nav[aria-label="Primary Navigation"] { padding: 0; & ul { list-style: none; width: 100%; display: flex; flex-direction: row; justify-content: start; align-items: start; gap: 30px; padding: 0; & li { margin: 0; } & ul li { list-style: none; } } }

We want to hear from you: please tell us about your experience of the online community.

PIP ASSESSMENT

thespiceman

Hello every body so I went to my PIP assessment on Monday . Had a lot to think about. Whether I should comment or share .

Just never one to frighten or scaremonger people. Especially our community. Had to think . Trying to be thoughtful and those who have not been through this. With sensitivity and kindness.

There are those who have never been through this but in the end I have to say something.

The booklet you are given. I am afraid most of it does not happen. Sorry to tell you that. All I know was I approached the whole thing with some in trepidation

Lots of anxiety and much sleepless nights. Also our community have posted stories of their own ordeal. I was aware of all these. Grateful to them.

So on arriving with.my friend who was supporting me. Had some idea of what to expect.

First hurdle was to encounter was the very start. Arrived on time. A receptionist of the Health Club where the PIP was to take place. Greeted us and directed both me and my friend to a suite of rooms. Full of people over crowded.

Upon entering no one greeted us just the sign said PIP assessment. A security guard in a chair sat there. We had no introduction, no one asked us who we were and the rest . Eventually after about ten minutes. I plucked up the courage here for PIP assessments.

Have a seat . My friend sat on the floor. Chatting away to keep me calm. The security guard broke his silence. Chatting away and Andrew my friend and this lad. Seems like ages full chairs of people now empty.

Andrew asked for some assistance. No one came empty offices doors open. Just a farce and a mess. In the end must have been a long time. We reckon nearly hour this young girl turned up. Mumbling something in front of me.

Wanted ID asked got two as said in the leaflet. Wanted one. Anyway time is moving on. Got there 11.30 by this time nearly getting to one in the afternoon.

This woman approached and we found out the assessor. Due to assess me had gone home. Would you believe it.

By this time also in a lot of pain siting, standing muscles hurt. In a hot office with the insane thoughts of need some air and will some body help us.

Eventually got in to this room. First thing was these people have no medical reports from DWP. Sorry to tell you all that. Second asked could you repeat what I say to you. No and typing away trying to say what is happening. Rapid fire and she typing away furiously and just really getting to me . All these personal intimate questions.

Not too clear but had a lot of issues with her asking what I thought were irrelevant questions and do you really need to know that. Asked several times to repeat questions and started typing like mad. My point is what was she writing could be anything.

Also too long nearly over an hour. Could solve that one. Add to that my pain and the tiresome demeanour. I still cannot get the attitude of these people.

In the end asked me to exercises and I said no. Much to her chagrin. Am in pain.

Final conclusion has to change all of this. Was a trauma so much unnecessary time wasted. My opinion is no wonder every body is calling for a whole review of these assessments.

This time I do know so tired Andrew had to drive me home. Knackered.

Having been through so many I am still getting to the stage of my life. How and when do I need to prove myself worthy of getting help and support. From a Government whose whole attitude and demeanour is to prevent us all getting that help.

I know also every body has a comment on these assessments and so they should but in the end you feel ashamed and embarrassed to just ask for help and support.

If this is what I have to go through every time.

Find more posts tagged with

Comments

Pippa_Alumni

Thank you for sharing this with us @thespiceman, and I'm so sorry to hear that you found the process so draining- I'm sure many others will be able to relate. A huge well done for getting through it, and fingers crossed for the outcome you're hoping for!

thespiceman

Hello @Pippa_Scope Thank you for kind words.

I was mindful of our community members some who have not been through this.

Yet what helped me was relating of others past experiences .So I had some ideas.

Nothing could foresee what was going to come. Absolutely shocking. Even now as I have been through so many of these sorts of assessments.

No wonder some of our community have anxiety and get stressed. Including myself.

Having a lot of negativity does not help but I do feel as I have said embarrassed and ashamed to ask for support.

One final point am already convinced of failing. Why the possibility of failure is absolutely all there at the start.

Hope and pray I am all for a positive outcome but it is out of my hands. As there is no impartiality and bias towards the claimant.

Know have the support of the community.

Great to talk to you as always.

Speak soon

Take care

@thespiceman

wilko

Hi spice man, my last PIP,acessment went like a well oiled mechine, arrived produced my ID waited ten to,fifteen minutes.got taken to lift to second floor just sat down then called by acessor had interview walked back to lift with acessor using crutches, acessor used stairs and rang for a taxi to take me home and the receptionist opened the doors to see me off the premises. All in all a pleasent morning out. That was at the Bristol Center, I was awarded what I expected just took 10 weeks to get award letter due to Christmas.

thespiceman

Hello @wilko Thanks for reply. Glad to hear you had a good outcome.

Congratulations to you. All I hope and pray every body has an assessment like yours.

Good to hear from you.

starchild

@thespiceman oh no so very sorry about all this .I had my review st home with my dad Just could have been you in my flat totally irrelevant.Typing typing madness no idea what she wrote i didnt do some exercises hurts too much .Im Ed anorexia just so we know massive anxiety cried shouted was so frustrated been wound up for weeks about it. My Gp told me last week they never ask for input.The person who interviewed me said she was a nurse type type and just kept going on about how long shed been with me .They arent even required to have specialist k owlede re your health .I complained got a stupid letter back impo .In my work life if i had treated a person like that id be on a disciplinary .The assessment on that day is basically it is what it is . IM REALLY so very sorry that we are subjected to this .lx This is what happened to me and she couldnt wait to leave .Still not heard back terrified lx

Yadnad

thespiceman said:

If this is what I have to go through every time.

