PIP First Claim Help!

mercedesbd said:

I don’t think it matters. My family member has never been to the doctors about her anxiety and never had medication for it. And she got enhanced both for ongoing periods .. my mum used to get DLA for me when I was younger High rate care and low mobility. I’m not sure I’ll give it a try 

ilovecats said:

mercedesbd said:

Hi everyone I’ve suffered with severe anxiety and depression for years now on citalopram for ages on 20mg and I suffer with severe adhd, conduct disorder and oppositional defiant disorder ive not applied for benefits but ive also been in pain for 2 years that I’ve just dismissed I’ve not gone to my doctors thought maybe it’s growing pains as I’m 18 I was 16 at the time. It’s got so bad it’s a joke someone told me it could be fybromyalgia and this runs in my family strong don’t know if it’s hereditary. It’s severly limiting me to do things but it’s only the last month or so I’ve been to the doctors and prescribed amitriptyline and refered to a rheumatologist after being told last month I was and completely lied to!

Anyway considering I’ve not been complaining to the doctors will the PIP take note of the pain I’m in? The fact I have to use crutches to walk? I’ve got physio therapy attendance record for the last 2 years having 20 sessions that I sent.

Also I sent the forms of today 1st class signed for how long for a F2F? I’ve never done this before and day one my anxiety is bad already.

When you read the following please bare in mind that I’m going off only what you have written and my experience as a former assessor. I am NOT saying that you don’t suffer with mental health or are not in pain.


From my experience, as you haven’t received a diagnose, have had no treatment and no mention of high dose high level prescription painkillers for fibromyalgia I think you will have a hard time proving that your disability is severe enough to score. Amitriplatine alone is not considered robust enough as painkilling evidence. Most people here will attest that if you are able to attend the assessment and get through it your chances of scoring are much lower. Who gave you your crutches? Do you need them all the time? Was physio helpful?

Mental health conditions generally have to be severe in order to meet DWP criteria. ODD / ADHD is not going to score you unless you have psychiatrist letters detailing that it affects your ability to function, particularly as ODD is stigmatised and looked upon dimly. It has also considered to be a childhood disease that people grow out of. Bare in mind, Citalopram 20mg is low dose, 1st line anti depressant. You do not mention counselling or referral to any CHMT or any specific ADHD medication? 

To score physical mobility you have to be incredibly disabled and to score Activity 12 there HAS to be hard evidence of overwhelming psychological distress.

Did you attend normal school, did you have a EHCP, did you complete qualifications? Fill out the form yourself? All these things will go against any claims you cannot concentrate to communicate, cook, read etc.

I suggest you read this and think about where you fit in within each activity description. Don’t try to shoe horn yourself into where you want to be but what you can genuinely do. It will give you an idea of where you might place.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-assessment-guide-for-assessment-providers/pip-assessment-guide-part-2-the-assessment-criteria#daily-living-activities

keira said:

What if I’m getting medication or treatment for my mental health problem?

If you are getting some treatment or taking medication for your condition, you ignore the effect of your treatment when deciding whether your condition is having a substantial, adverse effect on your daily activities. This means the law is looking at how your condition affects you without your treatment or medication.

Example

Mohammed has long-term anxiety and is being treated by counselling. Anxiety would normally make him find simple tasks difficult. Because he has counselling, he is able to get up and go to work. 

The Equality Act says you have to ignore his treatment in deciding whether his mental health problem has a substantial adverse effect on his day-to-day activities and so he has a disability.

https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/legal-rights/disability-discrimination/disability/