Started PIP form. Am I on the right track?

Hi

(Sorry if this appears twice, I just submitted and it didn't appear in 'my topics' so trying again)

Im currently doing my pip form. I've scanned the pip guide and have started writing it with my social worker. It's written from his POV as he writes it, then asks me for info. We understand about 'reliabilty i.e time, good standard, safety, reliability so have tried to get those in.

How is this for an opening statement and the first question?

Please note re. the Hernia, I might be able to have an operation privately in March so that will become irrelevant to PIP say around end of April when I recover from that. For the time being on the form Im leaving it with the NHS timeline of a year.

I have a letter from the doctor confirming my treatments of CBT, Bereavement counselling and Antidepressants, letters from 2 local counsellors, a letter from my social worker helping me with this form as regards my abilities, and potentially (waiting on this) a letter from the Mental Health Crisis Team of how the depression affected me

OPENING STATEMENT
Condition 1: Clinical Depression - since 15 September 2023 when Xxxxxs’ Mum suddenly passed away. After a period of bereavement of a couple of months it became clear that Xxxxx had become clinically depressed and hence was in touch with the local Mental Health Crisis Team to help him get through. This was only for a short period though of a month, and now has little help to get him through, hence the application for PIP to help him get longer term support.

He has all the symptoms of clinical depression i.e strong feelings of low self worth, inability to focus, and very low motivation. He doesn’t know when he will come out of this.

He often has feelings of not wanting to be here, has little physical or mental energy and can really only do tasks that take less than 15 minutes, 2 or 3 times a day. He feels a shadow of his former self where he could do 10x this.

Condition 2: Hernia: since 24 December 2023 (An asymptomatic hernia became symptomatic after a stomach inflammation) Xxxxx now struggles with mobility, cannot walk reliably more than 50m – until his operation which has been requested with the NHS but there is no date yet set. It could be for up to a year. This has further impacted Xxxxx’s depression.

Q 3: How your health condition affects your day to day life

Q3a
Yes

Q3b Preparing Food

CONDITION 1: DEPRESSION

What the difficulty is
Xxxxx has difficulty getting the motivation and the physical energy to make meals

How often – good and bad days
This occurs more than half the time.

Why you have it – how it relates to your condition
His depression mentally makes him feel like it’s really not worth the bother of preparing food, and also low physical energy adds to this.

He never has breakfast, more than half the time he will eat just toast and hummus, or toast and an avocado. At the weekend he tries to make his favourite meal salmon in the evening though says this takes three times longer than usual, is to a very poor standard and one time left the gas burner on the pan.

Any aids or adaptations you use or help you get from another person
None

Any help you feel you need but do not get
Xxxxx would like a social worker or some kind of advocate that would call him to prompt him to eat a proper meal, or even someone that could come and assist him occasionally


CONDITION 2: HERNIA
Getting to the shop itself to obtain the food is difficult as his hernia means more than half the time he gets pain and has to abandon the shop half way around.

Ok thanks. I can see we (both me and social worker) are way off on the understanding of how to answer pip questions. Its hard when you struggle to focus 😔 Tbh Im not sure is even possible for me. Feel veey downhearted bout it now but will consider what youve said and rewrite.

Ok, thanks - I learn by doing and amending, not by reading so think the best way for me to understand is to redo it until it's right. I've reread the guide but its hard for me to take in.

How's this?

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Q3

Q3A
Yes

What the difficulty is?
Zak's depression means he has difficulty obtaining both the mental motivation and the physical energy to make meals

Why you have it – how it relates to your condition
Because of his depression, and the overwhelming lack of motivation and tiredness this causes - this results in the fact that more than 50% of the time, he is unable to make a simple meal. To someone who is depressed simple is not simple. There are many elements to it e.g. Chopping vegetables and fish/meat, being able to focus so the cooking can be done safely, choosing the ingredients, checking sell by dates, opening tins, timing it all, stirring and pouring etc. This, for Masten is overwhelming and cannot be executed. He will often then (more than 50% of the time) not eat at all or just have something on toast. Masten has lost 2 stone in weight since his depression started. From 13 stone to 11 stone.

When he is able to make a meal when his motivation rises a bit (approximately 2 days per week) it takes three times longer than usual, is to a very poor standard and one time left the gas burner on the pan, hence doesnt feel safe doing it.

Masten's motivation is worse in the morning and gets better through the day.

Aid and appliances cannot help with motivation caused by his depression

Any help you feel you need but do not get
Zak would like a social worker or some kind of advocate that would call him to prompt him to prepare proper meals, or even someone that could come and assist him.