Assessment tomorrow morning. Do I stand any chance?

Bingo

Deleted, double post (bat gateway or something)

Bingo

Applied for PIP, got a date for two weeks time but asked for it to be changed and its now tomorrow morning.

Long story short, I have severe Arthritis in both knees, Decaying Facet Joints in my back and chronic long term gout.  I was also diagnosed with depression in January although anti depressants did not work.  

Been self employed for 18 years but can no longer really work apart from remote stuff or easy access clients on a good day but its all gone now really as a result of me not being mobile.  Cant put my own shoes or socks on and on bad days cannot even get downstairs.  On occasions I Can be laid up for days and even weeks and spend most of my time just laid in bed.  I Can however with care get out to the car on good days, drive no problem and the one exercise I can do on good days is swim if I can get in the pool and arrive in Flip Flops. 

Not much wrong with my mind or remembering stuff etc.  Have no idea if I am eligible but just wondered what my chances were and if there was any other advice members might offer.  My wife wants me to go on my own while she goes shopping but it seems the advice is to have someone with you. 

Chloe_Scope

Hi @Bingo and welcome to the community! The PIP assessment will be based on your abilities and how a condition affects you, rather than a diagnosis that you have. It also can be beneficial to have someone with you for support. It's important to note the assessor would be interested if you can do things safety and repeated. Just be honest, expand on points and try to relax

I hope other members will be able to offer some more advice. If I don't have chance to reply again then I wish you the very best of luck for tomorrow and please do let us know how you get on

wilko

@Bingo, hello and welcome. PIP is about your abilities not your diagnosis or illnesses to cope and manage the PIP descriptors in relation to the two components daily living and mobility. Bingo wait a week after your assessment and phone DWP  and request a copy of your assessment report then you can see what your award may should be but you still have to wait for the official notification letter. Good luck for the assessment. 

zakblood

good luck and only time will tell, stay positive until informed otherwise 

Bingo

Thanks for the replies.  Ill take that on board. I dont have a problem with confidence which may work against me I dont know but I certainly have a problem with mobility and safety.  Ive lost count of the number if injuries I have had from trying to move around this place (home) and I just cannot get out and work in the field anymore (I work in IT).  I lost a big job recently on a large estate simply (I am sure) because it was clear I was not able to walk around and assess what was required properly.  Cant say I blame them but its a bit crushing really to realise your career is basically over because of your disabilities. I could never hold down a full time job again either as I have no idea from one week to the next how mobile I will be but I also get the impression from reading through on here and various other forums that there are people with far worse conditions than me that have been turned down.  I am 53 years old.

What happens to all these people? Do they just eventually starve?  Its all new to me really.  Ive always been able to work, earn and save but not anymore.

Thanks again.

poppy123456

Hi,

PIP isn't about not being able to work. It's about how your conditions affect your ability to carry out daily activity based on the PIP descriptors. No one can tell you whether your claim will be successful or not because we don't know how your conditions affect you.

Wait a week after the assessment and ring DWP to request a copy of the assessment report. This will give you some idea what the decision is likely to be because they mostly go with the report.

If you're not successful then it's Mandatory Reconsideration first then Tribunal.

Good luck for the assessment.

zakblood

iv'e never gone for Pip, and was on incapacity then ESA for 20 years, just failed my last WCA 57 days ago, and yes sent in and had it get lost after being sent recorded del, so yes that happens also, they sign for it and still lose it, but did another and sent it on Monday this week internally at the job center and just had the DWP phone to confirmed it's arrival, so another 12 to 14 days more now to wait for the MR decision, then when i hear no, and fully expecting it, then onto Tribunal, so yes "starve" is as good a word as any on what can happen regarding the DWP for those using the system, so add in 57 to the 14 or so on top, and that's how many days now months i have received £0 from them, so until i get the appeal date after the MR says yes or no, i don't get a bean, welcome to the modern DWP care less world

Bingo

Thanks again.  Maybe work is relevant as I do still occasionally have to go out to work and its really difficult. Should I mention it or not?  I dont hold out much hope to be honest. Seems you have to be practically dead by the sound of it.

Sorry for being dim but what is "MR" everyone keeps mentioning please?

poppy123456

You'll most likely be asked if you work or not as this is part of the assessment and the things they ask you. People work and claim PIP but if the work you do contradicts the reasons for your PIP claim then this can go against you.

Remember we only ever hear the bad stories on an internet forum. If someone receives an award they're happy with they have no questions to ask, so we don't hear their story. Lots of people claim PIP successfully first time without any problems at all. My daughter and myself have never had any problems.

MR is mandatory reconsideration and this is the first step to an appeal if you're not happy with the decision.

Bingo

Thanks. Will see how it goes in the morning and report back.  Im fairly relaxed about it to be honest.  Ive pretty much decided I wont get it after reading up but as you rightly point out Poppy thousands probably dont post if they do with no problems.  I just had nothing to really compare my conditions to until I started reading online recently.

zakblood

good luck, you never know unless you ask and try

Chloe_Scope

Very best of luck with your assessment this morning @Bingo!

