hi. I have ptsd. I also have angina and blocked arteries. I was encouraged to go after pip as people said the extra money would help. the main reason for doing it was I am desperate for therapy and getting the extra money would mean I could go private and I wouldn't have to wait 34 weeks.I knew that I would probably have to go through an assessment to get some money. so I phoned up for the form. I had a panic attack . I went and got help twice to fill out the form both times I had a panic attack. I got the letter today saying I have a phone call in 11 days time. it caused a panic attack.
the reason I say this is I am worried. in 2012 atos wanted to assess me for moving onto esa. they wanted to know whether I was bad enough to go into the support group. I was on incapacity benefit at the time for heart problems and depression. when I got the letter about them phoning I began to worry about losing my benefits. I had heard some bad stories and I started to get chest pain because of it. I thought it was just anxiety.
I told atos the problems I was having and my doctor even spoke to them to say I would not be attending a interview or a call as it could cause a heart attack. atos would not give up. they said if I didn't talk to them I would lose my benefits. on the day of the call I phoned my doctor as I had had chest pain all night and I was worried something was happening. they called me in for a ecg. long story short I had a heart attack at my gps and spent a couple of days in hospital. atos then put me in the support group and left me alone.
I phoned the pip assessment line today to try and cancel my claim as I was worried the same thing would happen. I had a panic attack on the phone. i also had a tight chest. they told me to think about over the weekend.
my worry is that in trying to get money for ptsd therapy I could end up in hospital or worse. my question is should I stick with it and battle through or should I cut and run?
any advise will be well received.
thanks for you're time.
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Spedyrecovry50
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Hi. Difficult. I am in the UK and claim Attendance Allowance (basically PIP for those of pension age).
I am glad you got help filling the form in as they are very tricky. The criteria is not usually what illness you have but how it affects you.
You also need to qualify any yes answers too. For example can you cook. If the answer is yes then remember its also the ability to do something in a timely and safe manner. If you can cook but it say takes you twice as long, gives you pain and takes you an hour to recover this is what gets you the points.
I would contact the DWP as only they have the power to change conditions of the interview. ATOS themselves probably don't and are just following standard procedure. They are just a private company employed by the DWP.
See what the DWP says and tell them you can get a letter from your doctor/consultant to back up your claim.
The other thing is someone else can do the call for you as long as you are there with them and can verify your identity.
See what the DWP and your dr say and take it from there.
Its certainly worth having as the highest rate is around £107 a week and the lower around half that. Not sure if there is a mid rate too.
PIP isn't mean tested either and once you are on it you will find a raft of other benefits will open up such as a Blue Badge and maybe, depending on your circumstances housing benefit and council tax reduction.
The good news is that if you are turned down you can go to appeals and the vast majority win those.
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Naming Emotions/Triggers
so often
I think my subconscious is trying to speak to me through chronic nightmares. 
