PIP for Anxiety

[IntelligenceIsFree]

AIBU to clear things up?

The current nasty rhetoric around disabled people at the moment is astounding. Society needs to be reminded that we are ALL one illness or accident away from disability.

Everyone knows someone who is gaming the system, yet the PIP fraud rate is extremely low. The public demonising, does not match the reality.

The hot topic is “anxiety” and how people with “anxiety” are gaming the system, getting “free” cars and robbing tax payers; this is being constantly fed through media, news articles and so on.

This is simply not true. The people spouting this nonsense clearly have no idea how PIP works. Nobody gets PIP without strong medical evidence. Nobody.

Before anyone posts “my neighbour got PIP just by telling lies”. No, they did not. That’s not how it works.

People need to be educated properly on how benefits work, how they are awarded and what the criteria for mobility cars actually is; the cars are not in fact free.

People need to be educated on the fact that there is anxiety, which every human suffers from at some point, and then there are anxiety DISORDERS which are entirely different and can be life changing and debilitating. Hence, the need and entitlement for PIP.

Brenda down the road who feels too anxious to go to Bingo on a Friday night is NOT getting PIP ❌

Mary up the lane who has such severe OCD that she cannot leave her own home for fear that she will die, IS getting PIP .✅

There’s a huge difference.

The current turning on disabled people is shameful and we are living in a country full of hate because Bob (and his Uncle) are annoyed that they are paying tax to “support all of these scroungers”.

Bob (and his Uncle), needs to hope that they never get cancer, or suffer life changing trauma or have an unfortunate accident to avoid being served a huge scrounged humble pie.

I do not suffer from anxiety but as a human, I am pleased we have a system in society to support the most vulnerable people who need it. Life can happen to anyone.

Huh? When did I say you wasn't

This! I am the same, crippling anxiety disorder at times especially in my teens and 20s and strangely one thing that really helped... working. Occupation is great therapy. Mental health is not treated effectively in the UK.

There is a certain type of person who much prefers to victimise themselves indefinitely

I've never been asked i assumed because its not a descriptor so they can't award points for it

Think before you judge others.

Private counselling ….. in my area you get 12 weeks on the NHS. I’ve had a lot of trauma and have needed several years of counselling.

(Not me) but some people may have to pass on promotions or reduce their working hours

some might have to pay for taxis because they can’t use public transport .

the answer will be very individual

Although I do agree to an extent as I work which helps but still claim pip as its not an out of work benefit. I couldn't work when I had agoraphobia I was so unwell and I've been sectioned on and off I'm very luck I have a very very understanding workplace. But the reality is I could never leave this job as I would never pass the 12 week trial phase of a new job so I don't think its as simple as people should just get a job

I genuinely have no clue what you are on about?

I tried to claim just before my 66 birthday and was turned down. My condition then took a major turn for the worse and I reapplied but as the issue worsened after I’d reached pensionable age I’m not entitled. So a friend who is working in a well paid job gets higher rate disability and lower rate living, whilst I, on a pension, get nothing. I’m going to have spend a fortune on adapted living and if I want to travel pay extra. Won’t be able to drive.

You can put in a claim for attendance allowance which doesn't have a mobility component

You can surely claim Attendance Allowance instead although there is no mobility component to that. Sorry but the DWP are very wise to people trying to claim just before pension age !

Have you applied for attendance allowance isn't that disability payments for people past retirement age

This is great for you but you must realise everyone is not the same?

👏👏👏

I think you’re very naive. Just how people say you can’t be entitled to dla without strong evidence, it’s rubbish. With dla it more or less depends on whose desk it lands on and the way the forms have been filled. Tou could have minimal “evidence” and still receive high rate care and low mobility, when there’s someone with tons of supporting letters about care needs and they receive middle rate care no mobility. There were so many people in my previous care job who exaggerated their care needs in order to keep their pip claims going. I had full access to their medical history and all they were diagnosed with. There would be people claiming they need support with washing, cooking, prepping food, taking to appointments and housework for example. At almost every visit they wouldn’t actually need help with anything and some would brazenly ask you to manipulate the care notes I’d have to write up. It became a point I was going to speak to my work about them clearly frauding the benefit system and reporting back to social care that they don’t actually need any of the support they are getting. Some people would say “Can you put on my notes that I haven’t washed for 2 weeks but I’m working towards it” when they had actually washed and dressed themselves that day without any support or prompting. It really pissed me off because I genuinely was struggling so bad with my mental health and could barely find the motivation to wash myself, take care of my diabetes medicine when I am type 1 diabetic, I had no motivation for anything. I just wanted to curl up and hide away and never wake up. But I kept turning up to work everyday and I don’t even know how I done it. I was helping people who didn’t actually need the support they were getting and I was the one needing the help to be quite honest. There were also some people who had occupational therapists come out to see what adaptations they needed and I will never forgot the day one person purposely started crawling up the stairs and then slid down on their ass. They also lied and said they kept falling over ect it affected their mental health so they needed a falls pendant which they got. They got everything they asked for which in turn supported their pip claim. This particular person also needed support for housework as they were unable to stand unaided or without having a chair behind them to catch them yet they used to catch a bus 20 miles to another town to go give their friend all the support they were claiming they needed. Again us carers witnessed this first hand. It’s a joke. I could keep going giving you examples. I have severe back pain that cripples me. I have been pushing the gp and physiotherapist to give me an up to date mri because I want to know what is wrong with my back and if there has been any changes since the last one where u had bulging discs. I keep getting turned down. I’ve been sent to the pain clinic as I’ve suffered this pain for over 10 years and the pain clinic referred me straight back and said I need to try a tens machine before they will treat me. I don’t want this scan so I can claim benefits. I am taking prescribed co codamol everyday and it doesn’t even touch the sides with the pain. If I were to try claim pip I’d have to exaggerate a lot of the questions in order to get it so I won’t yet I’m damn sure that I could despite having very little “evidence”. I have enough evidence to say that i have these issues though and could easily enough lie but I won’t do that, I actually want to work and don’t want to get money that I’ve had to exaggerate to get. I do wash myself, I do clean up despite it crippling me. I don’t have help with prepping or making food so there’s no point in me trying to claim I’ll just have to suffer.

