PIP ASSESMENTS

dianejane

I am so scared...I have this New PIP asessment where I have to go to an interview or i lose my money and my independance.  I think these interviews are degrading and it make me feel like a child! I have heard they are ripping peoples benefits away from them if they do one more walking step...theyre dont look like theyre in pain etc I mean How do they know? I find this system terrible and its making my mobility worse from stress...

CockneyRebel

Things to know about PIP

Get face to face advice from CAB, welfare rights or similar whenever possible

DLA and PIP use different criteria for awards

Just because you had DLA indefinately does not guarantee you will qualify for PIP

When making the initial phone call ask for your DLA to be taken into consideration if applicable

When you receive your PIP2 form you can ask for an extension of two weeks to complete and return it if need be.

It is important to understand the points system, descriptors and criteria for an award Have a look at the B&W self test

http://www.mybenefitsandwork.co.uk/pip/indexxx.php

PIP is about how your condition affect your functionality. The "HOW"
Medical evidence is only usefull to explain the "WHY. On its own, medical evidence will not win you an award
Only send relevant medical evidence. More is not always better. HCP's and DM's will not spend time combing through your edition of War and Peace to find the facts.

Most claimants will be required to attend a f2f assessment, usually at a centre.

If you are unable to attend a centre and need a home visit, you will normally require a GP's letter stating explicitly that you cannot attend a centre and why. There must be no ambiguity.

When you receive an appointment date you can rearrange it once only, you must then attend the new appointment

Failure to attend will result in your file being returned to the DWP and your claim maybe closed.

When you do attend the assessment you may take a companion for support.

Make no special effort, be yourself

Take your medication as prescribed

Most people with long term conditions have learned to manage and conceal their condition. On the day you must become "disabled" for the assessor to see the real you, otherwise an incorrect assessment is likely.

I am in no way suggesting that anyone should put on an act and pretend to be worse than they are, many people are already stressed, but at the same time it will not help if the claimant " Puts on a brave face" as my gran used to say

If you have a home visit, the assessor is just the same as any visitor , they do not have the right to look around your home.

If possible have a companion with you

Keep to your normal routine. If at the appointed time you are normaly still in bed or not dressed, then, if you are comfortable, there is no reason to alter that.

You decide which room the assessment takes place in
Assessors may arrive early or late so be ready. Have your ID and medication list to hand.

The assessor will be observing everything you do from the start, how you sit, stand, walk, handle items such as bags and coats.

Don't expect them to answer many questions, they have an agenda and will want to stick to it.

If you have a companion they can take notes.

After the assessment you should ring the DWP and ask for a copy of the report, but wait for 3-4 days for them to receive it. Do not be fobbed off, you are entitled to it no matter what the phone jockey tells you.

When you receive the report it will give you an indication of your possible award it is a recommendation only, it is the DM that makes the decision and it may differ.

When you receive the decision letter, you have a month from the date on the letter to ask for a mandatory reconsideration, no extension is normally given. You can do so by phone and or letter.

If you have received an award the decision letter will tell you what it is, how much and from when.
If it is a new claim it will be dated from the day of the first phone call. If a change from DLA then it should be dated the day after your DLA stops. If it is a review then it should be a continuation with any back date if a higher award is given

Look for both the end date and the "We will contact you after " date. Reviews are usually carried out a year before the end date. Some shorter awards have an end date and you will have to reapply.

Some useful links

https://www.gov.uk/government/public...ment-providers
 

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/be...nd-carers/pip/

https://www.rethink.org/resources/p

topshoes

Hi @dianejane a warm welcome to you , yes i know what you mean , yes they are degrading  i think for everyone , when is your assessment , try not to stress yourself out about it and i know it is easier said then done .just think to yourself once its over with that is it  .

Phill2433

Can you have your PIP reassessed. I am on low rate mobility but my illness is getting worse. I have stage 3 COPD. 
I am soon having ti go for an operation on my right lung. 

CockneyRebel

If your condition worstens then you can put in  change of circumstance which will usually mean a full reassessment

topshoes

@Phill2433 i am sorry to hear that , i think you can if things get worse yes , the thing is might be better for you once you had operation  to get in touch with them , or your going to have more stress

poppy123456

Phill2433 said:

Can you have your PIP reassessed. I am on low rate mobility but my illness is getting worse. I have stage 3 COPD. 
I am soon having ti go for an operation on my right lung. 

You need to get further advice from welfare rights/CAB or similar before reporting a worsening condition. A worsening condition doesn't mean you'll be awarded more points. Your existing award maybe at risk because people report changes and they lose everything they already have.

