Tips from others re PIP for depression and anxiety

Hi Badger, please see my post to Tom about a diary, and really tell it how it is for you about being too scared to approach an unknown GP. The diary gets more notice taken of it than you might think.
Covid has meant lots of claimants haven't got much up to date medical evidence, remember it is about how you are affected not about the diagnoses or treatments, although these may help explain to a dim assessor why you have the problems you do have.
best wishes,
Denby

Hi Angel. Thanks for this. So merely telling them about my issues and giving examples isn't enough? I need to actually prove it with other forms of evidence? Will they not contact GP to get the information about my medical history themselves? If I pay for a letter from
my GP do you think that would help much? Thanks

Hi Tom,

The thing is (I think you will probably know this anyway but here goes) you will have to tie in which descriptors are affected by your anxiety/depression and how exactly they either stop you carrying out a particular activity or hinder you in some way.

Show, don't tell.

In other words, give examples of instances that have occured because of your disabilties and how they affected your anxiety, depression or even both. Also mention if you have suffered any physical injuries or breakages (crockery etc) as a direct result.

Lastly, keep it simple and to the point. For example, don't go on waffling on about it 'making you feel ill' (this is just a random example) without specifying how this affects your ability to do something that will score you points.

I wish you the best of luck,

Regards,

Phrank.

Hi Tom, to answer your question, it is most unlikely [though occasionally happens], that they will contact your GP. The words that say so are imho a smokescreen. I have always paid for a GP letter for our daughter, £42 isn't much to nail enhanced x 2 although I understand not everyone has got a fairy (god) mother with £42. As the GPs are businesses I don't object to paying for the admin time involved. An alternative is to ask for your 'Summary care record' which should be free, and send in relevant bits.
best wishes,
Denby

Thanks. I gave them stacks of specific examples, pages worth, so I was shocked when it came back as 0 points, but from what I gather this seems to be almost standard at first! I am prone to waffle so i ll make sure i re-read my MR and cut out any bits I can