Can I get PIP for Mental Health even if I don't take psych medication?

RealGem

Muttleythefrog said:

Simple answer yes you can. Receiving ongoing treatment can obviously be useful to show continuing medically diagnosed conditions or symptoms that could be underpinning explanation as to disablements relevant to PIP. But I haven't had any psychiatric or other medical input for around 12 years and I get PIP and also separately am considered to have limited capability for work (related activity) so get ESA. What I tend to put (and will do again soon as my review form is sitting looking at me now) is that medication has been tried unsuccessfully and other treatment options exhausted and in assessments paper based or otherwise they do pick up on this and run with it satisfactorily to determine that while there is currently no treatment being provided that can be explained alongside the claimed severe difficulties. The lack of treatment could also feed in to how they may consider the longevity of the problems and therefore award lengths - often for me they state condition could change in future if treatment options arise or are engaged.

The issue of treatment being recommended or queried. I have had that.. I even had a nurse recommending I try some different anti depressive medications if I recall correctly at a WCA assessment which definitely seems out with their role and remit not to mention medical ethics. At a historical Appeal tribunal for DLA I was queried by the GP on the panel whether I would engage further treatment and I spoke about my resistance to that given the harm medical professionals had caused me... he reacted so badly to that he threatened to come and punch me (the 'judge' tried to hide his face and his shock).... which was frankly extraordinary and not something I've ever seen similar regarding being reported.... I can only assume on that day his own meds were not working or his wife left him.

You can apply and above comments refer to advice... crucial is understanding the activities looked at and how you are affected such that you will score points (descriptors) which will lead to an award. It can be a tough slog to get award often... but good luck!

Wow that seems a very extreme and unprofessional response!

Thanks for wishing me luck! I'll need all the luck I can muster if the decision makers are as bonkers as I am!

Foxy16 said:

The DM on my latest PIP assessment, has considered that my health conditions have improved, due to the fact that I am not taking prescribed medication, (I am limited to what I can take due to other medication I take), as the side effects were awful, and that I am not getting treatment for other conditions, which I have never been offered, so can't work that one out.

I can believe it. Common sense seems to fly out of the window in many cases.

The only other thing you can do is get the prescription every month then throw it all down the loo and claim you still take it. In that case the system would be forcing us to be dishonest. 

peteuk

Does not taking medication suggest being below the threshold for treatment and therefore not severe? Yes it does SUGGEST it, but doesnt always mean it. 

Do you have evidence of having either tried medication and having side effects or being removed from medication due to the side effects. 

For me its down to what can be or cant be proved, or at least backed up with evidence.  E.g a consultants letter that say 2 month trial of X drug stopped due to side effects, nil other medication suitable or would be prescribed Y medication however unsuitable due to other medical conditions/contraindications. 

RealGem

peteuk said:

Does not taking medication suggest being below the threshold for treatment and therefore not severe? Yes it does SUGGEST it, but doesnt always mean it. 

Do you have evidence of having either tried medication and having side effects or being removed from medication due to the side effects. 

For me its down to what can be or cant be proved, or at least backed up with evidence.  E.g a consultants letter that say 2 month trial of X drug stopped due to side effects, nil other medication suitable or would be prescribed Y medication however unsuitable due to other medical conditions/contraindications. 

No I have not tried any psych medication, due to the horror stories I have heard from people in the Biploar and ADHD groups.

Today I spoke to my doctor, as I am currently having trouble sleeping. He offered me sleeping tablets but I turned those down too, because I believed they would cause me to be exhausted during the day and I have lots to do. 

He also said it would just be temporary, and I'm concerned that if I take them and they work, when I stop taking them my sleep could end up worse than before, due to any psychological element (which I know can exist!)

I dunno. Maybe I should have tried them. He said I could ask for them any time. 

peteuk

RealGem said:

No I have not tried any psych medication, due to the horror stories I have heard from people in the Biploar and ADHD groups.

Today I spoke to my doctor, as I am currently having trouble sleeping. He offered me sleeping tablets but I turned those down too, because I believed they would cause me to be exhausted during the day and I have lots to do. 

He also said it would just be temporary, and I'm concerned that if I take them and they work, when I stop taking them my sleep could end up worse than before, due to any psychological element (which I know can exist!)

I dunno. Maybe I should have tried them. He said I could ask for them any time. 

So just to warn you dont expect much from a PIP assessment…

It might be just your personality or it might be your MH issues that means you've not tried medication.  Im not one to judge, after all its entirely up to you.  But how many people take meds with no side effect and carry one with life. They dont Jump on line and tell everyone about it. 

With sleeping tablets they warn people about driving and using machinery as a precaution.  But a good example of seeing how things go, is choose when a patient takes the first dose, eg on a weekend, where work wont be effected, someone can drive, just in case the side effects or it takes the morning to wake up.  Remember doses can be titrated to alleviate the symptoms but have minimal side effects. Its not a one size fits all.

I fully get the addiction side of these tablets, not always physical but psychologically. 

In the end only you can decide.  If your MH is stable then it makes sense but if not then just ensure youve got a support plan (which could help your pip assessment) around you.