PIP Aadvice desperately needed

justme6263

Hi everybody,

So I have my pip assessment by telephone in 11th September (was originally video) and I've got a few questions.

I feel so unprepared and like I'm going in blind, I dont deal well with that lack of control feeling and it's making me anxious, stressed and paranoid. My conditions are:

Severe Anxiett
Paranoia
Depression
Tourette's 
Alcohol dependency

What should I expect from the assessment? I've read and heard about 'informal testing' and it being a way they can try to trick people or something? Everything I've heard and read has me feeling that they are like the enemy and will not give me an honest and fair shake. It's getting  y paranoia up.

Another thing, I drink to medicate all of these conditions and I'll likely be drinking prior to and during the assessment due to the levels if anxiety and stress. Will they be able to go through with the assessment or is it a thing where they can't go forward with the assessment if I'm intoxicated?

Thanks to everyone in advance.

justme6263

woodbine said:

They are not the enemy and they are not out to trick you just build a picture of you, remember PIP isn't awarded because of your condition (s) but for the care and/or mobility issues you have, in my experience a telephone assessment can be easier than a face 2 face or video one.

That's for the reply. I am just concerned that my alcoholism will be an issue, as I am alcohol dependent will they not continue the assessment if I appear intoxicated?

Also, with questions such as 'can you cut up food?' - I can physically but my mom cooks and sits with me until I've finished eating as she needs to keep on at me to eat and finish, otherwise j wouldn't.

Same with can I take medication from a blister pack? - yes physically but my mom administers medication every day for me and watches me take it.

How would I answer those questions? Are these classes as 'informal testing'? Someone said that I can refuse to be drawn on those informal tests such as spelling a word etc?

Thanks in advance

lillipeth

I’d say answer like you have above. You need prompting to eat and need prompting to take medication. 

poppy123456

They may stop the assessment as part of safeguarding if you’re under the influence of alcohol during your assessment .

justme6263

poppy123456 said:

They may stop the assessment as part of safeguarding if you’re under the influence of alcohol during your assessment .

Thanks for the reply.

I will be under the influence though by nature of my condition, currently being alcohol dependent. Is it worth being honest with them on the day at the start and letting them decide from there? I don't want to try to act like I'm not under the influence and want to be as honest with them as possible.

I wont be drunk to the point in incapable to speaking, just to a point of managing the physical manifestations of the addiction.

Thanks again for all the advice.

poppy123456

In my opinion you should be honest. 

justme6263

poppy123456 said:

In my opinion you should be honest. 

I think it's the best and only option really. 

I'm sorry for all the questions btw but do you have any advice around 'informal testing'? I'm not even sure I really know what the person meant by that tbh

poppy123456

Don't worry about the questions, it's fine. I'm sorry, i have no idea what informal testing is.

lillipeth

Informal tests could be asking what meds you are on (memory test because they have that on the form) asking you to start at 100-3-3-3 etc for compression or brain (sorry fibro fog hitting me and can’t remember the right words!) I haven’t experienced this personally but I know of people that have 

chiarieds

I 'think' these were rather so-called 'informal observations,' & may have included asking a claimant to remember something previously mentioned during an assessment if they've said they had problems with their memory. More usually they were during a face to face assessment where a claimant might have said they couldn't bend forwards due to the pain in their spine for example, yet were seen to pick a bag up from the floor, etc.

I really wouldn't worry about these. Do mention the support you need from your Mum, & why.

justme6263

chiarieds said:

I 'think' these were rather so-called 'informal observations,' & may have included asking a claimant to remember something previously mentioned during an assessment if they've said they had problems with their memory. More usually they were during a face to face assessment where a claimant might have said they couldn't bend forwards due to the pain in their spine for example, yet were seen to pick a bag up from the floor, etc.

I really wouldn't worry about these. Do mention the support you need from your Mum, & why.

Thanks to everyone for the replies, advice and help. I've decided I need to stop stressing about the informal observations, what they might ask etc because it is really starting to play on my mind. Just got to not prompt and take the assessment as it comes. I think over heard too many horror stories about them so need to hear or read some of the good stories. Thanks again everyone 

lillipeth

Sounds like a good plan. The waiting is the worst bit.  Don’t think alot of people post when it all goes good, so there is always more “bad” experiences to read. Personally I was happy with my experience. Quicker than I expected and the outcome I had hoped for and I’m sure I’m not alone in that. And IF it doesn’t go your way there is loads of very knowledgeable people on here that can help you with the next steps. 

justme6263

poppy123456 said:

In my opinion you should be thonest. 

Hi, my appointment was supposed to be at 2:15 this afternoon and I’ve heard nothing from Capita. I have a lot of anxiety around phone calls as they know and it’s stressing me out so badly. What do I do?

chiarieds

They could just be late due to an assessment before yours. I'd wait a little longer then contact them: https://www.capita-pip.co.uk/en/contact-us#Phone

Jimm_Scope

Good luck @justme6263, just say how things affect you. Remember, even if the decision made after the assessment doesn't go the way you want it to there are other chances for your voice and your situation to be heard.

justme6263

So they didn’t call me, it really has caused me so much anxiety. I had got myself prepared for this assessment me felt ready and it’s sent me into a spin.

I spoke to capita and the assessor cancelled the appointment and it was rescheduled for the 26th September. I hadn’t been informed. I’m so annoyed and stressed out that they just didn’t let me know, it took a lot to get myself into a position where I felt ready for it and now it’s got to be done all over again, I felt exhausted afterwards.

I’ve requested a paper assessment as it was too much for me

Hannah_Alumni

I'm so sorry it has caused you such anxiety @justme6263

Hopefully they'll be able to do it as a paper assessment. Please keep us updated  

justme6263

Hannah_Scope said:

I'm so sorry it has caused you such anxiety @justme6263

Hopefully they'll be able to do it as a paper assessment. Please keep us updated  

Hi, thank you. They’ve agreed to do a paper assessment which has helped a lot with the stress and anxiety around this. I’m just wondering how they work and how long I should expect it to take? 

poppy123456

They will write the report based on all the information they already have from your PIP2 form and any additional evidence you sent. Once this is done they will return it to DWP. From there a decision maker will look at everything and then make a decision. Once it's made you will be contacted. Once it's returned a decision can take up to 12 weeks.

justme6263

poppy123456 said:

They will write the report based on all the information they already have from your PIP2 form and any additional evidence you sent. Once this is done they will return it to DWP. From there a decision maker will look at everything and then make a decision. Once it's made you will be contacted. Once it's returned a decision can take up to 12 weeks.

Am I able to request a copy of the report once it’s been done? How would I do that?

Thanks

poppy123456

You will need to ring PIP to request a copy of the report once it's returned. Please do be aware though that requesting it does seem to cause a lot more anxiety and stress as reported by many members here.