Friday, March 15, 2024

Can You Get Pip With Bipolar

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Length And Levels Of Depression

Can you claim PIP for anxiety and depression?

Your depression or bipolar disorder must have lasted or be expected to last for at least a year, and must be at a level at which you would be unable to perform a job on a consistent and regular basis. The SSA does not require that you be depressed every day of the month, but you must show your depressive symptoms occur frequently enough to prevent you from working.

Quite often, your medical treatment records for a particular visit will say that you are “feeling better” or that your depression has “improved.” The SSA might use these records as a reason to deny you disability benefits. If your medical records include such notes, you can explain at a hearing before an administrative law judge whether you have good days and bad days with your disorder, and how often each occurs.

What Are My Rights Under The Ada/social Security

The ADA prevents people who are disabled from being discriminated against at work. Your company cant cancel a job offer or fire you because you have bipolar disorder.

You must be able to do the basic tasks your job requires, but you can ask for accommodations. Accommodations are changes to your schedule or responsibilities that make your job easier to do.

Examples of accommodations for people with bipolar disorder are:

  • a flexible schedule
  • extra breaks during the day
  • a desk organizer or planner
  • noise cancelling headphones
  • job coaching
  • a support animal

Under the ADA, you also have a right to privacy. You dont have to tell your employer that you have bipolar disorder unless you want to share that information.

You can get Social Security disability benefits if your bipolar disorder is severe enough to prevent you from working or if it limits your ability to do your job.

Whether you can work depends on how severe your bipolar disorder is, and how much your symptoms affect your daily life.

Symptoms like mood swings, irritability, and trouble concentrating can make it harder to do many jobs.

In general, people with bipolar disorder have a harder time working than those who dont. Between never go back to work full time after their symptoms start.

It may be harder for you to work if you have:

  • severe bipolar disorder
  • frequent episodes of mania and/or depression
  • constant low-level depression
  • psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations or delusions

How To Prepare For Your Pip Claim

Many people on DLA will qualify for PIP but it isnt guaranteed. To give yourself the best chance of getting the rate of PIP you need, its worth:

  • looking at your DLA claim forms – the PIP claim form is completely different, but some of the details you used in your DLA claim might be helpful
  • trying to get medical evidence of how your condition is affecting you – you can talk to your doctor and any other medical specialists about this
  • keeping a diary of your good and bad days – use our template diary to get an idea of what youll be assessed on
  • making a list of the details of any aids or appliances you use in your everyday life – you wont have been asked about this when claiming DLA

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The Qualifying Period For Pip

Unless you are terminally ill or you are transferring onto PIP from DLA, you must meet the following qualifying period requirements:

  • Have met the disability criteria three months before your claim starts
  • Be likely to meet the disability criteria for nine months from the beginning of your claim.

The DWP will judge the eligibility of your PIP claim on a period of 12 months, looking back for three months and forward for nine months. They must consider if your illness changes over time.

Pip Daily Living And Mobility Test

Depression in children and teenagers

PIP is not awarded on your physical or mental health condition. Its based on the level of help you need as a result of your condition.

Youre assessed for PIP on the level of help you need to complete specific activities, which are categorised as two components daily living component and mobility component.

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How Do You Make A Claim For Pip

You can make a new claim by contacting the DWP, youll find all the information you need to apply on the gov.uk website here.

Before you call, youll need:

  • your contact details, for example telephone number

  • your date of birth

  • your National Insurance number – this is on letters about tax, pensions and benefits

  • your bank or building society account number and sort code

  • your doctor or health workers name, address and telephone number

  • dates and addresses for any time youve spent abroad, in a care home or hospital

Once you’ve contacted the DWP, they will send you a document to complete which consists of 14 questions and a section for any additional information.

The questions focus on how your condition affects you – put as much relevant detail in as you can to help the assessor understand your physical and mental health needs.

If you have difficulty filling in your form or understanding the questions, contact your local council and ask for help or Citizens Advice Scotland.

We have a breakdown of all 14 questions here and you can take an anonymous self-test online at Benefits and Work to see how many points you would be awarded for each response.

For more information about PIP, visit gov.uk here.

If You Have A Motability Vehicle

Your mobility will be reassessed when you move to PIP. Youll only qualify for the Motability Scheme if youre given the higher rate for mobility .

This rate is harder to get on PIP, which means you might not be able to keep your vehicle.

You can talk to an adviser at your nearest Citizens Advice. Theyll make sure you include the right details in your claim to get the rate you need.

If you dont get the enhanced rate, youll have to return your vehicle.

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Send Your Pip Claim Form Back On Time

If you don’t send your form back on time, the DWP will end your claim and you’ll have to start again.

If you can’t return the form on time, find out how to ask the DWP if you can send it later.

If youre waiting a long time for a decision about your claim, you can contact your nearest Citizens Advice.

