Assessment lies

Hampshire2024

Hello I'm new here
This is a long one. So my husband has been on higher rate pip for over 10 years he has had 3 disectomies on his lower back gets sciatica and numbness down his legs and obviously back pain. He was on strong pain killers but they make him zombified so he went to doctor and she said you shouldn't take them frequently take them when you really need them. He had an assessment over the phone and the woman completely lied about him in her report said he goes out for walks etc so they dropped his mobility to standard so we lost the car he appealed rejected again going to tribunal after seeing someone at the CAB. They tried to drop it years ago but when it was looked at again they said the department had contradicted themselves. Now on to me I suffer with panic attack agoraphobia and depression (since I was put into care at 14 on and off but as I got older it stayed with me) When I say that I mean couldn't go out I couldn't leave my house for over 5 years, couldn't get my children to school or do anything with them outside of the house, on diazepam for over 18 years, mental health team gave up on me threatened to have my children taken away a proper mess. Doc changed my tablets to Sertraline and propanolol and I forced myself (small steps) to walk 2 mins to the shop. I can go to the doctors with my husband sometimes I have to ask him to turn the car back around and go home but I am a little better than what I was. I am not on the higher rate because they said I can not follow a unfamiliar journey but can a familiar. Until I looked into it I didn't even spot it seems ridiculous because I can't follow any journey familiar or unfamiliar because I have to have my husband with me. Was told I can't change it because when I took them to tribunal and won my case (yes I was lied about to but never gave up had to have a court hearing over the phone) . That was what the judge had ruled. I want to say to anyone having problems DON'T GIVE UP. Took a year to go to tribunal but I WON my case I thought I'm not going to let these lying people beat me. Didn't complain about the woman who lied because the stress of the court case took it out of me but I got 3,000 of back dated payment. I'm currently suffering with carpal tunnel syndrome so wrote a change of circumstances had to pay £50 for a doctors letter now I'm waiting to hear back from them. Loosing the car has made my depression worse and I'm getting panic attacks frequently that was my only way of getting anywhere because I knew I could get home fast. Now I'm not going out at all so back to square one again. My son is autistic and I won't be able to get him to school transport refused even with medical evidence it's a complete mess and I feel more depressed now than ever. Sorry to rabbit on. How do they get away with lying about people? The people aren't even trained the questions are ridiculous

Ramonica

What is an example of a ridiculous question?

Hampshire2024

Can I touch my toes

Ramonica

This has to do with your ability to assume a certain posture if you were claiming under a physical condition where you said you use aid to wear your socks and lower body clothes. Obviously in this case you would not be able to touch your toes. However, when the assessment started they did let you know "some questions may not make sense".

This is because they use a computer. The interview is not tailored to your situation at all. You may have told or not you use an aid, but the software is tracing your eligibility to meet the descriptors linearly.

However, those irrelevant questions are more valuable than just that, because they assess how you answer in a truthful manner vs when they ask you a question related to your condition where a potential fraudster would lie. If you think anyone can be a good liar, think again. One can say "yes" (about the toes)" or "ohhh I have such a hard time doing anything wearing socks and pants blah blah, i feel like hell, the thought alone makes me ache, i always have my partner help me".

Truth is, if you cant do something, you just say no to a closed question. If you go on about it, you try to convince someone of something.

Those questions are also strategically repeated, once as a closed question, once at least as an open question. ie What happens when you dress? Obviously if you say something to contradict the fact you cant touch your toes, you raise red flags.

t is understandable that fraud is around those benefits. Me and you, who claim to get help wont think about it, but the government must think about it, because there are so much money and they need to allocate it to those who really need it.

So, for all these reasons, no, I will not share your opinion that there are ridiculous questions.

Hampshire2024

For someone with mental health problems I have no problem moving touching my toes they will know I don't have a physical condition like someone who struggles to touch their toes

poppy123456

Then it's very likely you won't be asked to do that. Even if someone does have physical conditions as most assessments are still by telephone, asking you to touch your toes would be rather pointless. 

I've had 2 face to face assessments for PIP in the past 10 years and claim for physical conditions, I've never been asked to touch my toes or do anything physical. 

Hampshire2024

Very pointless which is my point but I was asked to

WhatThe

Ramonica, this is a new member. Comments on another person's thread should be supportive - forum rules - and I don't think yours are. Parents can be autistic too you know? 

This person has disclosed mental ill health and the reasons for it and is seeking support. You have no right to demand explanation. Your final remark is so not nice. 

HCP's might be trained assessors but most are not medically qualified and few have a background in mental health. 

kimkenzie202

Assessors don't really need medical training (although they do) because it's a descriptor and points based system, your medical condition is irrelevant, all that matters is whether you fit the criteria for an award. So many people seen to have this misconception that just being diagnosed with a condition(just this misconception alone in many cases), and therefore having an assessor with knowledge of that condition, will award PIP, it doesn't make any difference. You either fit the descriptors or you don't. 

Regarding bizarre questions, they are trying to catch out people being deceptive, honest people are consistent, liars will trip themselves up.

poppy123456

I"ve never been warned during any assessment that some questions may not make any sense. Ramonica said:

Hampshire2024 said:

Very pointless which is my point but I was asked to

 because I am autistic and I had a parent like you. It didnt help at all.

That's a little harsh, don't you think? You don't know anything about this person, yet you chose to judge them based on a few comments. 

Assessors do not need to have any medical knowledge of any specific conditions because it's not about a diagnosis. 

Leigh14

@Ramonica, I certainly didn’t have this said to me,
However, when the assessment started they did let you know "some questions may not make sense".