PIP and other financial support for my DD

[tootiredtothink]

Hi, I hope someone can help.

My DD24 has is under CAMHS for mental health. She was sexually assaulted at 16 and has understandably struggled since then. Many suicide attempts, stays in psychiatric wards and continues to self harm.

She struggles to keep working (has been let go from every job due to calling in sick for her MH) and I finally persuaded her to apply for PIP. We're waiting for the assessment.

Are there any other benefits she could be on? I've suggested universal credit to her but she gets so stressed having to talk about her issues. But it's clear she can't work full time.

I'm particularly worried what she will do when she turns 25 and is in the adult mental health team - the children's has been hard enough to get appointments with, so would like some things in place to help her.

Thanks for any help you can give me.

where does she live?
does she work?

The only other benefit she can claim apart from PIP is UC. She can supply fit notes for three months which will trigger a work capacity assessment which will determine whether or not they find her fit for work.

Can you help her with a UC claim and go to appointments with her etc?

She lives with us at home.

Not working at the moment - lost her job before Christmas.

I'll help her with her UC application, I see that it's and online form. It's getting her to appointments which can be difficult/stressful for all concerned!

Maybe getting her back to the GP too to see if they can do anything else.

Thanks for your help.

If you don’t go back to the GP, what is the plan?

added to which, if you don’t have solid evidence from medical professionals… PIP unlikely to be awarded

does she have a diagnosis?

I'm on ESA and PIP but it's an old benefit so she'd have to apply for UC and PIP.

Access to work - a variety of things available once she has a job lined up

I would say Many suicide attempts, stays in psychiatric wards counts as pretty solid evidence.

You can apply to be her appointee if she isn't able to communicate her difficulties herself during assessment etc.

I would think being under CAHMS and her GP records showing suicide attempts would be enough evidence but at the end of the day it's how she fits the descriptors that matters for PIP. As others have said the other benefit to claim is UC and hand in sick notes and wait for her to be assessed for work capability.

Although PIP and work capable test are not great she may not always need a face to face exam for them. Some people get it on paper and evidence.

Worth applying for UC because as well as own income it gives her access to free dental and other prescriptions being on a low income. It will count these months/years she can’t work with enough pension NI credits which will benefit her in the future. I know people who are supported by parents for decades then lose out long term because systems hasn’t counted them.

@tootiredtothink your DD is exactly the sort of person who needs PIP. She needs to get a fit note from her GP - a lot of surgeries will do this online, especially if they already have her CAMHS notes.

She needs to apply for UC (you can do this with her on the computer). She needs to answer 'yes' to the limited capacity to work question. Then she will need to submit fit notes each month to the UC team online.

She will be sent a UC50 form, which is very similar to the PIP form, so keep your answers to one so that it makes the other one easier.

For both PIP and UC, in the 'other information' section at the end of the form, write a note to say that your DD would find it very hard to attend a face to face appointment and ask if it is possible to decide it on paper evidence.

Send every bit of evidence of her psychiatry appointments, admissions, discharges, etc.

You'll eventually get told either to attend an assessment, or they have all the information you need. Then for UC, you'll be told that you don't need to send fit notes in anymore and that they have placed your DD in either the LCW or LCWRA group. LCWRA means that she doesn't have to seek work and she'll get an extra £390 per month on her UC.

yes but if not recent and from years ago… will likely be disregarded

I sent over 200 letters of evidence from her GP with the PIP claim.

Thank you for the advice @ronoi for me to be able to advocate for her, I wasn't sure if I would be able to speak for her. I think that will be the only way she will get through the PIP assessment.

That's my worry, although UC and PIP isn't going to be enough for her to live independently, I'm hoping it will give her a start and possible help further down the line. She's just invisible at the moment. Good point too about NI credits @Akire, I had forgotten about that too.

I didn’t think CAMHS helped over 18, is there a plan for transition to adult services? You may find adult services are able to help advise on benefits, they’d be better equipped than CAMHS.

Have a look at the entitledto website they have a good explanation of the different benefits available and a calculator.

@spearthatbroc

yes but if not recent and from years ago… will likely be disregarded

Nobody asked.

@spearthatbroc She last self harmed enough to need to go to a&e in November. Although to be fair I don't know where that will be documented. She was in respite care last year for 3 months as she felt she couldn't control suicide thoughts but wasn't deemed ill enough for ward this time.

She's been lucky enough to be currently having a 6 month final therapy session before discharged from child services CAMHS and am hoping she'll get something through adult services.

She also has her meds too.

I'm hoping there is enough recent evidence there for PIP but not convinced either with the stories I've heard.....

CAMHS changed a few years ago to 25. I was surprised too.

She'll be automatically enrolled to the adult services she's been told.

Will have a look at entitled to website, thank you.

I did my daughters PIP interview for her without her there as her appointed person as she has very bad mental health and it was accepted no problem. Awarded high rate on both. Hopefully UC would also do the same for you. My daughter is younger so we haven't done UC yet. Good luck.

@Lougle , thank you. I didn't think about supplying fit notes for UC. I'll get her back to the GP ASAP

Gosh and I thought they were stretched enough with the limit at 18…sorry OP not helpful I know. Can she find out more about the transition? I imagine many aging out of services are in a similar position moneywise.

Has supported living been considered for her? I know placements are like hens teeth but if she’s spent a lot of time in hospital and has high ongoing needs she may be eligible.

If she is job hunting she could consider a part time job with local government.

Supported living was mentioned when she was in hospital but never again. Something like that would be great for her.

funnily enough I suggested her working for somewhere like the NHS in the hope they would be better with her sickness record. Bizarrely she doesn’t have long periods off, but does take the ‘odd’ day here and there when can’t get out of bed. Not good for employers I know but do wish her MH could be classed as disability to give her some protection.

I’ll get her to ask about transition when there this week.

My experience of local governments is that they’re very supportive and occupational health tend to err on the side of caution. They’re very hesitant to let people go.

I know it’s not exactly what you’re asking but food for though. Good luck with the PIP claim, if it gets rejected don’t be disheartened I’ve heard a lot of appeals are successful and other posters may be able to recommend organisations or Facebook groups that can help with appeals if needed.

My DD is similar though also with ASD. She is transferring now at 18 to adult services though?

She gets highest rate PIP and has just been awarded LCWRA.
She didn't need to speak to anyone for either due to the written evidence I suppose.

The point I wanted to make - though situations will vary - is that she now has plenty of money for drugs and alcohol and I sometimes wish she didn't have the money.

That said - I can't see her being able to work as things are and we couldn't afford to fund her for ever. I had to give up working to be a carer as she has been so unwell.

Something to consider.