PIP INDEPENDENT ASSESMENT SERIVICE anyone had tel assessment by them

erm
erm Online Community Member Posts: 70 Contributor
in PIP, DLA, ADP and AA
Hi, Son has his tel assessment with independent assessment services next week, I have read such bad reports on them handing people very low points ignoring real issues people have. Has anyone had a good experience with this independent assessment service? As reading so many bad reviews on websites, has us worried sick that they will ignore the facts, and we would have to appeal! He has so many physical issues and so much medication treatment they make him depressed as it is. They make his life unbearable at times! Yet works from home on phone as that's about all he can do now. Hoping it's positive from people for this company  

Comments

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    It's perfectly normal to mostly read the bad stories on any internet forum and isn't always the best idea to read those stories before an assessment.

    I've had quite a few assessments by these in the past 10 years for myself and my daughter. Never had a bad report and always found them to be friendly, helpful and honest.

    Remember that they do not award points, they make recommendations, which is their opinion based on everything that was sent, including the form and everything that was said during the assessment.

    Just make sure that your son doesn't answer the questions with just a yes or no and to try to give as much information as possible.
  • Squeakypips
    Squeakypips Online Community Member Posts: 23 Connected
    edited May 2023
    @erm : from  my vast  experience of one phone assessment, and one they couldn't be bothered to do, my judgment is that they're flipping awful. They (and whoever they passed the report on to) didn't know what common drug was for and told me I wasn't taking a relevant one.
     They asked if I could use a bath. I said no, because I can't stop myself falling, and have hurt myself, da da da...
    They said in their report that I can use a bath.
    The said I'd claimed that I need help with budgeting.
    No, I didn't. (Maths degree, & still teacing A levels as a hobby).
    Anxiety stops me doing something, and they replied that my problem on that is to do with mobility, so no points.
    I got a page from my GP, which included "He cannot safely walk 20 metres". Thankfully they took notice of that.   Unfortunately they ignored most of the rest of the text. Including the bit about not being able to use a bath, again.
    They appear to ignore the requirement that you need to be able to do things in no more than twice the normal max time  ("reasonable" is established in case law as less than this), which would mean granting a lot of people a lot of points - ooh dear can't do that.
    It's not a competent system,  it's not fit for purpose.
    The only redeeming thing is that the Tribunals seem (I've spent hours reading transcripts) to sort things out fairly often, but there are places where the lawyers point out that the wording of the PIP questions is just plain wrong. It obviously wasn't written by a lawyer. It needs redoing.
    Experienced folk seem to agree it's a bit of a lottery, so if it doesn't work at first, roll the dice at the next level up.  E.g, there are several where the Upper Tribunal rules that the lower tribunal was wrong, and sends it back.................  Good luck.
  • jw68
    jw68 Online Community Member Posts: 41 Contributor
    Squeakypips said:
    @erm : from  my vast  experience of one phone assessment, and one they couldn't be bothered to do, my judgment is that they're flipping awful. They (and whoever they passed the report on to) didn't know what common drug was for and told me I wasn't taking a relevant one.
     They asked if I could use a bath. I said no, because I can't stop myself falling, and have hurt myself, da da da...
    They said in their report that I can use a bath.
    The said I'd claimed that I need help with budgeting.
    No, I didn't. (Maths degree, & still teacing A levels as a hobby).
    Anxiety stops me doing something, and they replied that my problem on that is to do with mobility, so no points.
    I got a page from my GP, which included "He cannot safely walk 20 metres". Thankfully they took notice of that.   Unfortunately they ignored most of the rest of the text. Including the bit about not being able to use a bath, again.
    They appear to ignore the requirement that you need to be able to do things in no more than twice the normal max time  ("reasonable" is established in case law as less than this), which would mean granting a lot of people a lot of points - ooh dear can't do that.
    It's not a competent system,  it's not fit for purpose.
    The only redeeming thing is that the Tribunals seem (I've spent hours reading transcripts) to sort things out fairly often, but there are places where the lawyers point out that the wording of the PIP questions is just plain wrong. It obviously wasn't written by a lawyer. It needs redoing.
    Experienced folk seem to agree it's a bit of a lottery, so if it doesn't work at first, roll the dice at the next level up.  E.g, there are several where the Upper Tribunal rules that the lower tribunal was wrong, and sends it back.................  Good luck.
    Yup.They were so bad they had to change their name from ATOS to what it is now...(I.A.S)
  • erm
    erm Online Community Member Posts: 70 Contributor
    jw68 said:
    Squeakypips said:
    @erm : from  my vast  experience of one phone assessment, and one they couldn't be bothered to do, my judgment is that they're flipping awful. They (and whoever they passed the report on to) didn't know what common drug was for and told me I wasn't taking a relevant one.
     They asked if I could use a bath. I said no, because I can't stop myself falling, and have hurt myself, da da da...
    They said in their report that I can use a bath.
    The said I'd claimed that I need help with budgeting.
    No, I didn't. (Maths degree, & still teacing A levels as a hobby).
    Anxiety stops me doing something, and they replied that my problem on that is to do with mobility, so no points.
    I got a page from my GP, which included "He cannot safely walk 20 metres". Thankfully they took notice of that.   Unfortunately they ignored most of the rest of the text. Including the bit about not being able to use a bath, again.
    They appear to ignore the requirement that you need to be able to do things in no more than twice the normal max time  ("reasonable" is established in case law as less than this), which would mean granting a lot of people a lot of points - ooh dear can't do that.
    It's not a competent system,  it's not fit for purpose.
    The only redeeming thing is that the Tribunals seem (I've spent hours reading transcripts) to sort things out fairly often, but there are places where the lawyers point out that the wording of the PIP questions is just plain wrong. It obviously wasn't written by a lawyer. It needs redoing.
    Experienced folk seem to agree it's a bit of a lottery, so if it doesn't work at first, roll the dice at the next level up.  E.g, there are several where the Upper Tribunal rules that the lower tribunal was wrong, and sends it back.................  Good luck.
    Yup.They were so bad they had to change their name from ATOS to what it is now...(I.A.S)
    Well! That has really made us more stressed than before, Hope yours was not the norm! hope you got sorted eventually ok. He can't do physical work anymore so limited on what he can do, which stresses him out already, so was hoping this assessment would not be stressful   
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    erm said:
    jw68 said:
    Squeakypips said:
    @erm : from  my vast  experience of one phone assessment, and one they couldn't be bothered to do, my judgment is that they're flipping awful. They (and whoever they passed the report on to) didn't know what common drug was for and told me I wasn't taking a relevant one.
     They asked if I could use a bath. I said no, because I can't stop myself falling, and have hurt myself, da da da...
    They said in their report that I can use a bath.
    The said I'd claimed that I need help with budgeting.
    No, I didn't. (Maths degree, & still teacing A levels as a hobby).
    Anxiety stops me doing something, and they replied that my problem on that is to do with mobility, so no points.
    I got a page from my GP, which included "He cannot safely walk 20 metres". Thankfully they took notice of that.   Unfortunately they ignored most of the rest of the text. Including the bit about not being able to use a bath, again.
    They appear to ignore the requirement that you need to be able to do things in no more than twice the normal max time  ("reasonable" is established in case law as less than this), which would mean granting a lot of people a lot of points - ooh dear can't do that.
    It's not a competent system,  it's not fit for purpose.
    The only redeeming thing is that the Tribunals seem (I've spent hours reading transcripts) to sort things out fairly often, but there are places where the lawyers point out that the wording of the PIP questions is just plain wrong. It obviously wasn't written by a lawyer. It needs redoing.
    Experienced folk seem to agree it's a bit of a lottery, so if it doesn't work at first, roll the dice at the next level up.  E.g, there are several where the Upper Tribunal rules that the lower tribunal was wrong, and sends it back.................  Good luck.
    Yup.They were so bad they had to change their name from ATOS to what it is now...(I.A.S)
    He can't do physical work anymore so limited on what he can do

