They are insisting on an assessment centre - what can I do? — Scope | Disability forum
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They are insisting on an assessment centre - what can I do?

scoobs470
scoobs470 Community member Posts: 5 Listener
edited May 2018 in PIP, DLA, and AA
I am a career for my partner who suffers from numerous ailments including ptsd, arthritis, panic attacks, anxiety and copd. She does not leave the house unless she has to attend the drs or her psychiatric nurse, I do everything and also have to attend these appointments with her. She had her pip reassessment letter and I filled it out stating she was worse since her last assessment and sent it off. Some 12 weeks later we get an appointment for her to attend the centre of Glasgow for an assessment. 
I rang up and explained that there was no way she would go there and requested a home visit due to her mental health issues and it being a strange place etc I was asked numerous questions which resulted in me telling them I do the shopping, the housework, collection of prescriptions and that I drive her to the drs and have to attend with her. 
So the nightmare begins they assess this and state she still has to attend the centre. So I again ring and tell them exactly what i had told them before so it gets sent to a health professional again.
they come back and say nope have to attend centre. So I ring again to be told there is no reason why she cannot drive and attend the centre. Brick wall came to mind. So I then ring dwp who state I should have been asked to supply medical evidence and to ring the assessment centre back and tell them that was what I was going to do. So I did this and all seemed ok. Then 2 hours later I get a call from the assessment centre who state they wish to make an appointment. I again explained everything and that I had spoken to them 4 times already today to which I was told, there would be no home visit as the health professional had stated my partner could drive, that her medication was not the highest level to stop her attending and there was no reason why she could not leave the house. He proceeded to tell me if I insisted on a home visit that they would sent the claim back to dwp and would not wait for a drs letter.
Like I said a nightmare and I really don’t know what to do now as my partner is sat here in tears and having anxiety attacks over this.
Any help would be great fully appreciated.

Comments

  • JennysDad
    JennysDad Community member Posts: 2,299 Disability Gamechanger
    Hello @scoobs470 and a warm welcome to the community. There are no words to express what I feel about what they are doing to you.
    Not able to advise on this myself, I'm going to refer your post 'upwards' to our specialist team. All being well they will be in touch with you soon, probably tomorrow (22nd May).
    Please take care of yourselves and bear with us,
    Warmest best wishes,
    Richard
    @JennysDad
  • scoobs470
    scoobs470 Community member Posts: 5 Listener
    Hi Richard, thank you for the welcome.  You are right there are no words to describe how they treat people. After a very restless night I am up and ready to ring dwp and see if I can speak to somebody sensible. Thank you for forwarding our problem.
    kinds regards
    Lee
  • steve51
    steve51 Community member Posts: 7,153 Disability Gamechanger
    Hi @scoobs470

    A very very big welcome to you this morning.

    I’m also really sorry to hear about your current problems/situation.

    I will pass your post over to our team of “Benefit Experts” 

    Hopefully they will get back to you “ASAP”

    Hi @BenefitsTrainingCo

    I’m very very sorry but can you offer me some help/advice with this post??

    Many thanks.
  • scoobs470
    scoobs470 Community member Posts: 5 Listener
    Hi Steve, thank you also. I have just got off the phone to dwp and spoke to a very nice case manager about the situation. He has stated that he can see the file is on its way back to them but not to worry and has told me to get a letter from the gp and psychiatric nurse and send them to dwp. He has told me not to have any more communication with pip assessment and to deal with dwp for the time being. He has noted my concerns and complaints regarding how we have been treated.
    so psychiatric nurse is doing a letter as we speak and dr is ringing later today.  Jeanette has had an awful night and got up in tears, shaking etc stating she is not worth all this hassle. I wish they could see how it effects people with the way they treat them. Obviously there is no understanding of mental health issues with these agencies and they need to be educated in how they talk to people as they do more harm than good.
    Lowering a persons self esteem when they suffer from mental health issues is the lowest of the low.
    lets hope we are getting somewhere now but any more advice would be appreciated.
    kind regards to everyone
    lee
  • JennysDad
    JennysDad Community member Posts: 2,299 Disability Gamechanger
    Hi @scoobs470
    Glad to hear that something seems to be progressing, but very sorry to hear about your lady's unhappiness. Please remind Jeanette that you and she matter very much to us here and we will back you up in any way we can.
    Warmest best wishes to you both,
    Richard
    @JennysDad
  • scoobs470
    scoobs470 Community member Posts: 5 Listener
    Thank you Richard, just being able to vent and your kind words have helped me. It is good to know that through this there are people out there that genuinely care. 
    Best wishes 
    lee

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