Paul Harris, from Barnard Castle, gets £72.65 a week in PIP payments to help with extra costs associated with his anxiety and depression, such as counselling, once NHS support had ended, and specialist therapy apps.
He stopped his job as a property manager in 2016 after developing panic attacks that got so bad he would burst into tears in the office and lock himself in the toilet.
He has not been able to work since then and says PIP is the “last stronghold” of benefits that can support him.
Mr Harris says, “I used to call myself zero, because I had zero money coming in. I had no job…so in a weird way, just a little bit of money coming in just sort of changed those thoughts.”
He does receive employment and support allowance, but cannot claim job seekers’ allowance because he says his mental health is a barrier to applying for jobs, despite previously seeking support from the Jobcentre.
He stresses the money he receives “does not solve the problems”, adding, “it’s not a miracle cure, it doesn’t mean we can go off on holidays and live this frivolous lifestyle.”
Mr Harris doesn’t believe there is enough long term support available for those with mental health issues.
“Some people might be able to do a few sessions of CBT, [cognitive behavioural therapy]… but when it comes to serious levels [of mental health] it would be like saying to a cancer patient you’ve only got 10 sessions of chemotherapy and then that’s your lot”.