You can complain to the DWP if the delay is unreasonable. You may be able to claim compensation if the delay is considered unlawful. However, there are no set rules about what is unreasonable or unlawful.

How To Claim Pip If You Have Stress Anxiety Or Depression And Get Up To 605 A Month In Support

Can You Be Too Old To Get Bipolar Disorder?

If you need help because of a hidden illness or mental health condition, you may be eligible for PIP

  • 08:55, 21 SEP 2020

Personal Independence Payment is a benefit many people have heard of or read about, but dont really understand who it can help.

The biggest misconception about PIP is that the Department for Work and Pensions will only award the benefit to people with outwardly visible physical, long-term health conditions or disabilities.

In fact, PIP is a benefit aimed at providing support for people with an ever-evolving list of ‘hidden’ conditions, including anxiety, depression and stress.

The latest figures from the DWP show that by the end of July, a total of 273,899 Scots were claiming PIP – either one or both of the components for daily living and mobility, or a combination of the two.

Of that total, 56,373 claimants are receiving much-needed financial support for mental health conditions – that figure accounts for 20.6% of the overall Scottish PIP claims.

The list of conditions this covers is long and includes:

  • Mixed anxiety and depressive disorders – 37,372 claimants

  • Mood disorders – 11, 346 claimants

  • Stress – 3,897 claimants

  • Anxiety – 3,758 claimants

For most Scots, lockdown and the gradual easing of restrictions has been an opportunity to bring a bit of normality back into their lives, but for many, the changes and uncertainty, could heighten an existing or underlying mental health condition.

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Dealing With Suicidal Feelings

Having suicidal thoughts is a common depressive symptom of bipolar disorder. Without treatment, these thoughts may get stronger.

Some research has shown the risk of suicide for people with bipolar disorder is 15 to 20 times greater than the general population.

Studies have also shown that as many as half of all people with bipolar disorder attempt suicide at least once.

The risk of suicide seems to be higher earlier in the illness, so early recognition and help may prevent it.

If you’re feeling suicidal, go to your nearest A& E department as soon as possible.

If you’re feeling very depressed, contact your GP, care co-ordinator or local mental health crisis team as soon as possible.

You could also call NHS 111 for an immediate assessment.

If you cannot or do not want to contact these people, contact the Samaritans on 116 123. You can call them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Alternatively, visit the Samaritans website or email .

For Friends Or Relatives

If someone has asked you to go with them to the hearing to give them support, there are several things that you could do that would be very useful.

  • Before the hearing, sit down with your friend and write a list of all the ways in which they meet the descriptors that they are basing their appeal on. Take it with you on the day and tick them off as they are said. If at the end of the hearing there are still things that haven’t been said – you can remind them.
  • Try not to answer questions on your friend’s behalf. If you realise that your friend has left bits out when answering a question – try to remind them, rather than say it for them. However, if they are finding it difficult or becoming very emotional you can answer the question yourself .
  • If they get upset or stressed you can try to calm them down. If this doesn’t work, ask them if they want a short break .
  • Read through this guide . This will help you to know what will happen so that you can help your friend.

The tribunal panel will tell the DWP their decision and youll get an official notice of the decision.

If you were successful, the DWP will work out how much they owe you. You will start receiving the new amount every month, and a sum covering the amount they should have been paying you all along. You will usually receive your money in about 4 – 6 weeks.

Adviser

This is a benefit expert who can give you advice about your claim. They may also be able to help you prepare for the hearing or even represent you.

Appeal

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What Occurs After Your Pip Assessment With Questions On Mental Health

After your PIP assessment with questions on mental health, the DWP will assess the following information with the supporting evidence if you are eligible:

  • Fulfilled PIP form
  • Joint and further evidence
  • Individual medical assessment report

The DWP will give you a letter if you have claimed your PIP or not according to your PIP assessment report.

Mobility Activities And Descriptors

PIP Assessments  AnxiousAndy

Activity 1. Planning and following journeys.

a. Can plan and follow the route of a journey without help from an aid or appliance or a person. – Score 0

b. Needs reminding, encouraging, or reassuring to be able to undertake any journey to avoid it making them feel so anxious or distressed that they cannot function. – Score 4

c. Cannot plan the route of a journey – Score 8

d. Cannot follow the route of an unfamiliar journey without another person, assistance dog, or orientation aid. – Score 10

e. Cannot undertake any journey because it would make them feel so anxious or distressed that they cannot function. – Score 10

f. Cannot follow the route of a familiar journey without another person, an assistance dog, or an orientation aid. – Score 12

Activity 2. Moving around.

a. Can walk more than 200 metres, either aided or unaided. – Score 0

b. Can walk more than 50 metres but no more than 200 metres, either aided or unaided. – Score 4

c. Can walk unaided more than 20 metres but no more than 50 metres. – Score 8

d. Can walk using an aid or appliance more than 20 metres but no more than 50 metres. – Score 10

e. Can walk more than 1 metre but no more than 20 metres, either aided or unaided. – Score 12

f. Cannot, either aided or unaided, stand or move more than 1 metre. – Score 12

We have simplified the wording of the descriptors to make this page easier to use. If you prefer, you can find the exact wording of the legislative tests on .

