How to get disability diagnosis

[WellINeverKnewWho]

Hello,
I'm wondering how to go about getting registered as disabled. My mental health means that I struggle with day to day tasks and have done for over 12 months. My GP is aware and has me on anti depressants and counseling but I want to be registered disabled. How do I go about this? Thanks in advance.

OP

Can you send me a PM, I have an old uni friend who trained her own assistance dog - but this was for physical health I'll ask her if I can send you her details.

I think what you mean is an emotional support dog, not an assistance dog. These have no legal status in the UK.

Thanks again, I think the assistance dog is a red herring. I don't need an organisation to provide me with one or any assistance with that, I will also be training the dog myself. My question is about how I find out if I qualify as a disabled person. Thank you.

It's based on the definition of disability as per the Equalities Act. That's a condition (name is irrelevant) that affects your ability to do everyday tasks and has lasted for at least 12 months. (there are exceptions for things like terminal illness)

I looked into this before, not for me but just as a "rabbit hole" type thing on the internet. As the pp above said, there is no legal status for emotional assistance dogs, although the bottom organisation has a list of places that are EAD friendly. www.assistancedogs.org.uk/assistance-dog-information/

esaorguk.com/

I don't think you can say any dog is an assistance dog and take it places with you it would need to be a recognised organisation.

I think you’re thinking about this the wrong way. It’s not about whether you’re “disabled enough” to be allowed to take an assistance dog in places where dogs aren’t allowed it’s whether the dog is properly trained. You can’t just stick a jacket on a dog and call them a support dog, they need to be bred, selected and trained properly. There’s a lot of issues for people with guide dogs at the moment as people are taking untrained dogs into places where guide dogs are allowed and they are not behaving as a trained guide dog would and causing issues.

In the nicest possible way, how will you train a dog to support you in the community if you are not able to access the community by yourself? A puppy won’t be able to help you but will need to go to all of these places and learn how to behave perfectly.

Where will you get the dog from and what breed will you get? You can’t just pick any old dog. I worked with a family who thought an American Bulldog would make a good support dog for their 2 year old autistic child 😵😵.

Do you like dogs OP?

No actually, there is no legal requirement to be part of a registered organisation.

As I said perhaps a red herring. And I totally agree that there are problems with the very fact that dogs don't need to be registered.

I didn't really want this to be about training a dog 🤣 I have done extensive research, this isn't what the post is about. I could write an essay on what an assistance dogs behaviour needs to be like and what standard of training they need to be at. I know all the organisations that train dogs to be assistance dogs, that certify your dog to be under their umbrella etc.

I know the equalities act, the definitions, the criteria... What I don't know and all I was asking is who is the most appropriate body/person to officially tell me I fall under the remit of the act.

I don't think you get classes as disabled for anxiety and depression op.

I've had both plus agoraphobia and panic attacks for nearly 20 years, all kinds of medication. I'm not disabled, I just have some mental health diagnoses.

I understand what you're asking but what I mean by assistance dog is that as covered by legislation. So a dog who is considered by law to be an aid, like a prosthetic for someone who is missing a limb or a white cane for a visually impaired person.

I understand what you're asking but what I mean by assistance dog is that as covered by legislation. So a dog who is considered by law to be an aid, like a prosthetic for someone who is missing a limb or a white cane for a visually impaired person.

Your GP

Part of my anxiety is related to something being "official" and "sanctioned", this is why I'm asking about who can "tell me" I'm disabled.

Thank you, I've made an appointment.

There is no such body. Your GP may be able to help and support your idea, and they will be able to confirm your medical records, but only to you, because no one else needs to see them. That said I don't know why you don't put in a PIP claim, I'm sure your GP would also be supportive of that and not only would it get you some extra money it will help you evidence disability.

That's what I thought but recently I've been reading the Equalities Act and absolutely anxiety and depression are covered if you meet the other criteria (over 12 months and a substantial affect on your daily life). The GMC say that 1 in 5 people fall under the Act.

Thank you for this. I'll talk to the GP.

I wasn't thinking about PIP because I do not struggle for money and don't wish to take from the benefits pot from those who need it more than I. However I hadn't thought about the evidence side of it.

My DS has disabilities , if I need to show proof of disability I can provide proof that he’s in receipt of DLA/ that I get carers allowance or show his blue badge and I can also show hospital letter which list all his diagnosis.

You can claim a blue badge for invisible disabilities such as anxiety- look up the criteria to see if it applies to you as it’s another way of getting proof of disability.

Under the equalities act ANY condition which has lasted (or expected to last) at least 12 months AND interferes with your normal daily functioning meets the threshold for a disability.
This will usually also qualify you for PIP.

I know you say you don't need the money @WellINeverKnewWho but you also like to keep things legal snd have official approval.
If you apply for PIP the extent to which your condition affects you in daily functioning will be assessed. If you qualify for PIP you will have met the official criteria for "being disabled" and will have government approved proof of that.
That is the nearest thing to being "registered" disabled.

Under the equalities act ANY condition which has lasted (or expected to last) at least 12 months AND interferes with your normal daily functioning meets the threshold for a disability.

This will usually also qualify you for PIP.

I wish the 'usually' bit was true for PIP, it's definitely not.

Just meeting the criteria for being disabled won't qualify you for PIP. You have to meet their criteria for it.

I thought PIP was supposed to be really hard to get?

My dr said as I can dress myself, prepare food, shower, and drive I would be very very unlikely to qualify.

You and other PPs saying this are 100% wrong - sorry!!

Yes the local authority does keep a register of disabled people in their area. (I should know as I register people disabled for long term disability all the time! ) The register is effectively a national register of doable people all meeting same criteria but kept by each LA for disabled people in their area, under The National Assistance Act 1948.

It gets you a yellow disabled person registration card and you can use this for discounts and evidence of disability. There are 5 categories physical (mobility), MH, LD, Sight (blind or partial sighted), hearing (deaf or hard of hearing) - there is strict criteria for each category. And review periods can be put in it, so temporary conditions aren't registrable.

So for eg ophthalmologists complete the disability registration form to register someone blind or partial sighted and send to the LA. Similar evidence is required for the other cateogories- being a patient with community mental health team involvement for a substantial and long term MH problem or evidence of being in receipt of PIP or AA (for that MH problem) ; for Hard of hearing would require audiologist prescribing hearing aids, for registration is a similar audiologist form and so on. To evidence mobility for physical disability registration you would be looking at PIP mobility or long term evidence from health/OT or a DPB.

People forget about disability registration these days as services often ask to see PIP or AA DWP letters as their now preferred evidence of disability to apply for discounts but the original evidence of substantial and chronic disability (the old term for long term disability) is the yellow disabled persons registration card as assessed by your Local Authority.