Undiagnosed ADHD & PIP

Hi Koo,

I can confirm that you're correct in the length of waiting time for an ADHD assessment. I myself have been on the waiting list for 3 years, and still no further forward with an appt with the neurodevelopmental services, who deal with things like ADHD, Autistic Spectrum Disorder etc.
Me personally, as the PIP assessment is based on how things affect you on a day to day basis, rather than what you've been diagnosed with, I would personally go for it again, however it's down to yourself for what you decide, and it depends on the way things are worded, as to whether an award goes in your favour or not. I've learnt this myself on a couple of occassions after having to go to the MR stage, and the tribunal stage. The guides on here are brilliant for that.
I am also new to moderating, so I'm hoping I've been able to supply you with some helpful information.

Regards, Chris.

Hi Koo

In addition to what Chris has said, I would add the following.

The DWP are not particularly keen on people self-diagnosing. I'm not saying that your friend doesn't have ADHD - it's just that you don't know that he has, and the symptoms he exhibited could be because of his already-diagnosed depression or it could be from something else (OCD, Autism etc). If you have medical training - you can offer a professional opinion.

I think you could write a separate letter of support saying what you know about your friend and the impact it has on his life and care, keeping in mind the specific PIP criteria. You can also use the example of today's visit to the GP to emphasise his mental health difficulties that clearly impact on his mobility and that you were left to explain his difficulties. I don't think there's any problem in saying that you raised the possibility of ADHD, but as your friend was no longer in the room, that will be raised on another occasion. Be careful how you word things because if you say he stormed out of the GPs room, I can immediately see them thinking the impact of his fibromyalgia and degenerative disc disease is not that bad! Yes, I know - that sounds completely unreasonable, but the DWP isn't always reasonable, and the person reading the form may not have any knowledge of either condition or his depression and anxiety. If anyone else has witnessed your friend's outbursts then and are willing to write a letter, that could also be useful.

I think you should say on your friend's form that his condition has been ongoing since when he first filled out the form, and he wasn't well enough to put in for a Mandatory Reconsideration. Then, reiterate the mobility problems he has due to his mental health. I would also say that, like many people with depression and anxiety, the pain and distress he experiences is hidden. Saying he sounded fine on the phone is a common thing for assessors to say. It's just a ridiculous cop-out. There is no medical definition for what someone is supposed to sound like when they are depressed or suffering from anxiety.

If you are helping your friend with the form, I think it is always better to use 'he' rather than "I", because if it sounds like he completed the form unaided, they will always assume he is more capable than he may be.

Don't ever apologise for the length of your post - they are just as long as you need them to be.

BIS