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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

PIP and mental health

20 replies

Sunandstorms · 11/09/2023 11:35

Just wondering if I should try to claim PIP or if that’s really cheeky and it is for people who are significantly more disabled than me for whatever reason?
Basically I have a long history (20 years or so) of recurrent depression which has been pretty bad at times eg I had to take 2 years out of university but has been entirely successfully treated at other times - so I’ve been able to work full time for years without any symptoms or at times even any medication. However the last 2 years have been horrendous with more or less treatment resistant symptoms and unwell enough to need a couple of admissions to hospital, one for 6pm this under section - I’ve got better with ECT but then worse again before I’ve had a chance to get back to work and so I’m coming up to a year off work and running out of sick pay plus I’m sure work are massively pissed off with me although they couldn’t have been more supportive and keep reassuring me and saying they’ll help me plan a phased return whenever I’m well enough which I’m aware I don’t deserve but anyway. I’ve had amazing nhs care with talking therapy and medication etc and there is a plan and my psychiatrist keeps telling me I will get better and be able to get back to work. We’ll see though.
Anyway. Right now I can’t drive both because of dvla rules and because I know my concentration is too poor. I sort of can’t go out on my own because I struggle with motivation and equally struggle to do anything other than sit on the sofa because of motivation including eating and drinking if my family don’t remind me. But I could do it I just don’t because I can’t be bothered so I don’t know if this is true disability or laziness. I can’t read because of concentration and it’s taken hours to write this for the same reason.
So I don’t know. Please give it to me straight. Would a PIP application be taking the mickey and disrespectful to people who truly deserve it or would it be fair enough to try (aware it might very reasonably be rejected anyway)?

OP posts:

Annaishere · 11/09/2023 11:38

I think you’re eligible but on paper it’s whether you can eg go out on your own and interact with people etc less than half the time

RedHelenB · 11/09/2023 11:45

If you can do it, then I'd try to push yourself within reason. Focus on the positives, your psychiatrist says you will be able to lead a " normal" life again.
Personally I think the whole Pip/DVLA needs an overhaul so that people actually get the assistance that they need, so many seem to slip through the net, yet others are well prepped in what to say for each box and get it easily.

Augustus40 · 11/09/2023 11:49

I know somebody in their thirties who gets it. On mental health grounds.

Icedlatteplease · 11/09/2023 11:52

Yes you should get it, you certainly deserve it . Whether you will get it is another matter, may be a battle

Hermittrismegistus · 11/09/2023 11:53

No offence but you sound quite fucked up at the moment, you claiming PIP would not be taking the piss at all.

GentrifiedLDN · 11/09/2023 12:00

Try it, it really does seem dependent on your assessor

Me and my sister have the same condition - she was awarded top rate pip mobility needs, and I was awarded nothing. I appealed and was turned down again

She works outside of the house full time in a very busy environment, and I can only wfh part time

It is all very hit and miss

Thelnebriati · 11/09/2023 12:01

When you put in a claim for PIP you are supposed to tell them what your condition is like at its worst. It's not cheating or taking the mickey. You've had ECT, and they don't give that treatment on a whim!So put in your application and cross your fingers, because it sounds like your illness is having a significant impact on you at the moment. And dont forget most applications that are rejected the first time but succeed on appeal.

Snowpaw · 11/09/2023 12:05

You won't wake up suddenly one morning with motivation if you are not engaging in any meaningful activity. Being inactive feeds into the depression and it means you get stuck in this cycle of low motivation / lack of exercise / social withdrawal etc. Is claiming PIP and prolonging your time off work going to help the depression and help you towards your goal? That's what I'd be asking myself.

I'd focus on your treatment and getting back into work (the support you have there sounds great) because ultimately that's going to be the most beneficial thing.

LakieLady · 11/09/2023 12:08

I work in welfare rights, but exclusively with clients who have MH issues. I do 1 or 2 PIP applications most weeks, and YANBU!

Get help with the form from an advice agency though, it's not straigtforward.

Hopinghonestly · 11/09/2023 12:09

Yes apply! Get someone to help as you seem to be trying to minimise your condition. ECT is only for extreme depression, its a hardcore treatment.

