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PIP Assessment - have you gone through this experience too?

jose2

I have been called in for an assessment for PIP today in Wakefield ,I was seen by who I think was a nurse,before the interview started I offered her all my illnesses(that are numerous and which are quite unsual) which I had typed and keep to take to hospital appointments also that there is lots of medications I cannot take which can make my illnesses worse,she did not want to see any of these but more or less insisted I answer her questions as she typed,such as how one particular illness affects day-to-day living,I kept on telling her with each illness,that they all affected me the same way ,can't breath when I walk and in terrible pain in body, legs .When she asked me to stand and lift my legs or bend or move my legs apart a certain distance (which I laughed as I have osteoporosis grade 4 also diagnosed with cancer 2012 )this was at the end of the interview, "I asked if she was a doctor" !!.I am 67yrs old and have been in receipt of Disability High Rate and the lower rate carers allowance since 2003.Is there anyone out there who has gone through this experience as myself.

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Comments

Richard_Scope

Hi @jose2 Welcome to the group, I haven't undergone an assessment as yet but there are people who can advise you.

jose2

Thank you for the welcome!

WheelyRachel

Hello, I had my assessment at home thankfully, and the assessor seemed very understanding and througher . She even had a look at all the adaptions and equipment I use on a daily bases. Plus she even looked at my care packing file .

However i I do feel that these assessments are very fixed and some of those doing them don't give a dam what you or your careers say. I've many friends that have either been down graded or will be loosing this benifit completely.
I will DLA had to appeal and later got the lifetime award. But thankfully with PIP I've been lucky and have been awarded the full amount.

please do if your unlucky go to the CAB or your local disability advice centre and get them to appeal for you. As these assessor get bonuses for each claimant they can refuse or down grade.

jose2

Thank you for your reply WheelyRachel, I too was awarded life-time DLA back in 2003,but because I was not born before april 1948, I born 1949,thus why told to go for this assessment. maybe I'm looking a bit on the black side that it maybe refused,as one of the question she asked me if I went to appointments on my own ?,my reply yes!,you have to if you don't have no-one.

I will get help as you suggested if I am turned down,though it is so nice to hear from someone who has been succcesful,so I'll try and think in a more positive light about the whole matter of yesterdays assessment.

Thank you

WheelyRachel

I'm only in my fourties and yes I was very suprised not to have to go to appeal this time around. Good luck with yours, you should hear within to weeks. Please let us know how it goes.

Matilda

Hi @jose2

Many people have gone through a similar assessment experience to yourself.

PIP awards are all about how your medical conditions affect you on a daily basis, not about the conditions themselves, i.e. how difficult it is to perform certain daily tasks: cooking, washing, dressing etc and how you 'get around' outdoors. The exercises I had to do were quite easy and I defy anyone not actually paralysed not to be able to do them at all. The assessor and DWP decision-maker read too much into my slight ability to do the exercises.

Upshot was, I went from DLA care highest rate and higher rate mobility to PIP standard rate both elements. I am awaiting an appeal hearing date, think I have a good case and over 60% of appeals are successful. Assessor and DWP ignored the 'reliability' criteria when assessing my abilities.

jose2

Hello Matilda and WheelyRachel, ,yes Wheely I will let you know how it has gone when I get my report back, and thank you for relying to my post Matilda,its good to chat to some other people who have gone through this assessment,so really glad I found this group,and their experiences.Must say I have it constanly on my mind at the moment,I too could do all the small exercises she asked me to do,but did tell her I can't do anything repetively,and of course opening my legs wider and moving hips outwardly ,also bending down,I refused to do c/o osteoporosis.And after 10mins or so (while she typing) I realised she wasn't interested in all illnesses but on how they affect me day-to-day, each one, my reply cant breath (heart pounding )and cant walk more than 5 steps with -out pain in legs back ,feet etc!!,then have to stop while heart gets back in rhythm (as feel as though going to have another heart attack).

I will keep reading posts,and try and make sense of appeals and how to go about this procedure.Seems daunting at the moment.

I do hope your appeal is successful too Matilda,and hope to hear that all went well in your favour at a later date.

PS:- I went for this assessment yesterday 8th March in Wakefield, and to let anyone who is sent for their assessment at this centre that they have to walk,either up a quite steep incline or walk down a hill if dropped at the other side of the building,I chose to walk down the hill,( I went in a taxi)and I had to stop every 3 to 5 steps ,hope this may help other's who have their assessment at this centre,not a good start for me going to this one I'm afraid to say."Got you",as they say.The 1st Centre I was given was in Bradford at 10am (nearly 45 mile away from where I live),rang them and they changed it to this place in Wakefield.

