Working and pip

My DD was recently awarded PIP and they didn't call anyone, even the psychiatrist.

Just to balance all the other experiences, we found that it was very straightforward and have it awarded for a few years.

I was receiving pip for my existing conditions. I then got long covid which makes things worse. Came to the review and I was told I can't have it because I have a job.

They will not contact work but they will ask and ask. Do your best to get what you deserve to support your independence. I never appealed because my mum and fiance were worried about how it would affect my mental health. Have your back up and prepare for the fact the person who assesses you might be really lovely or an extreme arsehole. Any evidence that you haven't yet sent but has appeared since, send it in.

I know this doesn't sound promising or helpful, it's just better to know the truth about the current system and to be prepared. Coming from a girl here who is worse off than she was, had to give up a career and now apparently is deemed fine.

The government needs to save money. They'll reject it. You work so you're not the obvious claimant.
Don't cancel it though - you might get lucky.

It’s keywords they look for (apparently)
in the sense ‘ I cannot walk for 20 meters yet you have said that I can walk up to 200 meters so you must not have assessed me properly’
that sort of thing

You’d have to be well enough that you can reliably leave the house on more than half of the days, for at least 3 months, before you need to declare it as a change

If you’ve claimed on the basis of not being able to leave the house most days, then if you got to the point of now being able to leave the house most days you’d put a change of circumstances in at that point

Disability Rights UK have an excellent guide to all benefits including Pip. Well worth buying. Please don’t be put off applying or even appealing if the claim is rejected.
If your claim is granted, you are expected to let them know if your health improves to the extent that what you originally said was disabling you is no longer the case. So don’t be put off trying to get better either.
If employers have been contacted, it may have been about an Access to Work claim which is not part of a Pip claim. Both schemes are run by Dwp.

I am wondering how that would work. The onus would be on the claimant to prove that they were not assessed properly, which could be difficult.

lots of people work and claim pip. depends what you need it for and how you meet the descriptors but from friends's experiences I would be prepared to get rejected and having to appeal. DC was accepted straight away but they have severe learning disabilities and need 24)7 care and help with everything (so not all claims are rejected).

I work full time. I've got Multiple Sclerosis, Epilepsy, have Strokes and have a rare brain disorder..

There’s nowhere on the form to put work or employer details, so how would they know where you work (or even if you do)?

many people work and get PIP, I am a wheelchair user, I work full time, long term recipient of PIP and DLA before that.
Don't worry @Overwhelmedandcrazybut do be prepared to ask for a mandatory reconsideration. My top tip, tell them they ‘haven’t assessed me very well’

That simply is not true & is scaremongering vulnerable people.

The only time they would consider that would be if there was evidence as part of a fraud investigation. Fraud investigation into pip is rare.

They will likely ask you at your assessment what type of work you do and any adjustments in your workplace. For example if your depression affects you communicating with colleagues etc they will likely ask how you work around this / whether you have any special requirements.

Yes they can and they do quite often! **

Did you include an explanation and evidence of the reasonable adjustments you have in place at work to enable you to work with your disability? I work and get pip and this is what I did. The adjustments I have prove that my disability affects me at work as well at in my personal life, and that seemed to support my application.

Just do nothing. Wait, and see what the outcome is.

Hi OP I'm a disability benefits advisor; you can work full time and get PIP so it's not specifically a problem that you work, and the DWP will only contact the health professionals you have given them permission to approach (in many cases they don't even do this)

They will ask about work when you have the interview with the health assessor, so if you have had to have time off due to health issues and/or have needed adjustments at work because of your disability this are all important things to mention. Good luck with your application .

Leave the application in, if you aren’t eligible they’ll just not grant it you.

Wait and see what the outcome is. As long as you’ve filled it out and answered questions truthfully then you’ve nothing to worry about. Many claim PIP and work, as it’s not about being too unwell to work, it’s not a compensation for not being able to work, but money to help make your life a bit easier as you’ve got disabilities.

They don’t contact anyone so don’t worry

Lots of people who claim PIP do work. It's intended to help keep people independent & in work.

If you are awarded it then definitely don't feel guilty or 'unworthy' for claiming. There's nothing to lose from applying. Even if you aren't awarded it it's worth going through the descriptors & points awarded to see where you think you should have scored differently as it might be worth getting evidence for those specific points & then appealing.

They can't contact your work so don't worry about that!

If you have depression severe enough to cause that level of disability it's worth letting your employer know (via occ health if your company has one - easier than speaking to line manager) as there is likely to be adjustments that can be made & it will also help your case with any problems with absence etc.

Alot of people with severe mental illness struggle in silence at work due to fear of discrimination etc when this shouldn't be the case. Severe mental illness is a valid disability and every bit as valid as physical disabilities.