Pip appeal-mental health

[Anniewayte91]

So I wrote a post about a week ago regarding a pip telephone assessment… turns out I scored 0 and have been denied pip. I fee so shitty, there is blatant lies on the report that has come back and some of the questions they say I appear to of answered wasn’t even asked!! They also said I spoke fine on the telephone which is amazing considering my mum and sister spoke for me! I feel so deflated and like I’m a liar and just making this whole thing up. I’m 31 and have had depression and anxiety since being 13. I’m starting to think the evidence I sent in wasn’t enough, all I had was 17 years worth of doctors notes on my medical record, countless medication attempts and countless counselling attempts. I’m currently also on a waiting list for an adhd assessment recommended by the mental health nurse. Has anyone had a successful mandatory reconsideration? I don’t know whether to just give up at this point, feel so deflated already.

did you have any diagnosis to present to them?

First time PIP applications are only successful 50% of the time.
Mandatory Reconsideration is successful 20% of the time.
Most people then go on to an appeal Tribunal and are successful 70% of the time.

Don't be disheartened if the Mandatory Reconsideration isn't successful, as it's essentially the DWP marking their own homework, it's useful as a step towards a tribunal where your evidence will be looked at by an impartial third party.

It is a hard system to navigate. There are some knowledgeable posters on here who know a lot more than I do, who may hopefully see your post.

It was in my medical record that my diagnosis is anxiety and depressive disorder. There is 17 years worth of notes about my ocd, depression, suicidal thoughts, crippling anxiety, not being able to keep a job because of it. They have just made me feel like I am a liar. I can’t go anywhere on my own and literally have panic attacks and pass out in shops when I’ve attempted.

But when you say it’s in your medical records- they can’t access your medical records. You’re required to provide proof of your diagnoses and current treatment (for example: letters from your CMHT Outpatients appointments / appointments with MH Nurse / list of medications currently on / letter of support from your care coordinator. It’s not enough to say you’ve got notes on your private medical record which demonstrate your history.

Pip isn't about a diagnosis necessarily as everyone manages differently. Some people can have anxiety and depression and function normally, whereas other can't. The same for many other conditions. Have you looked at the descriptors and feel you should have been awarded the points? I'd definitely do a mandatory consideration if you feel you should have been awarded. Go through the report and detail why you disagree with each answer and link your answers to the evidence you have provided. Good luck, I hope you manage to get sorted it can be so stressful.

Sorry you’re going through this. What evidence did you send off with your form? When you say you have 17 years of medical records I’m not sure what you mean? Did you send in copies of diagnosis, treatments, assessments etc or just mention on the form that you have these diagnosis and have seen your GP about them for 17 years.

My claim wasn’t for MH but the documents I sent with mine were copies of diagnosis from consultants, copies of letters about various outpatient procedures, x Ray results, my repeat prescription, treatments/tests/diagnosis I was waiting for. Copy of GP letter to council about why I needed different housing. If you’ve not asked your GP for a letter about your diagnosis and how they affect your daily life and the impact it has on you, definitely get one.

I was surprised I was awarded anything as the summary of the phone assessment said I didn’t sound in pain (I was in bed, stuffed to the gills with painkillers and muscle relaxants and still in pain. Was I supposed to moan and groan or speak in a feeble whisper, I’m not sure?). Coming away feeling like a total fraud seems par for the course. It can feel like gaslighting.

Tangible evidence seems to carry a lot of weight so anything you have copies of - reports by counsellors even if they say discontinued treatment, copies of your referral for an ADHD assessment and what led your GP to refer you. as much as you can get your hands on. I have depression but not enough to impact my life, so they really need to know just how much it’s causing you problems, what adjustments it means you need to make and what help you need. Keep going. It’s not a pleasant process but worth it if you do get awarded it. Good luck .

Break each descriptor down to which points you think you should have been awarded and attach the evidence to show why.

Do not phone them at all or they will take that to be you asking for an MR and you will get no chance to reiterate your evidence

Have a look at this website for help:

https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk

Also, OP - the mandatory reconsideration needs to be done before the tribunal, so do go for it.

You're very likely to get their decision overturned at a tribunal.

I was awarded no points, and the MR upheld that.

Many months later, my tribunal changed that, and I was awarded PIP.

DON'T GIVE UP. They want you to give up. My initial report was a load of lies. Keep going!

It's worth going to CAB, a local law centre or another organisation that can help you through the appeals process. Always try and make sure you are represented at tribunal as there is a big difference in the way they treat you.

I obviously sent them in. I didn’t just say I had them. I sent everything with my form as evidence.

I had my sister help me with the form who got pop awarded for her daughter with autism, very clever lady who knows what she’s doing. My anxiety affects me to the point of wanting to commit. I don’t leave the house, they was told this. Doctors appointments are always attended with a family member. This has impacted me for 17 years and the fact I’m basically being called a liar by some snooty jobsworth person person behind a desk is degrading

I sent my whole record in including anxiety and depressive order diagnosis, the fact I’m on a waiting list for an autism adhd assessment, the medication I am and have been on. I’m only not on a higher medication due to anxiety about taking a higher one due to the doctors messing it up and me almost dying due to their mistake. For them to say sertraline isn’t a decent enough medication to prove I’m ill is disgusting to be honest. They have everything in front of them and it still wasn’t good enough.

Look into their reasoning about your meds not being 'enough' becsue nobody had to take medication and it should be a reason to decline PIP. I don't take ADHD meds but they can't use that against me

My DS gets PIP for ADHD and he isn't on medication either.

That's exactly what I went through. Almost word for word.

Don't forget that the tribunal isn't held by the DWP. They can attend if they want, but they never do.

Go for it. They want you to give up!

Didn't realise th typo

It should NOT affect PIP

Here’s a thread that I wrote a few years ago under a different username. You might find it useful.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/2764894--to-give-people-assistance-with-claiming-PIP

Do you need help with day to day living. I think that is what the PIP award is based on.

Don’t give up. I think this happens a lot sadly. I sat with my mum in her assessment and she was denied, the reasoning was incorrect. I helped her apply for mandatory reconsideration and we wrote out why we thought she qualified for each point and corrected what was incorrect. She was awarded and back paid.

Yes I do. I mentioned how my mum and sister along with other family cook my food etc as due to my extreme anxiety it paranoid about hurting myself and undercooking food and getting sick etc. everything has been explained in depth to them

They have also said because I’m self employed and can look at my phone for this that I have good motivation haha even though this was explained I am heavily supported with this so I’m not left homeless 😂 they’ve taken nothing that was said into consideration at all. Requested my assessors report before I do mandatory reconsideration

Did you read anything OP wrote?

Yes, yes she does need help.

They have also said because I’m self employed and can look at my phone for this that I have good motivation haha even though this was explained I am heavily supported with this so I’m not left homeless 😂 they’ve taken nothing that was said into consideration at all.

I once read one where they said a person with deformed hands didn't need an aid (in the form of special cutlery) to eat becsue he could get into a car. They are batshit. Challenge each point where they have said 'because you can do X we have decided you can do Y'

Requested my assessors report before I do mandatory reconsideration

Perfect. Spend some time on it, get some help, break down each descriptor and show which evidence applies to your needs.