Why review PIP when I have an illness with no cure?

Matilda

One of the BenefitsTrainingCo's solicitors told me that if the DWP tried to review my ongoing award before the nine years were up, I should contact my MP and complain that the DWP were wasting public money trying to review a claimant with a permanent degenerative condition early.

Teresa1964

I understand that they need to make review s, but to put us with real degenerative illness under more stress is a disgrace, some pple pull the wool over there eyes yet you rarely here them being reviewed makes my blood. X

poppy123456

PIP isn't exactly an easy benefit to claim, unlike DLA was. I would think there's less people claiming PIP fraudulantly.

Matilda

I'm not sure DLA was an easy benefit to claim.  When I first claimed DLA I was assessed by a doctor and a report from my GP was requested and supplied before I was given any money (whereas with PIP I was assessed by an Atos paramedic who didn't know the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis from her whatever, and no GP report requested).

Nystagmite

poppy123456 said:

PIP isn't exactly an easy benefit to claim, unlike DLA was. I would think there's less people claiming PIP fraudulantly.

Given the way the assessments are, I won't be surprised if there's more fraud / lies on at ATOS than claimants.

I did personally have a lot of problems claiming DLA too.

Teresa1964

I found atos lady blatantly lied on my first form, saying I went alone!!!!! Even though she knew my friend was unable to come in because of inadequate parking, which meant they had to drop me off, helped me into room, but had to go park car on street and sit in car as double yellow lines, that was 1st of many lies, they also are not medical professionals, as I asked the young lady who was no older than 21, so my second review I made sure. Had someone with me, absolutely disgusting and disgraceful the way we are treated by atos, understand they get alot of fraudulent claims, but they shouldn't treat us all as fraudulent claimants x

wildlife

So where do all these fraudulent claimants get their medical evidence from? Doctors are not going to risk putting pen to paper to say someone has an illness or condition that they haven't got. That's the difference between disability benefit and other types of benefit fraud. If someone is going to do that they would surely choose a benefit where their own lies are all that's needed. 

Matilda

Atos are the frauds!

Teresa1964

So you didn't see program n TV not sure what. Long ago where that lady claims she couldn't even cut up her own food then, and was living the life from luxury, she managed to fool the DWP/PIP AND WAS CLAIMING ALL SORTS, IT'S A DISGRACE AND SHE'S PROBABLY NOT THE FIRST NOR WILL SHE BE THE LAST. IT'S. Pple like that that make it difficult for us genuinely who need it to help us live a so called normal life, if only 

Teresa1964

And these are just a couple, but we are all tarred with same brush grrrr 

poppy123456

Yes assessment providers lie, i haven't said they don't. What we don't hear about though is the good stories and they are out there. The reason we don't hear baout them is because if a person has a decision they're happy with then they don't have any questions to ask, so we don't hear their story.

I first claimed PIP 3 years ago. Waited 11 months for a face 2 face then 3 weeks for a decision. It went in my favour, the report from my assessment was 100% truthful. My PIP review was last year, i reported changes in my mobiity and sent in the evidence to prove this. I was sent for another assessment. The HCP i had was really really nice. My report was yet again 100% truthful and 5 days later i recieved a decision which again was in my favour. My mobility was increased to Enhanced with daily living remaining the same at Standard. Those truthful reports ar out there! I'm proof of that.

Nystagmite

The good ones are a minority though. Else there wouldn't be so many going to appeal and winning.

poppy123456

You don't know that because we just don't hear about them. 65% of those who appear at their Tribunal have a decision in their favour. It's actually much lower for those that ask for a paper based decision.

CockneyRebel

It would be interesting to see a breakdown by area as to where the bad assessors are.
To date I have been part of/assisted with 8 separate PIP assessment and not had one bad assessor to date

Nystagmite

poppy123456 said:

You don't know that because we just don't hear about them. 65% of those who appear at their Tribunal have a decision in their favour. It's actually much lower for those that ask for a paper based decision.

Why would so many win at tribunal if the decent assessors weren't a minority?

poppy123456

CockneyRebel said:

It would be interesting to see a breakdown by area as to where the bad assessors are.
To date I have been part of/assisted with 8 separate PIP assessment and not had one bad assessor to date

This proves exactly what i'm trying to say, we don't hear about the good stories and people automatically assume all the stories are bad.

Matilda

Not all stories are bad - but plenty are!