Does anyone claim PIP for mental health disorders?

[BackAgainSlimLady]

Wondering if I can get help financially for this.

For context; I have generalise anxiety, severe health anxiety, panic disorder, social phobia and depression (I know, I’m all shades of fcked up)

I’ve recently quit my 9-5 job as the stress and anxiety of it all was just too much, on top of being a parent to two young children aswell.

I have however resolved it with a super relaxed new job, it’s only 10 hours a week, a couple hours each evening, fits around school ect. It’s much more easy on my mind for now.

but - money is an issue. We’re super super tight now I’m not getting a full wage. We’re literally living to the penny with no savings ect. But I just could hack it anymore and DH knew I wouldn’t be here now if I carried on.

I do see the PIP place says you can claim for mental health.. but surely it’s not as easy as “I suffer from XYZ” “yep sure here’s some money”

so my question is, if you claim PIP for mental health, how/why/what was needed? I’m trying to get a feel for whether I’d be entitled or not.

thanks in advance ☺️

I understand severe illness - including mental illness exists, absolutely. But I think when people self ascribe it , i.e 'i have severe ADHD' 'i have severe anxiety ' I just think 🤔. I've never seen anyone on here just say "I suffer with anxiety" "I suffer with agrophobia" it always has the severe prefix.

I'm well aware SMI is a thing. I'm also aware schizophrenia and bipolar disorder to name just two fall under the category of SMI.

I'm talking about people using it as an adjective.

I had a friend at work describe her red hands as "severe eczema" . Whereas I have a latex allergy that causes an anaphylactic reaction with direct contact. I've never described it as a "severe latex allergy" I just describe it as a "latex allergy" - I do make clear it is actually an allergy and not a sensitivity.

How do you know people are self ascribing ‘severe’ and that the description hasn’t come from HCPs?

Anaphylaxis is by definition a serious allergy. If you choose not you use that wording, that is your choice. It doesn’t mean others shouldn’t use the word severe, though.

You're absolutely right. It is potentially serious. But a true allergy is a true allergy. Anyone with a true latex allergy has a 'severe' allergy. If not, it's a sensitivity.

It just comes across like this :
"I have severe anxiety"
"Mine is really severe"
"mine is really really severe"

The hyperbole makes me cynical, I'll be honest.
Sometimes people are taken more seriously if they simply say "I have anxiety that affects my ability to interact with people " for example. It's clearer and more objective than the self ascribed "really really severe".

It's often in my anecdotal experience the people with children with milder forms of autism who go to mainstream school describing their child as having "severe autism and behaviour problems" whilst the person with the non verbal child who wears nappies probably doesn't go round prefixing. I find it makes people take you less seriously. I accept that some people are finding that offensive though.

Obviously a true allergy is a true allergy. But not all allergies are equally severe. (The NHS at least believe it is possible to have a mild reaction to latex). Hence some causing anaphylaxis and others not. Although an allergy that doesn’t lead to anaphylaxis could be severe in other ways. HCPs use the word severe in paperwork regarding allergies. I know because I have DC with allergies, some of which are anaphylactic. DS1 in particular has multiple anaphylactic allergies. Some of which have required ICU care. All his paperwork says severe. Some of his paperwork even prefixes ‘anaphylaxis’/‘anaphylactic reaction’ with ‘severe”.

whilst the person with the non verbal child who wears nappies probably doesn't go round prefixing.

And yet you have been told on this thread of an example by another poster who does.

"It's often in my anecdotal experience the people with children with milder forms of autism who go to mainstream school describing their child as having "severe autism and behaviour problems" whilst the person with the non verbal child who wears nappies probably doesn't go round prefixing"

Anecdotally, some of those children in mainstream school will absolutely have more 'severe' ASD and behaviour problems than some non-verbal children in nappies. The severity of ASD doesn't neatly correlate with ability. Some people with ASD can be non-verbal but very able - there was a young man in DD1's (special) school who was absolutely non-verbal but his handwriting was great and he could express himself eloquently in writing. Often, the children who are caught between cognitive ability and social difficulties are the ones who display challenging behaviour.

