Worried about my depression (claiming pip benefit for it)

[lostfairy]

Hi there,

I am a young mum of a beautiful 4 month old baby. I have suffered with depression/ anxiety since I was around 11 or 12. About two years ago I went to the GP and was prescribed Fluoxetine 20mg for it, during that time I also started claiming Personal Independence Payment for it. The claim didn't have to be reassessed for about two years. During that time obviously I fell pregnant and when I found out I stopped taking the Fluoxetine. I have a very supportive and loving partner and while I was pregnant i moved to live with him and his family. We now have our own flat nearby to where his family live, and get a lot of support from them as well.

I'm worried as I had to go for an assessment for the benefit yesterday and I had to tell the lady I had recently had a baby and due to pregnancy I wanted to stop taking the fluoxetine (i know you can continue to take it throughout pregnancy, but for me personally I didn't want to). She was very rude and asked some frankly ridiculous questions which seemed to be insinuating I'm not a fit mother because I have depression. She didn't seem to have an empathy or even knowledge on how to interact with people who have depression/anxiety issues.

Now I'm more worried about her discriminating against me (or even reporting me!) than the benefit being stopped. My partner isn't working right now as he is claiming carers allowance for me to be at home with myself and the baby, so if it were to be stopped financially we would be in a difficult situation. But I'm less worried about that than about how this woman seemed to respond to me. Would she even be able to make such an unfair judgement and report me? I keep thinking there must be legal grounds that protect people from that.

Perhaps I am worrying too much? Surely there must be other mothers out there who also have depression?

I'm sorry this is so long and ranty, but I've been up all night worried sick about it. Hopefully somebody out there can ease my mind?

Sorry don't have personal experience, but if you are able to cope alone at home now, I think you should persuade your partner to go back to work and start earning money pretty sharpish. Both of you relying on benefits based on your MH leaves the whole family very vulnerable. I can only assume it must add to your anxiety that the family doesn't have a source of income. Take steps to get support during the day (groups/his family etc) now while he applies for jobs.

I have experience in this area and am amazed you managed to get PIP with depression and anxiety at all. Not to minimise them at all but it's unusual for the assessors to consider them enough to tick all their boxes.
You could get ESA if you have enough evidence of your condition but it's hard.

And yes, they use your child against you, either you care for the child and are therefore fine or you don't and are made to feel like a crap mother. It's such a horrible situation.