PIP. Would this count as 'evidence'?

[PIPitydoodah]

I sent my completed PIP form off a few days ago (MH based)
And have since had an assessment with a counsellor who sent this email.

Would this be something I could send as evidence?

It's an NHS counsellor.

Yes. I sent a letter from a physio as part of my husbands ADP claim and it was accepted.

Yes, that could certainly be included.

Did you mention all this in your last session so you had evidence?

that will likely be picked up on

Send it on, tracked. It's helpful evidence.

@greenbeansrock it's the PIP claimant's responsibility to collect evidence - the DWP makes that clear now. It's expected that claimants will be asking for such evidence from their HCPs, right up to the wire. If you don't ask, you don't get. That's why the DWP accept additional 'late' evidence after the submission date.

It was my assessment.

Sorry clicked post too soo.

It was the first time I've ever spoke to him and have anxiety about phone calls and strangers so was already sweating and stressed out.

It's my assessment for talking therapies.

I had physical and emotional abuse in childhood and knew that I wanted to talk it through with a councillor but didn't think I would be asked about it in any detail at assessment so was totally unprepared.

I've not told anyone about it apart from my ex husband. I've told Dr's that I suffered physical abuse but I've never said what happened specifically.

So when he asked me about it I just froze really. I didn't know what to say as I've never spoken about it, I just didn't expect it in that moment.

So the same day I emailed him and explained what happened vaguely and more specifically how those events still affect my life today.

Which is what he asked on the phone call but I just couldn't answer him verbally.

I can't even say somethings out loud. It's just easier to write things down sometimes.

Yes I would send it in. Sorry to hear about the traumatic experiences.

Thankyou.

It's difficult as I know I need to talk about it to deal with it and heal from it but I've spent 30 years avoiding that.

One of the many crap things about the PIP claim process is that it can be very traumatic for the claimant having to collect all this evidence and 're-live' a lot of the difficult experiences in their life and have to focus on all the negatives.

If it's any comfort, OP, my last PIP assessor (via phone assessment) was calm, fair and thorough.

Lots of luck and good wishes, OP

That's so true.

Also the fact that many people with mental health issues avoid too much involvement from professionals as it's so stressful to have many appointments and assessments and to talk about this stuff. So on the whole I don't have that much paper evidence from mental health professionals but have a long history (20 years) of telling the GP something isn't right and being on antidepressants.

I think it’s helpful but counsellors aren’t qualified to diagnose, they my ask for further information or assessment with a psychologist or psychiatrist.

I understand that but the waiting lists are years long so I can't produce a diagnosis when I'm on waiting lists. I can't afford to go private.

From what I gather assessments are made in a body of evidence so gather as much as you can (including this email) - they just surely know that wait times for services are awful and will consider that.

I have a good way of putting this; I add to the extra info that 'due to the nature of my conditions I struggle to talk about them in depth and please to be aware of this." It seems to have helped- I think.

As far as I know PIP is not as much about diagnosis but about how you function anyway.

True but actually having a professional say you have PTSD rather than me just saying it gives me evidence and credibility.

Anyone could say anything affects them.

Yes it's evidence so send it in.
However PIP isn't necessarily based on a diagnosis, it's based on what help you need for everyday activities. Plenty people with PTSD wont qualify for PIP.

The strongest evidence is where an HCP assesses you need help with X and Y due to Z condition. This letter doesn't actually identify what help you need so it's weak but definitely evidence

Yes, this

it won't cause any harm. I would send it but it's not great in terms of evidence. Pip is not about the condition but how it affects you and in what way it interacts with the different descriptors which show how you can/cannot carry out certain activities. There isn't much in there but it won't do harm.

how does this stop you in terms of mobility?
or in terms of managing your dash to day care needs?

I've included all that in the answers on the form.
This letter just helps give a little context/background to the reasons I can't function normally.

I've not had any involvement.

I got awarded ESA support group and apart from CBT therapy I've just been dealing with it.

I didn't want to rock the boat in fear of my ESA coming to an end (last time I was assessed I ended up self harming from stress)

So I've lived off ESA alone but now things have really gone south financially and I could really do with the extra help.

If you have your ESA report you can use that as evidence too.

It is evidence of your mental health,however it doesn't really show proof of how it effects your daily living in terms of PIP.