If an allergy doesn't cause anaphylactoid reaction, it isn't an allergy. It's a sensitivity.

Ok, well , you and I obviously don't agree on something. That's ok.

But I do believe there are a group of people that use severe as hyperbole. Ironically I think it makes a mockery of people that do have severe illnesses. Maybe you haven't come in to contact with people that do this. But I have.

If an allergy doesn't cause anaphylactoid reaction, it isn't an allergy. It's a sensitivity.

This is not correct.

It absolutely is correct thankyou very much.

You don't have to trust me, but a quick Google will help you ... Blimey.

No it isn’t. If you want google results see below.

The NHS disagrees with you. A page on allergies in general - “The symptoms can be mild, but for some people they can be very serious.” (my bold)

I have taken latex as an example since it is the one you use.

GOSH - “The degree of allergic reaction varies from person to person. Some people may have a mild reaction to latex” (my bold)

Cambridge - “They vary from mild to more severe” (my bold)

RBH - “Symptoms are mild for most people with a latex allergy.” (my bold)

Leeds - “Some people with mild latex allergy” and “Mild symptoms may include:” (my bold)

I have DC with multiple allergies, all IgE. Some anaphylactic, some not. All are detailed in HCP paperwork as allergies. Diagnosed by a clinical immunology and allergy consultant at a specialist hospital allergy clinic.

You're not looking up what "allergy" actually means. NHS dumbs it down for the general public. Look up what an "allergy" is. Kind regards, an HCP

Yes, and allergy and anaphylactic/anaphylactoid are not the same. I have had detailed scientific discussions with the 14 different medical teams my DC aren’t under, thank you. They don’t dumb down anything. You were the one who suggested google. I am thankful my DC aren’t treated by a HCP who doesn’t understand not all allergies are anaphylactic.

*are under

Psychiatric illness is (by some way) the most common reason for claiming PIP https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/personal-independence-payment-statistics-to-april-2025/personal-independence-payment-statistics-to-april-2025

The statistics are misleading. They lump all psychiatric disabilities together in a way they don’t for physical disabilities. If you added up all the physical disabilities it would be more.

Op you can claim new style esa, I had some severe mental health problems last year and you can claim this based on your contributions. It's a form online and will take around 10 minutes to fill in. Once you have done this they will ask for a fit note and I believe you.can get 90 a week paid fortnightly, or if they place you in the support group it's 140 per week, you can claim this for 1 year and work under 16 hours, it's aim is to get you working and build up to getting back to work, good luck and I hope you start to feel better soon x

I’m in high intensity therapy to try and get over my health anxiety and the fear around allergic reactions with the view to hopefully and eventually try medication should I still need it then.. it’s not that I’m unwilling to try medication, I want to try anything that will help.. but I can’t do that when I have such an intense phobia of it. That’s why it’s such a vicious circle.

You’re acting as if I’ve just brushed off any tablets because I cba to take them which isn’t the case at all.

Do you not think I have paperwork?
How do you think I got my emphysema diagnosis ? I heard it on the breeze or through the grapevine?
Why are so many of you asking very stupid questions?
Do you honestly think terminally ill people have no paperwork?
Do you have any idea how much time I spend in hospital.
How much time do mental health top rate PIP spend in hospitals?
When you take into consideration hospitals being for people who are actually ill?

I’m unsure what relevance this has to mental health. Nobody has ever suggested anyone with terminal illness shouldn’t get PIP/any type of financial help.

I see you’ve already had a comment on here removed by MN so I can only assume you’re being a bit of a 🍆

Those with mental health issues are also ill though?

PIP isn't about hospital time. It is about activities of daily living. Unfortunately, many neurodivergent conditions are referred to as 'mental health' when it isn't actually true. Mental health needs arise from and coexist with the neurodivergence, rather than being an inherent part of it. Neurodivergent conditions are pervasive - they affect every day function across the domains of daily living. That's why they score highly on PIP assessments.

