Letter from DWP

DX'd - Other
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Just opened my post from the DWP (UK) from yesterday - and after 5 months of them threatening me with medicals, ive been finally put in the support group for my ESA and PIP. Just wanted to share - cos apparantly my community mental health team quoted some new legislation at them saying that Schizophrenia should be treated as a “life-long chronic” illness. Doesnt mean im rich now - just means i can plan for the future. Phew.

So if your thinking about claiming Personal Independance Payment in the UK - send them a clinic letter with your diagnosis on, and with a bit of luck you should get it - and they will leave you alone.

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I got a letter from my mental health team and that was enough to satisfy the dwp

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They were not satisfied with mine. I am so angry with the benefits advisor for even suggesting I applied for PIP. They all said I’d get it, but the DWP consultation was a stitch up.

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@Joker

Do you have a Social Worker? Or someone that sees you on a regular basis? Get them to phone up, with letters proving your diagnosed Sz. And they have to cough up. Never seen a benefits adiviser in years. Assuming your Uk, contact your support worker/CPN/Care co-ordinator and make them do it for you. Its there job.

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They did all of that, and even sent filled the forms out. Someone went to the consultation with me as well, and I didn’t score enough points for assistance.

The process was pretty unfair.

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Sorry to hear that. What a load of crap. They are spinning you a yarn. If you are diagnosed Sz, you are entitled to ESA AND PIP. Go an appeal it.

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I might lodge a compliant. In the assessment text the person noted I had short hair. How does that have anything to do with being sz?!?!?

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Yes, i would complain. And get whatever support services you have to back you up. Diagnosed Schizophrenics have a lifelong right to disabilty benefits. :angry:

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I even had issues when I was first diagnosed. It was 6 months after and they still had not granted the benefits I needed and I got sick of sleeping in my sisters loft floor and moved back to parents and got a job to support myself.

Now I ask for something that would help me and again it’s just barriers.

I am disgusted how I am treated by these people because I have a job. Seeing people at work is classed as socialising apparently.

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Ahh - that maybe why. If they know you are working - they are judging you as being competent in living in society. Ask for an appeal.

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That’s the problem. But it’s hard. Work gives me a living but also multiple relapses and hospitalisations.

I am going to call them at 8am and see what they have to say.

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BTW if you appeal the process can take a year before they make a decision. For Pip.

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You go to a tribunal with a judge and two people.
You can choose not to go to a hearing but idk how that may affect someone’s chances @Joker

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I don’t think I could deal with that at all. Why is it so hard? It took them 6 months to organise a consultation…

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I guess they have a huge demand

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I know it sounds counter-productive and backwards. But if your having relapses and yet still working - quit the job and claim as a non-working disabled person. Its the fact your working is why they are refusing you.

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Yea @Naarai they used the fact I went to uni to assume I’m alright in some respects but they didn’t even factor in that this was before I got psychotic

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I cannot afford to do that.

My outgoings are too high and I am reliant on my job now.

If I had just done what I was told to do in the first place, I wouldn’t be in this mess.

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Sorry i dont know your financial circumstances - but if your still struggling whilst working - i would quit it personally. Even sometimes lay it on a bit thick - and say you cannot cope. Cos they will say if you can hold down a job (i cant) your not entitled to it.

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That’s ok. I would not be working if it wasn’t for my family getting me a job.

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