"Is PIP fit for purpose"? A welfare process that negatively affects health?

mikejc9

I have been summoned to a PIP assessment and would like to know how best to face this most daunting of interviews. Is there any useful advice please?
Mike

Nystagmite

mikejc9 said:

I have been summoned to a PIP assessment and would like to know how best to face this most daunting of interviews. Is there any useful advice please?
Mike

Take someone with you and request to get it recorded.

mikejc9

Many Thanks

janice_in_wonderland

From observational experience

mobility scooters mean NOTHING although missing fingers do
(please do not chop your fingers off they do not grow back like hair!)

NEVER go alone! 

NEVER carry anything! 

Your friend/relative/carer must carry Everything! 

Keep breaking for rests! 

Go to the toilet during the assessment! 

Go smelly & dirty! 

Look tired 

NO eye contact 

women do NOT wear makeup or have your hair done

Slip on footwear ONLY! 

Whether you can walk or not take a walking stick/crutches but then again you are able to 'grip' things so you can't win! 

If you get to see the computer screen ask for the assessor to read it out OR sit NEXT to her NOT where THEY tell you to sit! 

You can give give permission for someone to answer ALL questions 

You are UNABLE to manage medication 

You are UNABLE to prepare food 

You are UNABLE to plan journeys 

You are UNABLE to go to UNfamiliar places alone 

The list goes on but hopefully you get the idea 

mikejc9

Many Thanks Janice.
It is disgraceful that we have to fight for such benefits especially when we have been receiving them for 12 years.

maur64

I totally agree with you there 

janice_in_wonderland

Terrible ordeal 

the day before my assesment my hospital consultant said 'I don't want you to even THINK about working'!

Then 2 weeks later the brown envelope arrived

I feel shattered mentally and physically...partly destroyed unsure about fighting and ask myself is it better to be left alone to struggle and hibernate away from the human race

janice_in_wonderland

One day these assessors will experience suffering be it themselves or someone close and suddenly they will be begging for forgiveness for their lies lies lies! 

Try to change if you want to RIP assessors! 

Nystagmite

A warning - they will make the most ridiculous assumptions. Some examples they made with me:
- I can cook a pizza, therefore, I can cook a meal from scratch. I can't even make a cup of tea, safely, unaided
- I can go to my parents (which is a familiar place) therefore, I have no mobility needs
- I have no hearing problems because I can hear from 3 metres (ENT letter said the opposite)
- I can answer questions like "do you drive?" therefore, I have no communication difficulties. I had a friend at my assessment. He's a retired English teacher and he'll you the complete opposite. My friend explained that I take things literally. He is also finding far too often, he's having to try and explain things in plain English.
- I said I have the TV on as background noise (I have tinnitus and it drowns out the sound) therefore, I have no concentration difficulties

Don't mention you use Facebook. They will assume you can socialise.

wildlife

janice_in_wonderland

@Nystagmite don't even say you use the internet! 

My assessor came across as so nice and she actually watched me struggling to hold back tears and then typed I was not at all anxious! 

Anyone or animal could see clearly I was distressed 

i feel so so sorry for everyone going through this 

DeeDeex4

With hindsight at my home assessment (2 days after mastectomy) I wish I had had video/audio as evidence to stop my 1st 2nd and high court appeals being necessary.. then the ( back to 1st tier ) and 13mths later would never have happened. My assessor even re wrote my building plans!!!! She said " no steps leading up to the house" I had to provide building plans and current photographs proving 2 steps were there and have been since 1952!!!.
If they are prepared to go to THAT extent it just proves that they have licence to lie at every opportunity given.
The worst of all this was my claim was from my first Cancer and running until 2019, then I got TWO more Cancers and a Palliative diagnosis, so my daughter applied for mobility, they turned me down and superseded my claim ( taking it ALL off me ) Feb 16 after a Hickman line was infected I developed MSSA ( cousin of MRSA) which gave me Hypertension/Angina which is still uncontrolled this April 17, then they suspect MS or Paranoeplastic syndrome ( waiting for results).... My daughter 28 had fallen down two steps and broken her foot ( toes separated from foot) a non union break that cannot be repaired as they delayed operating for a year, so is now irreparable she also has 4 small children... her logic was... mother... you've gotten worse, you can't drive, you can't walk 8yards, you need an electric scooter.. I'm applying for mobility........ LOOK WHAT HAPPENED FOR GETTING WORSE!!!!!!!!!!!!.
My cognitive reasoning is all over the place, confusion, forgetful, at my interrogation this was odvious, Stephanie said " this is what she's like all the while, you wouldn't think she's got 4 A levels".
Back at my 1st tier 2hr interrogation the Judge said " now your an intelligent woman, when planning a trip you can follow a map can't you?"
Me, no, Judge of course you can, Me no... but then I've NEVER been able to read a map, it's nothing to do with how my mind works now... I've never been able to read a map.. and it's true. 3 turns I'm lost!!! 35yrs of driving and I'm still map illiterate!!!!
They write what suits them, re write what doesn't, it odvious. Everyone knows there doing it yet virtually NOTHING since 2013 complaints came pouring in has been done to highlight the frauds committed by these " health care professionals.
Im not convinced anything can be done from the outside.. someone from within the establishment with firm evidence maybe.
Where are all the people with a moral compass????

