Wellbeing Duck: The Mental Fight For PIP

 

Wellbeing Duck: Have They Rejected Your PIP Claim? You Should Fight Back! 

Days ago everyone in the UK with disabling mental health problems were recently struck bellow the belt by the tax dodger, Rishi Sunak! 

A denied PIP claim for a significant mental health condition can turn your world upside down and leave you feeling gutted or accused. People need their support, especially if you have taken the advice of professionals such as disability employment officers, counselors, community psychiatric nurses or maybe even your own psychiatrist, who might have recommended you to not work. 

Well, now those politicians who give themselves nice payrises and claim huge expenses have just made things tougher and have done a U-turn on many individuals living with mood and anxiety based mental illnesses. The solution here is to be strong and patient. Draw in your support circles and fight for your rightful PIP award; it might be financially better for you in the end.

This guide aims to equip you with the knowledge to challenge the PIP reconsideration and tribunal process. We'll discuss why re-applications might be rejected and consider what might help you win. However, firstly, it must be said, it's fair to not expect full points for milder mental conditions that hold very little effect on daily living. We have to be honest. 

After a nice pay rise offered nurses 1%

Let's Talk Money and Mental Health

That being said, significant disabling mental health conditions are real, and they will impact daily life. However, the PIP system is flawed and they are interested in the effects of the illness more so than the diagnosis. They rarely look at peoples medical records because a diagnosis is not direct evidence! Isn't that bonkers?! Remember, The Department for Work and Pensions has slammed down some urgent rules for mental health that overlook the fluctuating nature of symptoms. They fall short of their own criteria. Filling out an application form you might see a question like this one: ‘Can you prepare a basic meal?’ 

Duh, yeah! 

But look at their actual criteria which they fail to mention:

Completed to a reasonable standard (Section 2.1.1)

Completed safely (Section 2.1.2)

Completed repeatedly (Section 2.1.3)

Taking no more than twice as long (Section 2.1.4). 

‘Oh, well, now you put it like that!’

Now, if you say you can sometimes do a meal, it will be unfairly marked against you, in bad faith. The criteria asks whether you can prepare a meal to a reasonable standard, safely, done repeatedly, taking no more than twice as long as usual. We can see what is happening. Many mental health conditions, from mood disorders, thought disorders and attacks of anxiety come on in attacks, episode. Immediate qualifying you under section 2.1.3 of their own criteria! It’s clearly a money saving operation. 

PIP is an important financial support, and losing it can bring a lot of unspeakable stresses. You do deserve these resources for your wellbeing, and so, I hope you can take some comfort, maybe a tad of hope in this blog post. I hope to help you get that calm back.

Fighting for What You Deserve: Reconsideration and Tribunals

Be tough, dig your heels in, be a warrior, and don't accept the first ‘no.’ This is a dubious process on their part, considering they are deliberately reducing claimants, people have shared on YouTube and in blogs and websites that they are losing every point they were rightfully awarded. It raises the question: are mentally ill people facing discrimination yet again? That is the broader political war. Focusing solely on the process of claiming for a moment, offering up a diagnosis, such as, say, paranoid schizophrenia, only seems to waste space on the form; our DWP do not believe a medical diagnosis proves your problems with daily living. It makes you wonder then, doesn't it? What will prove anything to these people, especially if they deny what claimants tell them?

These politicians call people scroungers!

Mandatory Reconsideration: By writing a well structured letter, as your mandatory reconsideration, you can retain your argument and evidence on file, and the DWP will be expected to hold a copy too. A phone call is only worth the paper it is written on. Even though a different person reviews your claim, it is part of the  same not-so-merry dance, which may well be another rejection. Over all, it’s become a financial process now and one where they are instructed to reduce claims; just think, hundreds of expensive tribunals, two thirds of them re-awarded their PIP does not inspire them to continue. They do offer claimants their PIP as alternative, known as a cleared decision!

Example: 

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to request a mandatory reconsideration of the decision to reject my claim for Personal Independence Payment (PIP). The decision letter was dated 23 November 2023 and the reference number of my claim is PIP/123456789.

Points I disagree with regarding your decisions:

Preparing a Meal

I am diagnosed with Mickey Mouse Disorder and Cramping Tummy Syndrome (CTS). This means I can only eat cheese, but I need tablets because I am allergic to the diet but alsi intolerant to the tablet, and so, I suffer agonising cramps meaning I cannot repeatedly prepare a meal as described under section 2.1.3 of the PIP criteria. This also slows me down, and disrupts me (2.1.4). I have provided extra evidence, such as a written testimony from my carer and my doctor (contiue as you wish). 

Tribunals: 

An independent tribunal is most effective! It is free, you can follow online Government website instructions to initiate things after your mandatory reconsideration. Also, you can alternatively choose not to attend if you prefer. The panel will have no connection to the DWP. Tribunals typically side with claimants—a 2022 report found that nearly two-thirds (64%) of appeals resulted in a better outcome for claimants. That, right there, is the financial advantage for the DWP: resolving your case favorably before a tribunal has to begin is often quicker, and less expensive. Claimants might receive an offer before it reaches the tribunal. However, you must follow the procedural stages from mandatory reconsideration and then apply for tribunal after rejection. Take what is rightfully yours. 

Do they expect folks to dive into work without support?

In Your Corner!: Resources to Help You! 

Here are some resources designed to empower you through the PIP claim process:

Citizens Advice: Useful but can be busy, help on benefits claims and appeals, including PIP: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/

Benefits and Work: Follow the guides and support they have in place! Here is the PIP claim process: https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip/pip-claims