More than one million adults across Scotland have experienced levels of anxiety stopping them from living their daily lives, new research from the Mental Health Foundation has shown. Polling of 1,000 adults in Scotland conducted by Opinium on behalf of the charity has shown 70 per cent of adults have had some anxiety while 58 per cent said they experienced anxiety that interfered with their daily lives in the past two weeks.
The research marks the beginning of Mental Health Awareness Week from May 15-21, with the charity raising the alarm about the impact of anxiety on adults in Scotland. More than one quarter (27%) said they experienced anxiety and felt anxious to the extent it stopped them from doing what they would like or what they need to do most or all of the time in the last two weeks.
People of working age with a mental health condition may not be aware that they could be eligible for financial support through Personal Independence Payment (PIP), or Adult Disability Payment (ADP).
The latest statistics from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show that by the end of January 2023, there were 3.25 million people across Great Britain claiming PIP, including over 319,000 living in Scotland.
Of that overall total, there are 1,206,838 people across Scotland, England and Wales claiming PIP for a ‘Psychiatric Disorder’, including 120,493 living in Scotland. This accounts for 37 per cent of all claimants.
This is an umbrella term used by DWP as the main category of disabling condition recorded at the time of application, which also includes subcategories and then specific health conditions.
Hundreds of long-term health conditions are being supported through PIP or ADP (547), but the list is not definitive and contains an 'unknown' category. The statistics from DWP for PIP conditions indicates an increase in the number of people claiming for Psychiatric Disorder.
This includes many different conditions and no two can be compared side-by-side, the below is just a small sample:
- Mixed anxiety and depressive disorders
- Mood disorders
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Agoraphobia
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Panic disorders
ADP replaced new claims for PIP in Scotland last August, but is paid at the same rate as PIP. Following the annual benefits uprating in April, a successful claim for PIP or ADP is worth between £26.90 and £172.75 each week in additional financial support and as the benefit is paid every four weeks, this amounts to between £107.60 and £691.00 every payment period.
You may be eligible for PIP or ADP, and should consider making a claim to the DWP or Social Security Scotland, if you have daily living or mobility needs as a result of a mental health condition.
Find out if you should claim PIP or ADP by looking at the information at the bottom of the article.
Despite anxiety being very common, more than four in 10 adults (44%) kept their feelings secret, suggesting significant numbers of people are still not comfortable talking about their own experiences, despite more progress in discussing mental health more openly in recent years.
Julie Cameron, associate director at Mental Health Foundation in Scotland, said: “More can and must be done to protect our mental health. A big focus of our Mental Health Awareness Week is to encourage people to share their experiences on anxiety and increase understanding of the steps we can take. However, the scale of the problems requires change that goes beyond individual action.
“We urge the Scottish Government to publish a cross-departmental mental health strategy for the next 10 years with a delivery plan that contains commitments on mental health from all departments including those that cover social security, housing, communities, education, and criminal justice.
“We welcome the commitment to funding the Communities Mental Health & Wellbeing Fund in this year, but it is underfunded and not able to support all the worthy applicant community organisations; funding needs to be increased so people can get preventative mental health support before they become unwell.”
Commenting on the charity’s findings, Mental Wellbeing Minister Maree Todd said: “I welcome the Mental Health Foundation’s report, as it is an important contribution to a national discussion on mental health and wellbeing.
“Supporting and promoting the mental wellbeing of the population of Scotland is a Scottish Government priority. I know that many people are experiencing stress and anxiety right now, which is why looking after our mental health has never been more important.”
Ms Todd highlighted how the Scottish Government is supporting and promoting the mental wellbeing of the population in several ways, including investing £30 million in community-based support for children, young people, and adults.
She added: “A range of support is currently available online for those needing mental health help, including Mind to Mind - a website which provides practical resources to support the mental wellbeing of the population of Scotland.
“Our forthcoming mental health and wellbeing strategy will focus on every part of what mental health and wellbeing means. That ranges from addressing the underlying reasons behind poor mental health; helping to create the conditions for people to thrive, challenging the stigma around mental health, and providing specialist help and support for mental illness.”
PIP and ADP - a quick guide
PIP is a benefit which is gradually replacing DLA. If you need extra help because of an illness, disability or mental health condition you could be eligible for PIP.
You will be assessed by a health professional to work out the level of help you can get and your rate will be reviewed to make sure you are getting the right support.
People in Scotland making a new claim for PIP should instead apply for ADP through Social Security Scotland, which follows similar eligibility guidelines to PIP.
Who is eligible for PIP or ADP?
To be eligible for PIP or ADP, you must have a health condition or disability where you:
have had difficulties with daily living or getting around (or both) for 3 months
expect these difficulties to continue for at least 9 months
You usually need to have lived in the UK for at least two of the last three years and be in the country when you apply.
In addition to what we have outlined above if you get or need help with any of the following because of your condition, you should consider applying for PIP or ADP.
- preparing, cooking or eating food
- managing your medication
- washing, bathing or using the toilet
- dressing and undressing
- engaging and communicating with other people
- reading and understanding written information
- making decisions about money
- planning a journey or following a route
- moving around
There are different rules if you are terminally ill, you will find these on the GOV.UK website here.
DWP or Social Security Scotland will assess how difficult you find daily living and mobility tasks. For each task they will look at:
- whether you can do it safely
- how long it takes you
- how often your condition affects this activity
- whether you need help to do it, from a person or using extra equipment
How are PIP and ADP paid?
PIP and ADP are usually paid every four weeks unless you are terminally ill, in which case it is paid weekly. It will be paid directly into your bank, building society or credit union account.
ADP is paid at the same rates as PIP.
PIP and ADP payment rates 2023/24
You will need an assessment to work out the level of financial help you will receive and your rate will be regularly reviewed to make sure you are getting the right support.
PIP is made up of two components:
Daily living
Mobility
Whether you get one or both of these and how much depends on how severely your condition affects you.
The 2023/24 payment rates are:
Daily living
Standard rate: £68.10
Enhanced rate: £101.75
Mobility
Standard rate: £26.90
Enhanced rate: £71.00
How you are assessed
You will be assessed by an independent healthcare professional to help the DWP determine the level of financial support, if any, you need, for PIP.
Face-to-face consultations for health-related benefits are offered alongside video calls, telephone and paper-based assessments - it's important to be aware that there is no choice here, it's up to the health professional and DWP.
Adult Disability Payment assessments will not involve face-to-face assessments, unless this is preferred by the claimant - find out more about the changes here.
You can find out more about DWP PIP assessments here.
How do you make a claim for PIP?
You can make a new claim by contacting the DWP, you will find all the information you need to apply on the GOV.UK website here.
Before you call, you will need:
your contact details
your date of birth
your National Insurance number - this is on letters about tax, pensions and benefits
your bank or building society account number and sort code
your doctor or health worker’s name, address and telephone number
dates and addresses for any time you’ve spent abroad, in a care home or hospital
For more information about PIP, visit GOV.UK here.
How to apply for Adult Disability Payment
People can apply ADP, over the phone, by post or in-person. To find out more or apply, visit the dedicated pages on mygov.scot here or call Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222.
To keep up to date with the latest PIP or ADP news, join our Money Saving Scotland Facebook page here, follow us on Twitter @Record_Money, or subscribe to our newsletter which goes out Monday to Friday - sign up here.
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