Nystagmite

Someone on Facebook was asked how they did their shopping. She said she did it online. They wrote she can socialise. 

janice_in_wonderland

@DeeDeex4

its hard enough dealing with day to day life 

Im sorry to read what you are experiencing 

i too get shopping online bc I find I Can't hold carrier bags as weight aggravates my joints 

The assessor obviously said nothing of the sort

Justice

@ DeeDeex4, bendegedig, all of you. I have been catching up on all of these posts. DeeDee I am shocked, and saddened to hear what you are going through.reading all of the posts here one can see a pattern emerging, a pattern of lies,inconsistency, unprofessionalism, not to mention downright fraud. I cannot for the life of me see how these people get away with it, they are NOT above the law, and yet they do get away with it time, after time, after time.

I have posted before that I am writing a book about the plight of Disabled people in the UK, with particular reference to the way they are treated during the assessment process, and as bendegedig has already said, how the stress has affected their condition, and thus their life.

some of you have already mailed me, and are wiling to tell your story, but I need more, the more the merrier.Please, anyone who would be willing to contribute please mail me at fallingondeafearspip@gmail.com
No real names will be used, and locations can be changed of course. I really look forward to reading your mails. I will not spam you, but I will keep in touch to let you know how it goes, and for you to approve what I have written .
Bendegedig, regarding FB I used to have an account, just a social one, to be honest I didn't like it at all. If though enough of you think it a good idea I would be willing to try and set it up again. I think it is possible to make a facebook page
specifically for what we are trying to achieve here. I am no social media expert, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Just in case any of you are thinking " Who is this Woman writing a book, she is probably just doing research or something" I am not. I came to scope like all of you because I am involved with the terrible process of appeals, not for myself, but for my Husband, so i do have personal experience of it. I do sit sometimes wanting to pull out my hair with frustration, and I do feel exhausted, and isolated.
United we stand, Guys. I look forward to hearing from you.

janice_in_wonderland

@Justice I'll  be interested touch soon but I'm dealing with MR stage atm via professional support otherwise I have no idea how I would be feeling 

My first reaction to the assessor was 'What a LIAR!' and the person who came with me used strong language so I have gone through a rollercoaster of mixed emotions feeling unsure if I'm strong enough to cope with it however I'm not alone and would encourage anyone to challenge the procedure 

sending out postive strength to you bc you have helped me through a very distressing phase 

thank you SCOPE!

mikejc9

First of all; Thank you for your support regarding my PIP assessment. Last Friday I went to my assessment despite everything I did not want to reschedule the appointment.
It was in a back street in Walsall (who went down one way streets the wrong way?) and it was at five to five on a Friday evening (couldnt be a worse time of day or a worse day of the week)
Before going I made a formal complaint online to Capita about the lack of consideration given to someone suffering PTSD. A young lady from Birmingham called me offering to reschedule the appointment, she couldnt give me an appointment on a definite day or time (it wasnt up to her).
I did find out from her the name and the qualification of the assessor. She was a nurse called Debbie.
On meeting I voiced my disapproval regarding the whole process, my age, the time of appointment etc.
She was a very pleasant lady who said that she was not there to take money off people but to ask questions and submit her report.
She did make the interview easier and was very amiable; of course the fruit in the pudding is found in the eating, we shall see.
I felt more prepared because of Scope members comments; Thank You.
The online questions were a great help to me. I took photos of my recliner with raised swab, my walk in shower and me with my alarm, the assessor did not want these. I did provide a GP's support letter (£20:00), the name of the care team who fitted my walk in shower, my letter of referral for further investigation into my arthritic spine difficulties (evidence that cannot be argued against)
I urge anyone who is going to one of these interviews to gather all the evidence that you can before hand to support your claim.
BTW my GP told me that they had had two people turned down for PIP who had been on DLA (one who wrote to the Prime Minister about their situation and even attempted suicide; how terrible and what a state to be in after the governments pressurisation and dare I say CRUELTY.
I will let you know how it turns out.
Thank You Scope and all those who helped
M

bendigedig

Hello everybody

Im back after a wee break.

Feeling a bit useless though, as I am not sure how to take this forward

Im still a bit overtly anxious about engaging with facebook.

I am concerned also that any activity challenging the estabilishment at this point in this way might be viewed by some as a "political act", particularly in light of the recent Election anouncement.

In spirt however I am committed to "doing somthing"  im not sur of my capability of doing that "somthing" through  face book though?  Support and suggestions would be very gratefully recieved.

I am aware of course there are others here that are better equipped to take the reigns of the facebook beast.  Please speak out and declare an interest.  The more the merrier as far as I am concerned and Im also fairly sure that also aplys to all those who want to move this forward too

Just so you are aware.  The reason I am umming and awwing about facebook is because the last relationship I had with it wasnt good.  I was very depressed and drinking an awful lot of alcohol at the time.  I know that my feelings about it arent rational but I'm afraid that the experience has left me not wanting to go back there despite the fact that I havent been drinking since New Year.  Sorry to be a bit of a let down.  

bendigedig

Hi again
There seems to have been a drop in interest in this?
Just to let everybody who showed interest.  I'm still here and I'm willing to work with anybody to further the effort of this cause.  @DeeDeex4 has already committed time and some suggestions on how to move forward.  I'm not sure exactly where that has left us but we certainly have a framework Including an overall aim and some tentative key objectives.

If you are tempted to get involved or like me see this as a civil responsibility then please get involved.

I see that there is an inbox for this software interface.  I don't however know how to contact individuals using this software in order to send messages.  Call me Mr. Stupid but it just hasn't presented itself as an intuitive thing for me.

If you want to contact me personally please do so or like I say just post on this thread.

bendigedig

Deedee no longer seems to be a member of this community?