    PIP isn't about your ability to work.
  • erm
    erm Online Community Member Posts: 70 Contributor
    poppy123456 said:
    erm said:
    jw68 said:
    Squeakypips said:
    @erm : from  my vast  experience of one phone assessment, and one they couldn't be bothered to do, my judgment is that they're flipping awful. They (and whoever they passed the report on to) didn't know what common drug was for and told me I wasn't taking a relevant one.
     They asked if I could use a bath. I said no, because I can't stop myself falling, and have hurt myself, da da da...
    They said in their report that I can use a bath.
    The said I'd claimed that I need help with budgeting.
    No, I didn't. (Maths degree, & still teacing A levels as a hobby).
    Anxiety stops me doing something, and they replied that my problem on that is to do with mobility, so no points.
    I got a page from my GP, which included "He cannot safely walk 20 metres". Thankfully they took notice of that.   Unfortunately they ignored most of the rest of the text. Including the bit about not being able to use a bath, again.
    They appear to ignore the requirement that you need to be able to do things in no more than twice the normal max time  ("reasonable" is established in case law as less than this), which would mean granting a lot of people a lot of points - ooh dear can't do that.
    It's not a competent system,  it's not fit for purpose.
    The only redeeming thing is that the Tribunals seem (I've spent hours reading transcripts) to sort things out fairly often, but there are places where the lawyers point out that the wording of the PIP questions is just plain wrong. It obviously wasn't written by a lawyer. It needs redoing.
    Experienced folk seem to agree it's a bit of a lottery, so if it doesn't work at first, roll the dice at the next level up.  E.g, there are several where the Upper Tribunal rules that the lower tribunal was wrong, and sends it back.................  Good luck.
    Yup.They were so bad they had to change their name from ATOS to what it is now...(I.A.S)
    He can't do physical work anymore so limited on what he can do

