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How can PIP work for mental health?
Posted Friday 27 May 2011
As part of the benefits system reforms, the Government plans to replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA) with a new benefit: the Personal Independence Payment (PIP). It's not just the name that's changing — the assessment process is too. PIP will be allocated according to an individual's need, and measured by a new face-to-face ‘objective assessment’ (DLA was not assessed for in person).
The Government released a first draft of this assessment last week. Mind is responding to these proposals, and would like your feedback inform our response.
This is your chance to comment on any of the proposals for PIP — its introduction, assessment and usefulness for people with mental health problems. We hope that Mind's response can help to shape the assessment so that it accurately measures the impact of mental health problems on people’s lives, and supports those who need it with day-to-day living costs.
My initial feelings about the assessment are mixed. The first draft of the assessment talks about making sure the process takes full account of mental health problems as well as physical disabilities: good news. We know that there are many people at present who suffer extra costs and expenses because of their mental health who could benefit from receiving DLA. Often they don’t realise they are entitled to this benefit; the focus on mental health needs and allocation is welcome.
However, it is important not to forget that one of the fundamental aims of these reforms is to reduce the future budget of DLA/PIP by 20 per cent. Such a targeted saving fundamentally undermines any objectivity that a new assessment might aim for, since the focus will be on meeting this goal rather than ensuring that everyone with additional costs is supported effectively.
There is also a lack of clarity about what the assessment should be gauging: the DLA Consultation talked about PIP contributing “to the extra costs of overcoming the barriers faced by disabled people” as well as identifying “those who face the greatest need”; while the draft assessment document includes a commitment to focus on “an individual’s ability to participate”. Although these are each important factors to consider, there is no guarantee that they will identify the same people.
- Read the Government's draft proposals for PIP (PDF)
- Tell us your thoughts — post a comment below or send me an email, if you prefer. I'd like to hear all of your comments, whether you've claimed DLA in the past or not.
- What ‘additional costs’ do people with mental health problems face?
- What goods, services or assistance does DLA help pay for?
- How should the Government decide who receives PIP?
Tom Pollard, Mind Policy and Campaigns Officer
Your comments May be used in Mind's response paper to the Government's proposals. However, we will never attribute name or location of comment-posting in the paper: all feedback published will be entirely anonymous. The response paper will be available on the benefits and welfare section of our site, once it has been published and submitted.
14 Comments
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The first assessment for DLA used to be face to face with a doctor, and requires a considerable amount of paperwork and medical backing from a specialist or GP, it also takes into account evidence from informal supporters such as a friend or relative.
Most people use their DLA for living expenses because it makes the difference between existing and living from Income Support alone, for the extra costs of travel [taxi/someone to accompany], for extra support in living in terms of accessing support or asking for help [computer/phone for calls at anytime], to facilitate some activity [going to the cinema/getting out], for helping with extra costs in relation to the specific manifestation of a person's distress [eating related distress might mean eating in a way that's not cheap/cleaning products, extra water costs with OCD/needing deliveries if not getting out]. Paying for personal support typically comes at the end of a very long list of quite ordinary things such as this. Then personal support for managing distress, dealing with basic living tasks and doing things outside of just living is better done for some people on an ad hoc basis because mental health can fluctuate so much. Now this is where DLA offers that flexibility for a person to not have fixed 2 hour support a week but to have 5 days on the trot and then maybe nothing for 3 weeks but access to someone via technology. There is the flexibility to do this with anyone people choose without going through an agency and keeping timesheets etc.
I suspect PIP is simply a cost cutting exercise to get rid of as many people as possible as with IB to ESA with a similar fixed assessment that won't support many people unless they have the most dire needs ie will lie in excement without assistance. It will come down to if you can wash/dress/feed yourself in the most basic way you won't get anything because needs beyond that just won't feature. The aim will be to deprive as many people as possible. -
Having read the draft assessment it's clear that this is geared towards physical disability and learning disability, it doesn't relate to mental health at all, what does Mind intend to do about this?
