Pip help. I'm panicking about my telephone assessment, and am feeling lost and hopeless

loulou_85

Hi, I need some guidance re PIP assessment. Basically I’ve suffered from severe anxiety panic attacks and depression for years it’s got worse past 4 years, this has led to other health problems last year re stomach and bowels I’ve been through so many tests for bowel cancer etc and the are basically saying the pain and increased bowel movements (which I’ve no control over) is due to my severe anxiety causing IBS C. I haven’t left my house in months due to bowel issues. It’s been a rough 4 years tbh recently through CBT I’ve realised stuff happened as a child that I’ve been blacking out. I got terminated on ill health grounds last week from and now I feel I can’t take much more. I have a telephone pip assessment on Tuesday and I’m panicking I have no support on the day my husband is working and my friends kids are self isolating. Feeling so lost and hopeless right now 

janer1967

Hi and welcome to the community 

Easy to say as I know how stressful the pip process is but try and not get stressed as it won't help on the day 

Read through your form before so you are familiar with what you put.  Try and prepare examples of what happens when you try and do the tasks who , what   why , where , when , how and consequences eg accidents , tiredness , pain 

Can you do tasks safely   reliably   repeatedly 

There is lots of advice on our pip section.

loulou_85

Thanks Janer I have notes made I just feel so sick with thought of it 

janer1967

I understand that but it isn't that bad 

Lots if people get awarded with no issues me included 

Don't take in all you read about horror stories as that's what 0eople come on internet to voice 

Those who have no issues have no reason to tell about it or ask for help 

chiarieds

Hi @loulou_85 - & welcome to the community. As mentioned above, read through what you put in your claim pack, take your time before answering, & also ask them to repeat a question if you're not sure. It probably won't be as bad as you fear, they just need to ask questions about certain activities of daily living &/mobility. Just be honest, & say how your disability affects you.

Again, as mentioned above, if you haven't done this with your initial PIP form, try & give a couple of really detailed examples as to the difficulties you face....when did it happen, why, who witnessed it, what exactly happened trying to do an activity, what consequence was there, if any? Also could you do the activity safely, to an acceptable standard, as often as would normally be expected, & did it take you longer than someone without your disability?

Have a look through the following link to see if it may help, reading the notes at the end too, which explain a little more. See: https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/asset-library/Personal-Independence-Payment-Descriptors-and-Scores-April-2021.pdf

Kindly let us know how you get on, thank you. My best wishes.

loulou_85

@chiarieds ty so much I have read that if you don’t get awarded pip they remove your from ESA support group. I’m hoping this does not happen as I have been terminated in work due to ill health 

chiarieds

Hi @loulou_85 - ESA & PIP are separate benefits, so don't worry, you wouldn't get removed from your ESA support group.

loulou_85

Hey ? assessment just over lasted 50 mins lady was lovely very reassuring, was reading my form while talking to me. She got me to elaborate on everything and let me take breaks when needed. 

She said she will send report back today and decision maker will then make a decision on my award?! Not sure if that means I might be entitled to something. Wonder how long it will take to hear? I felt so anxious and nervous, she didn’t rush me and was very sympathetic 

chiarieds

Thank you for the update @loulou_85 - I'm pleased the assessment wasn't stressful. The assessor can't really comment, so I would just read that as it will be sent off to the decision maker for them to decide about your claim. It can take quite some time to hear back, the average being about 8 weeks unfortunately. Hope you can relax now.

Ross_Alumni

I'm glad the assessor was pleasant @loulou_85

Fingers crossed for the outcome. 

You may have seen yesterday, but we sent you an email in the afternoon from community@scope.org.uk. 

loulou_85

@Ross_Scope yes I did thank you for reaching out, I have replied to your email 

Shane39

Have you had your pip

Assesment I not you can get help from your local cab citizens advice and they can help you on the day as 8 had the same problem and they helped me 

lou87

Shane39 said:

Have you had your pip

Assesment I not you can get help from your local cab citizens advice and they can help you on the day as 8 had the same problem and they helped me 

Yes I had my assessment 2wks ago this Friday. I rang up today for an update there sending my assessment report out to me said it will take 7-10 days to receive this. I was worried about them not really asking me much about the things I struggle with the most the lady on the phone explained they do have a lot of information regarding my claim so I'm kind of hoping they've spoken to my dr pain consultant and gastro consultant she said i should have a decision in the next 2 weeks. I'm on edge about this but I'm fully prepared to take it to a mandatory reconsideration if it's turned down and I don't get the points I need. It's a horrible thing to go through when i think about it 3yrs ago i was working 60 hrs a week 12hr shifts. I had my gallbladder removed in 2015 and it's been downhill since then for me ? but I'm ok i have a good support network ?

loulou_85

@Shane39 yes had assessment last week, rang today and they are sending me a copy of report