PIP and mental health

[LauraA95]

Has anyone been awarded PIP with mental health? I am currently in the middle of filling out the form to send off , I've had mental health problems for years now and struggle day to day with living, my partner has to help me or remind me to do stuff. I dont eat and rarely go out if I do someone is with me , I also have ibs and vertigo I understand I am eligible for daily living but I was just wondering other peoples experiences ? As for the form I have abit of supporting evidence such as doctors letter , medical history , family letter and a diary I'm not sure if that would be enough I dont have any thing else apart from a hospital note stating when I was admitted due to mental health I'm currently waiting for councelling / psychological therapy treatment but yet to start my appointments.
Thanks in advance

Hi Laura; I have higher level award for daily living, this includes my paralysis from a failed suicide attempt but takes into account severe chronic depression, anorexia nervosa, ptsd, etc.
I’d say you’ve got lots of evidence there, my care coordinator wrote a letter summarising the mental as well as physical struggles I face daily. Send it all in and you’ll probably go for a face to face, but someone can come in with you, and it’s just going through their questions system, honestly nothing to worry about and my assessor could not have been nicer.

Thank you yeah I've heard alot of people have bad experiences , I'm just hoping the evidence is enough as doctors dont always go into detail on the letters and with me not having my therapy sessions yet I dont have another health professional to add to that evidence yet

Hi LauraA95,

I found the 'benefitsandwork.co.uk' website's PIP guide really helpful for my claim.

I hope yours goes ok!

Yes, I receive pip. I have bipolar, but I don’t think it’s based on what diagnoses you have, more how you are affected day to day due to your mental and/or physical disability.

I went to citizens advice who helped fill out the forms for me, which helped immensely. Imagine the worst day(s) you’ve had and take it from there. I never took any evidence in from what I remember apart from my medications as proof of what I take. I think they rang my gp, psych etc. Take someone with you too, which I’ve heard can work in your favour. The person who did my face to face was lovely. She just went over the questions and asked to elaborate where needed, be honest, don’t hold back.

Good luck, I hope it goes well for you

Thankyou very much for the replies and advice , I will he taking my partner with me when I get the assesment I wouldnt be able to do it alone.

Put down everything you can on the form.
Do you have a diagnosis? Without one, I'm not sure you'll get anything.
Are you under a community mental health team?
Do you have a care coordinator?
Are you on any medication for it?

Last time I applied, I rang up and they said that because of your diagnosis, you won't need to come in for a meeting - not sure which diagnosis they were referring to as I have a few. They sent a form off to my GP for additional information. I was awarded PIP. Oh actually - I lie - that was when applying for a higher rate of UC.
No - I've been on PIP about 4 years I think. Never had a review. Not sure what level of it I'm on actually - think probably standard rate.

Mind also offer support filling in forms in some Areas too.

Sorry to hijack the thread but I just wondered whether anyone gets the higher rate of Mobility PIP for their condition? Did you provide a lot of evidence?

Yes - I provided the evidence of being sectioned at the time of my assessment!

Oh that's good PurpleFrames but sorry that you went through such a difficult time.

I've not been sectioned but have had a four month in-patient treatment stay in hospital in the past. I didn't make enough of a case for the 'Mobility' component the last two times I was assessed for PIP. In reality I'm almost housebound and definitely qualify.

I think I get the standard rate for mobility, but things that affect me are vomiting, nausea, fear, anxiety, diarrhoea, shaking, feeling faint when I have to leave the house. Wouldn't be able to take a bus. Could take a taxi at a stretch. I have agoraphobia. It's paralysing. I tried to describe that in as graphic and specific detail as I could. It results in things like having to cancel appointments, not being able to access support services etc.

Thanks Skierrdery, I can't get to appointments and couldn't get to town or the local corner shop. I only ever get driven places. I think I'll appeal about the mobility component

I recall just getting to a postbox to post the last damned form they sent me being really traumatic. You'd swear I had to climb Mount Everest.

How did I all get on with pip?? Did u get a good outcome? Currently going through this just wondering is ther much point