PIP decision

[Babyaj2k11]

Hi all, I've had my assessment for pip last week, it was a trainee so she said it would take longer and have to be checked by her boss. So I still haven't had the text to say dwp has received it which means I can't yet request a copy.
I'm so anxious about getting denied and having to go through tribunal etc
I suffer severe OCD and have done since childhood, as long as I can't remember. Never claimed anything for it as never thought I would qualify, also means I don't work. Last at universal credit suggested me claiming so I gave it a go, now I'm just so anxious and second guessing everything I said to them. The assessment itself was as awful as I expected, they last was nice but I just ended up in tears when describing how it affects me, and how long it's had a hold of my life. It really hit me that this is all I have ever known, and I haven't lived a normal life. I don't go out, socialize, work or even just walk down the street.
Has anybody else claimed pip for OCD? What was the outcome?
TIA

I would just ring up anyway, to see if I could request a copy of the report. That way at least you will have some idea of what is happening.

Thanks for the reply, I think I will try and give them a ring tomorrow. I know I could be waiting for 8 weeks for the decision so being able to see the notes will at least give me an idea of where it's going x

Hi. Just wanted to say that if you don't agree with any answers or a decision in the report, please speak up and say so.

My youngest (now 24) has received PIP for several years for MH and extreme anxiety, but the first time they were assessed and their report came back there were many mistakes. I photocopied the report, highlighted parts and wrote my queries/statements next to that section, then sent it back. They ended up with more points.

Please don't worry, you can fight your corner without being confrontational or difficult, just factual.

Sertraline can be great for OCD

Thankyou, I just find it really difficult to stand up for myself, I almost feel as though I don't deserve the help, as it's not a physical disability, I don't know it's hard to explain. Sometimes feel as though most people just don't get it and belittle OCD, as if it's about of a joke. It seriously controls every aspect of my life and has done for such a long time. Thankyou for the advice xx

Thankyou, im on catilopram and beta blockers for panic attacks, but don't find they have done much of anything for the OCD, I will speak to my Dr about your recommendation xx

OCD is such a difficult thing to live with. My youngest has it and anyone who says they have "an OCD because their tins are lined up" really annoy me! It's so debilitating. I'm sorry you have it too.

Do you have anyone that could help you if you needed to respond to the outcome letter? Writing things is easier than speaking them, so take your time with responses if you need to question the outcome.

Hopefully your fears will not come true and all will be ok in the end. If you do need help, the CAB would be able to assist you with wording it correctly.

Thankyou 🥰 it's good to know the trivializing of OCD bothers other people too, it is so hard to live with, everything is a huge task, which I'm sure you understand very well yourself.
I do have a great support system, my family are really understanding and they will help me if need be, I think I may get some help off of CAB as well I hadn't thought of that so thankyou.
It's sounds like your a great support for your child xxx

Hi,

I’m a PIP assessor (though I’m definitely not a trainee so it wasn’t me who had your case).

If you give me some more info, I could maybe hazard a guess at your likely outcome.

• do you have any other health conditions?
• what is your current medication?
• what mental health input do you have?
• what type of OCD do you have?
• did you send any supporting evidence?

Hi thank you.
No other health conditions other than OCD, general anxiety and depression.

Medication is Cetilopram and proponal

I am currently having high intensity cbt with a therapist and monthly phone call appointments with my Dr

Supporting evidence was mainly just medications and a doctors letter (not referring to pip but did explain my issues)
Also covering letter just based around my daily life and impact of OCD.

Ok great. And what sort of OCD do you have? How does it manifest itself on a typical day for you?

Sorry forgot to add that in when you asked before.
I have intrusive thoughts regularly, which means I then have to perform mental rituals which takes up a lot of my day, it is affected by touch, so getting dressed takes me about 44 minutes as I have to dress then undress and dress again over and over. I also shower 4 times a day, which also takes me a lot longer than most people as again the touch or feeling on my skin has to feel right. I don't go out, if I have to go to the doctor's which is rare as they know my situation, but if I do have to go in, I can only go in my mum's car and it will still cause severe panic attacks which is why I don't go out ever, not even to the shops.

