Upset about the distress that the PIP process causes people

Chips302

I'm so upset for the distress that the PIP process is causing people. My son is 16 and diagnosed with Aspergers and ADHD. I received DLA on his behalf and his appointee for PIP. I write reports for a living and yet it still took me 7 hours to complete the application form.  He then went for his assessment which I spent weeks preparing him for.  He received zero marks for absolutely every section! It took 3 years for medical professionals to diagnose him, 7 hours for me to complete a form and half an hour for a lady to decide that there isn't anything wrong with him. I have submitted a lengthy letter for them to reconsider and gave even more evidence along with copies of his psychiatric diagnosis as I was also horrified that they never contacted any medical professionals.  
What I am finding really upsetting is to know that so many people are having to go through this process alone and at least my son has me as the barrier between the DWP and him.  To take people's money off them as well as their cars and support is such a national disgrace. I have emailed 4 MP's regarding this and don't intend on stopping there.  If I'm struggling with the process despite the intense job I do compiling reports then this process is set up to make people fail.  

markyboy

PIP is not about how much medical evidence you submit or what conditions you have its all about how you carry out the descriptors laid out in the PIP criteria.
I have read on this site somebody who sent in over 200 pages of medical evidence and still failed to get PIP.
Good luck anyway with your campaign 

Chips302

My son told them that he is unable to mix with people and said about the anxiety this causes him yet the assessor put that he is able to mix with people and speaks to friends on the phone. I wish this were true but he doesn't have any friends.  There are so many blatant lies from the assessor who has ignored answers given and made up her own. They even stated that one of the reasons he isn't receiving any help is because he attends mainstream school and has passed his English and maths GCSE's. There aren't any other choices available to him than the school he attends, he doesn't do GCSE's as we are in Scotland and just because he has his conditions doesn't make him thick. I'm more annoyed about the lies and ignoring his answers. Only a diagnosis letter sent, not much else medically I can provide with his conditions! 

Matilda

It is a scandal, yet the government claim that most claimants are happy with the PIP process!  So how do they explain the burgeoning number of appeals?

 Many assessors are either incompetent or dishonest or both.  However, tribunals are well aware of this which is why 69% of appeals succeed.

Did you ask DWP for a copy of the assessor's report.

markyboy

Try not to stress to much this is what assessors do and they get found out at the tribunals the only downside is that you have to wait 9 months to get your day in court.

mushu

I fully agree. It’s always a treat to read what the assessor writes about and then how a total stranger inturprets that. 
There was all sorts in the assessors notes like I don’t go anywhere alone and don’t socialise but the assessor put needs prompting to engage with others, if only that were true. The best part had to be was where he wrote that with medication he sees me at a full recovery within 6months. I have emotionally unstable personality disorder, agoraphobia, panic disorder and severe generalised anxiety not a broken wrist I’ve been this way since I was 12yrs old I’m 32 now. The assessors have no idea about mental health it’s insulting. The system is fundamentally flawed for people who suffer with mental health 

debbiedo49

Good luck 

Chips302

 Thank you guys.  I've applied for his assessment notes and see what response I get to the mandatory reconsideration 

Yadnad

mushu said:

I fully agree. It’s always a treat to read what the assessor writes about and then how a total stranger inturprets that. 
There was all sorts in the assessors notes like I don’t go anywhere alone and don’t socialise but the assessor put needs prompting to engage with others, if only that were true. The best part had to be was where he wrote that with medication he sees me at a full recovery within 6months. I have emotionally unstable personality disorder, agoraphobia, panic disorder and severe generalised anxiety not a broken wrist I’ve been this way since I was 12yrs old I’m 32 now. The assessors have no idea about mental health it’s insulting. The system is fundamentally flawed for people who suffer with mental health 

With mental health problems the first hurdle is getting the assessor and the DWP to accept that you really do have these issues.
I have the DWP paying me a for life award of £70 a week to compensate for my mental health issues, years of reports from all manner of professionals confirming the issues, discharge reports from when I was under section, yet when the assessor tested my mental health they came up with some 14 one line statements that added up to the fact that there is nothing wrong with my mental health!!

Good luck  

littleruthie123

It's disquesting how there getting away with this .all this news of mental health conditions being taken more seriously and there still up too thete old trinks. Breaks my heart how they treat people and fills me with anger .what's the answer??.something needs too changes grrrr rrr 

Jomiranda

Omg You all too!  Tòtally agree & feel upset that my Son 28yrs old diagnosed at between 6/8 yr old with Developmental Dyspraxia Autistic Spectrum Disorder. Dyslexia, Add & went into Recovery Simple Sychosis at end of first year in Music College. Could only go to main stream school, as Nothing else available. Taken off DLA after Assesment for PIP. They said he could do Eye contact & felt he had reasonable understanding. He doesn't have any friends & struggles to start a conversation away from home. Etc etc. They now (as he has to change to Universal Credit) want him to Work towards going for Jobs, & i am fighting for him to be able to do Confidence course instead, they want Sick Notes every 4 weeks from Dr's. Disgraceful DWP Assessors Do Not Know what they are doing. Rueining Our Lives!!!