Unprofessional assesor

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Juthbert
Juthbert Online Community Member Posts: 71 Contributor
Hello,
I've been going through the process of applying for PIP since June. I am currently signed off work with PTSD, severe anxiety and depression. After my video call assessment, I requested a copy of the assessors report (which I wouldn't have known I was able to do without finding a thread from a conversation on here). I couldn't believe it when I read it, as he had blatantly fabricated information he claims I had said I can do, left out lots of what I had told him regarding how much my anxiety affects my day to day living and to top it off, wrote that I had claimed my partner was present but that 'he had not seen him on the call' when my partner had spoken to him on numerous occasions! Needless to say, my claim was denied as he scored me zero throughout. I felt like giving up, as it made me feel so low, but then I became angry that a 'professional' had behaved in such a manner, so I requested my GP notes, photocopied reports by a psychologist who had assessed me for specialised therapy and asked them to look at their decision again (I'm still waiting to hear back). I also lodged a formal complaint with Capita but as expected, their 'investigation' concluded that they had insufficient evidence due to the assessor not remembering me! I have said that I am dissatisfied with their response and it has now been escalated higher (not that I am expecting any further response to be any different), I think I just felt so aggrieved that I couldn't just let it go. I was just wondering if this is a usual thing, an assessor being so untruthful and unprofessional and if many of you had been turned down at first, but then were eventually awarded PIP. Is it worthwhile to keep fighting? I just don't know at this present time when I am going to be able to return to work and the extra money would really help, but being turned down made me feel even lower, I just don't know if it is worth carrying on if I am refused again. Thanks for reading.  

Comments

  • Juthbert
    Juthbert Online Community Member Posts: 71 Contributor
    Sorry you've had a bad experience also. It's like they've just taken the assessor on his untruthful report, and ignored the evidence I'd previously sent. It's so demoralising. My partner says they want me to give up and that I've got to keep the faith it will come through in the end, but its so stressful. I naively thought that the assessor would want to do right by me, but the report literally read as though he'd just made anything up, and wasn't about me at all. I don't know how they sleep at night. Thank you for replying.
  • Rosie_Scope
    Rosie_Scope Posts: 6,083 Scope Online Community Coordinator
    Hi @Juthbert welcome to the community :) Sorry to hear you're having a bad experience with your PIP application. 

    Unfortunately, your experience is not uncommon. Assessors reports can vary a lot from person to person, it seems to be luck of the draw sometimes whether they listen or not.

    As you said, it can be incredibly demoralising and difficult to cope with when you get rejected, but lots of people have success in the later stages if you're able to stick with it. 

    Well done for starting the complaints process and sticking up for yourself, it's not easy at all. Make sure you're looking after yourself and reaching out for some support if it all gets too much. 

    Keep us updated!
  • Leigh14
    Leigh14 Online Community Member Posts: 612 Empowering
    Hi @Juthbert. Sorry to read you didn’t have a very good assessor.
    I just wanted to say that I didn’t get many points when I applied, so went to the next stage of MR, and then I got an award. That of course isn’t the case for everyone, but the next stage would be tribunal. I’ve read that this stage has a higher rate of winning.
  • Juthbert
    Juthbert Online Community Member Posts: 71 Contributor
    Thank you all, I will keep you updated.
  • Juthbert
    Juthbert Online Community Member Posts: 71 Contributor
    Hello, yesterday I heard from Capita and they offered me a £70 goodwill gesture payment after my complaint, which I accepted. Today, I received the reply to my MR and have still scored zero points throughout, I'm at a loss and unsure whether to go to the tribunal stage or not as I've sent in all my medical evidence and still been refused. Half of me feels that I've come this far and may as well see it through to the absolute end, but the other half of me feels so despondent and disheartened  and doesn't know if she can lay herself bare again to get yet another knock back. Any advice appreciated, thank you.
  • Albus_Scope
    Albus_Scope Posts: 10,013 Scope Online Community Coordinator
    Hi @Juthbert, I'm glad they sent you a little sorry gift, but I'm sorry they've upheld their decision.  Personally, I'd highly recommend going to the tribunal.  I know it seems very daunting and energy draining, especially with the mental health issues, but tribunals have a much higher success rate, it's worth fighting for!   Plus I've found the actual tribunals to be a lot nicer for the old anxiety, they were all super helpful and very understanding. 
  • Juthbert
    Juthbert Online Community Member Posts: 71 Contributor
    Thank you for your reply. Its shocked me how I've scored zero on absolutely everything, I've been unable to leave my home without my partner being with me for months. I even requested and sent my GP notes as I felt sure they'd help my case but still nothing. I'm not sure what other evidence I can send to support my claim now.
  • Albus_Scope
    Albus_Scope Posts: 10,013 Scope Online Community Coordinator
    I can totally empathise @Juthbert, when I applied due to the same issues as you, I scored a 2, even after a MR.  The tribunal awarded me around 30 points and I even got an apology for how the DWP had treated me. 

    The most important thing is showing how your conditions affect you day to day. Sending in GP notes can sometimes help, but I looked at it as a 'ticking the boxes' kind of assessment.  So for instance (taken from CAB website on appeals;
     
    "I don’t think you’ve taken into account the effects of my severe depression when it comes to preparing food and eating. I find it hard to concentrate, so even if I push myself to start I can’t finish making a meal. I only eat meals I can heat up in the microwave. On the times I have tried to cook from scratch I have burned myself because I lose concentration and forget I have a pan on the hob."

    A doctors note saying you have depression wont tick any of the boxes the assessor is looking at, but writing that would show you struggle with things daily and would tick one of the boxes.

     Does that make sense?  I'm not wording things well today.  :D


  • Juthbert
    Juthbert Online Community Member Posts: 71 Contributor
    It does make sense. My brain fog as I call it is awful. Do you think having my partner write how much support he has to give me would help at all?
  • Albus_Scope
    Albus_Scope Posts: 10,013 Scope Online Community Coordinator
    @Juthbert It may do, as long as it proves that you need help with each of the descriptors given. Ultimately, that's what needs to be shown and what the tribunal bases their assessment on, but they tend to look at the bigger picture also.  
  • Juthbert
    Juthbert Online Community Member Posts: 71 Contributor
    Thank you, I'll spend some time going back through it all and try again.