Matilda

@jose2

Phone the DWP and ask for a copy of the assessor's report which will take about 10+ days to arrive. This will give you an idea of what your award decision is likely to be.

jose2

Thank you Matilda, will do that tomorrow ! ,as I didn't think to ask the nurse at the end of the assessment and she never mentioned this.

Matilda

@jose - the assessment companies don't give or send reports direct to claimants. They send these to DWP who will in turn send copies to claimants who ask for them.

jose2

Hi again Matilda,

I rang the DWP about 5pm,and they gave me Tel No of PIP ,I spoke to a lady over the phone and asked her if it could be possible for a copy of my assessment with the nurse at the PIP centre when It becomes available to them,she was very obliging and said when the report comes to them(which it's only been 2 days since my assessment)she took all my details and says it is now on record that I would like a copy of my assessment ,which will take about 10 days from them receiving it.

All these departments ,are totally confusing, think I should have done PHD on how PIP and DWP work. Collecting phone number's has never been a hobby of mine, numbers are mounting up. Brains more frazzled than normal.

Thanks again for suggestions.

Matilda

As I recall, somewhere on the letters from DWP there's a phone number to call for PIP enquiries (different to the number you call to make a claim for PIP!). It's all very bureaucratic!

jose2

Yes all very confusing! At least now if I do receive a letter x no days time it maybe a precursor of what to expect of how my appointment with PIP and results ,though in the end it will be up to them what they decide.

Just in passing (thought I'll mention it here)the lady at the assessment asked me what time frame was my life expectancy given by hospital c/o breast cancer ,told her given 5 years and at this time I'm 1 month into 6th year,as know one knows when or how long you have got left.

Maynot have to worry about all this PIP stuff getting in the way of living for now.

Matilda

I hope that you have a positive outcome to your PIP assessment, @jose2. It's best to take PIP one step at a time.

Has all of your cancer been removed? I had breast cancer 21 years ago and have had no recurrence.

jose2

They removed large lump from breast,though found I had sentinal node and 2 other lymph glands involment,cancer specialist at the time said mine was also in vessels of nodes,which I knew then really not a good sign and also when they removed lump they really wern't sure if they had left 2cm space from normal skin,after a few months saw breast surgeon again on routine visit and told me he really wanted to take all breast at lumpectomy op.So its just a wait and what happens from now on.

So nice to hear that your a 21 year survivor of this disease,gives me hope!

As you said in your recent post to me " I'll take it one-step-at-a time".

Your an inspiration Matilda to me.

Matilda

Thank you, Jose.

Sounds as though the cancer isn't active.

jose2

Have to see oncologist later this year,so hope all is well.

jose2

Hello again Matida, I have received my PIP assessment form back today and I have been given the standard rate daily needs,and the standard rate for mobility needs, where is for years now I have been on lower rate carers and enhanced rate for mobility,have looked at the letter carefully and she the nurse saw no signs of breathlessness,(I didnt show signs of being out of breath as I wasn't walking around in the room I was in with her or up any inclines)infact she was 3/4 hour late before she called me in for the assessment and I had settled down from the small walk to the assessment place c/o breathing.Also I stated to her I had not been to a town where I live for 2+ years because of breathing difficulties and scared of falling on uneven paths,and the last time I had been to town the path dipped at one point and I nearly fell over.

For my mobility needs I scored 8 ,in fact scored 8 for each component, Very worried about losing my car.

Matilda

Hi @jose2

Sorry to hear that assessor only gave you 8 points for mobility. But most people who were on higher rate DLA mobility are only given standard rate mobility PIP, unfortunately: this happened to me. Assessors and Decision Makers do this to save the government money, regardless of the true severity of the person's walking difficulties. It's amazing how so many people who have had severe mobility difficulties for years have suddenly gained improved mobility after PIP assessment!

The DWP's own PIP Handbook states that walking should be measured outdoors using pavements and kerbs - so if the assessor didn't do this but only observed walking indoors, then that is grounds for appeal.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/519119/personal-independence-payment-handbook.pdf

The only thing to do is appeal. The first stage is to ask for a mandatory reconsideration. Unfortunately, few MR's result in uprating, but you have to ask for an MR before you can formally appeal. There is an MR tool in the Support and information section of the Scope site. If your MR makes no change, you need to appeal to a tribunal and there is info about to do this in the Support and information section. Disability Rights website also give info and advice about appeals. It's worth appealing because 65% are successful.

http://www.advicenow.org.uk/pip-tool

Re cars, I'd suggest that, if they get their enhanced PIP mobility back, If they can, they buy their own car rather than lease from Motability. If subsequently after re-assessment their award is reduced to standard rate, at least they won't lose their car. Although Motability do not promote it, I think they will still allow people with enhanced rate mobility PIP to buy a new or used car. And some private dealers offer five-year no interest credit deals.

jose2

PS:- also diagnosed with shingles this week,in ear and head ,Dr said because of all immune problems I could have started with this.