PIP claim rejected. Are DWP/ATOS still paying staff to reject claims?

ryan123

Hi everybody,

I had to reapply for PIP recently. I've been on it for the past 3 years. Like the last time, i received zero points. Can't say i'm surprised. The last time i received the same amount, sent in the immediate reconsideration, went back and forth, and months later i appeared at a tribunal. I managed to win, by myself. 

I'm in a difficult situation - well, i think ALL people on such benefits are - because my issues are mental rather than physical. Just as the last time, albeit this time with the assessment done over the phone, they remarked on me being 'well spoken', how i 'didn't sound at all anxious', and how i basically sounded 'smart'. I will be sure to tell them once again that it is incredibly insulting and obnoxious to make such remarks: do only so-called 'stupid' people have mental health problems?!

I suppose i just wanted a little rant - my family live abroad and i don't really have many close friends (although i'm pretty strong-willed so i can cope with all this stuff generally speaking) - but also maybe a little advice.

For example, my issues relate to me being 'agoraphobic' but what you might call a 'functioning agoraphobe'. I actually leave the house, go places, see friends. But, i have in place a whole system that allows such interaction. What i don't do, for example, is randomly go places (i have to use Google Maps to assess the parking situation, the 'look' of the building i'm going to etc), or go abroad (haven't been abroad for 14 years even though my parents live there (and both parents have had serious illnesses these past few years), or walk about town (i don't walk anywhere... i go everywhere by car, park up, then move about 30-40 metres from car, then go back to car). 

I've recently signed up to volunteer for Mind and this was all put to them: the parking requirements, the anxiety etc. They were very accommodating to my needs.

I think it will likely go to a tribunal again, but this time i will take a friend with me who has had her own issues like this. 

Thanks for reading.

Ryan

ryan123

One question i would like answered is whether the DWP or ATOS (or whatever they call themselves now) are still paying staff to reject claims? 

OverlyAnxious

It seems to me like the ATOS staff couldn't care either way whether the claim gets rejected or not.  Just a job to them, they get paid the same whatever happens.  They don't seem to understand the long term impacts that the assessment result will ultimately have on an individuals life.

Out of interest, did you score anything for the mobility section last time?  I'm also agoraphobic but not housebound (yet...though it's heading that direction!), I can go out locally with a lot of planning and preparation, so don't fit into any of the mobility descriptors which seems unfair.

Tori_Scope

Hi @ryan123 I haven't been able to find any evidence to support your claim that DWP or ATOS staff have been paid to reject claims either. Do you have a source for this? 

I'm sorry to hear that those types of comments were made about you. We've heard of other disabled people saying the same thing, so you're not alone. You mentioned pre-empting that your case will go to tribunal- have you submitted an MR? Congratulations on winning the tribunal last time, especially if you did this yourself. It might be worth looking for expert advice in your area now, however. You can search for expert advice on advicelocal.uk. 

It's great that you've applied for a volunteering role with Mind What will your role be?