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PIP assessment maximus

AAmd2025

PIP assessment on 12th December 2025 at the Hull assessment centre.

First, why was I not informed that the door of the assessment room was locked. My wife was not informed either. This is relevant due to the nature of my disability of anxiety and panic attacks and depression and Autism. I should have been informed that the door was locked when we were seated. There was no housekeeping information.

Second, the assessment had no structure and the questions were rapid and designed for one word answers. Which made it difficult for me to engage and process the information. I answered the questions in the way I always do which is with explanation but with more words than some would consider necessary and giving an example. This can and does appear to a person with no knowledge of autism and the traits of communication to be what would be considered as “Long Winded”. I believe my wife made the assessor aware of how I communicate when they spoke alone and the difficulties I have being understood in my daily life. Although you will need to speak to my wife for what was fully said.

The assessor struggled to understand how autism and communication can and is a barrier to being understood in my everyday life. As a disability assessor she failed to understand autistic people suffer from literal interpretation, social cues, processing delays and eye contact.

Third, the assessment was about me and my needs and not my wife's needs.So I don't understand why my wife's adaptations to the home were relevant to be noted. My wife has her own disability. My disability is not related to hers.

Fourth, the assessor came to the conclusion that after about 20 minutes my tone and monologue when answering was making her feel uncomfortable. Further dialogue took place about the assessor and the assessment and her saying she felt uncomfortable and I appeared aggressive in my communication. She said I needed to calm down. That was my social cue to leave the room and defuse the situation. This is when I found out the door was locked.

Her colleague came out of her room to find out what was happening in the reception area. Until this point the assessor remained in the room. I believe she came out of the room and made the suggestion that she wanted to resume the assessment. As a autistic person that was never going to happen. By that time my anxiety had kicked in and I wanted to leave.

At no point did I use foul and abusive language. I made no eye contact with the assessor during the assessment and I didn't use an aggressive approach. I used a loud tone when I felt it was necessary but it was not what would be considered overpowering to the point of confrontation. I used the same language and tone as I do in my everyday life. Now maximus are claiming I was frustrated.

They have not issued a PA4 and now claim to be wanting to do a PA3. The trouble with a PA3 I don't see anyone about my condition.

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Lauren29

I am sorry that you found your assessment difficult. It sounds as if Maximus are going to try to make a paper based decision as the face to face assessment wasn't completed. I would ask Maximus why the door to the assessment room was locked as this would seem to present a safety issue. It seems that the Health Professional carrying out the assessment had a limited understanding of Autism and wasn't able to adjust to the way in which you communicate. Although you write that did not use foul or abusive language you do say that you used a loud tone at some points. Most Health Professionals carrying out assessments are nurses and seldom have any specialist knowledge or experience of Autism. They are also work under time constraints and particularly if you give long responses they can feel under pressure to hurry things along. This can sound as they rushing you, I recently supported a friend with a telephone assessment and the Health Professional in her PA4 said that she was being evasive when in face she was struggling to understand the questions asked.

Rachel_Scope

Hi @AAmd2025, I'm sorry for how the assessor made you feel. It seems it could have been miscommunication between you and the assessor as @Lauren29 has mentioned, they can have a limited understanding of autism.

Are you concerned about completing a paper-based review as you don't have any medical evidence for your condition?

Kimi87

Maximus do have a complaints procedure you can use, to make a complaint.

https://haas.maximusuk.co.uk/feedback-and-complaints/

AAmd2025

To kimi I have complained I was told wait for the PA4 that was never coming. Now it a PA3 form

Kimi87

You can complain again about the inappropriate response to your first complaint.

Waiting for a PA4 also doesn't address the health and safety issue with your assessment either, so it seems their initial response is inadequate all round.

AAmd2025

Rachel scope the paper based assessment is ok but it is not without its flaws. They have wrote to my doctor I don't see my doctor for my autism or mental health. He will signpost me to the relevant services they wrote to my Sleep Apnea clinic. Which may help with the issues with the sleep apnea mask and the issues I told the clinic. They had two others they could have wrote to my counselor albeit not seen for a cpl of years or the first person to assess my autism and where a report was available. Haven't wrote to either. Paperbased flaw I act as my daughters appointee and when she moved from DLA to PIP we advised the DWP that due to mental age her Asperger's Syndrome and vulranilites she most likely wouldn't be able to sit through assessment. I provided her file and I was asked a few questions. My daughter doesn't know how to cook and prepare a simple meal and what came back was 2 points for preparing and cooking a meal. Did they listen unfortunately not hence the flaw. My concern is Maximus are trying to brush under the carpet what happened that day. I have had to request information from them on what Maximus holds on me. It came out on Friday from a Maximus advisor that I was frustrated. I have asked them to define frustration over Autistic Frustration

Rachel_Scope

I completely understand your frustration. I see you've already complained so I'd continue with that process. They should be accommodating and make reasonable adjustments for you which it seems they didn't do. You can always send in more evidence to support your claim, just make sure to write your name and national insurance number on the top of each page.

Did you go to tribunal for your daughter's claim? I've been through the whole PIP process all the way to tribunal and I found the tribunal to be the 'best' part as I was able to talk to them via video call and could clarify things that were difficult to get across on paper.

AAmd2025

No she was awarded enhanced care and enhanced mobility. For me it just shows how the system is flawed.

Rachel_Scope

That's good that she was awarded enhanced for both. The system definitely has its flaws and it's a stressful process to go through. Send some more evidence in if you feel that'd help and then see what the result is. Hopefully it's in your favour so you won't need to go to mandatory reconsideration. Fingers crossed they'll also take your complaint seriously. Have you told them what you would like the outcome to be?

AAmd2025

Not as yes yet

Rachel_Scope

It might be good to think about what outcome you'd like so they know how to make it right.