I just got a letter through the post saying they are denying me PIP. I think it is a bit outrageous that they make people in this country who have schizophrenia live without this. I just worked out how much I get in total off my remaining benefits and it puts me below the national poverty line. It’s beyond a joke.
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You don’t say what country you are from. In the U.S. it is routine to turn a person down in their first application for disability. After that, you get a disability lawyer, and you get backpay for the time between your first and second application. If you have a lawyer you are likely to get disability when you apply for it.
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On which grounds were they denied?
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I’m from the UK. I am going to appeal, but it is useless. I just rang my psychiatrist’s secretary and they said they wont write a letter to show support for it, they only do replies to what they send them.
All of them, the applications are not set up for people with mental disabilities, they are all physical health questions.
See if you can find a disability lawyer. It would help.
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We, dont do that in the UK. You appeal, they review what they have already been over. You can send them more information and that is it.
But at least some SZs do get disability benefits in the UK, at least that’s my understanding. Mind you, I’ve been away for a long time.
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Yeah, they do. They are denying me it though. Even though I am still probably not in the right situation to go back to work full time and not have support.
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The best of luck with your appeal.
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I got PIP when I transferred from DLA, but went from high care and low mobility to just standard care. This when there had been no change in how I was doing.
Years ago I sussed that being good at form filling/ getting hold of someone good at form filling to do it for you, stood one a better chance than the actual level of your disability and how it affects you .
Years ago I participated on a disability newsgroup. There were people there with self admitted mild disabilities who had planned their claims like military campaigns , and were getting DLA. I had been turned down despite being more severely disabled.
One person even said he used his DLA towards a skiing holiday!!
If you have not done so already check out https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/
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The thing is when I write formally, I am normally quite well written. In fact I would say I do it better than normies, but I think that just adds to their thinking that there is not much wrong with him then. I have been writing a letter back to them and you can clearly tell that I am frustrated. I got awarded 0 points out of 8, for preparing food even though I told them I was ordering 3 to 4 takeaways a week at one point due to avolition from negative symptoms.
I put something like this - Q3 Preparing food
Q3a
NO
Q3b
YES
Q3 Extra Information
Because of my mental illness and the sedating effects of medication I lack the energy and motivation to cook. I rely on ready meals and pre packaged sandwiches. I lack the motivation to cook a simple meal all day every day.
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Why won’t your health professionals write u a supporting statement did they give a reason.
Wat about ur gp
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I think here in the US going to school or working after being diagnosed can hurt you. They best time to apply is right after you get sick and dont go back to school or work. I was involuntarily hospitalized for three months and if course I got disability the first try no lawyer. When you have that happen you are not gonna be denied. I’m sorry I dont know how to give advice that’s of much use in your case.
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I read on the sz family board that in the UK they are trying to kick everyone off of disability. Is this true?
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I hate mental illness.
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Basically yes. They are a lot more strict than they used to be. In the UK, people on benefits have the stereotype of benefit scroungers who are too lazy to work, and they end up kicking everyone they can off of them. Even if it means making it so you dont have enough money not to work, and you still cant if you wanted to because you are disabled.
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GP is a good idea. I think I might have to pay for that though. The only other person I have is my pdoc and they wont send a letter unless they contact them themselves.
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I completely agree. This is heartless discrimination. I would never imagine that the UK would decide not to give disability to someone with sz who is unable to work enough to keep them above the poverty line.
I hope something changes.
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