    PIP isn't about your ability to work.
    poppy123456 said:
    erm said:
    jw68 said:
    Squeakypips said:
    @erm : from  my vast  experience of one phone assessment, and one they couldn't be bothered to do, my judgment is that they're flipping awful. They (and whoever they passed the report on to) didn't know what common drug was for and told me I wasn't taking a relevant one.
     They asked if I could use a bath. I said no, because I can't stop myself falling, and have hurt myself, da da da...
    They said in their report that I can use a bath.
    The said I'd claimed that I need help with budgeting.
    No, I didn't. (Maths degree, & still teacing A levels as a hobby).
    Anxiety stops me doing something, and they replied that my problem on that is to do with mobility, so no points.
    I got a page from my GP, which included "He cannot safely walk 20 metres". Thankfully they took notice of that.   Unfortunately they ignored most of the rest of the text. Including the bit about not being able to use a bath, again.
    They appear to ignore the requirement that you need to be able to do things in no more than twice the normal max time  ("reasonable" is established in case law as less than this), which would mean granting a lot of people a lot of points - ooh dear can't do that.
    It's not a competent system,  it's not fit for purpose.
    The only redeeming thing is that the Tribunals seem (I've spent hours reading transcripts) to sort things out fairly often, but there are places where the lawyers point out that the wording of the PIP questions is just plain wrong. It obviously wasn't written by a lawyer. It needs redoing.
    Experienced folk seem to agree it's a bit of a lottery, so if it doesn't work at first, roll the dice at the next level up.  E.g, there are several where the Upper Tribunal rules that the lower tribunal was wrong, and sends it back.................  Good luck.
    Yup.They were so bad they had to change their name from ATOS to what it is now...(I.A.S)
    He can't do physical work anymore so limited on what he can do

    PIP isn't about your ability to work.
    Yes I know I was just saying he is stressed with that, being in so much pain, so could do without more stress! 
  • jw68
    jw68 Online Community Member Posts: 41 Contributor
    edited May 2023
    erm said:
    jw68 said:
    Squeakypips said:
    @erm : from  my vast  experience of one phone assessment, and one they couldn't be bothered to do, my judgment is that they're flipping awful. They (and whoever they passed the report on to) didn't know what common drug was for and told me I wasn't taking a relevant one.
     They asked if I could use a bath. I said no, because I can't stop myself falling, and have hurt myself, da da da...
    They said in their report that I can use a bath.
    The said I'd claimed that I need help with budgeting.
    No, I didn't. (Maths degree, & still teacing A levels as a hobby).
    Anxiety stops me doing something, and they replied that my problem on that is to do with mobility, so no points.
    I got a page from my GP, which included "He cannot safely walk 20 metres". Thankfully they took notice of that.   Unfortunately they ignored most of the rest of the text. Including the bit about not being able to use a bath, again.
    They appear to ignore the requirement that you need to be able to do things in no more than twice the normal max time  ("reasonable" is established in case law as less than this), which would mean granting a lot of people a lot of points - ooh dear can't do that.
    It's not a competent system,  it's not fit for purpose.
    The only redeeming thing is that the Tribunals seem (I've spent hours reading transcripts) to sort things out fairly often, but there are places where the lawyers point out that the wording of the PIP questions is just plain wrong. It obviously wasn't written by a lawyer. It needs redoing.
    Experienced folk seem to agree it's a bit of a lottery, so if it doesn't work at first, roll the dice at the next level up.  E.g, there are several where the Upper Tribunal rules that the lower tribunal was wrong, and sends it back.................  Good luck.
    Yup.They were so bad they had to change their name from ATOS to what it is now...(I.A.S)
    Well! That has really made us more stressed than before, Hope yours was not the norm! hope you got sorted eventually ok. He can't do physical work anymore so limited on what he can do, which stresses him out already, so was hoping this assessment would not be stressful   
    Hello.I did not set out to stress you,so i am sorry if i caused any distress.I just think it is important that you understand that many of us here have been subjected to the same process that your son will go through.Anecdotal i know,but my own experience with these people has not been good,not just once but on several occasions..However,as somebody has stated here before,you are only going to get to hear about the bad news on this site,as,in general,the people who are suffering with the system are the people whose stories we get to hear.My advice to you is to bear THIS good news in mind  : around 70% of decisions that are made against PIP claimants at Assessment stage are subsequently overturned at the Tribunal stage (if i am wrong i hope somebody can correct me).The Tribunals are made up of educated and intelligent people who do understand how I.A.S. (ATOS) and CAPITA operate.What they make of these companies,heaven only knows.

    Good luck to your son with his assessment,and i sincerely hope that the process does not get to reach Mandatory Reconsideration,let alone the Tribual stage.PLEASE STAY STRONG AND DON'T GIVE UP THE FIGHT.

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