PIP for anxiety & depression

[mo222]

Hi all, does anybody receive PIP on mental health grounds? I put in a claim around June, on Monday the dreaded letter came through the door to say I've been awarded zero points this has really got to me. Not only do I live with depression & anxiety everyday but I also have chronic fatigue syndrome & fibromyalgia. Im appealing this decision as I generally struggle with activities because of my mental/physical health.

[kenster1]

hi sorry to hear that first time usually is a failure but appeal rates are quite high.make sure you have written letter about the fibro anxiety and depression from the Doc and as much support as possible.make an appointment with CAB they can offer good support.

[mo222 in reply to kenster1]

Thanks for your reply, I included a supporting letter from my g.p along with fibro/cfs diagnosis. I had to have the assessment over the phone as I physically/mentally couldn't attend an assessment centre and do a face to face. I honestly don't understand how I received zero points when my g.p explained my issues. Slightly deflated but I will fight it x

[ADDexH]

Hi - agreed this can be tricky to navigate. It appears to me there are a really particular set of conditions for each question to be met to in order to qualify the threshold. In my opinion the diagnosis is worth a used tea bag, the focus of your response needs to make clear how well you complete said daily living or mobility task… what challenges you have and how often these apply. There’s a section dedicated to listing your medical history/ health conditions and any diagnoses at the beginning. Try consider each question individually in complete isolation of any other detail you’ve already given - perhaps look at it as if your medical conditions/ diagnoses is the last question that needs answering.

I’m not an advisor nor qualified in any professional capacity to be considered an authority on the subject but having stared at the questions for months this approach was effective for me - I was able to be objective in detailing where I do and don’t qualify without writing a book. This is simply my opinion on working through the process. Every case really is unique.

And if you can, record everything, What’s said verbally responding to the telephone questions isn’t necessarily recorded with the same detail or emphasis, as kind and comforting as your interviewer may have been….

Good luck

[Tee50]

Sorry to hear this...if you have a lot of medical paperwork to prove your case through your GP as well as any therapy groups that you may be in then appeal....I suffer with depression issues and I'm in various therapy groups...I do get PIP but that's for physical pain issues...I suppose I could try for the depression but I can't be asked myself cause I know PIP most likely want me to climb a mountain like they did when I finally got PIP for my pain issues!!!

[mo222 in reply to Tee50]

Thanks for the reply, also the same as you regarding pain issues which was also included in my claim. As well as depression, anxiety I also have fibromyalgia & chronic fatigue syndrome. I would love them to see how I live my life daily, I literally never go anywhere due to ill health and have no quality of life. Glad to hear you got what you deserve. X

[Hidden]

I cannot walk in your shoes, did you approach your Doctor they are asked what is wrong

also any specialists you may be seeing, The sysrem went up to twelve points I do not know the points system now. although this system was very striked.

Did anyone come out to give an assessment ??. If so I can see possible problems with attitude,

[mo222]

I asked to have a home or telephone assessment but they said they don't do home visits anymore so was a phone assessment. The man was very nice to be fair, I've appealed it but not holding out much hope 😖

[nongoma]

You need to think more about how pain/anxiety / depression affects your normal daily living and how you have to manage to do things, wether it it affects you managing mentally /physically rather than the diagnosis 💕

[mo222]

Thank you, I hope I've done enough in my appeal for them to understand how much of an impact it effects my everyday life. I've included a letter from my mental health specialist & gp if thats not enough I don't know what is 😔

[Kee10 in reply to mo222]

Hi mo,I had my assessment last week. I too suffer from depression, anxiety and chronic fatigue. How long after your assessment did you receive the decision? I don't hold much hope either for my claim

[mo222]

Hi Kee10 it was pretty quick told me up to 6 weeks but received the dreaded letter around 3 weeks after. I've appealed it but don't feel confident if I'm honest I was told that the appeal can take up to 8 weeks. Fingers crossed for you, let me know how it went when you receive your decision. 🤞

[Kee10 in reply to mo222]

Thank you, I hope your appeal goes well 🙏 in regards to your claim, what evidence did you include? I take Sertraline and that's all, with councilling/talking therapy. I am on a waiting list from being reffered to a specialist CFS specialist and neurologist, but yet to be seen. So I just sent them the referral letter for those, plus the last 10 years of GP records. X

[mo222 in reply to Kee10]

Thank you Kee10. The evidence I provided was a print out of meds which is pain relief & antidepressants. They said not to but I did anyway and I had to pay £21 for it was a supporting letter from my g.p, a print out of my sessions that I'm currently having with a CBT practioner and my fibromyalgia diagnosis letter. If that's not enough I don't know what is 🙄 when they sent me the decision letter I was furious I was almost made to feel like I'd lied even though the evidence is there in black & white. I was pretty down about it they don't seem to understand how much of an impact mental health, CFS & fibromyalgia impacts your everyday life. Not to say yours will be turned down, everyone's situation is different. I know a couple of people who claim pip who aren't much different to me with similar issues yet they were successful X