Bingo

Thanks.

Well I think it went very well, in terms of it being nothing to worry about really or remotely stressful.  The lady I saw was lovely and I didnt get the impression she was trying to catch me out on anything or ask leading questions but then again what do I know?  Was in there just under an hour but it flew to be honest.  Sad as it sounds I actually quite enjoyed most of it. Human contact!  I live in the middle of nowhere.  She reckons I will get to hear in 4-6 weeks.  I asked about seeing a copy of her report and she suggested I contact the PIP people in about a week.  

Towards the end though having gone through it all it did leave me feeling somewhat down having spent an hour describing just how restricted your life has become but hey ho, there are a lot of people worse off than me.  Cheers for all the advice, will update on the outcome as and when.

zakblood

glad your sorted and yes there's always some more worse off, which is what keeps me smiling also, as no matter how down you are at any given moment, someone somewhere is worse, so i feel as much for them as i do for myself and all stories good or bad does help people so they know there not alone, thanks for sharing

Chloe_Scope

Hi @Bingo, I'm so glad the assessment went well and you found the assessor to be supportive! It's also great that you asked about seeing the report. Like she said, if you ring up in about a week they will be able to send this to you

I have had a PIP assessment and can completely relate to feeling a bit rubbish afterwards due to the topics that were discussed (even with a good assessor) but I guess this is due to often not thinking about our lives in this way. I hope you have a relaxing afternoon and are able to do something nice

We have a lot of discussions in the coffee lounge if you would like to talk about other things on the community besides PIP.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you and please do let us know how you get on

Bingo

Thanks Chloe for those kind words.  I dunno about "doing something nice".  I scoffed a corned beef slice my wife bought for me while I was in the assessment, went home and laid in bed with a hot water bottle (its freezing here). 

I seem to spend most of my life horizontal due to various conditions, cant sit for too long and standing is out. Im pretty bad at the moment though so hopefully will get out when the weather improves but yeah the whole thing has driven home to me just what a crappy state Ive become.  Im not skint though (yet) and have a roof over my head so all is not lost.

Chloe_Scope

No problem at all @Bingo! Even peacefully lying down and relaxing can be a nice way to spend the afternoon. Do you read at all? When I have to lie down I find audio books really nice

Bingo

Chloe_Scope said:

No problem at all @Bingo! Even peacefully lying down and relaxing can be a nice way to spend the afternoon. Do you read at all? When I have to lie down I find audio books really nice

Funny but that was one of the questions I got asked today "Did I read much".  I used to, a lot.  These days I find I Cannot concentrate on a book and end up reading stuff over and over again (other stuff going on in my head I guess) so I tend to read about 20min before going to sleep.  I spend half my life on social media to be honest either larking about with friends (I run my own forum) or debating politics.    Other free time is spent making music.  My office which is no longer really necessary is now pretty much a music studio.  I think its that (music) thats kept me sane(ish) really.  

zakblood

ability to read for 20 mins, ok your fit for work, failed 

then again i had on my report i can open a door with my right hand, never mind the left hung limp and was found fit for work, and as im dyslexic every pages can sometimes feel like reading the last one more than a few times tbh

poppy123456

zakblood said:

ability to read for 20 mins, ok your fit for work, failed 

PIP isn't about not being able to work. That's ESA and this thread is about PIP, they are 2 totally different benefits.

zakblood

it's a joke Poppy, that's why the smiley face and halo

and was never meant as meaningful and correct reply, sorry my sort of humor seems to not to be understood by many

Chloe_Scope

Running your own forum sounds interesting @Bingo! 

Bingo

Just a bit of fun really although Ive been involved a few other bigger ones.  Social media doesn't usually require working legs!   

zakblood

or more than one working hand and arm, and issues with standing / sittings and walking don't apply, don't sleep well in bad, but lying down jobs are fine, as long as i don't move around quickly, and forum work can be done when you are capable, unlike real jobs when they need and want you 5/8 when some days 1/1 is too much for some

zakblood

fair point and comment, message understood and goodbye, seems humor isn't wanted or needed in some's hours of need, so will just go else where then, ty

Bingo

Dont take the hump Zak.  As the OP I could do with a laugh.  Feeling pretty miserable about the whole thing today to be honest. 

