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Assessment Report OMG!

sarah50
sarah50 Community member Posts: 119 Pioneering
edited October 2018 in PIP, DLA, and AA
The justification for nearly every descriptor is that I'm not taking medication and I don't have specialist input. So it's reasonable to assume I can do all activities unaided. I have been advised not to pay too much attention to the report as it's an opinion but it says that I said things I didn't say and the decision maker has based his decision almost entirely on the report. It also says 6 pieces of evidence were reviewed but only the 4 documented were used but there is only 3 pieces listed and one of those is described as item 12 Most insulting was her observation that I do not look tired. As I have chronic fatigue syndrome I am fed up with people saying that I would have thought a nurse would have known better! She also noted I was clean and well kempt, does this mean I should have presented to assessment filthy scruffy and smelly? Of course I was clean and tidy, my husband helped me get ready and drove me there. If I was alone it would be a very different picture yet she has not acknowledged in any of the descriptors that without his help I would be much worse.

Comments

  • Peasmold_01
    Peasmold_01 Community member Posts: 144 Pioneering
    Request AN MR, with any supporting evidence. Expect that to agree with the assessor's report, so prepare an appeal. During the time between the MR response and the appeal, gather evidence  Keep a diary of how your condition affects your daily life. There is the 50% rule  use it. Get your GP to confirm the severity of your condition, in writing. If you have support from external sources reference them, and ask them to confirm the IMPACT that your condition has on your daily life. Chronic Fatigue syndrome is as hard to prove as Fibromyalgia. Don't give up. Nils illegitimo carborundum  Good luck. 
  • wilko
    wilko Community member Posts: 2,458 Disability Gamechanger
    That’s the trouble, we the claimants what ever our illness or disability we still take pride in our appearance and people will say you look so well. But behind the smile clean cloths and a pleasant demure we, I and you suffer our pain ,depression in silence not boosting look at me attitude we expect to and by most people to be treated with respect and looked upon as scrounges.
  • sarah50
    sarah50 Community member Posts: 119 Pioneering
    Because the assessment was an appointment I had time to prepare myself manage my condition very carefully. I stated to the assessor that this was an unusually good day ie not typical. I now wish I had spent the days prior to the assessment pushing myself to do too much and been carted in on a sack truck in my PJ's on the day. Seriously if your disability isn't Physically obvious or you try to make the best of what's left of your health you are deemed to be trying it on. The report mentions about 5 times that I have declined offered medication from my GP. The fact is I had a discussion with my GP about the medications I had tried and others offered and we came to the conclusion that long term opioid use was not on balance beneficial given the risks and side effects likewise with antidepressant meds. We discussed other pain management strategies. None of which have been taken into consideration in the decision. I now feel like going back to the doctor and trying to get every possible drug I can out of him and becoming a junkie to add to all my other problems. This leads to another question if I take all these drugs I would have to give up my driving licence as I would be high as a blasted kite. Again on balance my car adds to my quality of life far more significantly. I live in a small village. I can't walk as far as the nearest bus stop and if I did id be too knackered to do anything else. The bus only goes into town and costs a fortune £6 return. My car means I can go to see friends door to door and be well enough when I get there to enjoy myself. Ooh did I just say enjoy myself, sorry is that allowed? Not according to DWP who state that because I was able to answer the assessors question and i was alert and orientated not agitated or aggressive I don't have social problems. This assessment and the decision it's based on has deliberately missed the point. I never portrayed myself as a complete cabbage and the problems I have are not intellectual. In fact I recognise that in comparison to alot of people my needs are fairly low level but there are needs that fit the descriptors laid down.
  • miilreef
    miilreef Community member Posts: 21 Connected
    Everything said about you was said about me. They literally cut and paste this stuff. My medications weren’t even acknowledged in the HP report.
    For one of my conditions I take no medication. I can’t take it, it’s that simple. The explanation I provided wasn’t included in the report but it’s the first thing the GP at the tribunal asked me about and she understood perfectly why I have to continue to suffer without treatment.
    It’s literally soul destroying, makes you feel like a liar and undermines what little self respect you may have left. BUT, the tribunal was nerve wracking, intense and emotional but the panel were compassionate, professional and gave me every opportunity to explain everything. Even though it was quite difficult.
    For that reason I say don’t give up. Even though it takes what seems like forever and is certainly stressful, fight your corner. 
    As I told the Tribunal panel, I’m not intellectually impaired, I’ve never claimed to be and I’m not a liar either. This process is demeaning but I was always going to fight them. Good luck xx
  • sarah50
    sarah50 Community member Posts: 119 Pioneering
    @millieef Thankyou, I know from this forum that my case is not unique, well done for fighting your corner and i hope you got what you deserved. I'm trying to relax now and put it out of my mind as there are hundreds of things going round in my mind. I had to send my MR without the benefit of the report which is a shame as it has given me a better idea of what the decision maker had to work with, think I could have made a better case if I'd have had it. Too late to worry now, just have to wait for MR decision and work on my case for Tribunal. Happy days ?
  • janekim96P
    janekim96P Community member Posts: 44 Courageous
    Hi Sarah50 I totally agree with you who wants to go out of the house looking like a tramp of course your carer is going to help you get washed and dressed and who wants to go out for an interview looking awful on my 1st assessment she put I was dressed nicely and clean I'm not gonna go out scruffy you put your brave face on washed and clean tidy clothes and hair washed and brushed with a lot of help from my carer! Couldn't cope without her good luck and best wishes ??
  • thick
    thick Community member Posts: 4 Listener
    Hi sarah50, kniow exectly what you mean,had my initial assessment last december (2017) i had been on higher rate of mobility since 1994 (DLA), had letter from them last may saying it wasnt gouing up which was fine, but it was a lifetime award. after my face to face i received the letter saying i was awarded pip at lower rate and mobility at lower rate, how can they take a lifetime award from you just like that ? put in a change of condition in march , had another face to face in july, asked the usual questions, gave her the answers but they are not giving me anythig extra even tho i can now hardly walk,i use a stick and the furniture inside to move about, was asked if i could walk from my lounge to the garage and said yes but would srtop and sit down 2 or 3 times , also told her i now have a mobility scooter so i can at least go out unaided, scooter was never mentioned and because i can stand i have reasonable mobility  !!!! thing i told her were twisted and told a different way in the report , i have 3 weeks to do a mandatory review but i hopeless at letter writing and wouldwelcome some imput

