PIP was 2nd claim with new conditions but from 15 April 2025 new 3rd claim as advised.

Taylor2000

Interesting post on rightsnet titled "PIP decision notes first line anti-depressants"

https://www.rightsnet.org.uk/Forums/1725/Database/viewthread/17167/#81458

Muttleythefrog

tifo said:

@Cressida100 "(maybe) reapply a few years down the line when you have given the MH therapy a chance"

isn't the whole point of PIP to apply when you are suffering from an ailment rather than when you're better, at which time you'd have nothing to claim for? Because it's how you are on the day of the assessment not how you were before?

This reveals a bit of your flawed psychology. You should be focussing on this treatment, and getting support to manage your health conditions, and indeed getting better.. not worrying you might not qualify for PIP as a result. It's almost as if you're only seeking help and treatment to claim PIP... I see nothing about your hopes to get better (and strong indicators of desire to remain the same)... and you applied so rapidly after seeking help your claim was likely to struggle and as we know now has struggled. In a nutshell... what do you think (what are you telling PIP) are the disabling effects of your mental problems that will give rise to the scoring descriptors.... I presume there is some repetition of effects and needs that impact Daily Living activities in particular and possibly Mob activity 1? What award do you think you should get if accurately assessed?

The first line anti depressant use has only just started... too early perhaps to see the effects or if they will increase dosage or change to different drugs as they often will to see if they can gain any benefit for patient. Another pointer to too early application along with being only into the early sessions of talking therapies and no referrals on to psychiatric specialists. As Pete sort of points to... you handed the assessor the tools to dismiss severity of enduring mental health problems... you're getting treatment that millions do for often minor or transient mental illness... crucially... at this stage.. it may change down the line along with your evidence for PIP! For many MH patients sadly no treatment will be effective... plenty PIP claimants will have, like me, no medical input for their MH problems as they've exhausted options or options are unsuitable.

peteuk

Muttleythefrog said:

The first line anti depressant use has only just started... too early perhaps to see the effects or if they will increase dosage or change to different drugs as they often will to see if they can gain any benefit for patient. Another pointer to too early application along with being only into the early sessions of talking therapies and no referrals on to psychiatric specialists. As Pete sort of points to... you handed the assessor the tools to dismiss severity of enduring mental health problems... you're getting treatment that millions do for often minor or transient mental illness... crucially... at this stage.. it may change down the line along with your evidence for PIP! For many MH patients sadly no treatment will be effective... plenty PIP claimants will have, like me, no medical input for their MH problems as they've exhausted options or options are unsuitable.

And here is the difference between recently starting first line medication and I’ve tried everything and nothing helps.  It adds weight to your claim with evidence and supports enduring mental health issues.

If firstline meds and cbt resolves a mental health problem then it’s unlikely to reach a PIP scoring level.  If over the years CBT has been attempted 3 or 4 times, medications increased and swapped around, multiple referrals etc then the evidence shows this is an issue that is either difficult to treat or treatment is ineffective.

Thanks Muttleyfrog for pointing out my point.  What the OP sees at a reasonable why they should receive PIP,  can be used to dismiss the claim.

peteuk

tifo said:

I didn't get PIP again, but this time only 2 points for 'mixing with people'.

Again, driving license used in several descriptors and even though i'm on NHS CBT talking therapies at the moment for (social) anxiety and depression it's been ignored. For mental health they say "no evidence of current specialist input" even though I sent all letters and emails as evidence, which includes names of the people who treat me. I've had 3 sessions out of 12 and the next 12 sessions will be for OCD (talking therapies does 1 or 2 issues at a time) so will continue until at least middle of next year. For OCD they say "no specialist input" but it's all within NHS CBT talking therapies sessions which looks at all issues.

For washing and bathing I said I use a stool to sit down and wash my lower limbs but didn't get any points for using an 'aid'. I also said I need to sit down on a bed to change my lower clothes but again no points.

And the assessor seemed so nice as well and took a lot of time on mental health.

I'll ask for the assessment report but I already know (from experience and this decision) what it will be like.

So you’ve gone for asking for the report on 14th August to 

sheramber

tifo said:

the PIP decision is clearly a copy and paste job as some paragraphs are repeated (exact same text). So it's 'copy' and 'paste' 'paste' 'paste' .... in the 2 pages of the decision letter there's only really half a page that says anything different.

for driving, several times the DM has said "your vision is OK" but i'm not saying that my vision isn't OK, i'm claiming that my conditions affect my one eye severally which sometimes affects the other eye but it's nothing to do with vision when driving because i don't drive at those times. In fact, i say i don't drive when i can't (which has been consistent at every assessment) and i drive only a few thousand miles a year which is proven from my car MOTs.

for me, they use having a driving license as a reason to decline almost everything again and again and this can't be fair because lots of people on PIP have a driving license (even if they don't drive). And more than 800,000 use that driving license with the Motability vehicles.

i need to sometimes drive because i can't use public transport (MH/OCD) and i feel safer in my own vehicle. I don't know how to explain it but it's 'my' time when i'm away from everyone else (people) and have my own space. Does that make sense? But i make clear i only drive when i can.

Your vision  being ok means you do not get points for that section. It does not stop someone with only one le g getting points for mobility. 

Plenty people only have sight in one eye but are able to legally to drive. My husband did when waiting for a cataract operation. 

IThe compromised vision in your other eye  must affect you the MAJORITY  of the tinge. Happening sometimes is not enough. 

Your mental health is a new condition for your claim. You are receiving treatment so it is not known if it is likely be bad enough to last 9 months. Your treatment may improve things in 6 or 8 months. 

It may improve if you stop obsessing over getting PIP. 

CosmoChic

I think it's time to pursue a different, perhaps more rewarding, hobby?