DWP/PIP. Fucking joke.

[octoberstorms]

Failed assessment back in April (claimed for 2 years successfully for mental health- I'm 20). Assessor lied on feedback and the assessment questions are not related/geared towards people with MH problems at all.

It was the only money I had each month (can't work due to issues). Have been relying on my parents and boyfriend since which I feel awful about and hate.

Put in mandatory recon, which of course was declined (after they 'lost' my first MR despite me doing recorded delivery).

Now waiting for tribunal date. Says it could take 12-18months minimum.

WTF? NHS has been awful, can't get appointments to see a psychiatrist or mental health nurse or do certain therapies as 'I don't qualify for them/meet criteria' or they simply have none available for months on end.

I have literally no support, no money and am severely depressed and anxious. I suffer from ocd & an eating disorder as well so that's gotten so much worse too.

I don't know what the fuck to do, as it gets closer to Christmas I hit get angrier and angrier as I have no money and no life anymore. The £430pm I was claiming gave me so much independence back. I used it for private therapy costs, food costs and part rent to my boyfriend as well as having a little left over for clothes when needed/rare day out.

Do you not claim ESA? Speak to CAB and get their help to claim. PIP is a non-means tested benefit. If you have no other income then there will be a means tested benefit you can apply for

I feel your pain. Do not give up . Get someone to help with appeal.
What the woman said about me made me ill . I am waiting a year on appeal . She said I had no mobility issues when I was on a stick and fell in with her.
( I got a rollator a week later)
Please ďo not give up.they get bonuses for every so many they knock off.
You know you need and deserve it.
Good wishes.

@lyralalala No I can't claim it as I live with my boyfriend and his income is 'too high'. (He has little spare cash as he runs his own business and is paying back loads of debt himself).

Can't move back to parents as worse for my MH there.

@Cryalot2 I'm so sorry you're in the same boat, it's utterly appalling and should be criminal for them to get bonuses for ruining other people's lives.

I know it sounds extreme but contact your MP, there are so many cases where the assessor is not qualified it’s just a tick box exercise.
You should be able to get ESA irrespective of what you boyfriend earns.

@Pixxie7 I was told by the people at the job centre there was nothing I could claim? I'll call in there Monday and check.

I have contacted my MP but no response yet.

Thank you.

Keep chasing MP they should hold a surgery, normally Fridays. But we all know Brexit is taking over their lives. I am pretty sure you should get ESA but a letter from your GP might help. They can’t expect you to live on fresh air. All the best x

When did you last work? Did you get your contributions based claim initially? Has that run out?

Don't believe what anyone at dwp tells you without checking.

I've been on benefits of some kind for 17 years now for various reasons. When I first split from ex and was still totally ignorant as to how things work I was told I wasn't eligible for anything because ex was in army! Complete bullshit!

They seem to be slowed to blatantly lie with no repercussions and it's got much worse since then.,

Contact your local welfare rights office or any of the well known debt charities like stepchange or Christians against poverty (you don't have to be a Christian or of any faith to get their help) or even Mind if you're in England/wales (I'm not a big fan of mind but they seem ok on this kind of advice), or if you have one your local mental health charity be that general mh or one specific to your condition.

They will be much more helpful to you.

The dwp cannot be trusted. And yes MP a good call too.

ALLOWED to blatantly lie, sodding auto correct!

God I just feel awful today. I'm so sorry to complain to you guys but I don't have anyone in real life to talk about it to. (Hate worrying my parents and my boyfriend just doesn't get it).

I don't know how I will be able to last another year with no support from the NHS or financially. Then the tribunal will be brutal I'm sure and if I don't get anything then I'm sure I'll just give up.

I've been to my GP so many times about my MH but they can't do anything but refer me places and those places don't have appointments for months and even then they can only offer 3 or 4 sessions.

Hi OP,I'm a welfare rights advisor, and sorry you're having such a difficult time. Approx. 74%. of negative. PIP decisions are turned over at tribunal, so it is definitely worth appealing. Make sure CAB or another professional charity/agency help you with the appeal.

If you don't mind me asking, what does your partner currently earn, and does he rent/ own his own home This will enable us to see if you may be entitled to any means tested benefits.

Would I also be able to ask if you've worked and paid class one/two NI contributions on the 2016/2017 or 2017/2018 tax years ? ( Asking to see if you may qualify for contribution based ESA, which doesn't take partner's income into account).

If you've not worked enough years to claim contributions based ( new style ) ESA then anything else means tested that you could claim would be based on your partners earnings. Income related esa has been replaced now by Universal credit so you could possibly claim that as a couple but may not get anything due to his earnings. It would all depend what his earnings are, what your rent is etc. You would need to hand in sick notes and wait to be assessed for work capability.

@Sootyandsweep2019 Hi, thank you for your help.

My partner is self employed and earns around £30-40,000 a year. He rents, our place is £500pm.

I haven't been able to work unfortunately.

@Babyroobs I used to claim UC before I moved in with him (I was entitled to £250pm, not a lot but enough). They stopped my claim once I moved in with him as he earns over the threshold. He doesn't have spare money though as he has so much debt.

Ok so there is no way you would get UC with a partner earning that amount. He is expected to support you. There has to be a cut off although I understand your frustration at having no money of your own. To be honest he's earning a pretty good salary.

Hi Octoberstorms,

You are right, the benefits system is awful.

Would your boyfriend or parents be able to loan you enough for two private appointments with a private CBT therapist or Psychologist? That way you could get an assessment report to back up your stated limitations. If you can get evidence for your conditions it can make a huge amount of difference. If you are severely ill but unable to get the medical evidence to support it then they will just reject your claims.

Don’t write yourself off just yet regarding working.

I have bipolar, BPD, more suicide attempts than I can count. At points I have been housebound for months on end and after five years out of work I had decided I was never likely to work again. I was on contribution based ESA for all this time, in the support group which meant they didn’t expect me to look for work at all.

Two things changed this. I got a Labrador which forces me to leave the house at least once a day. And a few months after that I applied on a whim to work as a Christmas temp in a little gift shop. I figured that even if I crashed and burned it was only a three month gig and i wouldnt be letting anyone down horribly.

That was well over a year ago and I now work nearly full time. My MH has been stable, I’m very open about my issues so my colleagues all know. I’ve had one day where I was too anxious and depressed to leave the house so I had to phone in and they were hugely supportive.

It has changed my life. Im not saying you need to suck it up and get a job and I know that I’m very lucky that my job suits me so well, but I wanted to give you a bit of hope for the future.

You are a couple it’s right that your partners supports you. All you money should be shared you have nothing to feel awful about.
It’s actually quite concerning you were needing to use pip for food clothes and rent. That is not what it’s meant for. Am concerned your partner is financially abusing you.

@Elle7rose I have plenty of medical evidence, from my GP, my dentist, previous MH appointments etc.

Unfortunately my parents can't afford to get me a private appointment but I may ask my boyfriend.

@MyDcAreMarvel he's not at all, he didn't want any rent from me but I gave him a little each month (£50-100) as I felt guilty otherwise. He always offers to pay for things for me but it makes me so uncomfortable as I know he doesn't have loads himself. He never spends money on himself as he pays back over £2k a month in debt. (He took out a stupid loan for his business years ago).

Tbh, with a household income such as yours and no contributions you won't be entitled to hp other than disability based. If you have moved in with then you are a couple and financially linked.

@YippeeKayakOtherBuckets Thank you, so happy to hear you're doing okay most days.

@BarrenFieldofFucks Am aware of that.

Maybe he can't afford to support you?