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PIP assessor

Hi I am 58 suffered lots through my life...but to be now suffering with my health is causing lots of problems.
Hopefully I can get advice and chat to others in similar situations TY
Hopefully I can get advice and chat to others in similar situations TY
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Disability Gamechanger - 2019
I depend a lot online shopping.
I can drive on good days which are few and far between but then unable to even walk round a supermarket.
I need help & advice on how to get the PIP assessor to listen 100% not twist my wording.
I am know on liquid morphine amongst other medications.
My hospital visits are arranged through TASL transport.
Please advise
TYIA
Has your impairment got worse since you got PIP? You need to tell the DWP as soon as possible if your condition changes because this can affect your Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
Examples of things that may change how your condition affects you include:
your condition gets better or worse
the level of help you need changes
How to contact the DWP to report a change
Report a change as soon as possible. You can call or write to the DWP to tell them about the change, but you must write to them if you’ve changed your name. Once the change is reported, the DWP will write and let you know how it affects your PIP.
You’ll need to include these details when you report a change:
PIP helpline
Someone else can call on your behalf but you need to be with them so that you can give permission for them to speak for you.
Telephone: 0800 121 4433
Textphone: 0800 121 4493
Open Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm
Calls to this number are free from landlines or mobiles.
The contact address to use is on your original decision letter.
PIP Descriptors for Mobility
You need to meet certain criteria to get the mobility part of PIP. To get the mobility component of PIP, you must have a physical or mental condition that limits your ability to carry out some or all of these activities:
- planning and following journeys
- moving around
Activity Descriptors Points1. Planning and following journeys
a. Can plan and follow the route of a journey unaided. 0
b. Needs prompting to be able to undertake any journey to avoid overwhelming psychological distress to the claimant. 4
c. Cannot plan the route of a journey. 8
d. Cannot follow the route of an unfamiliar journey without another person, assistance dog or orientation aid. 10
e. Cannot undertake any journey because it would cause overwhelming psychological distress to the claimant. 10
f. Cannot follow the route of a familiar journey without another person, an assistance dog or an orientation aid. 12
2. Moving around
a. Can stand and then move more than 200 metres, either aided or unaided. 0
b. Can stand and then move more than 50 metres but no more than 200 metres, either aided or unaided 4
c. Can stand and then move unaided more than 20 metres but no more than 50 metres. 8
d. Can stand and then move using an aid or appliance more than 20 metres but no more than 50 metres. 10
e. Can stand and then move more than 1 metre but no more than 20 metres, either aided or unaided. 12
f. Cannot, either aided or unaided, – (i) stand; or (ii) move more than 1 metre. 12
I hope this helps
Senior online community officer
A tree fell onto my car in the high winds just before Christmas I wasn't 100% with driving before.
I have had a shield put in my left eye.
I had a fractured toe which required surgery then a pin in it ,its left it very swollen.
To top it all have had major surgery on my right arm. I have been unable to use my right arm for over 2 years.
I wanted to contact PIP., but they are very demoralizing and you think they're listening to you but they're looking at a screen not the person in front.
I have had another epidural in my spine this year.
I can walk but not far.
My health & mental health is strained to the limit...
My hospital visits I get taken as I am unable to drive.
Due to a pot.
But total lack of confidence.
I take various medications and more recently put on liquid morphine.
PIP assessments should be done on the individual and not text book.
Please advise
TY
No wonder so many deaths & suicides and they're not made accountable !!
From personal experience of someone that has been on Morphine, both liquid and the 12 hour version for years along with Pregabalin the nurse that held my assessment had me so tied up in knots that to shut her up (kept asking the same question over and over again but in different ways if my pain had gone because of the medication) I told her yes it had, is that what you wanted me to say?'
The true and sensible answer was what I had said previously that no I still suffer from pain which does cause the issues I had claimed for. But hey that was an unacceptable answer.
Looking at it further no one should admit to any medication that helps as that is giving away the opportunity for points. So obviously those claimants that you see that not just over estimate but fraudulently claim will never admit to having any life unless you can prove otherwise.
What about those claimants that obtain prescription drugs for pain having already deceived their GP into prescribing them? In this part of the world there is a growing market for both Tramadol, Gabapentin, Pregabalin, Morphine etc.on the streets. Either they are being stolen or incorrectly/over prescribed.
Would you just accept at face value that what is on a repeat prescription list must be needed by the claimant? I know more than a few that sell them on after collecting the drugs from the chemist.
The assessor relies entirely on a snapshot view lasting probably 45mins as to whether the impact said to be caused by pain actually exists?
In my humble opinion the reliability factor of that snapshot view is certainly questionable.
Now I fully understand why the assessor continually questioned my answers as presumably she was of the opinion that the pain I was in that was causing the impact didn't actually exist. To me now knowing this I don't blame her in her line of questioning despite as you say is against the rules.
Definitely far too much importance is being placed on a repeat prescription as being proof of pain. I am never too old to learn something new every day.
The one individual that I do know that does this was reported to our local beat officer by me a couple of weeks ago. I gave name, address and what I know for a fact. What they do with the information I have no idea. I also reported what appeared to be two youngish lads in a BMW parked up in front of our house yesterday that not only did they appear suspicious but were seen by me to hand something over to another driver of a car that pulled up and received what appeared to be 3 £50 notes (he held them up to see if they were genuine) I also photographed both cars and drivers.
What I was trying to point out that just because the claimant wafts a repeat prescription list at the assessor it would be extremely dangerous and in my opinion wrong to take it as read that 'this claimant must be genuine'. The only reason why that statement is flawed is that I know two people that actually get this medication every month and I know for a fact that one of them sells it on the streets. Seemingly they have no need for the drugs but get them to supply others addicts. Should they be accepted as genuine PIP claimants?
FM can be diagnosed by a GP providing they do the correct tests, a friend of mine who was diagnosed with FM spoke to fmauk about it.
I also suffer with Dense diverticulitis & sigmoid loop.
So yes my medication causes projectile vomiting plus esophageal mortality.
Amongst other health problems.
I thought this forum was to help advise etc.,
I thank you for your input.
@Waylay that's a very good point you make about people who act like they are fine, as the saying goes, never judge a book by it's cover.
If you have a condition which would normally be treated by medication, but you are unable to take that medication, or the meds don't work for you, then it would be wise to explain that on the application form.
It seems harsh but its true, when I had a F2F there was a couple, one pushing the wheelchair, making a bit of a fuss going in, fair enough, but watching them go out she stood up and walked to the car, sadly it happens and we all get tarred by their actions.
I could not do the job, I would probably accept every story given, there is a post in the forums by someone who had a lucky break with a good assessor and little evidence to support the claim, its rare most go the other way, no matter what you suffer from its what mood the assessor is in on the day.
You can have mountains of evidence which can be tossed aside and ignored should they feel like it, going to the CAB might be an option, if your medication is severe perhaps try asking for help when going to the pain clinic if you have one.
Sadly Doctors letter carry very little weight now, even hospital letters with your problems explained may not be enough.
At least the DWP have now dropped the 80% target from rejecting reconsideration even though they say it was not a target, using the term “essentially an aspiration” does not hide the fact they pretty much just ignored MR requests.
If anyone want to read up on it have a look at PIP and ESA Assessments inquiry Reports published on 9 and 14 February 2018. Government response published on 18 April 2018.
If you have any other questions (or need more advice) please don't hesitate to ask.
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