A benefit claimant has asked for advice after their Personal Independence Payment (PIP) application was rejected.
PIP is designed to help people who struggle with everyday tasks such as dressing themselves or feeding themselves.
Those claiming the DWP benefit are awarded points in different categories to determine if they will get a payment and how much they will receive.
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And one person says that when they applied for the money, they were awarded 0 points in both mobility and daily living.
They said that this was despite their mental health issues being ‘paralysing’.
In a post on Reddit, the person wrote: “Received a letter in the post saying I was awarded 0 points in both mobility and daily living which I found unbelievable.
“I have ADHD, ASD, ptsd, anxiety and depression which is paralysing. The phone assessment I broke down in tears multiple times and still unwell from the whole experience.”
They went on to ask how they can apply for a reconsideration.
The person added: “The statement the DWP gave doesn’t match what I said in the phone assessment at all – for example, they said I’m only under care of my GP – this is false, I mentioned my therapist who I’ve seen every week since December.
“‘I do not reach overwhelming psychological stress’ and ‘my medication has not changed’ which is not true – I was direct and honest about how I had a mental breakdown 2 weeks prior to the assessment and I was off sick 3 weeks from work and was in crisis, also said I’m awaiting a full psychiatrist assessment and tried two new different medications to control panic attacks.
“‘I decided you can plan and follow a route unadided’ this is false – I only take journeys to work 2x a week via a private taxi and it’s the only way I am able to work.”
In response, other Reddit users offered the person advice.
One person said: “Ring DWP and ask for a copy of the medical report from your phone assessment.
“You will then be able to see exactly what was written and challenge what they wrote vs what your medical info says and how that fits with the descriptors needed for PIP.”
Another asked: “Sorry if I am being dim but why does the fact that someone’s medication not changing go against them? Sorry you did not get the outcome you were expecting.”
In response to this, another user wrote: “Because if you are on medication but that condition is still severely disabling you, the medication is not effective.
“That would usually mean increasing the dose or moving to a different medication, unless there is a solid medical reason why you cannot do that.”