Hi, I'm lilgem87! Can you complain about getting 0 points in PIP assessment?

lilgem87

I'm new here .. very very upset and a little frustrated. Today I got my letter back from pip with all big 0s .. I don't get how they can lie.. I don't cook or even eat some days .. I'm never alone, I don't go out the house I have zero friends, its just like the lady saw undiagnosed and thought great we can do her over.. I have done a reconsideration form thing but they are undiagnosed seizures, to which im currently on a waiting list for the neurologists.. I don't know what to do, can you complain im struggling today 

Cher_Alumni

@lilgem Hello there and a big warm welcome to our online community! How are you today? How are your seizures?

I'm sorry to hear you didn't get the award you expected. Seeing those zeros can be disheartening so it's brilliant to hear you've persevered and put in a mandatory reconsideration (MR). Did you get any help with that?

Many members have also commented in the past, expressing dismay that assessors have 'lied'. However, it's important to bear in mind the assessors role is not to take everything said as verbatim but instead use their professional knowledge to interpret evidence and evaluate it against the descriptors.

Understandably, this can be upsetting when you feel the report is not a fair reflection of how your condition impacts you. So, pursuing a MR and giving evidence to show you do satisfy particular descriptors is the best route to getting you your rightful award rather than focusing on weaknesses in the assessors report. This is not to discount or dismiss how hard it is to feel unheard or disbelieved  That your condition is undiagnosed also, shouldn't factor in to any decision as PIP is awarded based not on diagnoses, but how a person is impacted.

We're here if we can help further along the way, or if you even just fancy a vent, rant or someone to talk to. You aren't alone. 

Take care and I hope we can speak again soon.

Cher_Alumni

@lilgem87 One more thing (sorry to bombard you!). You mention not cooking or eating some days and this caused me some concern, would you be able to provide a little more information around this? Also, do you have support from your GP?

If you think that a social care needs assessment might be beneficial, then you can apply for this online at this government webpage.  Some of the services that might be offered as a result of this are:

• home care help with things like cleaning and shopping

• disability equipment and adaptations to your home

Please let us know and we'll do our best to be there for you 

lilgem87

Hello thank you, obviously having to deal with this now is added stress which just brings on more seizures..
Everything that I answered she wrote the complete opposite of, I don't cook I can't because its dangerous.. 0 points .. getting dressed ect I don't most days I live in pajamas, I haven't seen my friends in 4 years, its the line she used 'whilst reports seizure activity no formal diagnosis or medication ' which is a lie I've been in hospital, broken bones and im on more tablets then most .. I'm very disheartened and more importantly I feel like she really lied 
Thank you for the reply least im not alone xx

lilgem87

My seizures make me sick some days,if not most also have other health conditions. There is always a cooked meal my grandad or son will put in the slow cooker, just a shame most days I miss out, I've got from a size 22 to a size 8..

My GP is horrendous im not going to lie I've made multiple complaints but where I live its the only one, im on a waiting list for the hospital but it was like 47 weeks last time I logged on.

I think I kind of expected this tbh if I dont understand whats wrong, I don't expect other people to but there was no way that she filled that out honestly,  it was all done via phone too im sure if it had been face to face and I had a seizure while there they would understand more aye .. its a shame tho that they don't realise the impact of there decisions xx

Cartini

Hi @lilgem87,

Others with more knowledge / experience will respond to you soon, but in the meantime....

Claiming PIP isn`t about "If I don`t understand what`s wrong, I don`t expect other people to"; it`s about how what you are going through affects you on a day-to-day basis, not what you have.

Without knowing what you submitted as evidence and I apologise if what I say now is what you have already provided:

You say you are on more tablets than most; do you use a dosette box?  This is counted as an aid and is worth 1 point.

Do you use something to remind you to take your medication?  If not, use your phone which will be classed as an aid (but probably won`t get you more points, but worth mentioning).

You say your son or grandson puts food in a slow cooker for you; that implies that you can`t prepare and cook a meal from scratch (that`s 8 points).

4 points can be gained for needing assistance to prepare and cook food.

If you can prepare a meal, do you sit down to reduce harm should you have a seizure?  Sitting on a chair is classed as an aid and falls under safety.  You won`t be able to gain points for a chair and not be able to prepare food though.

Do you have any safety features around your house?  Because of my spine, I have grab bars in the shower (an aid); do you have anything to help you safely bathe?

Andy

nasturtium

Hello Lilgem87

I have recently put a post on a thread similar to yours and I have given advice on how to procede forward. You will need to do a Mandatory Reconsideration letter. You do not need to telephone them to do a MR Letter. Please read my post and it will explain more about PIP and how you would score points for each activity. @Cartini has given a good explination above.

Have a read at my post here and read the links I provided. https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/585271/#Comment_585271

You can also find more information about how each activity is assesed here:- https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1092461/pip-assessment-guide-part-2-assessment-criteria.pdf

Remember you need to be able to do all of the activities "Reliably" as I mentioned in my post I linked to. If you cannot do the activity "Reliably" you need to explain in detail why.

If you need to use an aid to help you to complete the activity then you could score 2 points. Like a Grab rail or bar for your "Safety" but you will need to explain why you use that aid, what that aid does to help you, what would happen if you did not have that aid.

All of that information should help you to create a detailed MR Letter.

I hope that has been of some assistance.