PIP tribunal on Friday after a year long wait and I won it,my PIP was re-instated and an order was placed for all back pay to be returned to me...the decision was made by the panel on account of hearing the assessors recorded statement after reading a copy of it and was found to be lying and contradicting herself regarding my mobility.
I was in with the panel approx 10mins and was asked one question...please folks don't lose hope if your awaiting a tribunal x

wilko

 Hello, and welcome. PIP is a benefit payable on the award that is made in relationship to your abilities in reference to the PIP descriptiors. It is not awarded on your medical conditions, illnesses or disabilities. So when you apply for PIP the application form asks you about your abilities to preform the PIP descriptiors. At your acessment the acessor will question you about your abilities in regards to each of the descriptors and award points accordingly. And the report will be sent to a decision maker who will send out the award notification letter.

poppy123456

Hi,

No one on an internet forum can tell you whether your PIP claim will be successful or not. A lot of people claim PIP for mental health but we're all affected differently and you can't compare 2 people.

PIP isn't awarded based on a diagnosis, it's how those conditions affect your ability to carry out daily activity based on the PIP descriptors.

During the assessment you will have to answer all the questions yourself, unless you have an appointee. If you take someone with you they maybe able to prompt you but this will depend on the HCP on the day.

You'll be watched from the minute you arrive to the minute you leave. They will ask you questions about how your conditions affect you against the PIP descriptors. All evidence should have already been sent with your form If you have any extra evidence then you can try to hand it in on the day but don't be surprised if the refuse to accept it from you, this has happened to lots of people.

Good luck.

Sam_Alumni

There is a PIP self test here you can try.

Sam_Alumni

Hi @Mumofone1
Welcome to the community and thank you for sharing.
PIP is about how your impairment affects you on a day to day basis rather than the diagnosis itself.

One thing that can be useful is to have the support of a doctor, did you have any letters of support explaining your condition when you filled in the forms?

When you go for your assessment you can take someone with you and if you say you cant go anywhere without your mum or friend, then Id recommend you take one of them with you for support.

I can be so tough to speak about the difficulties you face but it is important to try and explain these things.

There is some great information on the CAB website about PIP assessments including this:

You should be prepared to talk about how your condition affects you even if you’ve already detailed it on your PIP claim form. It can be hard to do this but it will really help if you can talk about:

• the kind of things you have difficulty with, or can’t do at all - for example, walking up steps without help or remembering to go to appointments
• how your condition affects you from day to day
• what a bad day is like for you - for example, ‘On a bad day, I can’t walk at all because my injured leg hurts so much’ or ‘On a bad day, I’m so depressed I can’t concentrate on anything’

It’s a good idea to take a copy of your PIP claim form with you. That way you can refer to it in the assessment and make sure you tell the assessor everything you want them to know about your condition.

Help sheet for the day of your assessment

Don’t let the assessor rush you and try not to just answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to their questions. Always try to explain how doing something would make you feel afterwards and the impact it can have on you if you had to do it repeatedly in a short period of time.

Download the PIP assessment help sheet - to take with you to your assessment [ 97 kb]. 

Print it out and take it with you. It includes tips on what to take to your assessment and dos and don’ts during the assessment.

We also have this video that might help

Red1983dawn

I suffer from similar to you and am also awaiting a new decision as at first I was awarded pip for 2 years but it took 18 months and went to tribunal.. My advice to you is to try and claim pip and when you get a face to face just be yourself.

Hope this will help you 

And good luck