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Pip assessment report

Good afternoon everyone
Thank you for accepting me on this forum
My partner had her pip assessment over the phone before christmas
Today we recieved the report
After years of being her carer all i can say is this is the first time we have seen the failings and lies within this report
She suffers with severe mental health problems
And some mobility issues but her mental health is the debilitating side of it
And worsened during lockdown
The assessor basically made out that my partner suffers with no complications when talking to people yet in her comment below says exactly what my partner stated on the call
That I deal with all officials and professionals because she is greatly distressed and can only manage to speak to her mum
That is the first of many contradictions
I can safely say this assessor concentrated more on her mobility side in which that isnt so debilitating
My partner lays in bed day in day out she only eats when I'm practically begging her she is so under weight yet the assessor said no signs of eating disorder yet how can she tell that over the phone
The last assessor who did a face to face commented on how under weight and pale and frail she looked
I'm shocked
Her mood as gone down hill since I told her the possible outcome
And I'm heartbroken that she's basically been made out to be fine fit healthy and happy person
I have to encourage her to eat take her pills get a wash and also help her wash
She has made several suicide attempts
But apparently the assessor says she not at risk of hurting her self because of her children
It's hard work to juggle caring and been a full time dad
But now knowing that pip is making out our lives are normal and happy going to the biggest insult
and I'm stuck and how to fix this for my partner
I'm sorry if I rambled on
I'm just so hurt by the report when this assessor wasn't in front of her and made comments in the reports to questions she never asked on the phone
Thank you for accepting me on this forum
My partner had her pip assessment over the phone before christmas
Today we recieved the report
After years of being her carer all i can say is this is the first time we have seen the failings and lies within this report
She suffers with severe mental health problems
And some mobility issues but her mental health is the debilitating side of it
And worsened during lockdown
The assessor basically made out that my partner suffers with no complications when talking to people yet in her comment below says exactly what my partner stated on the call
That I deal with all officials and professionals because she is greatly distressed and can only manage to speak to her mum
That is the first of many contradictions
I can safely say this assessor concentrated more on her mobility side in which that isnt so debilitating
My partner lays in bed day in day out she only eats when I'm practically begging her she is so under weight yet the assessor said no signs of eating disorder yet how can she tell that over the phone
The last assessor who did a face to face commented on how under weight and pale and frail she looked
I'm shocked
Her mood as gone down hill since I told her the possible outcome
And I'm heartbroken that she's basically been made out to be fine fit healthy and happy person
I have to encourage her to eat take her pills get a wash and also help her wash
She has made several suicide attempts
But apparently the assessor says she not at risk of hurting her self because of her children
It's hard work to juggle caring and been a full time dad
But now knowing that pip is making out our lives are normal and happy going to the biggest insult
and I'm stuck and how to fix this for my partner
I'm sorry if I rambled on
I'm just so hurt by the report when this assessor wasn't in front of her and made comments in the reports to questions she never asked on the phone
Replies
Lots of people have this problem
The assessor give their opinion on the condition from what they are told
If the decision is to not give award you are satisfied with then put in a MR to appeal
Dint get hung up on lies just concentrate on how your wife is affected against each of the descriptors giving real examples
There are lots posts and advice on here to help you
Totaly wrong this practice in this present climate..
You have the MR and tribunal options and there is plenty of great advice to be had here.
I've applied for PIP for my son and myself and was successful.
My own claim was based on mental health, I had a phone assessment with a very straight talking, no nonsense yourkshire lady and was awarded.
But as has been said many times, we only hear about the bad experiences.
Dont give up, get help and advice.
Good luck
@red2021 many people have found phone assessments to work in their favour, you can't expect HCP's to put themselves at risk doing face 2 face meetings.
This must be an extremely difficult situation for you all. There's absolutely no need to apologise, you haven't rambled on at all. We're all here to listen and help where we can.
Along with the advice and further questions our other members have asked, I just wanted to check-in to see how you and your partner were doing. Is your partner receiving any support for her mental health at the moment? I was sorry to read that she's attempted suicide multiple times- is that something that your GP (or another doctor or mental health professional) is aware of?
It also sounds as though you have a lot on your plate in caring for her as well as the children. Do you think you could benefit from some further support?
