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We want to hear from you: please tell us about your experience of the online community.

PIP assessments

Alex

MPs have acknowledged that the PIP and ESA assessment system "is too often undermined by basic errors, insensitivity and ignorance about people’s conditions"!

Read the story in the Guardian.

The team here at Scope would like to talk to people about their experiences of PIP assessments, to support our influencing work with the government. If you are happy to share your experiences – good or bad – please get in touch with the Hayley in the stories team: hayley.tomkinson@scope.org.uk

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Comments

Nystagmite

Why has it taken them this long to realise this?

feir

i got told i didn't look depressed, someone else i know almost got classed as not mentally ill because they didn't look it. assessors think they can see mental illnesses. they also said i wasn't disabled because i didn't have certain things wrong with me (i never claimed i'd had those things anyway, it's other things not in their criteria that do (so their criteria is rubbish too)) and they outright said the opposite of what i told them about the few criteria i did meet on my application. and because i haven't had support from outside services i'm also not disabled, and i paid for my own disability equipment so am not disabled. stupid. since when was being neglected by social care classed as non-proof of disability? also i was seen crouching at the interview, i cannot crouch as my knees and one hip is painful and on the rare occasions i do try and pick something up off the floor i lean forward and have to keep one leg sticking back out of me to keep the leg straight and not make my hip worse.

the assessors themselves were polite and did not make the experience unpleasant but the letter afterwards upset me a lot and was offensive in places.

feir

Nystagmite said:

Why has it taken them this long to realise this?

the Tories don't think there's anything wrong. if you saw the disability discussion MPs had recently talking about PIP failures the Tories basically ignored most of the complaints and talked a load of rubbish about how it wasn't failing. it was Labour MPs saying it needs to change.

Nystagmite

feir said:

because i haven't had support from outside services i'm also not disabled,

This was used against me too. Social services won't have anything to do with me because I'm supposedly awkward, supposedly not Autistic and just have anxiety, which counselling will fix...

feir

Nystagmite said:

feir said:

because i haven't had support from outside services i'm also not disabled,

This was used against me too. Social services won't have anything to do with me because I'm supposedly awkward, supposedly not Autistic and just have anxiety, which counselling will fix...

doesn't surprise me, SS aren't very good with disability i found (under my carer experience). i wonder if there's any other specialist help, apart from them, for disabled people?

Nystagmite

feir said:

Nystagmite said:

feir said:

because i haven't had support from outside services i'm also not disabled,

This was used against me too. Social services won't have anything to do with me because I'm supposedly awkward, supposedly not Autistic and just have anxiety, which counselling will fix...

doesn't surprise me, SS aren't very good with disability i found (under my carer experience). i wonder if there's any other specialist help, apart from them, for disabled people?

In my area, no. I asked for help after being diagnosed with Autism. I was told to go to social services for help and a local group. It's peer led and no good for someone who can't cope with noise or groups of people.

Misscleo

Waiting to read more from you all

Nystagmite

I have never understood how these assessments would work at all:
According to anything you read online, you fill it in based on how you are half the time. But the assessment ignores that. They do it based on how you are at the time of the assessment. Failing to take into account that many of us have variable disabilities.

I, for example, was not asked what kind of day I was having at my assessment. I was, annoyingly, having an ok day (as opposed to a normal day) I was assessed just on that. Anything my friend said was ignored completely. He was basing his answers how he'd see me most of the time.

I do remember on my DLA award letter, something was written like "I know you have a variable disability. I have based it on how you are most of the time". The award was, in my opinion, the right one and was done properly.

maid08

more concern is the amount of acesers who lie and affect the life of a disabled person and they do it for cash up to 800a day yes a day something needs to jump on them from a great hight ?myself im up to the teeth with dwp capita and lies i have a job to sleep am ill never to recover but hy i can talk so im fit or according to some lier able to do everything consultants and docters say i cant ??? one funy comment was its my choice to go to shop or not ??ummm ok half a mile there and back when i cant walk 50yards with out pain or shortness breath my eye sight perfect ?yet only got one eye its just a joke on disabled peaple by companys like atos capita maximus to get cash after all it seems dwp cant think or read docters reports themselfs

jamie1965

It is quite strange why do the assessment always seem to differ from one area to the next do they not all have the same guidelines to follow do they not have to sing of the same Hume sheet so to speak

maid08

jamie1965 said:

It is quite strange why do the assessment always seem to differ from one area to the next do they not all have the same guidelines to follow do they not have to sing of the same Hume sheet so to speak

they have a standard to follow but depends who does it in diff areas be it maximus or capita im sure atos cant do them only to finish excisting contract as it was removed im sure

