Has anyone successfully applied for PIP for mental health issues?

[RosiePosieCantLogIn]

I've been on ESA support group for years.

My medical records just state 'anxiety and depression' though they've got me on a waiting list for ADHD assessment.

My life's a shambles. I'm constantly scared. I don't go out of the house alone. Ever.
I don't go anywhere alone. I have to have someone with me to shop, go to appointments, anything.

I can't drive because I'm too scared to learn. I can't do public transport alone so mostly rely on lifts/accompanied taxis.

I don't have much documented though because Dr's and appointments and phone calls stress me out so bad that I just live like this.

I've had therapy and CBT but that was a couple of years ago.

There's nothing else that can really be done so I feel like there isn't much 'paper evidence' of how I live.

Go online and do a self referral. I get home calls because I don't leave the house unless I'm with someone. They will call you and ask you lots of questions (takes about an hour) but they will need to know everything so they can help you in the right way. I got told I was very complex and that put me off at first, but once you are with the crisis team there's your evidence for pip. Also you'll be getting the care you need so win win. Good luck x

Using the correct wording is still relevant. It isn’t about completing the form only describing your worst day. For example, in order to be judged as being able to do something you have to be able to do it safely, to an acceptable standard, repeatedly, and in a reasonable time period. When asked can you e.g. walk 20-50m. Some people say ‘yes’ when they can one do that a couple of times a week on a good week and even then they are in significant pain &/or are very slow &/or regularly fall. They shouldn’t say yes if they can’t actually walk 20-50m safely, to an acceptable standard, repeatedly, in a reasonable time frame.

Is the daily living above the normal then?

Is there any chance of getting that for MH issues?

I went through the PIP application process and got nothing because they said I was capable of doing those things. I don’t do them of course. But I physically can. They said I was choosing not to, and you can’t have PIP if you can do things but choose not to. It’s notoriously difficult to get PIP for MH issues.

PIP has two components. One is for “daily living” which covers disability needs in daily life, so washing, eating, toileting, etc. The other is “mobility” which covers obvious physical mobility needs but also MH related mobility needs such as having difficulty leaving the house alone or going new places. Both of these components can be awarded at standard or enhanced rate and you don’t need to get one component to get the other. For example, some individuals with serious physical mobility problems will just get awarded the enhanced mobility rate so that they qualify for a mobility car but manage fine day to day and so do not qualify for any daily living. In order to get exemption from the ESA deduction you need to be awarded the daily living component, mobility alone is not enough. I hope this makes sense.

PIP is split into 2 components. The daily living component and the mobility component. Both have a standard rate and an enhanced rate. It is possible to get both components for MH difficulties, but it depends on the individual case. You can see the activities and points here. To get standard daily living you need 8 points when you add up the points from the 10 daily living activities and to get enhanced you need 12 points. To get standard mobility you need 8 points between the two mobility activities and to get enhanced you need 12 points.

Did you request a mandatory reconsideration and then appeal? Sometimes DWP see things as a choice when actually people choose not to do something because they can’t do it without it causing overwhelming distress or pain or exhaustion… It isn’t always about just being physically able to do something.

I did request a reconsideration and was still turned down. I don’t have pain or exhaustion, or anything physical at all. I just don’t like doing certain things because I’m autistic.

For example I can cook but I forget to eat, so I got 0 points because I can cook but don’t. Also shopping distresses me, I will put it off until we have no food, then when it gets desperate I go shopping at 6am in dark glasses and earplugs. DWP said the fact that I do go shopping eventually proves I am capable of going shopping, so 0 points. Etc.

But if you would have said you need prompting to eat/cook that should have been 2 points.

I think this is why it's important to get professional help filling out the forms.

I think part of the issue is that there isn’t any easily available help to fill out the forms. Services that offer help ask for payment that I can’t afford. Plus the mental load of finding someone who can help. Plus the fact that it requires social interaction that’s beyond what many people with autism or MH issues can manage.

Agree. It's a very unfair system to people with non-physical issues.

Did you appeal?

If you needing prompting to prepare or cook a simple meal that can score 2 points under activity 1. It doesn’t sound like your difficulties engaging with others are a choice either. You may well score points under planning and following a journey too.

If you can’t manage the claim yourself, do you have anyone who could be appointee? Have you looked at whether Citizens Advice can support you with a claim? Some areas have charities that support free of charge too.

@Meridean definitely should have mentioned you need prompting to eat food, that would have got you points. However, the fact that you can actually go out by yourself and do the shopping will have gone against you. You have to be really thorough with your answers, get your dh or someone else who knows your limitations to write a supporting letter for you.

I've gone through two appeals for the issues you have. The DWP decision was overturned both times but I get £35 a week. I'm one point away from getting the highest 😬😬

I travelled to the assessment on my own. It was awful but I had no choice. That counted against me. And I shop on my own because the alternative is starvation.

They said why didn’t I bring someone to help me, and I said I have nobody to help me. That’s why I’ve applied for PIP, so I can pay for somebody to help me! It seems if you have no help, you get 0 points because you’re clearly managing without help.

Theur was a DWP representative there and she was asked to comment and she said she couldn't understand why it was stopped.

😢

Language matters. When filling out the PIP form it is important to word things in a certain way. One of the reasons why so many people have not been awarded the correct award, or one at all, is because they may not understand how to phrase things. It should not be that way of course, but that is why there are groups available to help with filling in these forms.

Honestly though, I don’t think it should be the case that you get an award (or not) because of how you phrase things. It should be the job of the assessor to find out the truth and ensure you get an award if you deserve one. You shouldn’t have to tie yourself in verbal knots and pay for help to get what you’re entitled to.

Lots of posters have complained about the assessors report bearing little, to no relation to what was said in the assessment. One cannot rely on that alone.

@Meridean In an ideal world it shouldn't matter how you phrase things but sadly, with PIP, it does. You really have to spell it out to them how bad you are, it's almost as if they'll pick on anything to prevent you getting an award. It's an absolutely terrible system.

To get back to OP’s question, it’s tricky to get PIP for MH because you have no physical issues preventing you doing things. So it relies on whether you can prove you have MH issues which prevent you. You need a diagnosis and a paper trail from your GP and other services. They will use anything to deny you an award. Like they will make it compulsory for you to attend an assessment, then use the fact you attended the assessment as proof that you can go out of the house!

That is why you need written medical evidence to submit alongside what you are telling them, as they cannot dispute that.

@Julen7 my dh is due his PIP review for mental health issues soon. Since last time he has been assessed by the local council via a social care assessment as needing support. I'm torn whether or not to include it as they'll probably say as he's getting support from the council he doesn't need PIP. I really don't know what to do for the best!

I receive pip for cptsd. This was diagnosed by a psychiatrist at the mental health services, who also provided a letter for DWP outlining symptoms.

CAB helped with form - as others have said upthread it really is difficult to fill out if you're not familiar with their wording/jargon