Why does medication have a low priority rating when for mental health services it's viewed as the primary goal of compliance! -
I've got Bi polar and Borderline personality disorder. I experience high levels of anxiety, paranoia and the smallest of things can cause me great stress.
My DLA goes towards several things which are vital for me. Using public transport is extremely difficult for me unless I've got somebody to accompany me, so DLA goes towards the running costs of my car. I drive my car even for short distances, not because I'm lazy, but it allows me to be relatively inconspicuous. I'm very paranoid and when I'm walking my paranoia intensifies, I feel very exposed and this increases my anxiety levels. I have a dog, so I'm able to drive to local areas I know which are quiet and isolated which other people tend not to go too. There are times when I'm unable to walk my dog at all, so I will pay somebody to walk her.
Having internet access is crucial to me. I can manage all my finances and bills online which means I don't have to have direct contact with utility companies, bank etc. It also allows me to keep in touch with the outside world and what's going on, made me feel less isolated and it's enabled me to learn more.
Twice a year, myself and a friend go to London to stay with another friend. Having DLA enabled me to get a disabled rail card. Travelling to London is a massive and stressful thing for me to do, so I have to minimise the stress. I buy tickets in advance, book the seats and I have to travel first class in the quiet carriage and then once in London we get cabs as I can't cope with the tube at all. I'm sure there are some who would see this as a luxury or extravagance, but for me it's an absolute necessity, if I wasn't able to do this, I simply wouldn't be able to go.
So apart from helping me pay utility bills, DLA enables me to have a car and broadband and rail card, all of which has helped me tremendously.
Without it, I'd be completely isolated, cold and hungry. I would merely exist, which I fear is just around the corner as I've soon got to endure the feared WCA. -
the goverment will take all the people off dla as they think that all are not telling truth but some people who have tryed to get dla have been turned down but if they keep on takeing other people from other countrys in this countey will be no more they are stopping people smoking in streets soon but if thats the case stop all cars vans planes from moving the government will try to cut costs as they canot live on what we live on £67.40 a week with gas elec and water all going up
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I have a boderline personality disorder depression anxiety a severe non verbal learning disability and brittle asthma. i use my DLA for taxis as at times i struggle to cope with buses. i also use my DLA for the internet and i do my shopping online. in the winter my DLA goes towards my heating . if there is sufficent medical evidence from GPS and specalists then why should we have to go through having assessments especially as like me a persons condition is lifelong and woint improve. sureley reassessing people whos condition is lifelong will cost the government more. I do not think MPS realise this.
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I have a schizotypal illness plus ME. It should be fairly obvious why extra money helps. It means I can eat properly and I find that diet affects my symptoms alot. I have food and chemical sensitivities. When they change a product to na Improved Formula it doen'st agree with mea nd I have to spend moeny trying other produts.
DLA means I can get taxis home after my support group. Im not suer I could go now if I had to walk home from the station at night. My symptoms worsten under stress and the money means that I don't usually have to worry about bills and stuff. Except that now I have to worry about the benefit itself. I was awarded indefinitely because of the effect of interviewing me. Now that doesn't seem to count.
I use the phone alot as am not always well to go out and socialize. Talking on the phone and using the internet mean I don't feel alone. Both these things cost money. You know and when you are on jobseekers things build up because you have run out of lightbulbs and you have to walk home and eat tuna out of tins and I would find I was losing teeth, and getting alot of colds, like it takes its toll on the immune system.
I'm really shattered at the moment, and I'm trying to warn them not to push me too much after that I can't do any more to protect myself. I also make an effort you know to do voluntary work and other useful things when I can but this seems to be difficult at the moment although I am a telephone contact for a couple of groups so I guess that helps.
