So sorry posting for traffic. Pip, motability car and mental health disorders

[Anonforthisone87]

I am not sure if this is the right place to post but wasn't sure where else to ask. My mum suffest from various mental health disorders. Bipolar, depression, agoraphobia and anxiety. She also has severe sciatica. I am her carer I do her errands shopping finances cetc and force the doctors appointments when she eventually leaves the house which is maybe 4-5 times a year. I was driving previously but due to my own financial struggles I'm not driving at the moment so it's making it harder for me to cope (I'm a single parent to three) so the times when it's an emergency and I need to go to my mums outside of school hrs I have to take the kids on public transport there and back. Usually I go every other day (minimum) during school hrs to clean cook meals etc.

She's my mum and while it is a struggle I will do anything for her but I was just wondering if anyone has successfully got higher rate pip for mobility due to mental health issues as it would really help me with doing all the things my mum needs doing?

I should add due to the sciatica she does walk with a walking aid including inside the house if needed.

I know someone who does for agoraphobia

It is possible for someone to receive the highest rate of mobility for mental health problems. The descriptors are here

How much does your mum's sciatica affect her walking ability?

You are best making an appointment with a disability specialist at CAB who will be able to properly advise you.

@Gingerkittykat

We have done the renewal last year October and I called today to see if anything can be added but its with the case manager already. The sciatica is bad she can barely walk and is being put on tramadol but I know she is overweight (another battle I'm trying to help with) so I think they will probably say it's self inflicted. She also has nerves damage in both wrists and sometimes loses the feeling of her fingers so cooking cleaning washing carrying things etc is hard for her to do. I will try speak to a disability specialist at cab and see if they can advise.

[quote Anonforthisone87]@Gingerkittykat

We have done the renewal last year October and I called today to see if anything can be added but its with the case manager already. The sciatica is bad she can barely walk and is being put on tramadol but I know she is overweight (another battle I'm trying to help with) so I think they will probably say it's self inflicted. She also has nerves damage in both wrists and sometimes loses the feeling of her fingers so cooking cleaning washing carrying things etc is hard for her to do. I will try speak to a disability specialist at cab and see if they can advise.[/quote]
Her weight does not matter - i need two knee replacements but as i was quite young i was told to wait as long as possible without having the op but it seems I've waited too long and put on too much weight and i still get high mobility. If i lost weight and had the knee replacements i may lose the PIP.

Has she had her face to face or more likely phone assessment yet?

Hopefully, she can add this information on there.

Her weight won't affect the assessment. If she is disabled then it doesn't matter if her weight contributes to it.

Does she get attendance allowance?

How old is she?

Have Adult Services done a care needs assessment?

This is a ridiculous amount of pressure on you.

I’m a mental health professional and it’s very difficult to get the highest rate mobility based solely on mental health difficulties. Even with mobility issues they are really looking for someone to be pretty much wheelchair bound to qualify for high rate. Not that I agree with this, just my experience. PIP is very physical health orientated the way it is currently set up. It’s worth applying but you need to be careful what you write on the form ie. don’t mention you want high rate as you want a car etc. it needs to be fact based on your mums conditions.
Additionally have you looked into whether you qualify for carers support if you don’t work yourself?
It would be worth making contact with your local CAB or carers centre for support with form filling in and anything else they can offer.
Also an assessment of need from social work may be beneficial to see if there is any support your mum would qualify to lighten the load on you.

so I think they will probably say it's self inflicted.

They won’t say that.

I do currently work myself so don't qualify for carers allowance. Her renewal was just completed she got enhanced rate care but still low mobility. She is scared to do a mandatory reconsideration incase they drop her back down to normal rate but I do feel she qualifies for the mobility higher rate but I won't force her of course hopefully I'll prob call and ask which points she failed to get the mobility on. Its not just about to getting the car it's not something I would be able to afford right away anyway but the extra money would help her.

She has a care navigator, she's under the psychiatric team, no social services at the moment she is 54.

Forgive me op, but in your first post you suggest that she rarely leaves the house anyway, so the transport would be to support you in getting to her in emergencies? I'm not sure pip is the way to get this.

I have just looked at her most recent updated psychiatric report and it's listed shed sufferers from agoraphobia, panic disorder, bipolar disorder, manic depression, anxiety disorder and the sciatica which is getting worse I'm really wondering if it's worth trying to get the higher rate it might just mean she can afford to get a few more things delivered etc might just take the pressure off me a bit

@Fuuuuuckit

Forgive me op, but in your first post you suggest that she rarely leaves the house anyway, so the transport would be to support you in getting to her in emergencies? I'm not sure pip is the way to get this.

Yes I currently pay for my travel or cab (if needed) to get to her but also if she goes appointments I pay for this too.

I understand op, but I'm not sure that an increase in pip would pay for YOU to have a mobility vehicle to support your mum, more that it would be used for her to pay for support iykwim?