pip high rate mobility and overwhelming distress 12 January at 7:32AM edited 12 January at 7:39AM in Disability money matters 6 replies 693 views

williewonder

Do you have to have overwhelming distress all the time when you go out or can it be fluctuating condition, Like when I'm psychotic I have overwhelming distress and have become abusive and threatening to the public because I think they are going to attack me, but its not all the time, just a couple of times a year but I do need reassurances when I'm with my support staff they people aren't talking about me. I've been sectioned 14 times and have a lot of  history with intellectual disability services.

A bit of background I've already been awarded high rate mobility because of the above but I feel like I don't deserve it as it's not all the time with the psychosis. I do have severe anxiety when in public and my community nurse backs this up and writes it into his reports when he sends them the the assessment people.

Thing is a booked a abroad holiday on my own for June and wondering if I'm contradicting myself by going abroad when I do have severe anxiety but I can manage that, it's mainly the psychosis and lashing out when unwell which I think I'm under the descriptions and eligibility for for high rate mobility, wondering if the overwhelming distress has to be all the time?

I have full support of my team to travel abroad on my own and they say I'M NOT DOING anything wrong, is this the case?

marcia_

williewonder said:

Do you have to have overwhelming distress all the time when you go out or can it be fluctuating condition, Like when I'm psychotic I have overwhelming distress and have become abusive and threatening to the public because I think they are going to attack me, but its not all the time, just a couple of times a year but I do need reassurances when I'm with my support staff they people aren't talking about me. I've been sectioned 14 times and have a lot of  history with intellectual services.

A bit of background I've already been awarded high rate mobility because of the above but I feel like I don't deserve it as it's not all the time with the psychosis. I do have severe anxiety when in public and my community nurse backs this up and writes it into his reports when he sends them the the assessment people.

 Of course you deserve it. No it's not 100% of the time BUT it can happen at any time meaning there is always the risk. 

 I suffer from severe anxiety which comes out as paranoia. This affects me badly when out alone, jumpy, nervous etc. I deserve my award and so do you. 

Muttleythefrog

From my quick reading it isn't entirely clear which descriptors were applied regarding your Mobility.... however to be considered able to do something you need to be able to do it reliably.. and by reliably they mean safely, to acceptable standard, repeatedly and in reasonable time.

So yes... there may be things you can apparently do sometimes but it doesn't mean you will be considered able to do them for PIP purposes... does this make sense? An example is I get low rate mobility as I have mobility 1 descriptor "Cannot undertake any journey because it would cause overwhelming psychological distress to the claimant" applied but this doesn't mean I am unable to undertake any journey at all... in fact the descriptor was first advised as appropriate at an assessment I attended where obviously I had undertaken a journey to get there... but for most of the time such journeys are not realistic.

Enjoy your holiday! You're not doing anything wrong.

tacpot12

Another way to think about it is that the payment is not there for when you are well, but for when you are sick. Many people minimise the problems they face, but if they were to think carefully about all the adjustments they have to make at times when they are unwell, they realise that having the Personal Independence Payments really are necessary and justified. 

Spoonie_Turtle

I assume it's descriptor F, you need someone with you for familiar journeys, to get higher rate mobility.  Decision makers don't award such a high scoring descriptor without being sure.

Fluctuating conditions most certainly count, and as marcia mentions the risk is also considered.

elsien

Do you think this is a conversation you should be having with your financial deputy for reassurance, as they will be the ones dealing with your claim with DWP?
And from your other threads you've been travelling abroad previously without it causing any issues.
I'd be more concerned about your insurance cover for pre-existing conditions in the circumstances. 

williewonder

I always declare the full extent with insurance companies and I can get specialised insurance but it's £800 for 28 days insurance. I always sit down with the supported living manager and we do the insurance together so its right.