Rachel_white

I tried to get a job, one hour interview later at the job centre. Then this young chap classified me as physically unreliable, then told me the DLA was invented "for people like me".
Well, actually even though I was classified as middle to high mobility benefit. I still want to work. I live near Maldon. Anyone out there willing to take on this capable office worker. I work with my brains folks, not my legs xxx

ChristinaA1

@Rachel White I totally empathise.
I walk with crutches due to failed spinal surgery and I recently lost my Senior Receptionist role, I had been there pre and post disability. I was devastated to say the least! This was due to absenteeism relating to my pain related to my disability. Would you believe the company I worked for was a large Occupational Health Company too?! I’ve always worked, whilst raising 3 daughters and now I have lost my job I am a different person. It gave me such a feeling of self worth and fulfilment. I have been for a few interviews but as soon as they see the crutches, the look on their faces says it all.
I wish you all the very best in your search for employment. Take care and hold on to your confidence!
Best wishes Christina x

Misscleo

Have you spoke to the CAB avout the way they sacked you?
You may get compensation

SusiQ

I, too, was disgusted regarding the assessment report that I received following my PIP Assessment with ATOS
I was rated for a "Low Care" Award (which I later challenged at Court Appeal and had overturned for an Enhanced Award) and this original decision was made because I had a
"Normal facial expression" ("Increased sweating not apparent")
"Did not look tired" - was
"Neatly dressed" - had a
"Normal complexion" and
"Behaved normally, not hostile"
So...obviously Disabled people have to be tired, unkept, with a maniacal facial expression, preferably ruddy, sweaty complexion and attack the Assessor violently before being eligible for Benefit!
Additionally the Assessor brought my competency as a Mother into the equation, by suggesting that, as I claimed Carers Allowance for my Disabled Autistic Son, I
was therefore obviously able to care adequately for myself!
Fortunately, the District Judge who adjudicated my Appeal dismissed all the ATOS claims, and applied the correct Descriptors to my application

)
I think that it has to be borne in mind that these Assessors are simply there to do the DWP's bidding and remove as many individuals from their "Cost Centre" as possible. From my own experience (and that of my Son) it is almost impossible to get a fair and accurate assessment under the current system.

Alex

Thanks for all the responses so far. Remember that if you'd like to share your story beyond the community - please get in touch with Hayley (hayley.tomkinson@scope.org.uk).

wilko

The accessor wrote an A4 page on my appearance from calling me from waiting room my ability to stand and walk to her office the fact I used her desk to lower myself into chair. That a stood five times during interview due to my MS, had clean finger nails, teeth well dressed and groomed, understood my medical condition, engaged in conversation good memory short and log term was awarded lower rate both counts. As exspected .

jan67

Hi. I’m cuttently waiting on tribunal date after I was awarded lower rate on both components. (Previous dla high on both for life). I got 10 points on question 14 and no points on question 13. I sent mandatory reconsideration in listing 14decrepanies in medical assessment report one of which stated ‘no further evidence provided’ which was total lie. My carer was present at assessment and showed assessor two letters but she said they weren’t needed. None of my complaints were taken into consideration at mr. I have since lodged stage 1 of complaint to capita abt the lies the assessor told. I lost use of my dla car and as I need car to get about have to try to find car with very low budget considering I will need handcontrols fitted at cost of £1000. No help available to fund these as I was only on Motability scheme 3.5 yrs. previous owned my own car. Even my insurance is high as Iv no claims bonus earned. I am finding this whole process so disgusting. Only for the support of my family and friends I would not get out of my bed. The stress has caused my conditions to become worse. I fully intend to take the capita complaint ‘all the way’ through whatever stages I can although citizens advise have said very rarely does capita take these seriously. I have bn advised by friend to contact the nmr which is board for nurses and midwifes. The assessor is still on this registrar and if a complaint is issued to them it will be investigated. She falsified documentation. If it was in hospital environment she would be in deep waters. Several of the points on my list are were she has contridicated herself ie stating I was able to sit and stand without difficulty yet later said after doin an assessment I had difficulty sitting. I’m determined to see this to end to get justice for what she has done to my life. Surely I’m not only one effected.

jan67

I am happy to share my story further but not sure how to?

Nystagmite

wilko said:

The accessor wrote an A4 page on my appearance from calling me from waiting room my ability to stand and walk to her office the fact I used her desk to lower myself into chair. That a stood five times during interview due to my MS, had clean finger nails, teeth well dressed and groomed, understood my medical condition, engaged in conversation good memory short and log term was awarded lower rate both counts. As exspected .

They used the fact that I understood my medical conditions against me. We'll just ignore the fact that apart from my hearing difficulties and asthma, I was born with them so of course, I will understand them.