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Pip assessors report doesnt make sense so upset

sosad1

Hello everyone. I have been getting in quite a state after applying for pip for the first time in november. I had my telephone assessment a week ago and today received the assessors report. To say I am upset is an understatement. The report itself seems to be relatively accurate however I have been awarded 0 points on all descriptors. My mental health which is diagnosed basically renders me a prisoner. I have no friends and my parents are dead. I live with my teenage daughter. I cannot understand how the assessors can write ....does not leave the house, cannot receive counselling as cannot deal with people and then score me 0 points

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Comments

poppy123456

Hi,

This is one of the reasons why requesting a copy of the report isn't a good idea because it causes a huge amount of increased anxiety.

The report is their opinion of everything you sent and what you said during the assessment. It's not a decision and no points were awarded in the report because it's not their job to do that. The report becomes part of your evidence and is a recommendation only.

The only person that can make a decision is a DWP decision maker.

You can try ringing DWP to ask to speak to a decision maker before the decision is made to try to get your point accross. However, before the decision is made they should look at all the evidence including the report and then make a decision.

Whilst they do mostly go with the report, it has been known for them to go against it.

Once the decision's been made if you're not happy then you can request the Mandatory Reconsideration (MR) Decision waiting times are between 2-12 weeks.

sosad1

Thank you for you comment I do appreciate that someone is there . Tbh because of my social anxiety I fear that my form was poorly filled in and I only send a doctors report showing past history and medication. I think this will be the problem in my case as I dont speak to anyone about my struggles so dont have any expert opinions on how my life has now become

sosad1

Thank you teddybear12 the biggest problem I have is my motivation or lack thereof I've had a really awful 6 years with one thing and another just feel totally worthless

poppy123456

sosad1 said:

I fear that my form was poorly filled in

That's the issue with a lot of people that are refused, though you haven't been refused yet because no decision's been received.

If you're refused post back here and i'm sure someone will advise you further. No point doing that at this stage.

sosad1

No that's true poppy 123456 it's taken me a long time to pluck up the courage to even join a forum I suppose I'm just clutching at straws and jumping the gun . My heads a right mess at the best of times sorry

sosad1

Teddybear12 thank you. I actually need to ask another bit of advice not sure if anyone can help? I recently had a hospital visit regarding my heart and there shows a valve problem on the ultrasound. They wrote to me today saying I have to go on 31st march for an MRI scan. Unfortunately my daughter is going on holiday and I dont have friends or family I dont know who to ask to come with me and the dr said I must go 😭😭

sosad1

Woodbine thank you for you comment. Tbh it wouldnt make a difference to change it I have no friends or family so whenever they say to go would be a problem if my daughter isnt around . Knowing me I will probably wait until I need an ambulance like I did before with my mental health then I literally have no choice but to go in. I know it's not a great way to live but just cant help how I am

MarkM88

You might be able to get patient transport to take you?

sosad1

Markm88 I did think about that but my issues are with mental health and total avoidance of people. No one seems to care hence the rubbish assessors report I got. There are many types of support that are only available for people who get pip so one impacts the other unfortunately it's a vicious circle

sosad1

Teddybear12 thank you I will ring my gp and ask for help as that is the only other person I speak to other than my daughter.

Alex_Alumni

Hi @sosad1 and thanks for joining the community, I'm so pleased to see that our members have been able to help you feel supported and welcome. You are not alone in this, so please don't feel like you are worthless. It's a really positive step to reach out for help here.

I'm so sorry to hear about how you've been feeling lately, and I'd like you to know that we're here to support you. Whatever the outcome of your PIP application, we can guide you through the next steps if you'd like to challenge the decision.

Regarding your appointment for an MRI scan, the NHS have an information page on how to travel to and from hospital. You might also like to know, that if you're referred to hospital or other NHS premises for specialist NHS treatment or diagnostic tests by a doctor, dentist or another primary care health professional, you may be able to claim a refund of reasonable travel costs under the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS).

If there's anything you feel we can still help with, please let us know

Alex

sosad1

Alex_scope thank you so much for that info . I will have a look

chili14

Some hospitals offer a chaperone service. It might be worth checking with your Trust to see if this is applicable. It maybe that they have suspended this given covid.

In our hospitals, unless there is a clinical need eg mobility issue etc you are not allowed to take people with you to the appointment. I’ve had to do all my appointments alone, I know how horrible it is. Fingers crossed the hospital can offer a chaperone

sosad1

Hi thank you. I have cancelled the appointment and told them why I told them they will have to send me an appointment later in the year when my daughter will be able to come with me

sosad1

Thank you x

sosad1

Well I received my pip decision today and as expected been refused for both. Feel totally isolated as usual. It has made me even more depressed that I just dont matter at all. I think the biggest downside was that I am not under any sort of mental health team despite having been in psychiatric wards on 2 separate occasions. The biggest problem I have is my mental health has completely cut me off from the world i have no friends or family and i tried to explain that part of the reason i dont have mental health input is my inability to deal with others. But that just wasnt enough. Just wanted to update xx

sosad1

Thank you for your comment teddybear12. No one helped me fill the form in cause I dont have anyone . I havent spoken to my dr as the thought of that is too daunting I'm just a lost cause I think

sosad1

I think I'm too scared to talk to anyone tbh. I used to be a heavy drinker for about 30 years that was my mask and my confidence but ultimately caused me all sorts of problems. I had my last drink over 2 years ago now and since stopping drinking I have no self confidence and a complete inability to deal with any of my past. I've just locked it all away. I'm afraid to off load all the pain as I dont know where it will end

poppy123456

The most common reason for refusal is poorly completed claim forms. Although putting on paper exactly how your conditions affect you is a very difficult thing to do because we are used to “dealing” with things the way they are so to use that’s normal.

When requesting the MR you should put it in writing.

When you completed the forms if you didn’t give a couple of real world incidents of what happened the last time you attempted that activity for each descriptor that applies to you, then you should do this for the MR request. Include information such as where you were, what exactly happened, did anyone see it and what the consequences were.

You should avoid concentrating on the assessment report too much because this isn’t going to get you a PIP award.

The most likely outcome of the MR is the decision won’t change but we have had some members who’s decision have changed in their favour at this stage.

Waiting times for decisions on MR Id anything between 2-12 weeks.

sosad1

I didnt speak to my gp I just rang the hospital about my scan. I do need to speak to my gp. My personal story is more like an unbelievable drama . Drink drugs rape abuse suicide homelessness it's a real mess from start to finish. I have always known I had issues with my mental health but when I was young it was a smack round the ear and pull yourself together environment. I was so desperate for love I ended up in awful abusive relationships. The last one resulted in me losing my house all my money and eventually ending up homeless where I was raped. I never reported it as I was drugged and knew no one would care about it. Many of these things no one knows about.