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PIP and Mental Health
pkeith95
Member Posts: 16 Connected
Hi All,
I applied for PIP on the 22nd May 2019, filled out and returned the forms around the 2nd July 2019 and had my F2F assessment on the 9th October 2019 (after a couple of cancellations due to staff sicknesses). The report made it to the DWP the next morning
and I've just requested a copy of that report for my records.
I just wanted to know how peoples experiences have been with claiming PIP for mental health issues, specifically anxiety and depressive disorders?
I suffer with extreme anxiety and depression and have done for over 3 years now, following the breakdown of my career and losing all confidence in life generally. I struggle to leave the house, engage socially, I don't answer the phone or the door. Unsolicited mail can drive me into a panic. I need support to go on any journeys to avoid panic and a huge amount of psychological distress.
My assessment was terrifying but I was so fortunate to have a mental health nurse as my assessor. She was brilliant and let me talk everything through, let me dry my tears when it became all too much and, she had amazing insight to what I was saying.
I guess my question is, has anyone had a generally positive experience of claiming PIP for mental health issues? Did you find the assessment report accurately described what you had said? Did the decision reflect that? How long after your assessment did you receive a decision?
I realise that these topics are discussed at length on forums but I would really like to create a space for these specific things.
Thank you all so much,
PK
I applied for PIP on the 22nd May 2019, filled out and returned the forms around the 2nd July 2019 and had my F2F assessment on the 9th October 2019 (after a couple of cancellations due to staff sicknesses). The report made it to the DWP the next morning
and I've just requested a copy of that report for my records.I just wanted to know how peoples experiences have been with claiming PIP for mental health issues, specifically anxiety and depressive disorders?
I suffer with extreme anxiety and depression and have done for over 3 years now, following the breakdown of my career and losing all confidence in life generally. I struggle to leave the house, engage socially, I don't answer the phone or the door. Unsolicited mail can drive me into a panic. I need support to go on any journeys to avoid panic and a huge amount of psychological distress.
My assessment was terrifying but I was so fortunate to have a mental health nurse as my assessor. She was brilliant and let me talk everything through, let me dry my tears when it became all too much and, she had amazing insight to what I was saying.
I guess my question is, has anyone had a generally positive experience of claiming PIP for mental health issues? Did you find the assessment report accurately described what you had said? Did the decision reflect that? How long after your assessment did you receive a decision?
I realise that these topics are discussed at length on forums but I would really like to create a space for these specific things.
Thank you all so much,
PK
Replies
I'm so glad to hear that you had some who was understanding and I hope that helped a little. It is very possible to claim PIP for mental health and there will be people on the forum who have been successful with this. Like everything, there will be people with good and bad experiences.
I hope your report doesn't take too long to arrive, and this will give you an indicator about what award will be given as they rarely go against this.
Please do let us know if we can do anything else to help and I hope others share their experiences with you soon.
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Thank you for the welcome
DWP said the report would be with me within 7 days, so not a huge amount of time to wait.
It was great to have that specific nurse but of course it’s still a terrifying process. It’s hard to talk about mental health issues as you constantly feel like people simply don’t believe you.
Hopefully a a good result will follow and I will definitely share with you all.
PK
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I’m glad you got a good, understanding assessor.
Sadly I did not have the same experience, mine was friendly enough on the day but in my opinion did not accurately describe my condition. They said I did not show any signs of being nervous or distressed when I was very much so.
The decision maker also decided I am able to make journeys unaided, when I cannot leave the house without one of my parents! I am currently in the process of appealing.
As for how long, it took around 2 months from having the assessment to receiving my decision.
I hope you get a good result when you get your decision.
I just received a copy of the assessment report from the DWP. On the whole I am very relieved as they reported everything I said correctly and the assessor recommended Enhanced Rate of Daily Living. No Mobility, but I am not surprised as, despite overwhelming anxiety at times, I can get about if I am desperate.
So hopefully the DM at the DWP follows the report and I get the ER DL component.
Thanks again for your support.
PK
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My first assessor was great, took both my mental and physical health problems into account, awarded me enhanced for both for 5 years, I had my review assessment in April and I'm STILL waiting 28 weeks later. People say it's rare that the case manager goes against the report but that's exactly what's happened in my case, but I believe it was because there were a lot of discrepancies and contradictions in the report and it really didn't tally with the first report or evidence, the problem is, this is all having a huge impact on my health because of how long it's taking and the fact that my award is due to end in November which means my Son will also lose his carers money. The DWP aren't updating us and when you ask for updates they fob you off! When I ask people for help like Welfare Rights they seem like they can't be bothered and yes I do understand that they are busy but I've really not had a good experience with Welfare Rights from the start.
Best of luck, I really hope it’s not too long for you.
PK
Does anyone know, if the DWP needs to phone you, do they use a recognised national number? I keep getting a local number call but they don’t leave a message and my anxiety is such that I don’t answer the phone unless I know the a caller, or they leave a message. Would a local DWP office have a national number still?
That’s made me feel so much better
Anyway, take care
Keep fighting, and take care
2 weeks ago today I had my PIP assessment and today I received my first payment.
I’m very pleased with the process, I’m happy with the level they assessed me at and the speed with which I was given my decision. Hopefully the letter arrives today too.
I really wanted to show some positive experiences with PIP because when I was going through the process I was terrified due to all the negative experience that people have had. It made me feel better when I saw that someone, anyone, had had a positive experience, especially with Mental Health.
Keep fighting on everyone
I’ve been advised the ESA is something I should be looking at but I am not sure that PIP will make a difference to the New Style ESA as it’d probably be contributory.
I’m glad to have been able to show a positive experience. Hopefully it’ll make a difference to someone
Oh and of course, a HUGE thank you to everyone who supported me in this thread @poppy123456 @Chloe_Scope @Adrian_Scope
Wonderful people x
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New Style ESA is contribution-based, so you'd probably be looking at applying for Universal Credit and LCW/LCWRA, but it of course depends on what else you're claiming and your personal situation as to whether you'd be eligible.
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PIP til 2022! I’m flabbergasted as I thought it would only be a year and a half at most.
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Please take care.
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