Mental illness and what you can/can't do

bluefox

poppy123456 said:

sierrafox said:

poppy123456 said:

There's some information here about "majority" of the time. https://www.mypipassessment.co.uk/updates/how-are-fluctuating-medical-conditions-handled-under-personal-independence-payment-pip/

If you're a member of various other forums then maybe it's time to stop going on them because it's clear it's not helping your anxiety.

And does the standard mobility element pay for taxis? Is that what it’s there for?

What you spend your PIP money on is entirely your decision. There's no rules on what you can and can't spend it on. Same applies to all benefits.

Poppy, can I just ask? Since I know you’re really clued up. I think I’ve seen you at the MSE money saving forums too! Unless someone is imitating you! 

If there’s slight changes/variations in your condition. And you’re doing things like CBT and psychotherapy to get “BETTER”. 

Are you allowed to try and go out and attempt to get better and get your life back?! 

Because if I went out for 4-5 weeks now and then relapsed. And let’s say someone did report me to the DWP. If they caught me in those 4-5 weeks they might use that evidence against me?

I’m probably paranoid (probably part of my condition). But I was discussing this with a friend and we couldn’t work how it would apply. 

Plus the actual report and PIP2 form I reckon I defo missed things despite getting an award! With the info I know now I think I could articulate my conditions so much better than I did!!

janer1967

Not all mental health conditions affect ability to leave the house 

Also mobility and daily living is awarded for other conditions that affect someone not being able to leave the house majority of time

I am example of this I am I  a wheelchair an amputee and also visually impaired and unable to go put on my own . This doesn't stop me going out with somebody assisting me and going on holiday with others 

poppy123456

sierrafox said:

poppy123456 said:

 I think I’ve seen you at the MSE money saving forums too! Unless someone is imitating you! 

Yes, that's me on there.

sierrafox said:

Are you allowed to try and go out and attempt to get better and get your life back?! 

Because if I went out for 4-5 weeks now and then relapsed. And let’s say someone did report me to the DWP. If they caught me in those 4-5 weeks they might use that evidence against me?

Of course you're allowed to try to get some help for your conditions, i'm not sure why you would think any different.

Again, you're overthinking this. It's about the majority of the time and 4-5 weeks isn't the majority of the time. Therefore, no it won't go against you.

I do feel like we are going round in circles here. Others have tried to help and advise you too. All i can say to you is please try to relax, i know that maybe difficult with your conditions but if you don't at least try then all this will just make your conditions worse.

There's really nothing further to add than what's already been said.

bluefox

janer1967 said:

Not all mental health conditions affect ability to leave the house 

Also mobility and daily living is awarded for other conditions that affect someone not being able to leave the house majority of time

I am example of this I am I  a wheelchair an amputee and also visually impaired and unable to go put on my own . This doesn't stop me going out with somebody assisting me and going on holiday with others 

Thank you for sharing your story and conditions. It’s very positive to know we can all live good, fulfilling lives. 

You are right and there may come a point I won’t need my mobility if I can push through with my CBT. but since being discharged from Healthy Minds for failing to do the tasks! I am now my own therapist! That’s what they teach you to do. Be your own therapist. 

I’ve been work since my NEAD/FND diagnosis but even before that I’ve always used someone to accompany me everywhere with the odd exception I’ve managed to do it on my own by pushing myself. 

I think I should have been claiming PIP for years tbh. 

Lifelong anxiety and depression. Plus PTSD. 

bluefox

Can I also just say…

Thank you poppy, Alex, Tori, l volunteer, janer and poppy and many more!

I’m sorry I haven’t written your usernames out correctly. But you’ve been a massive help to my mental health on these forums. 

Alex_Alumni

Thank you kindly for letting us all know @sierrafox and there's no need to apologise

I'm really glad that the community has been such a positive place of support for you, and I'm sure you are helping to support many others yourself, by sharing your own experiences and thoughts.

For a lot of people, it's nice to know that we're not alone in needing help sometimes.

bluefox

https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/forum/10-dla-esa-queries-results/77491-typical-day/77543

It was this thread:

This quote:
Then look at it and see what could be used against you e.g. "I spend a little time in the garden" could - like that - be written as does gardening most days for 2 hours.

You then re-write that to reflect just how long you spend (15 minutes), doing what and how it affects you.

I have wondered if I should not take a look at the "typical day" and then re-schedule all my activities to match ATOS's idea of what my day should be. No reading or writing on forums, for a start - that proves all sorts of things about planning, dexterity, language skills, sitting down time etc etc.

