More than once: Can you repeat the activity as many times as you need to? PIP assessments usually take place at a centre; however, if you can't attend an assessment centre because you are housebound as a result of a mental health condition, you can request a home PIP assessment. 1.15.14 In cases where claimants have a named third party as an appointee, this could be due to the claimant being unable to manage their own affairs as a result of a serious mental health condition or cognitive / learning disability. However it is important to balance informal observations with evidence from professionals who may have observed the claimant more regularly. Instead, and only if a consultation is deemed necessary, the AP must send the invite to the appointee only. There is an expectation that this will remove or reduce the need for claimants to record consultations. 1.6.66 HPs may need to adapt their approach when assessing young people. If you have any questions about PIP assessment questions on mental health, please let us know and the team will gladly answer your questions. 1.15.22 Proof of consent given by claimants need not be routinely sent by APs when requesting further evidence. We have come across some bad results from telephone assessments particularly on Mental Health descriptors. 1.2.3 The report to the department should include: relevant history of the claimant, including information on the disabling health conditions or impairments, their functional effects and information on their current medication and treatment, advice on the appropriate assessment descriptors for the claimant, based on consideration of the evidence on file and, if appropriate, the evidence that the HP has collected during the consultation. To help us improve GOV.UK, wed like to know more about your visit today. Where one single descriptor in an activity is likely to not be satisfied on more than 50 per cent of days, but a number of different scoring descriptors in that activity together are likely to be satisfied on more than 50 per cent of days, the descriptor likely to be satisfied for the highest proportion of the time should be selected. HPs will be required to advise on whether the claimant satisfies the SREL provisions (see below), and provide advice with appropriate justification to the DWP. If the claimant has difficulty socialising and planning and following but is sitting securely in their home on the phone during assessment, it stands to reason the decision making will be compromised! PIP for Depression and Anxiety It is certainly possible to be eligible to claim PIP (personal independence payment pip) if suffering from a mental health condition such as depression or anxiety but it very much depends on how the mental illness affects you. 1.6.51 If the claimant is uncooperative during a consultation, the HP may terminate the consultation where they have gathered sufficient evidence to complete the assessment report and provide advice for the CM. Have you read something you think others need to know? Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a benefit for working age people who have a disability or long-term health problem and have difficulty or need help with daily living activities and/or getting about. 1.6.18 The HP should record any other prescribed therapies, such as physiotherapy, making a note of who prescribed them, how often they are carried out, and how effective they are. Cost-of-living crisis and your mental health. Getting the right support can mean that we won't face a financial . 1.6.27 As well as covering all the PIP activity areas, the typical day should also cover other activities such as housework, shopping and caring responsibilities for adults, children and pets, and hobbies and pastimes these details give additional supporting information about functional ability. If you plan to do so, you should call the assessment centre in advance explaining that you wish to record the assessment they will explain what guidelines you will need to follow. The HP should act within the guidelines, and be able to justify their actions. You should also. It is intended to supplement the contract documents agreed with APs as part of the commercial process, providing guidance for health professionals (HPs) carrying out assessment activity and for those responsible for putting in place and delivering processes to ensure the quality of assessments. If you adjusted the date by your own without letting the assessment provider know, this is considered as discrimination and you should call your local Citizens advice for help with this kind of situation. It is not a diagnosis of your condition or a medical examination. Before attending your PIP assessment, there are several things you should consider to help you prepare. 1.4.2 If a consultation has already been arranged and, following receipt of further evidence, the HP concludes that they can now advise DWP on the basis of paper evidence, the consultation should be cancelled. PiP telephone assessment Hi all, I'm helping someone with a PiP telephone assessment soon as they have anxiety talking on the phone - any advice tips appreciated. 1.13.3 Supplementary advice may also be requested for a reconsideration where the claimant challenges a decision made about entitlement to PIP, or for the early revision of a decision as part of the appeals process. As with appointees, the deputy can nominate another person to accompany the claimant. Any new evidence about how your condition affects your daily life, which you have not already sent to the DWP: A copy of your PIP claim form with you. PIP Question 6. . Simply use the buttons below to share on your social network. Award rates for all claims (excluding withdrawn cases) between April 2013 and January 2021 show that: 42% receive an award for normal rules new . In such cases it will be essential to get an accurate account from the companion. The person chosen is at the discretion of the claimant and might be, but is not limited to, a parent, family member, friend, carer or advocate. 1.4.6 DWP has 3 standard pro forma for use in seeking evidence in writing from (a) GPs, (b) hospitals and (c) other professionals. Lancashire. 1.6.21 The employment status of the claimant might be relevant and this should be explored and recorded as part of the evidence gathered in social and occupational history. The psychological examination will be asking your thoughts and feelings about your present concern. 1.7.8 The referral sent to the AP via the PIPCS will include the initial claim details together with the DS1500 or other medical evidence if it has been submitted by the claimant. PIP assessments usually take place at a centre; however, if you cant attend an assessment centre because you are housebound as a result of a mental health condition, you can request a home PIP assessment. The appointment set for you is usually in a span of 7 days away. 1.6.24 Evidence gathered in the functional history is an important part of the assessment process as it should provide the CM with a clear picture of the claimants day-to-day life. The mental health conditions that qualify for disability in the UK are depressive disorders, dementia, chronic anxiety such as anxiety disorders, and bipolar disorder. 1.6.26 For some conditions different time periods will need to be considered, such as the potential impact of different times of the day. For example, is the level of functional impairment claimed in one activity compatible with that claimed in another? 