PIP for depression

Hello Carole,

Yes, there is every point in asking for a Mandatory Reconsideration.

Many people are scored down because they are not currently receiving specialised medical input. There can be a number of reasons for this such as treatment has not restarted after covid, on waiting list or treatment was received and made no significant improvement. The reason you are not receiving such treatment may be one of those reasons, or something else, do say in your MR why this is.

As to the evidence of overwhelming psychological distress, if you can include any additional third-party evidence of this in your submission do so. You might also want to include a PIP diary which would show the impact of OPD on your daily life. After that all you can do is refute the statement that you don’t suffer from OPD and give examples under each of the activities where this is a problem.

PIP resources gives you information about PIP Diaries, scroll down to the second section on that page; and Mandatory Reconsiderations, scroll down to just below the image of Mark and Liam.

I hope that helps, and please do be encouraged, lots of people initially get low scores and then go on to get their correct award.
Catherine

Hi Carole,

Reading Denby's post above made me think that it might be worth you keeping a second diary, but just for yourself. In it record the things you have acheived, the happy times, anything which has made you feel good. This will not help your PIP claim, and you should not submit it to the DWP, but it should help paint a more balanced picture for your own mental health.

Catherine