Probably yes. My three assessments/re-assessment were the same as you have noted. Every time I tried to explain something or add more information the assessors were already midway asking the next question. So it became a yes/no exercise. Dare I say no to anything - that was greeted not with a why? but a statement that gave me the choice of yes/no again. This continued until I eventually gave up and said yes - I agree entirely with your assumption.
hen they asked if I drive a car the answer was no. The next question was why not have you been banned? No. Have you ever driven a car - yes , and this was recently - yes.

thespiceman

Hello @starchild Thanks for getting back and replying to me. Thank you for your story. Sharing it with me and am sorry what you have been through.

There are a lot of issues and problems dealing with people on these assessments.

Please do not apologise. This is the community this is what we do. Share and care about each other. Try to support and help.

May I ask when was your assessment.? I was told six to eight weeks . Had to wait report available. After then. For me to read and make any judgement.

Might be worth seeking some clarity here. For yourself. Need to find out. .Have you had the result yet and you need to know. Some answers.

Please can I add hope you take care. Hope you try to cope the best you can.

Am here anytime to listen.

@thespiceman

starchild

@spiceman yes I know ill need to do a mr for this i shall request the report and than talk to helping hands who are in Wigston and will go tbrough that with me .My assessment was done at home my flat they have sent me txt to say that they are ready to make a decision .Ive just left it at that for now its not helping anythi g at all ive been doing well with the Ed impo i just have to keep it on a level and not let it be a trigger its the system thats needs to be changed ty for your support and this loving caring community that i am proud and lucky to be part of lx thanks for listening ??

thara

Hugs.

Ask for a mandatory re-evaluation. My son’s first assessment was unprofessional. I included a ton of questions seeking information on his disability and what he can not do for himself at all. Basically make him look much more worse on paper than in real life. This is what my son’s social worker advised me to do. I also used one of those guides published online to help me complete the paperwork properly. After several weeks of not knowing anything and multiple calls from both of us we learned the outcome. Once the form was done and sent off I drank a cup of strong tea. After reading through the posts on here I feel less alone.

thespiceman

Hello @thara Pleased to meet you. Want to say we are all here to help and advise anytime. Be supportive as much we all can.

Thank you for sharing your son's ordeal of an assessment. Never ever want to go through that again. Hope and pray for others successful outcome.

Hope you take care

@thespiceman

starchild

@thara yes i shall it was total rubbish and we have great help on here just good to share get advice you dont have to do a f2f st all you can in some circumstances do a form only glad to hear you got through it lx

thara

Thanks. The assessment took place last fall. It was our first ever time so I insisted that they come to my flat instead of me having to make the journey there with both of my children. Don’t understand why they blindly insist on these assessments if they are constantly going to turn us down anyway? And the criteria is ridiculously naive and not specific enough.

wifeofcptsd

Im so sorry that was your experience. We recently went through one and luckily we had a better experience somewhat although one thing you said did occur to me as being true, the questions are ridiculously imposing. We had our whole home existence ripped apart in front of a stranger and it felt so wrong. They make you feel like you are begging for money. Luckily my hisband has forgotten the whole experience but its just another bad time for my poor husbands overworked brain to comprehend.

thespiceman

Hello @wifeofcptsd Thank you for contributing to my post. Understand your assessment. You have my support as I am sure the whole of the community.. I am so sorry to hear what you had gone through.

All I know we are not alone. Many of our community. Have gone through this. Please can I add. What upset me was asking about personal intimate details that have no jurisdiction in a torrent of questioning.

Do you really need to know that.? In front of my friend who was clearly upset after wards and apologised for not being there to support.

When I am suffering. Not his fault. Like you have said it implying that you need to plea or beg to ask for help..

I have myself still get flashbacks but has it effected my mental state. Probably. The other thing still in my head. How can you assess some one in one hour. Have no medical reports. Have to type what I say. Of course will not be right, never has yet. In all the years I have done these. The lying report waiting for that to come back to haunt me.

Waiting now for failure. The long journey now will begin. In a ideal situation but be done better and more safe guards. Although what we say never change. All I know will be contacting MP if I fail. As so many have.

As for the booklet they give you. Well I know where to put that. So wish every body the success but I know in my heart the long tiresome aspect of assessment will continue.

Take care

@thespiceman

poppy123456

The reason they ask so many questions is they're trying to get a picture of how your conditions affect you. Yes, i agree that lots of people have lies told in their reports but believe it or not you do get some nice HCP's who do actually tell the truth, only problem is we don't hear about them. If someone has had a decision in their favour, they have no questions to ask so we don't hear their story.

Asking for a copy of the assessment report will give you some idea what the decision is likely to be, as they mostly go with the recommendations on there. It's also handy if you have to go down the MR route.

I'm not too sure what your local MP can do if a decision doesn't go in your favour.

Fingers crossed that you have a good outcome and not waiting too long for that decision. Good luck!

53FlowerGirl

I have just fired off an email to my M.P. conservative !! However, asked him to read the assessment accounts on this site and why they are getting away with bare-faced lies. Confess not too hopeful of any result but felt better for "doing something". M.P.s are off on their jolly holidays now after all.

wifeofcptsd

@thespiceman thank you for your words. I know also how ur friend feels it couldnt have been easy to witness a friend going through it, bad enough my husband. If u dont get it and need help im also available, since meeting my husband i have become very good with appeals and complaints as we have had a hard fight keeping our family together thanks to his condition. We have even fought and won against social services various times and been paid compo from them so know how to fight an unfair 'justice' system
@poppy123456 i no what u mean. We had a lovely woman who did the assessment even though the process was wrong in my eyes and we are now on pips. If the woman had any kind of attitude it would have flaired up my husbands condition so we were lucky.

thara

Agreed. We need to do something about the system seriously though I don’t know what.