The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will update its rules on how claimants with mental health conditions will be assessed for benefits such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP). PIP is a welfare benefit that is intended to help adults of working age with the extra costs of living with a long-term physical or mental health condition or a disability.
As reported by the Liverpool ECHO, the benefit is claimed by around 2.8 million people in the UK. Included in the new guidance relating to PIP published by the UK Government are details on the capability of assessment providers to audio record face-to-face and phone consultations.
Additionally, changes have been made in regards to covert recordings made by claimants in assessment sessions. However, according to claimant help organisation Benefits and Work, the new guidelines also include improved advice for assessment professionals regarding the significant of whether a claimant with a mental health condition is taking medication.
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These assessors may wrongly deduce that a claimant with a mental health condition such as depression who does not take any medication is not significantly impacted by their condition. The guidance now states that the severity of a mental health condition “does not necessarily correspond with the type or dosage of medication that the claimant is receiving”.
It highlights that people with a severe mental health condition may not take medication for a number of reasons, including unwanted side effects and the medication not being effective. The updated guidelines also says that assessment professionals should consider the use of treatments including psychological therapies instead of medication.
The guidance states: “When considering mental health medication HPs [Health Professionals] should remember that not all claimants with a mental health condition will be on medication or receiving therapy. Severity of a mental health condition does not necessarily correspond with the type or dosage of medication that the claimant is receiving.”
It also includes a list of possible reasons why claimants could be “unable or choose not to take mental health medication”, including:
poor compliance due to the nature of mental health condition side effects or difficulty tolerating medication
lack of efficacy preference for psychological therapy instead of medication
complicating factors, for example excessive alcohol consumption
The guidance continues: “Absence of medication does not automatically mean that the health condition is not severe. However, HPs should consider the type and context of certain medications, for example use of depot antipsychotic injections in psychotic disorders.
“HPs should also take into account that some medications are used to treat different conditions, for example some antidepressants are also licensed to treat anxiety. HPs must also consider the use of other treatments such as psychological therapies.”
These new guidelines may mean that claimants who were rejected before may now be eligible for PIP, and could therefore receive between £23.70 and £152.15 per week depending on how severe their condition is. It is advised to conduct a benefit check every six months just in case people can qualify for a cash boost in this hard time.
State benefits like Universal Credit and PIP could also act as a gateway benefit to additional financial assistance. It can take up to six months for a new claim to go through. Anyone who struggles to fill out the forms can ask for additional help from their doctor or the DWP.
