Pip and depression

[willowcatkin111]

I finally summoned up the energy to phone and apply for pip and they are sending the stuff. One thing puzzled me though - they asked if I had ever suffered from severe depression and been hospitalised for it. Anyone have any idea why they might ask that? Just feeling paranoid atm!

No idea why they would ask that, maybe someone else will know. Just wanted to wish you good luck with the PIP form. Total pain in the backside as it sounds like you're aware, but worth it if you are awarded anything.

It's one of the questions on the forms. They may need to know if you are incapable of filling out the form and that may be a trigger question? I'm not sure though but I do remember being asked the same thing when I got my forms.

Generally speaking, people who are considered "vulnerable" (learning difficulties, severe and enduring mental illness, dementia...) are processed for PIP even if they don't return the "How does my disability affect me?" form and are still booked in for a face-to-face assessment even without any other evidence. As, for other applicants not returning the form would close the claim, there has to be some sort of distinguisher between "vulnerable" and "not vulnerable". Tbh, being seen as vulnerable is often a positive for a PIP claim as the DWP often conflate "vulnerable" with "more ill" which can be helpful for getting points.