Claiming PIP for anxiety disorders

Hi Susan

Id imagine you would need go to your GP and tell him all your symptoms and get a proper diagnosis ....There is a lady called Denise on here who will hopefully see your post and will be able to advise you.

Good Luck xx

i have fibromyalgia and anxiety and bad mental illness and i put both in the part at the back they give to fill in anything else

Hello Susan,

I suffer with multiple M.H conditions including anxiety and I recognise myself in many of the daily struggles that you face around this.

I lost my lifetime award of DLA back in 2016 but I wasn't awarded PIP due to not receiving enough points but please don't let my story dissuade you from claiming.

If you have medical evidence from a health professional supporting you with your condition/s then you should make a claim.

Good Luck

Regards,

Sarah Carter.

Dear susan

After reading your post i feel i can relate to what your going through, i was undecided like you, but i did apply for pip due to same symptoms as you, i had spoken to my dr who put me on anti depreesants and this was taken into account on my pip claim, i dont have me but i suffer with ptsd i was awarded pip standard rate for mental health n standard rate for mobility coz like you i dont go out unless my husband is with me i probably go out once a week dont answer phone dont socialise,i find it difficult going to new places and meeting new people but i did go to an assessment and my anxiety showed during this time you may be able to get a home assessment if your dr is treating you for your anxiety etc if not i would say dont lose out try to go for an assessment and prove your disabilities fill in the form and send it off if your claiming dla then the process should be easier as they have details already. Good luck, stay strong let us know how things go , take care

Best regards

jayne

Thank you ladies for your replies, problem is i havn't actually been properly diagnosed with any sort of anxiety as never went to gp about this so ive no backup what so ever. Only letter i had from a consultant diagnosing the M .E. was like 26 yrs ago and i stupidly got rid of the copy of the letter showing his comments diagnosing me with this condition, think the anxiety stems from having the M.E. for so long as to unwell to go out and do much led me to stay in all the time. Ive got till the 19th June to decide, im hardly going to get any support from gp for a home visit now at such short notice, im not taking any medication as im the opposite to a hypochondriac , in which i dont like taken any medication at all. Yes i am well enough to put on my make up each morning, its my mask and i feel naked without it, yet ive read if one turns up to assessment wearing any looking well and hair done it goes against you, Really! The thought of travelling is already making me feel so anxious and hubby cant drive me as he has arthritis himself. Also ive read of people getting no points because the could walk from car park to the interview room, even though they were leaning on someone else to do so, how dreadful is that. As someone once quoted on hear a few years ago, PIP ( permanent impossible payment ) lol

Susan

Hi,

If you do decide to apply then when you ring to start your claim you can ask for your DLA file to be used as evidence for the PIP claim. You'll need more recent evidence to go with it, especially if the evidence you sent for your DLA claim was a long time ago.

If you decide not to apply for PIP then your DLA will end. Any other benefits you maybe claiming could also be affected if you decide not to apply, once your DLA ends.

If you apply then providing your PIP forms are returned by the dated stated then your DLA will continue until a decision's been made on your PIP.

When you fill out the PIP forms you should put all of your conditions down, doesn't matter what they are. You should put as much information as possible about how your conditions affect you. There's very limited space on the form so use extra pieces of A4 paper if you need to. When i filled out my daughters last PIP form i added 2-3 real life examples of what happened the last time she attempted that activity for each descriptor that applied to her.

You mention going out which is the following and planning a journey part but you don't mention any of the daily living activities. There's 10 daily living activities and 2 mobility ones.

Following and planning a journey, those claiming for anxiety will find it extremely hard to score any points here since they changed the descriptor and removed the words "for reasons other than" Overwhelming psychological distress. Lots of people think that it will be easier to score points since the changes took place but in fact that's not true. Unless you show signs of aggressive behaviour then it's not possible to score any points here. For those with a learning disability, Autism or a cognitive disability then point scoring is possible in this activity.

Evidence will be needed to support your claim. GP's aren't the greatest people to ask for a supporting letter because very few know exactly how your conditions affect you against the PIP descriptors. They will only know the basics. Personally, i wouldn't pay my GP to write a letter for me. Future appointment letters aren't classed as evidence.

It's free to request digital copies of your medical records from your GP. Maybe there's something in there you can use? If any paper copies are needed then you have to pay for those.

A face to face assessment will most likely be needed because most people have them. It's rare to have a paper based assessment. If you need a home visit then a letter from your GP will be needed, stating your reasons why you can't attend the assessment centre. However, even with GP support your home visit could still be refused, if you attend other appointments this could go against you for a home assessment. I'm not saying it will but it could and has gone against lots of people.

Yes, lots of people are refused and we hear lots of stories on the internet of those that are refused. Lot of people are also successful but we rarely hear their stories. If someone has an award they are happy with they have no questions to ask so we don't hear their stories.

Good luck what ever you decide to do.