Experiences of claiming pip on mental health grounds.

bipolar811

hi there im replying to this post as im not sure how to make one myself but ive suffered depression and anxiety since the age of 15 im now 35 i suffer with bipolar disorder and ptsd also havent left my home or been on a bus even in 8 years my doctor sent me to see a phyciatrist 2 years ago who said i needed to see two doctors which where there they told me in not so many words i had bipolar disorder and put me on respiridone as i tried to kill myself by throwing myself out of a glass window resulting in having major surgery. had cut throw a major atery in my wrist i tried another two times put me in hospital with overdoses. i was awarded a lower rate of dla and lower rate of mobility and im in support group of esa. now ive recieved the form from pip to fill in the how your disability effects your daily life well ive told my doctor and asked for a letter to send with my claim and she said she wouldnt do it as theres been so many asking and it was impossible to do so for me!!! so now ive got to fill these forms in myself and have no where to start is there any point in bothering because now she wont help me so basically theres no evidence to support me?

NeilCr

Can I suggest you get help with completing the form

Your local CAB would be a good starting point

Tolly_T

Does your doctor keep your records on the computer or on paper? A letter would help but if your GP won't do that then it might help to get copies of your records. If the records are held electronically you can get a copy of them for just £10. If they're on paper it can be up to £50. I asked for a copy of my electronic records only, in order to get them for the lower amount. I got mine on a disc but I believe some GPs print them out. Mine included my diagnoses, test results, prescriptions, letters from consultants, summaries of appointments etc. You might be able to get some good evidence this way, for example the discharge letters from the hospital might have been scanned.

It's also worth remembering that medical evidence isn't always particularly good for PIP. A confirmation of your diagnoses and prescriptions will be useful but for PIP how you are affected by your condition is what is important. As your GP doesn't see you at home and how you cope they might not be willing to state things as a fact, instead they'd just be saying 'my patient tells me that ......' and you are able to put that detail on the form yourself. What you might be able to do, and can be very helpful, is get a letter from friends or family who help you stating what they do for you and how you are affected.

Please don't give up. Lots of GPs are refusing to do these letters now and it doesn't automatically mean the claim will be refused. Take your time over the form. You can add extra pages, or even write the majority of your evidence on separate sheets and just write 'see page ...' on the actually form. It's easy to write a lot and then realise that it doesn't actually cover the descriptors so try to start with the descriptors, think of a few examples that show your difficulties with these descriptors and then write about them. This should help keep your focus on the important points.

koiboy

Has anybody with aspbergers managed to claim pip just had the dreaded brown envelope did you manage to get it for pip???

rockingbilly

koiboy wrote: »

Has anybody with aspbergers managed to claim pip just had the dreaded brown envelope did you manage to get it for pip???

No sorry I don't but I knew someone that had major mental health problems for years through drug and drink addiction, spending weeks/months under section. Unfortunately just before Christmas he received his PIP decision notice which said that he would get nothing and that his DLA was to stop. A week or so later he telephoned his girlfriend telling her what he was about to do, accelerated his car and intentionally crashed into the back of a parked HGV killing himself outright. That was in the Grimsby area.
Someone else that I know who has manageable anxiety/depression and is working, had his PIP award increased to Enhanced Care and Standard Mobility!

NeilCr

rockingbilly wrote: »

No sorry I don't but I knew someone that had major mental health problems for years through drug and drink addiction, spending weeks/months under section. Unfortunately just before Christmas he received his PIP decision notice which said that he would get nothing and that his DLA was to stop. A week or so later he telephoned his girlfriend telling her what he was about to do, accelerated his car and intentionally crashed into the back of a parked HGV killing himself outright. That was in the Grimsby area.

Awful story

I did some googling but couldn't find any news stories on this. Could you point us in the right direction, please, so I can read what happened and the background

A story like this must have been in the media

Thanks

Bogalot

NeilCr wrote: »

Awful story

I did some googling but couldn't find any news stories on this. Could you point us in the right direction, please, so I can read what happened and the background

A story like this must have been in the media

Thanks

I thinking billy/ andy has an extremely creative imagination

NeilCr

Bogalot wrote: »

I thinking billy/ andy has an extremely creative imagination

I was inclining to that view although I am not sure who Andy is.

It's just that when claims like this are made it would be good to have some evidence. Otherwise if you say it enough it can become true and people begin to believe

So rockingbilly over to you. Can we have some solid links to this story, please.

Because if it is true it is really awful

However, if it isn't, posting this is not a nice thing to do.

Thanks again

Tommo1980

Yes PIP can be successfully claimed for ASD. I was awarded enhanced daily care without a f2f. I did the form myself, showing how I met each of the relevant descriptors with examples.

I provided a letter confirming my diagnosis, prescribed medication, and a couple of professional reports which backed up aspects of what I claimed my difficulties were.

You can not just rely on your diagnosis though. Take an online test or read through the descriptors and see where you score points.

Then if you want to proceed, and you're not confident filling in the form, get some help from someone familiar with ASD and the benefit system.

Tom

nannytone_2

although it is possible to claim PIP for Aspergers, it is impossible to comment in this case.

it is such a wide ranging condition, that affects everyone differently.

i have mild aspergers.
i am awkward socially and i have OCD tendencies ( though nothing life changing ... just an extremely clean home)
i get obsessed with different things and don't always understand other peoples reactions.
i can be very blunt and although i try to be tactful .... it isn't one of my natural talents.

i clain DLA because i am blind and have never even mentioned the Aspergers.

in my case, i think of it as a quirk in my personality rather than a notifiable disability