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I'm requesting our family liaison officer to do a written letter
The gp are in no rush to help with treatment for my partner so I don't think they will be much help in asking for a report
They have failed to do her monthly injections since march this doesn't help her health side but we have to respect that out gp doesn't have the time due to the current pandemic
I can ring the practice up and see if they could get our gp to call back in the 4 week time frame of a mr
She has had successful face to face assessments since being poorly in 2008 was her first one
Luckily back then her mental health crisis team took her to that first one
We assumed at worst she would lose the mobility side
But she as always been on high rate or enhanced care low or standard rate mobility
But it looks like its 8 points for care
6 for mobility
She is severely underweight and wears childrens clothing she is 34 and is in age 10 to 11 clothing
But the assessor in this report said she had no weight issues and no eating disorder yet how can she clearly tell this over the phone
The last assessor from the 2018 face to face expressed the frail and severely underweight
In most comments
This was a review
It was extended till april 2021 but it was due to run out oct 2020
She also stated my partner spoke well and calmly
But in another comment said she semt withdrawn
My partner was a mess I only ever see her in that state when we have to leave the house and we are physically outside
So she avoids all her appointments because she cant cope leaving the house
She is not doing so good
I think this as knocked her down due to the fact this report makes out she's fine when we know that's not correct
She has had many people involved due to physocsis
Over the last 12 years
At the moment it's basically a family liaison officer
Who referred her to a CBT and mental health support over the phone
Due to the pandemic
She has been under many mental health services the ptsd is holding alot of the strugglings that is her biggest struggle at the moment due to the time of the year
So CBT is hopefully going to help her into how to control this or at least help her cope a little better
Her gp as been amazing since she was first diagnosed
She is on many types of medications
From what I can see the decision maker goes with the assessor report even thought the report is highly contradictory
She then had to go onto pip in 2018
What's upsetting is this was done over the phone and it's like was in front of her
Yet the assessors who have actually done face to face can see her struggles and her disabilitys
It's hard not to be upset
But it wont get us any where
But its heartbreaking for mentally and physically I'll people to have to go through this along with their disabilities
I've seen people on here refer to "copy&paste" or "ticking boxes" and I'm pretty much convinced it's a case of if the assessor doesn't cover the topic, the lowest level is automatically assumed/ticked. As an example, there was absolutely no discussion whatsoever about my ability to walk, what distance or timeframes. This translated in the report to "You stated you can walk for 30 minutes unaided." I'm guessing that's the "gold standard" of mobility and, as such, was assigned to me because I do not have any physical mobility difficulties and this was not under discussion/consideration.
Whilst me "stating" I could walk for 30min unaided was an outright falsehood, I took the advice of those on this forum and for my MR focused on only the areas that were discussed and pertinent to my claim. It's easier said than done, obviously, but it really makes sense to focus on the areas that really matter to your claim, not your sense of "fairness" or "accuracy".
The reviewing Decision Maker called yesterday (Thursday), out of the blue as it appears they do, and again he seemed friendly, particularly understanding and knowledgable about the queried areas. It was a very brief (8mins) call and very focused solely on the issues I'd raised. He was very (voluntarily) informative about how the process works and the timescales - he'd send a letter today (Friday) confirming the outcome of the Review.
Now it's the wait for the brown envelope (or, even, a bank transaction if I'm successful in the MR!) .....
I wanted to just update everyone
I rang to request a mr with the advice from our family liaison officer
We have 28 days to send in all my partners evidence and obvisouly the points we disagree on
He mentioned to ignore the new decision which arrived today as her claim is now on hold
Which made me wonder what that meant
Am I right in thinking my partner won't receive any payments at all now till this is either won or lost
As I say she has never had to be put in this position but after speaking with our liaison officer a lot of claimants are in our position
But he original award wasn't due to run out till april due to the pandemic it was extended
The decision what you got today is what she will be paid going forward unless she gets a different award from the mr
Even tho original award was extended to April this will now be overridden by the new award
Her letter should explain when payments should be made and amounts
The man on the phone said to ignore that decision letter we got today
And it's on hold till we get a new decision
This is what confused me as I was under the impression payments would carry on
Her new awards Is standard care
Her previous award was enhanced care standard mobility
I just hope she gets the outcome she deserves
I'd feel so hurt if she would have to face the tribunal I don't think she could mentally cope
Thats my fear