My daughter receives PIP for her OCD. It too has a huge impact on her life, she missed 7 months of school as she couldn’t leave the house. Once showered fully 40 times as someone was sick near her on an airplane She does go to college now, but some weeks just can’t do it. It is such a debilitating condition, and heartbreaking to watch and also live with. She has just turned 18 and I’m terrified for her future. Medication wise she was on Sertraline, but was recently moved to Citalopram which is much stronger. Sending you lots of love, hopefully you’ll get PIP as well x

Ok thanks for the info!

Based on what you’ve said, you’ll score points for prompting in Activities 4 (washing) and 6 (dressing). People often relate a need for prompting to someone depressed who needs told to wash or dress, but it also applies to people like you who do it excessively. You’re taking (what would be deemed by the average person) too many showers and dressing is taking ages.

I imagine activities 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10 and 12 (eating, managing medications, using the toilet, verbally communicating, reading, managing money and physically walking) will be zero points. Unless you have issues around any of them?

So that leaves activity 1 (cooking) and 11 (going out). The bar for 11 is very high. Being anxious or upset doesn’t cut it. It needs to be causing much more distress than that.

As for cooking - did you tell them about any rituals in the kitchen?

Bless her, it really is awful. I have had it since childhood, it got slightly better when I was about 16 ( I then developed an eating disorder though so still wasn't a great time for me) then at 18 had my son and it came back full force, just constantly worry about him, still now I and 32 and have no life outside of my home and family. No friends, job or aspirations, it is hard and I really feel for your daughter and you as i know how hard it is for my mum to see the impact on my life, and I still feel like a burden on her, I am a grown woman and rely on her for so much as I just can't do certain things. I'm on catilopram, I wish I could say that it helps but for me so far I haven't seen much difference, I'm hoping that the cbt does more good for me. I hope things get better for you and your daughter, I hope she gets to live the life you've dreamed for her xx

RE your update - your son is about 14? Are you the main/only carer for him?

Are you getting him up for school, making his dinner etc?

This might change what I said earlier.

Thankyou for that. I don't cook at all due to the washing cleaning side of things, but mainly because I would worry and panic too much about the cooker being left on or a gas leak, I haven't cooked a meal the whole time I've lived in this house, which is 6 years, the most I would do is maybe a microwave meal, I told her this.
Also I have trouble taking my medicine as I worry that I have took too many (convince myself of the fact) so my husband has to actually tell me to take them and watch me.
She did ask me what symptoms I get when I have to go out on the rare occasion and I told her it is a full panic attack, shortness of breath, tingling hands and feel dizziness etc.

My son does all cooking and my son gets himself up and ready for school, I do make his dad collect him from school which is literally over the road because I get too worried about him being on his own. She did not ask much about parental responsibilities, the only thing she said was "if there was an emergency at school and your husband couldn't go, would you?"
Which was awful because it actually triggered my OCD as most of my intrusive thoughts centre around his safety. I answered " I don't know what I would do, I suppose I would have to go but it would make me very ill, and take me many days to get over it"
That was the worst part of the assessment as I couldn't think straight after, not her fault she wasn't to know xx

Ok, so I think you’ll also score prompting for activity one. If you haven’t cooked for 6 years, that’s a very long time.

Also sounds like prompting for activity 3 with the medication issues.

All in all, I’d expect you to have prompting (1, 3, 4, 6). That would give you 7 points. 8 is the minimum for an award.

Obviously I wasn’t there so this is just a general feeling based on what you’ve said.

Thankyou for all your advice and help, I did not really expect to get it to be honest with it being so difficult to make sense with the questioning. Xx

The website Benefits and Work has loads of helpful guides about applying for things like PIP, they're really good. It also prepares you for being refused and how to then go on to successfully appeal. It's all about how you word your answers, I don't mean lying, just there's a certain way you need to describe how you're affected. Good luck and don't give up

Please ensure you also report on activities/issues on a worst day. If some days you don't struggle as much, describe the one that is your OCD etc at its worst. These are the days you need most support with.

Yes I completely agree with this, you must describe your worst days

The worst days thing can be misleading. You can talk all about your worst days if you want, but if those aren’t the majority of days, it means nothing in a claim.

Thankyou everyone, I don't tthink I have it in me to appeal to be honest, this process has drained me, I'm already running on empty most days but this has been really hard. It's Hard to explain these awful things that my own mind does to me to a complete stranger over the phone, and knowing that it's more than likely for nothing is even harder.
I have described on my worst days which also happen to be most days for me xxx