With MH and ME you can't always think fast and it helps not to have to be a wizz with your budgetting all the time. I find I get behind with the housework and then need alot of detergent to clean up is another one. I have different creams for different rashes. I feel safer knowiing I can jump in a taxi at night instead of having to watchout for dodgy characters. I'll make a note if I think of any more. Thanks for listening
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I suffer with borderline personality disorder and severe deppression. I am unable to use public transport as it just painics me to much,I therefore rely on my car to get places. My DLA pays toward running cost of the car and car park costs when needed. It also pays for some social acivities which I am able to do and which helps me feel better. It also pays for internet access, and for phone calls which when i am in distress will make a lot of for support. Without this money I feel my standered of living would go down as would my health go down.
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I feel it is a scary time for those living with mental health issues. The recovery model focuses on individual wellbeing and accepts this may change over time yet the draft proposals do not seem to recognise this. What happens if you are going through a good period when assessed but then relapse?
My condition certainly fluctuates even though I can be well for long periods. I do work but still have the stigma when I have to take time off with my mental health condition.
Good to see a few names in psychiatry on the draft document but as we still seem to see physical and mental health being reported as seperate entities perhaps there should be two different drafts - one for physical and one for mental health. Why - because we are still to this day labeled this way. -
I have Borderline Personality Disorder.Also Deppression and think i have a learning disorder.(Tho not tested as im in my 60s)I find everything in life very difficult and everyday life a challenge. I do not like mixing with people and always feel people are talking about me. I am very worried about the new assessment tests.If i have to get a job I am terrified.
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I have Borderline Personality Disorder, depression and anxiety issues, Having read the draft proposal for PIP, i think people with mental health issues, will, yet again, get the short end of the straw. It appears to be geared up similar to ESA, both are more physical health orientated. I don't think i would get PIP, yet again feeling that people with mental health issues are not taken seriously by the powers that be
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Thanks to everyone for your useful and constructive comments. We have submitted an initial response to the draft assessment criteria and have tried to reflect the concerns you have raised.
You can read our submission here: http://www.mind.org.uk/assets/0001/3612/Mind_response_to_Draft_Assessment_Criteria.pdf
We will continue to engage with the assessment design process so we welcome any further comments or suggestions you may have.
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thanks Tom. I could'nt read that on my computer actually. It came out as funny symbols! is there another version? the pdf I mean
some more ideas - they could ask you on the forms to describe what happens on a weekday. For instance it tkaes me all morning to get ready. And no i don't look like Lulu by the end of it! Ive got the afternoon to do things with and then by the evening Im about able to fal lasleep infront of the telly. And how many appointments can you make in a week? I'm trying to keep it to two at the moment.
they could ask you how is your social life? Im lucky go get any social life at all at the moment. Once a month I have lunch out with some freinds. If they cut my money I won't be able to afford to do that. Having extra money means you feel more confident about making friends because obviously you can't keep asking people to pay for you.
they could ask you what would happen if the money was reduced. I would probably end up on antibiotics for cellulitis as I wouldn't be able to afford the skin creams that I use. This could very well lead to a stay in hospital. I would be isolated and very embarrassed by my reduced circumstances. For instance. The terror of making a journey when you are down to your last £10 was an adventure when I was well. As a disabled person it is life threatening. It feels like being in a war zone. And It can be dangerous when someone follows you.
I can understand that it should be difficult to prove that you need this money in the first place. Once you have it should be difficult to take it away unless they can prove that you have changed. You make plans and build a life around it. It just makes a nonsense of things to take away what people are using. Like you can't just take away their council flat for isntance. Perhaps consistencey could be part of the new rules!
thanks for listneing
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Hi Katie,
I have emailed you another copy of the response. I hope you are able to open that one.
Thanks for your other comments.
Tom
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thanks for that. I can understand some of it but not so much the legal bits. I just thought while reading it that the assessments are coming on top of other cuts that we have just had. I used to have a CSW and they cut that. Besides they also cut support to my friends and expect us to pick up the pieces for each other. OK so we all have to make sacrifices sometimes but to then take away funding for courses and then your money as well...
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