Don't know if I could, nevertheless I have begun to wonder if I (and a great many others) are going to have go back to looking like real "cripples" to get the benefits our masters will allow us.

bluefox

Do you have to notify the DWP if you’re going on holiday?

poppy123456

That thread is related to all the things that the assessors like to twist. Those things do happen but it's nothing to do with "not being allowed to have a life"

sierrafox said:

Do you have to notify the DWP if you’re going on holiday?

You're allowed to go away for 4 weeks so providing it's less than this you don't need to inform them. I've gone away many times over the years and don't tell them i'm going. I've booked my holiday for next year and won't be telling them that either.

bluefox

Oh I thought you weren’t allowed to go away with any condition. Not least a condition where you get panicky. 

poppy123456

sierrafox said:

Oh I thought you weren’t allowed to go away with any condition. Not least a condition where you get panicky. 

Your thoughts are wrong. You've already been given advice regarding that in this thread.

poppy123456

calcotti said:

sierrafox said: One of my friends is LCWRA with depression and has booked a holiday to Gran Canaria for 7-10 nights. 

Is that acceptable to go on holiday on benefits? 

Yes it's allowed.

janer1967 said:

Hi 

Yes it is permitted to go on holiday as lcwra means you have no work commitments 

If on basic uc you are a job seeker and have to be available for work and job search so not permitted 

Going on holiday can be good for some medical conditions and give some relief from some painful conditions as some improve with warmer climates . Getting away from it all can in some cases help with mental health conditions 

Just because somebody is claiming benefits doesn't mean they have financed the holiday themselves 

poppy123456 said:

I claim ESA and have been on holiday many times. Just because you're claiming benefits it doesn't mean you life has to stop.

All advice about going on holiday is here.

bluefox

Does it not matter about the facts of what I said in my medical assessment and the PIP2 form. 

poppy123456

Claiming either PIP or ESA doens't mean you can't have a life. There's really nothing more to add to that because we are going round in circles.

Please try to focus on something else, i know it's difficult and i understand it's all part of your health condition but all of this isn't helping you at all.

Alex_Alumni

Where would you like to go if you are planning on a holiday @sierrafox?

bluefox

Well before the pandemic hit the last place I visited was Budapest. I used to love travelling. I’ve been all over Europe. 

I’d love to go to Hamburg, as that was one of the places I wanted to go to when I was well. 

I just did a short journey by car and I can tell you I don’t think I’m ready for a plane yet. 

NEAD/FND gives you out of body experiences, they’re bloody awful!!

OverlyAnxious

poppy123456 said:

OverlyAnxious said:

Personally, I haven't been able to go on 'holiday' for 15 years.  Can't travel, can't manage strange places, can't eat out, haven't stayed anywhere away from home since then...but I don't fit the criteria for planning & following journeys...

If you're unable to undertake any journey the majority of time due to overwhelming psychological distress then you should score points for activity 1E. Which would be standard mobility.

I know the thread has moved on since this post.  But I'm still struggling to understand what constitutes a 'journey' for the DWP?  Is it simply leaving the front door?  Is it a set distance/time?  Or is it a 'meaningful' journey, such as getting to a supermarket or doctors surgery?

I have not been able to drive since September last year.  I cannot use any other form of transport.  This means I have not been more than about half a mile from home in the last 12 months.  On foot, and alone only.

A few months ago I could walk around the block (half a mile or so) as long as there were no other people about.  But if there's someone in my carpark, I can't even open the door.  This heat causes so much dizziness and exacerbates nausea & IBS that can't get out at all at for about 3 months of the year.  But I don't think heat is taken into consideration, only 'anxiety' symptoms.

I'm still left not knowing whether that qualifies or not.  And not to sound ungrateful, but I couldn't use the money from the standard award (can't use taxis etc), the thing that would have really helped me is access to the Motability scheme.

leeCal

@OverlyAnxious According to https://www.rightsnet.org.uk/pdfs/pipinfo/Activity_11_PIP_guidance_extract_Sept_2016.pdf
’Journey means a local journey, whether familiar or unfamiliar.’

interestingly on the same site 
‘Overwhelming psychological distress' means distress related to an enduring mental health condition or intellectual or cognitive impairment which results in a severe anxiety state in which the symptoms are so severe that the person is unable to function.’ 

This section may also be useful
https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Benefit-guides/Personal-Independence-Payment-Test/Plan-and-follow-a-journey

janer1967

I am actually away now on the ferry to isle of Wight and I haven't told dwp 

The reason for my benefits and pip are not 4elated to anxiety or mental health but even so going away is probably once a year and not majority of time and in my case is always assisted 

bluefox

I got told by benefits and work that it’s based on the week. I’m sure someone said that. Like 3/7 days and so on. 

I always need someone to assist me when out because my agoraphobia is based on my panic and seizures. Panic is common in NEAD. So if I didn’t have someone with me I’d likely crumble.