PIP for Mental Health: Why Claims Fail and How to Get It Right
By the RightfulUK team • • 5 min read • Reviewed for accuracy
Mental health conditions are invisible. You can't see depression on an X-ray. Anxiety doesn't show up in a blood test.
But they're just as disabling as physical conditions, sometimes more so. And you deserve PIP just as much as anyone else.
Here's how to make sure the DWP understands.
Why Mental Health Claims Fail
Common reasons:
1. "I have depression" isn't enough - The DWP doesn't award points for diagnoses - They award points for functional impact
2. You presented well at assessment - You had a good day - Anxiety made you mask - You dressed nicely out of habit
3. You minimised - Years of "I'm fine" conditioning - Not wanting to be seen as "dramatic" - Forgetting how bad the bad days are
Activities That Apply to Mental Health
You might score points on:
Preparing food (Activity 1): Do you forget to eat? Leave the cooker on? Live on microwave meals because cooking feels impossible?
Taking nutrition (Activity 2): Do you need reminding to eat? Go days without food during depressive episodes?
Managing therapy (Activity 3): Do you forget medication? Need someone to remind you?
Washing (Activity 4): Do you go days without showering when you're low? Need prompting to wash?
Engaging with others (Activity 9): Do social situations cause panic? Can you only cope with a "safe person" present?
Budgeting (Activity 10): Does mania cause impulsive spending? Does depression make bills pile up?
Planning journeys (Activity 11): Does anxiety stop you leaving the house? Do you get panic attacks on public transport?
How to Describe Mental Health Impact
Instead of: ❌ "I have depression" ✅ "On bad days, which happen 4-5 times a week, I cannot get out of bed. I don't wash. I don't eat. I lie in the dark for hours."
Instead of: ❌ "I get anxious" ✅ "Social situations cause panic attacks. Last week I tried to go to the supermarket and had to leave my trolley because I couldn't breathe. I haven't been back since."
Be specific. Be graphic. Bad days matter most.
Evidence for Mental Health
- GP letters mentioning frequency and severity - Mental health team notes - Prescription history (shows ongoing treatment) - Crisis team involvement - Witness statements from family about what they observe - Your own detailed diary of bad days
You don't need a psychiatrist diagnosis. A GP's evidence is valid.
The Presentation Problem
Mental health conditions make you mask. You might: - Get dressed nicely for appointments (even if you haven't washed in days) - Speak coherently (even if you normally can't think straight) - Seem "fine" (because anxiety makes you perform)
Tell them this explicitly:
"I am presenting better today than I usually do because this appointment gave me a deadline to focus on. This is not my normal state. Most days I cannot do what I've done today."
Related Articles
- Can You Get PIP for Depression? What You Need to Know — 5 min read
- PIP for Chronic Pain & Back Problems: Claiming Guide (2026) — 5 min read
- PIP for Anxiety: How to Claim and What to Say (2026 Guide) — 5 min read
- PIP Backpay: How Much Could You Get? (Calculator + Guide) — 3 min read
Related Tools & Guides
- Free PIP Eligibility Checker — estimate your likely points
- Mandatory Reconsideration Letter Builder — challenge the DWP decision
- Tribunal Preparation Tool — practice panel questions
- PIP Condition Guides — descriptors for your condition