Hi

I was wondering if anyone can help me claim PIP.

Briefly, I have severe mental health issues, whilst I was unemployed for nearly 15 months I was told by a local organisation who were supposed to help me find work (they didnt) that I would be able to claim PIP.

They helped me complete an application, which was accompanied by medical notes, had a "medical assessment" by someone who didn't seem to know much more than I did about mental health and my application got rejected. I then asked the local organisation who helped me start the process to help me appeal and they left me to my own devices. Stating because I was no longer using their services they couldn't help me. So without seeking further assistance, I went through the first stage appeal process myself and the claim was rejected. After that I just couldn't face going through the further appeal process etc so gave up.

The whole process and the questions asked etc is completely geared towards physical disability and does not really account for the mental and psychological elements.

I would like to attempt another application with some better guidance because although I have recently started working again my mental health issues are not going away and I fear that holding onto the job that has taken me so long to get will be difficult.

Any guidance would be appreciated and if I have missed anything please let me know.

Thanks

K

Do you have a local Mind in your area who can help with your PIP application?

Hi, yes there is, are they able to provide help on this matter?

I contacted MIND and they referred me elsewhere and unfortunately not been able to speak to anyone.

Are there any Welfare Rights people in your area? I think there are some with the CAB these days, from memory, but you could have a look online.

Who did MIND refer you to?

HB

No idea, I was just given a phone number. The local CAB are pretty overwhelmed in all honesty. I'm confident enough to complete the application, I want guidance to ensure that I don't end up going through the same problems as before.

The main issue I have is that the questions on the form and the criteria are so heavily orientated towards physical health conditions, that it seems anything related to mental health conditions just wouldn't fit.

Hi All

I made a claim for PIP back in January 2017 which was denied because I didn't score enough points. I requested the Mandatory Reconsideration and the original decision was upheld. I didn't really do the letter properly and was already fed up at the first hurdle and didn't take it any further, although I probably should have.

I made a fresh claim in November 2017 which was successful and the two claims were virtually identical in that nothing had changed in relation to my health. The questions posed in the health assessment were very different though.

I would like to claim backdated PIP from my original January 2017 claim because it is clear that the claim was assessed wrongly and should not have been rejected. Can anyone provide some guidance on how I can achieve this.

Thanks

Hi.

I think there's a time limit on appealing, with most benefits it's three months. Hopefully people who know about PIP will be along to advise.

HB

old and new threads merged

dx

Thanks for merging the threads admin. I completely forgot I posted that.

If you make a fresh claim, it goes from the date you phoned up for the form. You can't ask for it to be backdated.