Adult disability payment allowance?

[KittyKatMcNairn]

Hi folks, im writing here to see if anyone has been in the same boat as me.

I am 37 years old with a history of anxiety and depression. I have been on and off antidepressants a lot of my life.

My husband has to deal with all my finances as I physically stress and struggle with anything money related. My social anxiety is horrendous. I thought after having a baby I would be better but nope - my husband has to come places with me unless it’s a familiar place I know. Social gatherings I now take beta blockers for as I come out in a rash over my neck, chest and face as I am so anxious. he has to remind me to take medication otherwise I just don’t take it, he cooks for me as I struggle to read recipes and if he is out to work I go to sleep so I don’t have to cook.

Before my husband done anything for me, my parents done all this. I can’t drive as the thought scares me, I only leave my house if I’m with husband and baby. I can’t read maps unless it’s voiced on my phone.

i applied for ADP (I’m aware this is the equivalent for PIP). They called to book a face to face appointment. What are the chances of winning this? anything to prepare for for the appointment? Any help appreciated thanks 😊

These are the principles of social security Scotland which is enshrined in law. It has a different philosophical approach to social welfare than DWP.

Its fraud if you tell them you are like that every day when you're not. They literally ask you about your worst days. If you go in there not thinking about your worst days and only tell them about your good days it can be hard to think of the bad things you're putting up with if they are not happening right now.

Did I say tell them about your worst days and lie and say every day is like that? Of course I never.

I really wish people would stop talking crap full stop. Nothing crap about this advice. They will literally ask about the worst times. If OP hadn't thought about this in advance and feels put on the spot because she might not be in the middle of a worst time, then how is that helpful? OP needs to jot these things down to make sure they are mentioned, when asked, about their worst days.

I worked for CAB for a number of years and I nor any of my colleagues would advise someone to write a PIP or any other form based solely on their worst day. It's fine to explain a worst day but not to answer every question as if it is a worst day. A worst day may only happen a few times a year and if you answered a PIP form as " I can't walk 20 metres" because that happens a few days a year when you are having a bad flare up, and then on the day of the assesment you are not having a flare up and they see you walk 200m down the road to the assessment centre ( yes they do ask and watch ), then it's going to look like you've grossly exaggerated your illness. By all means describe a worst day but also explain how many days this happens. they will question people on this at assessments and at tribunals. To score points on a descriptor, you must meet the criteria for that descriptor more than 50% of the time .

You need to be really honest with them and yourself separating can't and won't. By that I mean what can't you do even in emergency? Could you go to somewhere you don't know if you had to even though you would prefer not to?

You mentioned reading? Have you had testing to see why you struggle, have you tried to learn to read a map eg one-one someone sitting down with you patiently?

Not being able to read a map or recipe isn't necessarily going to qualify you for benefits but an eating disorder where you cannot bring yourself to prepare food may (my dd is like this though her pip was rejected)

As I said, honesty is important and push for more professional help

You are literally calling it fraud because you assumed my post meant answer every question about your worst day? Well that's on you! My post said think and talk about your worst days. It didn't say "and nothing else, and lie saying every day is like this, and exclude everything else". Make sure you are telling them about your worst days, and prepare by thinking about them, is what the post said 🤣it just makes you look stupid when you make assumptions.

I agree make sure you have thought about your worst days, but obviously telling them how often these are. A typical week, a bad week, etc etc. Ignore anyone saying it's fraud, that's just ridiculous.

How would that help her case? What she needs in writing is reports of her condition not advice on how to fill the forms out.

If you struggle so much I don't think adding a baby to the mix was the best decision.

Are you neurodiverse?

Really?

Adult disability payment is Scotlands version of PIP and they don't put you through medicals or face to face appointments. Least that was what advice my friend got?

Doesnt sound to me that you will qualify. But no harm in trying.

Talking about your worst day is crap advice snd they generally see right through it.
In my experience of PIP ( which is extensive) it can be hard to claim for depression or anxiety unless you are under specific mental health services such as a psychiatrist or psychologist. If your condition can be managed by medication and the GP then it’s generally considered that although it impacts on your life, it is not severe enough to qualify for disability related benefits

Obviously talk about your worst days but alongside your better and typical days.

What can I say to you? All the professionals I listed have told myself & many others I know to do exactly that… think of worst case scenario.

Perhaps you haven’t offered that advice… it doesn’t change the fact that I’ve heard it constantly.

@Willyoujustbequiet what an incredibly unhelpful, pointless, judgemental thing to say.

They don't always, not they don't ever

Which is what people are saying!!!

Yes that's what we are saying. It's fine to think about a worst case scenario and explain that in the context of how often it happens. To be honest I think the report is mainly based on what is said at the assessment and from what I've witnessed they do question people very carefully. I sat in on a phone assessment with a client solely for mental health last week and they questioned her in great depth about what a bad day looked like, was every day a bad day, were somedays better than others, how many days she stayed in bed all day etc. It really was very thorough and I do think that whilst they do look at what is written on the form, that what is said at the assesmsent holds more weight. With the Scottish syatem, if they have no assesmsent ( as others have said) then I'm guessing what you write on the form and the evidence you submit to support the claim is going to be more important. I would say to op that I've supported clients with a lot of applications solely for mental health recently and the vast majority have been awarded so definately give it a go and try to get medical evidence to back up the form. Good luck.

I feel your frustration. Whilst not minimalizing op's problems, I do think there should be more levels/ rates of disability benefits although I know that would be virtually impossible to assess and administer as the current system is in chaos. But I often think of severely disabled people, I know a lady with severe arthiritis, bedbound, housebound, needs 2 carers four times a day, and whilst she is rightly on enhanced rates of PIP, so are others with much lesser severity of disability. there needs to be a super enhanced level for severely disabled children and adults.

I agree. The whole system needs to be looked at again.

I am truly amazed at some of the people I see who are awarded enhanced rates and others who are awarded nothing when they absolutely should have got an award. I think it may get a bit better when they start doing face to face assessments again rather than phone ones which have been going on for a long time now since covid, although others have said the scottish adp doesn't even involve an assessment ?

I agree that the whole system needs to be looked at.

Yes.

Which part is confusing you?