PIP and Schizophrenia

[MistySkiesAfterRain]

Anyone with schizophrenia and receive the higher rate of PIP?

DB has asked me to write a supporting letter. His doctor has left and he didn't get round to asking another one. Last time they reduced his higher rate of PIP to the lower rate. He never gets anyone to help him with the form.

I've tried to write a comprehensive letter as possible. He can cook (albeit heating preprepared food), and sometimes cleans. He can't budget at all and relies on support agencies for anything complicated and is prone to being manipulated sometimes in ways that put him at risk.

I don't know what else I can put. He's definitely not high functioning but he's not severe either.

Should add, it's due on Friday and he is collecting the letter tomorrow. I've basically drafted it but be grateful to know how others approached it if you got the higher rate of PIP.

You may be pushing any deadlines now, but have a look at fightback on facebook. They have a lot of experience and some free help , for a small fee (they are a charity) they offer a lot more help with applications, MR and appeals & tribunals

www.facebook.com/FightBack4Justice

Hi thats really helpful thanks @Dryadia. I'll use them next time as it seems to come up every 2 years.

I support a friend who the most I've managed to get (with Dr letter) is lower rate.

The application form is written for physically disabled, not mentally, so unfair. Which is a shame as I'm 200 miles away and have to visit at least once a week to help at the moment, had she got higher rate she could have afforded to pay carers, instead I have to pay or go myself. Sadly my friend is so unwell at the moment she will not re-apply as the whole process is far too stressful for her (and will make her worse).

Yes I agree it disadvantages mental health. Especially as, in DBs case, he seems to play it all down, as I don't think he has the objectiveness to see that most people don't struggle!

More and more support workers are being cut, I can see in the future that getting him a paid helper would be the only way of properly helping him.

It is not helped that lots of face to face things are not happening at the moment.

I’d say from what you described that he is actually pretty low-functioning / high-need, and if he struggles in the areas you’ve mentioned and relies on care agencies he’d be entitled to higher-rate for Daily Living.

We'll see. He turned up yesterday to get the letter. He said it was good but wasn't good (as in he doesn't like the negative aspects being highlighted). He hadn't written his sections yet. If I was feeling more generous (or actually if I had the time as I was working from home) I would have joined that Fight Back site and got examples to look at. Whether he would have used them I don't know. He always says he will take it away and do it.

He did actually used to get the higher rate but it got reduced. I'm personally convinced he should get the higher rate.

Anyway when I spoke to him yesterday he said he had completed the form and sent it.

As long as they don't take it away that's the main thing.

Hi Misty, I have schizophrenia AND do voluntary work filling in PIP forms for people at an advice centre. It is absolutely possible to get higher rate PIP with schizophrenia. Re the deadline, phone and ask for an extension, I've never had a problem getting extensions for people, and at the moment things are moving pretty slowly with application processes anyway

I'm happy to answer any questions you or your brother have, please just ask. I am very enthusiastic about getting people with mh problems their appropriate awards!

Ah just seen your db has sent the form off already, too late to ask for an extension then.

You could get added information to send in still- does your db have a CPN, a care plan, any letters from psychiatrists? Any of those would be useful for the DWP to have