The Bipolar Support Thread

[BippityBoppity87]

Hi everyone Just thought I'd start a shiny new thread for anyone who is suffering from bipolar disorder.

Hope everyone is ok!

I get DLA low rate, not been reassessed for PIP yet.

I also work part time but it's a struggle as I'm always tired due to meds, if I'm at work too much I get paranoid & obsess about work.

My sister has my debit card as I was going mad overspending.
She gives me s cash amount each week & all my bills are paid by direct debit.
It's annoying as I love online shopping but unfortunately necessary!!

I had an indefinite award for DLA (medium care I think and low mobility) but just been moved to PIP, my assessment didn’t go brilliantly and my medical evidence was quite poor now I don’t have a cpn - when I first applied I had a cpn, a social worker, a support worker and I got direct payments to fund various therapeutic interventions (but couldn’t use for actual therapy) and I was much less stable. I got the higher rates then.

I’m expecting a No but if they did an honest assessment of my actual functioning I should get the basic rate of daily care or whatever it’s called.

I got a credit card 2 weeks ago and I've spent almost all of it. I think it's got £4 on it, I just can't help myself.

I used to get enhanced rate PIP but had to fill in a renewal form 2 months ago and I'm still waiting to hear back. I'm due a payment tomorrow but don't know if I'll still get it. My friend said surely they would tell you it was stopped but I'm not so sure.

I should add I don't get anything for the mobility for PIP

They’re such fuckers doing it right before Christmas! I’m assuming I’ve had my last DLA payment but not knowing for sure is the most stressful part, I wish they’d just let me know so I can adapt and move on.

Seems like it’s much harder to get mobility for PIP, which is a shame because disabled rail cards and cheaper tickets for a companion etc.

Yes it's the not knowing one way or the other which is the hard part. I didn't have any input from MH professionals it was CAB who told me I could get it then they filled in the forms. Then when my renewal came up they came to the house and filled in the forms again, the only thing was they left my notes at their office so took the form to fill in and post, so it all feels kind of out of my hands. Such a worry!

I have a key worker, which I'm assuming is the the same as a CPN, seeing the psychiatrist in 6 weeks, crisis team involvement a few months ago. I scored 0 for the mobility bit too, but that's not my main problem. I'm hoping that will be enough evidence? I scored 12 for the day to day living part. The aripiprazole makes me knackered as well, so I can only take it at night.

I go through phases where I work 40 odd hours a week, burn myself out, spend all my money, then back to 3 days, skint and tired.

And this is why I don't have a credit card @DiaryofWimpyMum! How much did you have on it? I would do the exact same. Terrible, absolutely terrible with money.

My DP is having to give me an allowance because I just can't be trusted. And he takes care of the bills too, I just have a standing order and it goes into his bank each week.

I have no money either. Spent all my wage in one day. About £400. Thankfully I get paid weekly.

Annoyingly I think I’m quite good at budgeting etc unless I’m more mentally disordered than usual, but as a result of past episodes I’m completely 100% blacklisted everywhere, untouchable. Day to day I use a prepaid debit card and all official stuff (council tax, water etc) goes through my ex partner.

Bip what rate of PIP did that give you?

I think it said highest rate for day to day living. My main problems is money (see above) and nutrition. My DP has to prompt me to eat or I won't eat anything. I can't remember what the other questions were.

Which you wouldn't think by looking at me! About 3 stone over weight, but I drink and smoke a lot instead.

I only had £800 on the credit card. I was so excited to get accepted for one and told myself it was for emergencies only, then it landed on the mat and off I went. I'm going to be on first name term with my postman at this rate.

I'm a single parent so budget for us 3 but only cook for my 2 sons, well one cooks for himself more now. But I'm terrible for remembering to eat myself.

I think I only get 7 points under the new criteria 😕 will have to see what the final report says though. How long is your PIP award for Bip?

Sorry we must have crossed wires! This was just a practice online pip test I did. I'm going to ring up tomorrow. I wanted to do a trial run first to see if there was any point in applying.

Oh gosh, I was almost on first name terms with the postman, 'oh hello again, Christmas presents?' Erm....yes to me'

the gin man (yes I was that lazy I used to get it delivered to my door and that's what I'm calling him haha)

The pharmacist. You would never guess I was bipolar 🙄

This is the one I did yesterday

www.mybenefitsandwork.co.uk/pip/indexxx.php

Oh I see! Yes definitely worth applying although it’s not a very nice process. Get copies of your most recent psych letters etc now as proof of diagnosis because they don’t give you time to gather that info once the application is underway.

Ah ok. I'll try and do that. How much can you be awarded? Is it worth it if you get something? I know it can vary.

I don’t know how much PIP is, I think it’s more than DLA? I was getting about £80 a week in DLA so I’ll really miss that 😕

I'm all new to this. I was just saying to DP, I am so lucky I have such an understanding boss, or I would have been fired a long time ago I think.

Think I've been off on 4 separate occasions this year, one including almost 3 weeks (signed off)

I haven't worked since my diagnosis. I had some sort of mental breakdown. I feel a lot better now but still mentally weak.

I had a mental break down last October, then I thought I was ok, then I had another one at the beginning of January, had to take a day off for it. Then I thought I was ok, stopped smoking, started looking for another job, had another break down, and it just got worse from there.

I actually blamed stopping smoking in May for my major breakdown, obviously it wasn't I can see the pattern now when I actually write it down. It's hard to see when you're in an episode.