1.8.20 The consultation report is primarily for CMs, but the claimant has a right to see it and can request a copy from the DWP. Each article is written by a team member with exposure to and experience in the subject matter. What you should say during the PIP assessment. Simply use the buttons below to share on your social network. The fact is though that the law says that no diagnosis is needed, so you just need to know where to look for this when it comes to an appeal. However, HPs should consider the type and context of certain medications, for example use of depot antipsychotic injections in psychotic disorders. Well send you a link to a feedback form. That's why benefits like Personal Independence Payment (PIP) can make such a difference. Medical Evidence GP They themselves do not have to attend. where, in reassessment cases, further evidence may confirm whether or not there has been a change in the claimants health condition or disability. My pip telephone assessment is 2moro and my mental health has took a turn for the worse I don't think I'm going to be able to talk to them I don't even want to answer the phone I've not slept in says I'm drained I don't want put myself through all my mental health just to get 0 points or for them to not even listen to me I think if I spoke to them I would just end up crying when I sent the . 1.7.12 Consultations are not required where a claim has been referred under the SREL provisions. 1.6.12 The HP should record a succinct and relevant history of all the health conditions or impairments that affect the claimant. It is not the HPs opinion of what the claimant should be able to do. 1.13.6 Requests for supplementary advice may be made to APs by telephone and/or through the PIPCS and/or the PIPAT, depending on the nature of the request. A written record should be taken of any telephone discussion seeking further information, using the claimants own words as precisely as possible. Where deemed necessary, they may be asked to provide other free of charge relevant evidence to support their request, for example evidence from a social worker, community nurse or carer that shows why a home consultation would be appropriate. The PA6 may also be used for changes to advice that does not relate to descriptor choice, for example prognosis. In addition, the guidance is not a stand-alone document, and should form only a part of the training and written documentation that HPs receive from APs. A snapshot view of the claimants condition on a particular day at a particular time is not an adequate assessment. The PIP assessment with questions on mental health is a great opportunity for you to talk about how your mental health condition affects you. 1.7.24 The claimant or their representative may be able to provide updated information on where they are having their treatment and who is treating them. The HP should record when the condition began and give brief details of changes since it began. A home environment may also provide either an ideal, good or a very poor environment for testing functional ability, for example, depending on the level of background noise. The DWP decision makers will now look at your PIP claim, and its supporting evidence which includes: The DWP will then send you a letter once theyve made their decision, explaining why you will or wont get PIP. If a claimant can handle a toothbrush, it is unlikely they cannot handle kitchen cutlery. If help is given from another person, the HP should record the type of help, why they need help, who gives it, how often and for how long. How can I appeal a decision about my benefits? (I got a cancellation) i have ongoing mental health issues heart condition that affects my daily activities such as walking and shopping and (anything strenuous) also struggle with communicating with us can't interact I get severe anxiety . 1.6.69 The HP has a duty to protect the confidentiality of the information obtained during the consultation. Physical and mental examination: If required, and with your consent, they will conduct a brief physical and mental function examination. If your long-term condition is getting worse, you will need more of this award. A bit about my claim: Eating disorder for 15 years (I have come to simply exist with the daily behaviour of an ED and haven't had any recent treatment in years, so little recent evidence on this . 1.1.2 The benefit is not means tested and is non-taxable and non-contributory. HPs should consider which professionals identified can provide useful evidence. It is paid to make a contribution to the extra costs that disabled people may face, to help them lead full, active and independent lives. They should also provide advice on the mobility component based on the evidence received with the referral and/or gathered at the consultation. HPs enable CMs to make fair and accurate decisions by providing impartial, objective and evidence-based advice. This advice applies even if the claimant maintains that they suffer from a high level of functional impairment it is medically improbable that this is the case and a consultation is unlikely to add much useful additional information, since the clinical examination is likely to be unremarkable, there is strong evidence on which to advise on the case and a consultation is likely to be stressful for the claimant (for example, claimants with autism, cognitive impairment or learning disability), the claimant questionnaire indicates a high level of disability, the information is consistent, medically reasonable and there is nothing to suggest over-reporting (examples may include claimants with severe neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease, dementia, Parkinsons disease, severely disabling stroke). Therefore absence of medication does not automatically mean that the health condition is not severe. 1.3.12 The HP should complete a PA1 review file note or the relevant screen in PIPAT explaining the action taken on the case, how the decision was made on the type of assessment and the evidence used. In circumstances where it is not possible to copy the further evidence, perhaps during telephone or home consultations or where the claimant does not wish to part with the evidence, then it is permissible for the HP to make notes from the original further evidence documentation. Wherever possible, the record should contain specific examples to illustrate difficulty with activities. 1.6.17 All current medication, including over-the-counter medication, should be recorded in the report, unless it is fully documented on other evidence in PIPCS. Attendance Allowance (AA) for people at State Pension age. Copyright OptimistMinds 2023 | All Rights Reserved. We are a friendly, safe community supporting each other's mental health 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. 1.6.10 Throughout the consultation, HPs should be evaluating what they are being told and checking whether the evidence is consistent. 1.6.68 Very rarely during the consultation, the HP may identify that the claimant appears to have a significant undiagnosed medical condition. It indicates to the CM that the case will need to be reviewed to determine the correct level of any ongoing entitlement. 1.6.36 When considering mental health medication HPs should remember that not all claimants with a mental health condition will be on medication or receiving therapy. The claimant must not be assessed if they are on their own. 1.8.3 The nature of the information required in reports varies depending on the nature of the activity.