Pip assessment- not sure why they would award me

[Breetheandwait]

Just wanted some opinions and advice. I had to give up work recently after my anxiety conditioned worsened following the death of my elderly father which was quite a traumatic 12 month period. I now am agoraphobic and have panic attacks.

I have applied for ESA and am currently getting fit notes for that from My GP.

Someone advised I also applied for PIP as my condition effects my daily life.

I had the assessment and was very honest about everything. Although I can't leave the house, I can order shopping online, I can very occasionally get taxis to appointments, I sleep a lot due to the depression this has caused. I don't shower as much as I should and I have my husband help with cleaning, cooking and bills. All quite sad really but if I'm.honest I don't understand why they would give me money to help with this? Other than relieving financial strain and helping with costs for taxis when needed or private psychological help. Do they award pip for anxiety and depression? And will the fact that my husband helps out mean I'm less likely to get it than someone who lives alone as they could use the money for a cleaner/carer? That feels a little unfair as my husband works full time.and already shoulders all of the financial burden at the moment. I just can't see them awarding me.

Why don’t you wait and find out what the DWP say in the letter it will send you? You can also ask to be sent a copy of the assessor’s report. Then you can decide if you agree with it or not.

How points are awarded and the rules are a matter of statute, about each claimant’s needs. The information is freely available online. The Benefits and Work website is very good, I find.

PIP is based on functional ability to carry out certain tasks. It isn’t based on diagnosis. Some with anxiety and depression are eligible. Some aren’t. The assessment isn’t based on what you would spend the moment on. Neither does having a DH mean someone isn’t eligible.

You can see the activities considered and points here. You need to score 8 on activities 1-10 for standard rate daily living or 12 on activities 1-10 for enhanced daily living. You need to score 8 on activities 11-12 for standard rate motabilty or 12 on activities 11-12 for enhanced mobility.

It depends on how many points you score, but as a guide I need help to wash, cook and dress myself and I have regular incontinence. I need to be supervised when eating because I choke. I drop things without realising because of the weakness in my hands.

I don’t qualify for higher rate daily care despite all this, I only get the lower rate and I scored 0 points for some of these, plus anxiety related problems despite evidence.

My experience would suggest that it’s incredibly hard to get awarded for any sort of psychological disorder.