Yadnad

CockneyRebel said:

Things to know about PIP

DLA and PIP use different criteria for awards

When making the initial phone call ask for your DLA to be taken into consideration if applicable

All of what you say is good advice, although I do disagree with some of it but that isn't relevant here.

For the purpose of completeness as the above two comments are contradictory.
If DLA has different criteria for an award I wonder if you could explain to the OP why you say that the claimant should ask the DWP to take the DLA award into consideration when claiming PIP?
 Confused 

dianejane

Thank you everyone. Im also worried that Im gonna go alone? My appointment is 19th Nov.  They first told me to go london for my f2f..I rang them to get that changed as I did ask for "local" & I get anxious if in a place I dont know. They gave me Hitchin which is closer.  But my daughter may not be able to help (school runs etc) if i turn up alone can they judge me as "doing things for myself" and can be able to do things myself..meaning im able to plan journeys myself?
Im just worried sick...as i do suffer severe anxiety and severe depression..along with my physical disabililtes.

topshoes

that is fine you are more then welcome , yes when they phoned me up they said about me going miles away so ask for one close then could get me , that was about 5 miles away , i went on my own,  i was worrying  how to get to the pleace more then any think , yes it is so stressful for anyone 

dianejane

You are so right...we learn to live with our disabilities so we work alongside the pain. Im on 24/7 MST..and Oramorph. Without my MST...im climbing the walls in agony...I dont know if to show my "true colours" by not taking it..so by the time I go. I BE in agony. I know my gp wont be happy...but after yrs of being on very high doses...m6 body has learnt to adapt the pain? Does that make sense?

topshoes

if the dr give you pills you need to take them as it says on pk , yes i think so x 

dianejane

Yes true....thank you...As I think ,like all of us,i think..  we are genuine...as PIP are making me feel like a fraud...Its like they dont "believe" us ..and its our job to convince them that what I am saying is genuine...sorry this is my anxiety starting to come through...im not sleeping because of this worry. 

topshoes

try not to worry to much dont do you any good 

topshoes

think you will find they make everyone feel like that , yes i know i wonder if the tables were turned what would they think then , thats fine

topshoes

i say good night now, see if you can get some sleep , and please try not to worry , not sure if anyone is up or not  on here . 

poppy123456

When you filled out the form, if you stated that you don't go anywhere alone for following and planning a journey and you go to the assessment alone then it could go against you because it like you're contradicting what you've said.

During your assessment they will watch you from the minute you arrive to the minute you leave. If you can't do something that will cause you pain and discomfort then tell them you can't do it and your reasons why.

Have a read of the PIP2 form you sent before you go  (hopefully you kept a copy for yourself) just to remind you of what you said. If you're planning on handing in extra evidence on the day then be aware that they may not accept it, it happened to me and lots of other people too. Good luck.

dianejane

Thank you...yes CAB..helped fill the form out for me and gave me a copy. I have a bag full of hospital appointments...Im under 5 consultants..(CAB did photo copy some and sent it off with my application for PIP) 
I WILL go see CAB this week and ask if anyone can assist me. One other thing..I've just been referred to yet another consultant..due to excessive tiredness I've had test after test..I personally feel its fibromyalgia but I'm no Dr. But I now have to see a endocrinologist? I think that's their title to test my pituitary gland. I just got the letter for my first appointment. Should I take that?

poppy123456

Just so you know, future appointment dates/times are not classed as evidence for a PIP claim.

Yadnad

dianejane said:

Yes true....thank you...As I think ,like all of us,i think..  we are genuine...as PIP are making me feel like a fraud...Its like they dont "believe" us ..and its our job to convince them that what I am saying is genuine...sorry this is my anxiety starting to come through...im not sleeping because of this worry. 

That's absolutely true. Otherwise if the DWP were to accept what everybody put's on their claim form everyone would be receiving an award of Enhanced Care & Mobility.

Until you can prove that you are innocent and not trying to defraud the DWP then you will not get any award.

dianejane

Unfortunately..theres frauds in every mode...especially gangs doung fraudulent claims..this then puts pressure on the genuine claimants like ourselves..I bet all of us on here have hospital notes so long..so this from appointments...surgeries..that even mine is carried by the nurse with 2 arms! That heavy!. Then yes I do agree theres the ones that have no drs...no consultant paperwork..etc and are claiming.... many years ago people were put on disability for migraine and headaches!! Yes hard to prove even if you do suffer from them. But surely when you fill in the part "can we contact any dr...surgeon...organisation" etc. And You give a couple of links..they can see the visits..the ops youve had..the meds you are on..that surely  you could bypass these f2f appointments? I mean ive read some appalling cases of amputees...severe disabilities..having their PIP denied..how on earth can the adjudicator sleep at night?