Anyone get PIP for anxiety/depression?

[MummyBtothree]

Im waiting for my form to come in the post but feel extremely daunted and overwhelmed by it all. Has anyone else actually been given PIP for a mental health condition? .

I got a higher rate PIP for bipolar. I've had numerous admissions and crisis team referrals so I think that made a big difference. They awarded it on the basis of the evidence I sent & didn't make contact with my psychiatrist, which surprised me.

I know a tiny bit about this, having helped someone successfully sue and win an appeal.

You know the advice everyone trots out about telling them how it is every day? Yep, do that, do that, and do that again. The reality of living with serious illness is often hidden and it will stay that way unless you spell it out.

The second thing - read the guidelines PIP decision makers use to make awards. Match up the problems you have with the criteria they use.

For instance, if there are some days you can't leave the house from illness, which garners 12 points, tell them that. Go into the nitty-gritty of how you get about, and so on.

The third thing that may help is giving them a bit of background about you and your work to show you're not a waster. Yes, I know - this is a sick joke to anyone with health problems but I reckon it helps. I made sure PIP knew full well I was helping a professional with 20 years as a taxpayer under his belt before making a claim.

We said on the form, look, if you think swapping years of a successful career for living it up on benefits is a choice then you're not friends with the right people. But the main thing is - read the list of what they award points for, then match your symptoms to the points.

If it doesn't work, you can appeal - do it. Over half appeals win, and it's quicker than the initial process.

Hello

A friend of mine suffers from anxiety and depression she gets PIP enhanced rate care but no mobilty.

Remember it's not about how bad your illness is, it's about how badly it effects you, PIP works on a points scheme and you may be invited in for a medical.

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip/pip-points-system

^ this site is very helpful

Good luck

Can you get a pip if you're abl to work part time on a charge of job from before you were ill?

Thanks everyone for replying. I've got my form through the post today so I'm going to make an appointment with citizens advice to get some help filling out the form. I've also got to ask my gp now if they will provide me with some evidence of my treatments etc. Does anyone know if gp's charge you for writing a letter up for evidence? , thanks.

You shouldn't need to ask your GP to provide supporting evidence. When I filled my forms in I just listed all the medical personnel I've seen and said it was fine for them to be contacted. The only thing I actually sent with the forms was a prescription list, which the receptionist printed out for me.

As others have said, they are only interested in how your condition affects you , as different things affect people in so many different ways. They aren't there to pass judgment on what you have, just how your day to day life is

Hi, I am bi polar.
I am now in this predicament after being on the sick since 1988.
I now have to apply and do feel I’ll fail, do they know how you or I feel on a day to day basis,for 8 months I have virtually cut myself off from the world,if I do have to go out,I use the D.L.A for taxis,am unable to travel on public transport.
Will they assess me at home, that would be better.

Someone I know gets too rate for bpd

Foxwoman have you got someone who can support you with the form? Such as CPN or support worker? If not, would you be able to go to Citizens Advice for help filling in the form? Ring them first- you would need a long appointment for the form.

Thankyou for the replies, it means a lot. I made a call to the clinic to remind them that I asked for someone to help me,regarding the chaos I’m in, 4 weeks ago, they are to be in touch after a team meeting next week, I may ask them what I should do regarding the form, 5 years ago I had a support worker, he left I felt I couldn’t talk to another one. Will my past illness help me as I’ve had meds for years but spasmodic in taking them, have done so for 5 weeks every day, and to be fair feel the same, sorry to drip on I’ve never really confided in anyone before. Thankyou all, truly.

You really need to express what affect it as on your day to day living and the help you need. it’s not about what’s wrong with you
You may not be expressing yourself enough, and maybe your support worker could help (even just going of what she knows of you)
Go to appeal,

Hi I’m new to this so please bare with me.
I’ve suffered with depression and anxiety for lots of years due to childhood issues.
I’ve just been dismissed from a professional job after 14 years service. I was off work with my illness as I was finding it very hard to concentrate and remember things. Before I was off I had made a couple of mistakes which wasn’t anything major but because a client complained led to me having investigations and then disaplinary which resulted in me being dismissed. I am absolutely jutted as I’ve just the company a great deal over the years and was always there to help out when they needed it. End of last year I received a final written warning straight away which was my first offense and was due to my illness. As you can imagine this has contributed to me already feeling worthless. I’ve found myself planning my death as I feel I have nothing else to lose. A couple of weeks ago I lost my pet after having her for 12 years, I’ve just lost my job and will be losing my Mum soon as she has terminal cancer. I can’t take anymore, I need to do something.

I get PIP for bipolar, enhanced care but no mobility. They spoke to my care co-ordinator and had wanted me to
go for an assessment but she said i was too ill for that.

@jac69, sorry everything seems so dire for you right now.

What a terrible time you have had! I lost my job two years ago and have since had to rely on PIP and ESA. I had cancer in 2010 which was treated but had left horrible side effects. My advice is gather all the support you can get from Citizens Advice, welfare support organisations your GP and all other health care professionals looking after you. When DWP send you the reassessment forms get someone else to complete on your behalf it really helps! Remember you are entitled to this money. I’ve had two tough years but grateful for all the support out there. Take care and remember even if you do have to go to appeal, over 65% are now successful. Keep strong and fairness will win!!

I’ve been suffering from anxiety and depression for the last 2 years, I’ve lost 3 jobs to it and now my father passed away a little over a month ago and it’s got a hell of slit worse now. Can anyone tell me if if I am eligible for pip and esa

Hi as any body recently got pip for mental health. I’ve been diagnosed with depression ,and anxiety, PTSD , I’m waiting for my pip assessment date and sent plenty of information in , but I can’t get to see care workers as they don’t do classes I just ring when I’m not we’ll. also I have to wait to see a psychiatrist till next February

My daughter has a severe and enduring mental illness and used to get higher rate pip. On renewal they asked to see her and she was refused and scored 0 points. This was because she had been discharged from the mental health team . We went through mandatory reconsideration still 0 points. Unfortunately my daughter didn't feel up to a tribunal and as we had no medical evidence it was probably pointless.
We have since tried to get her referred back to the mental health team but finding it impossible . She still has exactly the same issues as when she first received it!
As you have a psychiatrist appointment booked you should hopefully be ok. That was all they kept asking about in the assessment!

Wonder of someone can help I have been signed of work with depression and anxiety and fibromyalgia and go told me to apply for pip my anxiety has gone threw the roof is it worth it my nerves have gone for the medical

I was Refused pip for mental health. Have anxiety but they didnt want to know . Cant travel anywhere on my own . Always need someone with me. Still turned down .

i was discharged from the mental health team 2yrs ago. how would you get to see a psychiatrist,do you have to go through your gp