CHANGE OF CIRCUMSTANCES

poppy123456

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/898879#Comment_898879

A fit note is irrelevant for a PIP claim because it’s not about your ability to work.

WhatThe

Any qualified supporting medical evidence can be relevant for a disability benefit claim.

poppy123456

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/898934#Comment_898934

A fit note isn’t evidence to support a PIP claim.

WhatThe

A medically unqualified health assessors report is not evidence to deny a PIP claim.

poppy123456

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/898971#Comment_898971

They are not unqualified, a lot of assessors are either nurses, paramedics or Occupational Therapists. They do not need to have any knowledge in any specific health conditions. The assessment isn't a medical it's a functional assessment and it's not awarded based on a diagnosis.

Not only that, the assessor that assessed scape1960 did actually recommend more points for a higher award. However, the decision maker went against the recommendations based on the evidence they sent and their award was actually lower. Therefore, you can't blame the assessor in this case. You can read their previous thread here

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/112145/frustrated-with-review-result

scape1960

Yes, as ‘What The’ mentioned, any women born after April 1960 have to wait until they’re 67 before they get their State Pension. 😡 Really not happy about it but there’s nothing I can do! 🤷‍♀️

WhatThe

medically unqualified is what I said.

I haven't and don't blame the assessor in any case.

I've said what I wanted to say here thanks.

chiarieds

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/899028#Comment_899028

As poppy says, PIP is a functional, not medical assessment. So, yes, assessors aren't medically qualified, but to infer they're somewhat 'unqualified,' I feel is a misnomer.

I can only speak as a long-retired (qualified) physio, & do you realise I studied (& was taught in part by Drs in our local medical school) as much detail as medical students, as far as Anatomy, neuroanatomy, Physiology & neurophysiology went?

We certainly also learnt about many, many conditions (tho even a Dr wouldn't know about them all); the only thing we didn't study was Pathology. So, altho PIP isn't about any diagnoses, assessors, which include nurses, physios & paramedics, do have a lot of understanding about many disorders (why else would they be employed as assessors?)

I'm uncertain as to what point you're trying to make? You do seem to have said that if a health assessor isn't a Dr, then their report carries little weight, & shouldn't be 'evidence' to deny a PIP claim. It's the claimant that needs to give the evidence; assessor's reports contain their 'opinion.'