You said this :-

“She has NOT been formally diagnosed Bi-polar. Her doctors notes say she may have bi-polar and she has been put on medication. This is on the basis of her keep going to the doctor saying she feels low one minute and has erratic mood swings with feelings of hopelessness etc. That is documented.“

Thus indicating that the meds are for bipolar type symptoms.

Odd as Bipolar disorder is characterized by extreme mood swings, alternating between high-energy manic or hypomanic episodes (euphoria, rapid speech, reduced sleep, impulsivity) and low-energy depressive episodes (sadness, fatigue, hopelessness). These shifts, which can last days or weeks, significantly affect energy, activity, and daily functioning. Not exactly just feeling low and having mood swings.

No, some people like to milk it. We need to stop enabling these people to sit at home on disability.

I haven't read the full thread, but I wanted to share my experience.
I am AuDHD. I take meds for anxiety and ADHD. I cannot go anywhere alone, I need someone I consider safe to go with me.
Yes, I drive, because I live in a small village miles from the nearest town. I cannot use public transport so I have no choice but to drive or walk.
I passed my driving test 35 years ago but have got steadily worse since then.
I feel like I am actually living inside a horror movie, where something is out to get me, but I don't know what or when. The only time I am safe is when someone is with me, because whatever is out to get me won't make itself known if there is someone credible to witness it. I am not a credible witness.

The logical part of my mind tells me I'm being ridiculous, but the logical part doesn't control my intrusive thoughts or fears. I wish it did.
I have not been worse since covid, I have been like this for many years.
The terror of being on my own is overwhelming.
I applied for PIP and was turned down flat because I drive and I don't have an EHCP.
So now I am left with £274.16 per month to live on, after I have paid my rent, and I have to attend work related meetings and seek work, which I have not been able to consistently do, so I am facing being sanctioned too.
I try to avoid going out even if this means to the GP's, but I am applying for LCWRA so need sick notes to hand in to my UC coach before they will process my claim, and if I am successful, I will get another £217.26 per month to live on, which will give me just under £500 a month to live on.
I would give anything to be able to stop the fears and the overthinking and go to work, where maybe I could make some friends, feel I have a purpose in life, some structure.
I have no friends, no purpose, no structure to my days, and it is shit.
I wish I was fucking dead and that's not lip service. I truly mean it, but I'm terrified of dying too.
My primary constant emotion is terror.
Despite this, I still didn't get PIP, and I have no confidence that I will get LCWRA either.
If I got PIP, I would use it to buy food and pay bills that I would have used my wages for if I could force myself to work.
I feel like I am missing out on life, that my life as it stands is a huge waste on me.
There are people who make a difference, who bring about change and affect others lives positively, and then there is me, who doesn't bring anything to anyone's life.
If only euthanasia was available in the UK, I would sign myself up, then I wouldn't even cost taxpayers my UC.

I agree there is fraud, but imho, society is geared towards making people sick because I don't believe people were designed to spend their lives indoors, whether that be wfh or in the office, eating shit food, drinking crap, popping pills, all so they can function well enough to work their arses off making a few elite wealthy people even wealthier!
Perhaps if we loved people as much as we love money and profit, we wouldnt need to intoxicate ourselves with shit food, drink, pills, therapy, alcohol?
People are more stressed than ever before, especially women, because we have to do it all, be financially independent, carry the domestic load, be the main child carer, look after elderly parents, and for women with partners/spouses, hold down a relationship too.
There is too much pressure on people and it starts at a young age.
Get good grades, get a good degree, get a good job, learn to drive, buy a house, pay into a pension, and work as hard as you can, in order to survive.
Is that what we exist for?

So imho society's drive to make as much money as possible is making people sick and then we castigate people for being sick.

No a GP absolutely can’t treat all non psychosis anxiety and depression. 🤦🏻‍♀️ It can also be part of other severe conditions.

So anybody claiming pip for anxiety is milking it and non deserving. All can snap out of it. Wow who knew. Call CMHT and crisis we have a cure!!!

Oh I give up! Are you this ridiculous in person. Hopefully not.

Like another poster said you are best ignored.

You need help and a plan.
Just because someone has autism or ADHD doesn't mean they can't improve

What has tax got to do with it ? It's not means tested .

Because it’s paid for by tax taken from other people?

Im so sorry you are living like this its just shit. Brains can be very powerful things and no amout of logical thinking will override them thoughts. Like logically I know i can't die from a panic attack and passing out will restart my breathing properly but it doesn't stop me thinking I'm actually dying everytime I have one. And people just dont understand unless they've been through similar. You can't just not think like that ❤️