  • gwennie_15
    gwennie_15 Community member Posts: 7 Listener
    I totally understand what you are saying, there was stuff in my report that was untrue and didn’t come out my mouth so I appealed, I went to my doctor she was fantastic and wrote me an amazing letter about my conditions and how they basically ruin my life, anyway, 3 weeks ago my  tribunal date came through for October 12th and today I received a letter saying that they have looked at my  assessment appeal again and have decided that I am now entitled to go back on esa , I cried with relief but as hard and as scary it is to fight for what you are  entitled to don’t ever give up.
  • Matilda
    Matilda Community member Posts: 2,593 Disability Gamechanger
    @thick

    advicenow.org.uk/pip-tool

    will generate an MR submission letter.

    Walking is supposed to be measured outdoors using pavements and kerbs.  Many assessors are either incompetent or liars or both.  Don't let them get away with it.

    I got standard both components after assessment which tribunal raised to enhanced both components.
  • Misscleo
    Misscleo Community member Posts: 647 Pioneering
  • sarah50
    sarah50 Community member Posts: 119 Pioneering
    @ gwennie_15 are you saying DWP changed their mind just before it went to tribunal?
  • sarah50
    sarah50 Community member Posts: 119 Pioneering
    The HCP report is a long document and I have just found a section which says 'the GP keeps offering pain meds, sleep inducers and antidepressant medication but the claiment refuses them' I would like to get an idea how common it is for doctors to offer sleeping tablets or opioids, I do know they are quite fond of dishing out antidepressants.

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