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Consideration Of Your Residual Functional Capacity

If the SSA says you don’t meet the disability listing, the SSA will consider what you can do. It does this by writing up your mental residual functional capacity . An MRFC is a description of what tasks you can do in a work setting it explains your communication skills, your ability to relate to others, your ability to speak to the public, and whether you can be reliable in showing up to work.

For instance, say you have bipolar disorder and there is evidence in your medical records that you have moderate impairment in your social functioning caused by mood swings and you have a moderate level of difficulty with concentration. Your RFC might look like the following: you have no limitations in walking/standing/sitting, you are unable to work with the public, and you are limited to simple 1-2 step instructions. This RFC would prevent you from working in many occupations, but you still would not be found disabled since there are simple unskilled jobs that do not require working with the public. Read more about how the SSA makes this decision in our article on how the SSA evaluates an RFC for disability.

What Mental Health Conditions Qualify For Disability Uk

The mental health conditions that qualify for disability in the UK are problems that affect the ability of the individual to perform their daily functions and that keep them from holding down a job and are not able to earn a living, and these mental health conditions may include dementia, depression or bipolar disorder, to name a few.

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Symptoms Of Depression Include:

  • Increased activity generally, especially goal-directed activity
  • Increased reckless behavior such as gambling, spending sprees, social behaviors

Bipolar II is more common than Bipolar I. Like Bipolar I, it is often first diagnosed in young people. However, unlike Bipolar I, individuals with Bipolar II never experience manic episodes. Instead, they experience periods of major depression along with periods of hypomania. Unlike mania, the symptoms of hypomania are not severe enough to cause severe impairments in social and occupational functioning. However, this does not mean that individuals with Bipolar II cannot qualify for disability benefits.

Bipolar disorder is included in the Social Security Listings of Impairments, which means that if your illness has been diagnosed by a qualified medical practitioner and is severe enough to keep you from working, you are eligible to receive disability benefits. However, because there are no medical tests for these mental illnesses, it is vital that you see a psychologist or psychiatrist who can support your application.

What Are The Pip Payment Rates For 2020/21

Risks for People With Untreated Bipolar Disorder

PIP is made up of two components – daily living and mobility.

Whether you get one or both of these and how much depends on how severely your condition affects you.

You can get the following amounts per week depending on your circumstances:

  • Daily living : standard rate – £59.70

  • Daily living: enhanced rate – £89.15

  • Mobility: standard rate – £23.60

  • Mobility : enhanced rate – £62.25

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Medical Evidence Required For Disability Based On Bipolar Disorder

At the SSA’s request, your treating doctor should submit to the SSA your psychiatric medical record showing the entire history of your bipolar disorder, including documentation of any severe or violent manic episodes. Your psychiatric record should include all treatments attempted, including any mood-stabilizing medications that you’ve tried, such as lithium, carbamazepine, or valproic acid, what your current prescribed therapy is, and whether you regularly comply with the prescribed therapy . Your medical record should also include the efficacy and side effects of each medication, and how their side effects, along with your symptoms, affect your daily activities, your functioning, and your ability to hold a job.

If there is evidence in your medical file that your doctor suspects your use of alcohol or drugs compounds your emotional problems, this can affect your claim. Learn more in our article on how alcoholism and drug dependence affect disability claims.

Pip For Mental Health Assessment

To claim any PIP, whether for physical or mental health, requires an assessment, and PIP assessments have often been called into question for their reliability and their fairness, which apparently they are not.

PIP for mental health assessment may include questions about the persons ability to do the following things:

  • communicating with other people

Assessor: And why didnt you succeed? Why did you fail?

K: My family would miss me.

Each of Ks answers was slow and ashamed.

She had not yet told me these things, but she had been trying to bring them up at therapy to work through these feelings safely.

I was attacked with a deadly tool only a short time before my assessment.

The man threatened my life, on a walk with my dog.

So the assessor wrote that I like to talk to people on my walk.

The assessment was done by a general nurse with no mental health training.

He concluded that, since I did not appear to be stressed, anxious or show any mental health issues during the assessment, it was unreasonable to believe I had mental health issues The stress of the interview actually got me admitted to hospital the next day.

The woman laughed when I told her Id ran away to visit Julian Assange during my first psychotic episode and looked at me funny.

Because of the womans behaviour and disrespect, I dont think she knew about the difficulties and health problems people have.

I got the impression she didnt know about schizophrenia or psychosis.

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