Hello - Looking For Help Please

WARNING - THIS POST MAY CONTAIN TRIGGER POINTS

Received letter today from DWP to say application for PIP has been turned down.

This is despite my lifelong history of Insulin overdose attempts, each one worse than the previous one, whenever I get overwhelmed by noise or life in general.

Not gonna bother appealing.

I had been encouraged to apply for PIP by various mental health 'experts' for last few years, but the application for my ESA (been in Support Group for nearly 14 years) was stressful enough (involving 3 appeals in front of a judge + doctor = like a criminal being on trial, over 3 consecutive years). So I didn't bother, until now. 

Unsure if/when my Mam will be coming back out of hospice/will have to obviously buy more food if/when my Dad gets a care package sorted so he can come out of local 'care home' (been in since 9th January = was only supposed to be in for 4 weeks), so thought the extra money would help if I need to find somewhere else to live.

Having to run around after the Government departments, literally begging for help, is just too degrading and disheartening, and just makes my mental health even worse, when all the current Government want is for every single person in the country to be working, including disabled and people who've retired early, so they don't have to offer any benefits to people who are less well off than these University-educated MPs (mostly from South-East England) are.

I was sent an appointment for a face-to-face appointment, 1 hour away via 2 buses, but this was cancelled by them as person I was supposed to be seeing was unavailable (not given any reason why). So I had to have a telephone appointment instead. If I HAD had the face-to-face appointment, it might have been better for me, as they would then see how anxious and stressed I was having to go out in public to somewhere I hadn't been before, by myself.

So my message to anyone else applying for any benefits is to make sure you get proper advice/help before doing so (I had to get someone from Citizen's Advice to help me fill out application form), and if possible get written evidence/statements from your GP or care worker, about how your condition affects your every day life. Make sure you have as much evidence as you can get (and take a copy of it, plus your application from, before you send it back).

I would suggest to anyone else feeling desperate, to contact the Samaritans, but the last time I tried to e-mail them, I heard nothing back, so ... maybe find someone else to share problems with, if possible.

And one final message - anyone who voted for this current Government should be ashamed of themselves.

They want you to give up at this stage. Why let them win?

From comments here and elsewhere it is common to be rejected with 0 points on the first attempt. If you have someone from CAB to help you they will know all about the appeals processes.

I know it sucks. Especially when you've got so much to cope with regarding your parents.

I've thought about applying but can't even get past the telephone call needed to start the process. With the talk of benefit reforms in the budget it might be even harder in the future.

That is good advice, and back when I was invested in claiming my rights I never took no for an answer.

I copied every form before submitting it, and when I realised that they understood a different English to me. (Beaurocratese, before anyone jumps to conclusions) I went as far as making my own recordings of any interview.

They don't like it, but as I pointed out; "I just want to be sure that what I thought I said was what I actually said when I get home, as previously I've been held to have said things I did not remember saying at all".

I can't believe I came up with that on the fly, but I made it stick, had my interview, and received the correct and very prompt service I was seeking...  

I hope my textbook example of how to "push your luck" helps someone to get the same prompt and very correct service I usually get from any poor official who gets my back up.

I "did" my friends consultant this week, and managed to get him an immediate reduction in his meds and force a review of his history that showed them increasing/changing his meds when he was in crisis and never reducing them again after the crisis had passed.. Once he realised that in addition to not backing down, I was clearly describing over medication and that we both knew it, instead of doubling down on the medical bullshit, he actually stopped listened and not only adjusted the meds but asked me to keep an eye  on the situation and come back next time. My friend loses his power of speech after his "treatment" SOMEOBEODY needed to ask if that was right. Turns out that the guy had no idea this was an issue... 

Bless you for being a good friend.....and a man who "sees" AND "addresses".  Rare.

Bless you for being a good friend.....and a man who "sees" AND "addresses".  Rare.