No offense but its quite common for serious mental health illnesses to feel your not bad enough...which essentially is the illness keeping you ill.

I use to have severe mental health and at the time i would tie myself in knots to normalise it. Its only looking back recovered i think bloody hell that was BAD.

Plus ive seen someone with alcoholism have highest rate pip..then blow it all on booze and drugs...dont want to judge on it but IMO you deffo need it.

Original poster

Sunandstorms · 11/09/2023 12:24

Thank you all. @Snowpaw I know you’re absolutely right and I need to do stuff, I’m honestly desperate to get back to work but it’s tricky as I’m a nurse so need to be well enough to be confident there are no patient safety issues before I can go back.
But it does make it harder with PIP when I know I should improve and get back. Maybe I’ll fill the form in and let them decide. A social worker contacted me a week or two ago offering a benefits check so I guess I could ask him but I know how busy they must be so don’t want to if it‘a pointless.

OP posts:

aspirationalflamingo · 11/09/2023 12:32

PIP isn't about whether you can work or not, it's about the impact of your condition on daily life.

Applying for PIP doesn't mean you're giving up on ever returning to work.

GoodLordHelpMe · 11/09/2023 12:38

You can work full-time and claim PIP, it's not designed for supporting people who are not able to work, it's a payment to keep independence. I think you should apply, but it's a fight so be prepared for that. I have been turned down even though I should, according to their standards, be awarded it. I have appealed but was turned down again and cannot face going to tribunal. Get help filling in the PIP if you can. Please don't think though that this payment is instead of trying to get back to work, it's not designed for that.

Original poster

Sunandstorms · 11/09/2023 14:23

I know…. I think I’d just feel really guilty claiming it if I was okay financially.

OP posts:

Icedlatteplease · 11/09/2023 18:35

Yes Definitely contact the social worker for help!!!

Icedlatteplease · 11/09/2023 18:50

@Thelnebriati

Please stop perpetuating this myth. You are not meant to JUST describe your condition at its worst. You obviously have to include it at its worst but you actually need to describe it in all its variations if there are variations. Describing it just at its worst has left people open to benefit fraud investigations

DS has a variable condition. I absolutely do not use any terms like worst, bad day good day. We use terms such as generally, normally, often to preface the bad bits but we do also acknowledge what it can be like when he's doing better but tend to preference this with sometimes/occasionally etc.

So a sentence might read something like: "occasionally DS will be able to..... but normally.... " " DS may be able to...... but he will need (significent/3 hours) time to recover/decompress" "DS may occasionally able to..... but he will also go months where he will be completely unable to even leave the house"

aspirationalflamingo · 11/09/2023 19:19

Citizens Advice has detailed explainers including how to address good days and bad days.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/help-with-your-claim/fill-in-form-pip/3-prepare-and-cook-meal/

Q3: preparing and cooking a meal

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/help-with-your-claim/fill-in-form-pip/3-prepare-and-cook-meal

Clarinet1 · 11/09/2023 19:33

I get PIP for physical health problems but there are certainly questions on the application where the things you mention would be relevant - needing reminders to eat, issues with going out etc. Obviously the overall assessment as to whether you get PIP is on a points system and I can’t say exactly what the scale is but you certainly wouldn’t be wrong to apply.
Also, as PP have said, PIP is nothing to with whether you work or not or what savings or other income you have. It it not means-tested and it is meant to help with things you need to help you because you have a disability.

blueshoes · 11/09/2023 19:41

I believe you can get PIP. It is not the diagnosis rather whether you fit the PIP daily living criteria. So if you don't prepare food or get dressed or interact with people because of your depression and someone has to force or remind you on a daily basis, you may be able to get enough points for an award.

Legale · 11/09/2023 19:46

There is nothing wrong with you applying for it, but be prepared for a rejection and appeals.
I have chronic anxiety and PD, diagnosed for over 10 years, and am neurodiverse (also diagnosed). These all impact my day to day life quite a bit, which I made very clear. I was advised that as I have a family, a job, and could hold a conversation on the phone (my assessment), I had no support needs. From what I hear, my experience isn't uncommon. It's ridiculous how they treat people.

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