zakblood

lol bad day, ok, ive had no money from a failed WCA from the DWP on ESA support group on incapacity before that and now after 20 years of being ill, im found cured, so 59 days waiting for a MR decision with £0 money until a tribunal date which could be upto a years wait more, then today with so much rain, my roof failed and my bathroom ceiling is now on the floor, with more water coming in and faster than my bath taps run, and i'm off taking the hump, hehehehe, make you laugh?, should have heard me on the phone this morning to the AA, my home and content issuance people, at 9am i got through, after waiting an hour, then got told after a 45 min phone call i wasn't covered, as it wasn't accidental damage? which i don't have cover for, just basic house and home cover, so if the house falls down, they will rebuild it, but if the rains comes down so fast it takes tiles off my roof and rain poor in, i'm not? lol, so after being left of the phone speechless, i say ok and thanks and put the phone down, 4am i ring them again and get someone else, waited to get my blood pressure down and wait for my meds to kick in before my heart or girlfriend killed me, so i again tell them my life story, but leave out the bit about being hated by the DWP and Amber Rudd and Ms McVey and God today only to be told, that i was insured and they will send someone out tomorrow to assess the damage and see if i'm covered fully then repair, or not, as if it's wear and tear, i'm not covered but if it's storm damage i i'm, well made me laugh, how about you? so now fingers crossed another assessor, the love of my life, how that for a story and hope it made someone happy, as i could have cried lol, seem i have more mental health issue than i've been diagnosed with, but no, DWPO says i'm fine, so must be, (and ilovecats) so do i, have 2 rescue cats nursed by me from 3 to 4 days old, both abandoned with a brother or sister which was dead when found, and no sight of there mum, i'm not all that bad, not good either, just different, somewhat odd maybe  

rete

Pip makes me laugh should be called can't do **** all payment cus if ya do anything remotely seen as independent  your refused it . I have myathenia gravis which even my gp have little knowledge about or even some specialists. Bet most on here never even heard of it lol as well as mental health issues .I battle every day and wake up not knowing what my day will be like now got to.battle and fight these so called asssers. Is you have an invisabe illness how on earth do you get through to these idiots 

zakblood

fight them at Tribunal, it's the only option, takes time and alot of stress, but in the end they give you what you deserve most of the time, so good luck and sorry you in the same boat as me when hidden means unknown, unsupported and none cared about, with plenty of support and help, it's a way of getting when everything else has failed

Adrian_Scope

I'm sorry to hear yesterday was a bit rubbish @zakblood. Any idea what time they'll be coming round to assess? Fingers crossed and please let us know if there's anything we can do to support you.

zakblood

not had a phone call as yet, but it's stopped raining for the moment, but looking in the news, there's plenty worse off, as my dads on the east coast and they have whole rows of houses under water, so my bathroom with no ceiling and buckets in is quite mild, but if gets any stronger, the wind and the rain as it's forecast to on Wednesday and Thursday next week, i won't be able to empty the buckets fast enough and then downstairs which is dry and damage free atm will also be worse, and they know it as i've told them, even explaining i'm ex disabled and can't go into the loft and see if there's a tile missing or not, same as outside i just can't see, have asked others to look, and so far nobody can see where the water is coming from, but it ain't pipes as i have none up there, so will just have to wait, not that i'm not used to waiting thanks, it's been 60 days from my failed WCA and still no reply from my MR letter, they say as i've contacted them 3 time now, it will be at least 2 more weeks, but no sorry or anything, and since i've had no money since April 15 this year, it's a long time to wait and have others provide for me, so thankful i have a supportive family and friends, my partner does all she can, but can't work all day and then jump through hoops helping me with everything as well, but she still loves me so nothing else matters, and so do my cats, so in the grand scale of things, i'm alive and there's always someone worse off, so will live and survive and hopefully get a tribunal date soon and then wait for a year until it happens, so same old same old, and thanks for the offer, but i'm sure there's plenty more that need it more than i do

Adrian_Scope

Sorry if I've missed an update elsewhere @zakblood, just wondering how you're getting on? Did they send anyone in the end? 

Bingo

Just an update.  It would appear I have been successful in my claim.  I say appear as I am away currently from home but I just checked my bank account and there is £1300 gone into it from DWP PIP which is great but does anyone know how they will have worked that out?  I think I applied in May so is it back dated and can I assume I got both enhanced amounts?  What should it be per month.  Really pleased though.  Thanks for all the useful help and advice on here.

poppy123456

It will depend when in May you applied.

Bingo

I think it was the 24th. I'm just trying to work out what I've been awarded

poppy123456

I think the best thing you can do is wait until you get home so you can see the award letter yourself or ring DWP and ask, they will tell you. If i said an award and that isn't what you actually got then you'll be disappointed. Without knowing the exact dates then it's just a guess.

Bingo

Thanks. I did tell them I could be away and asked if they could inform me by text. I just wondered if I maybe need to return or sign anything else. I guess as you say ringing them might be best

poppy123456

They don't send decisions via text message and you won't need to return or sign anything because you've already received payment.

If you're on holiday in the UK calls to DWP are free.

saz11

@Bingo

Well done great news.

Bingo

Thanks. Yes I am pleased. I'll call them this morning 

Chloe_Scope

I hope the phone call confirms this great news!

Bingo

It has.  Standard daily living and enhanced mobility awarded.  It's such a relief.  Awarded until 2023 where I assume they will reassess? Thanks a lot to everyone who offered advice and good luck to others with their claims.

Chloe_Scope

That's great news @Bingo! Yes, they will reassess about 6 months before the award is due to end.