to think Mental Health issues are a disabilty?

[Crazeeee]

Been refused PIP as the PHYSIO who assessed me said I kept myself clean, dress well, could speak clearly and eloquently and passed a memory test. Apparently as she had been on a course on psychology she knows all about mental health issues .

I have suffered from OCD since childhood due to abuse and was also diagnosed with PTSD since the loss of a child 15 year ago. I have tried my hardest to keep myself together and work as well as bringing my children but last year I just could not continue working as the panic attacks were just too much to cope with. I also have a DC with severe learning difficulties who has extremely challenging behaviour.

I applied for PIP as DH only working means that finances are so tight which makes me feel even more worthless because it's all my fault. My career is just about finished now and I doubt I will ever be able to hold down a job again although I have asked for another referral to an anxiety disorder clinic so have not totally given up. This is after years of seeing psychiatrists who have not been able to help and paying thousands for private counselling.

I am just so angry that something totally unqualified to come to that decision can decide that the suffering I go through every blood day is not bad enough.

AIBU?

Excuse crap spelling/grammar. Got a terrible migraine!

YANBU

A friend of mine has Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder, Anxiety and Depression and she was rewarded Enchanced Rate Care.

You should appeal against the decision.

Take a look at this site, it shows you the points system.

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip/pip-points-system

I hope it gets sorted out soon, good luck

Aarrghhh. someone unqualified not something.

Appeal. Most PIP appeals are granted.

Appeal! I was a PIP assessor, and the system is discriminatory towards MH conditions. Come onto the AIBU PIP thread, there's more info on there.

YANBU. Mental health sufferers are easy targets for assessors being pressured to cut numbers receiving benefits. Both because it can be difficult for the patient to quantify, even with medical notes etc and because MH sufferers are the least likely to appeal, because it is such a long stressful process which will involve you being informed at least once more that you're actually fine (Mandatory Reconsideration) before you can even get to the actual appeal stage.

I had this with my daughter. Suicide attempts, stack of letters and medical/psychiatrist notes, spent days filling the form in using all the advice from specialist forums and sites- refused with a pathetic, half arsed report that contained literal lies and multiple copy/paste paragraphs about unrelated info. The fact that she is also dyslexic was c/p into every box (with identical spelling mistakes and formatting so definitely was a c/p) and in several that was more than half the information noted even though it is entirely irrelevant to mental health or how it affects her life. The worst thing is that the assessor was a mental health nurse!

Anyway, we appealed with help from MIND and she got both elements. We even had a DWP rep there (although that wasn't because of our specific case, it was just his day there) who said after hearing the evidence that he would not contest whatever the panel decided. It was that bad.

I'm telling you this so you know firstly that you are not unreasonable or alone, and secondly so you can prepare yourself for the report being wrong and the MR upholding it. It will be a little easier on you if that doesn't come as a shock and you know that a lot of people have the same experience. I wasn't prepared at all and was furious and devastated at both, which meant I used up a lot of energy writing long and detailed complaints and rebuttals which were utterly pointless as they were never going to admit they were wrong. So you need to brush that bollocks aside and just look at it as normal progression towards a proper decision.

Good luck, PM me if you ever want to.

Please get help from MIND or CAB and appeal. I've got an amazing lady from CAB doing my appeal for me. It's such a relief to have proper advice and help. They know exactly how to phrase things correctly and check for errors in the assessment.

Good luck.

OP, you need to phone ASAP and ask for a copy of the assessors notes. Then use these notes with an advisor to find where the errors are that you need to challenge.

CAB did have a waiting list of a few weeks so do ask straight away for an appointment. I delayed and was too late for help with MR which was declined, hence going to appeal.