No-one has said you don’t have paperwork or shouldn’t get PIP if you meant the entitlement.

Do you have any idea how much time I spend in hospital.

No-one has said you don’t spend time in hospital. If you are currently being paid PIP, you presumably haven’t hit the 28 days, including linked stays, mark since the hospital rules means payments are suspended after 28 days, including 28 days accumulated via the linking rules, for over 18s at the time of admission.

You do know mental health admissions exist, don’t you? Mental ill health is still ill health.

I dont think anyone has a problem with people who have depression and anxiety claiming PIP.
I think where the problem lies is people in wheelchairs, people who have amputations, skin disease, terminal lung and heart disease, people with blood diseases, people who have last stage liver failure are all being kicked off PIP and forced to claim jobseekers allowance .
People who have mental health problems but other than that they are young and physically fit are getting top rate PIP for mental health with a 5 year soft touch because someone they were having sex with wrote the doctor a note!!!!!!!!!!
but the terminally ill get nothing unless its within the last 12 months of their lives.
I think this is what people have a problem with.
The lack of a clinical diagnosis that allows people to claim PIP for mental health.
I think people want to get rid of the subjectivity of " how your condition affects you" and get back to more facts like doctors letters, x rays, blood tests ect.
Proper clinical diagnosis of a disease
The terminally ill and people in wheelchairs are being refused PIP while young able bodies people are claiming top rate PIP with almost no clinical diagnosis
I dont think thats right and I dont think its right that older disabled people who have worked all their lives and are now disabled are being kicked off PIP to make room for young healthy people who say they have mental health conditions who have never worked and have no desire to contribute anything to society.
Thats what people have a problem with
I am not in the minority when it comes to this subject so you can all gang up and bully me all you want but its not going to change the minds of how the vast majority or hard working english people feel.
Being terminally ill is not the same as depression
Being in a wheelchair is not the same as anxiety.
I would dearly love to see these young mental health PIP claimants live ONE WEEK in a wheelchair or have to go everywhere with a big oxygen tank or walk around the streets with a serious facial injury.
They would understand what disability is.
Also YES loads of them are in Antifa
So your disabled???????? But your in an army with weapons going out on the street every day attacking people
Disabled people dont spend their time doing that S**T their lives are too difficult

@BeAgileRubyTurtle but you're factually wrong. My children all have clinical diagnoses. They all have extensive reports. Who is telling you that people are getting PIP with a letter that says 'she does feel a bit sad...I see her cry'?

You can claim Pip. No need to have a formal diagnosis- it's all about how it affects your daily life. Obviously some people exaggerate in order to get it but so do a lot of people getting dla for their children.

My clinical records have it quite clear in black and white that my scores indicate moderate to severe depression and anxiety. I’m not just sticking ‘severe’ on for affect. It affects my life daily.

I’m guessing you’ve never hyperventilated stepping out of your front door before, and that shows.

How about, if you don’t understand MH, or your too ignorant to try and understand anything outside of what you deem acceptable it might be wise to keep your opinion to yourself, otherwise you just end up looking a bit of a tool.

I’m a bit miffed at the people that think because I’ve asked whether you CAN claim PIP for MH issues, that I’m automatically some scrounger who’s exaggerating symptoms to get some free money 😂 I still work, albeit only a few hours a week now, but I haven’t written myself off. We’re all feeling the effects of the cost of living. I have two children I need to feed and clothe. Any free money I might be entitled to, to help with that, is worth looking into.. because why wouldn’t I want to take every avenue possible to provide for my family?

Anyway, from the sensible replies to this thread it seems I likely wouldn’t be entitled to PIP as I’m not completely reliant on somebody else or need a carer ect. Thanks to everyone who gave proper, insightful replies. No thanks to anyone else bitching and moaning about whether a mild allergy is a real allergy or whether severe is a real word in medical terms. Jesus H.