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pip medical assessor lied feel so ashamed now
misstracey
Member Posts: 74 Pioneering
i am new to this do not know where really to start.i have been on esa for 5 years i made a claim for pip on 31st oct 2017 i had f2f assessment on the 5th of december 2017 i have various illness including depression and anxiety and copd and disease related sciatica . i was granted a home assessment due to the serverness of my condition the lady turned up 20 minutes late no phone call or nothing my 24 year old son answered the door showed her in she went through all the questions for my pip form which i gave he all the same answers my son explained he done the cooking as i am a danger to my self and others as due to my illness i have scalded my self with the kettle set the kitchen on fire due to forgetfulness i do not go out on my on without my son and then its to the hospital or doctors i im pretty much a mess at the minute .i have been reading up about the pip assessments and was quite shocked i read to get the medical report i phoned up dwp a week after the assessment they had it 4 days after it was done i was sent a copy friday 15th december 2017 .when i started to read it i thought it was someone else to be honest i could not believed the lies .she had put i can walk 200 mtrs even though i never moved off the chair i have trouble getting up the stairs she said i cook for my self even though my son told her he done the cooking due to the risk of harm .she said i can drive and go out and plan a journey on my own even though i have not driven for donkeys years i can walk to the car i explained to her but im out of breath .she said i stood on on one leg after the other which i did not. she said i got up walked into the kitchen and back again crouched down and got back up again which is total fabrication i explained about my illness i broke down in tears due to something what happened to me when i was younger .she said is that because you was on drugs omfg i could not believe it ive never took drugs in my life which i was absolutely devastated that she thought i was a drug addict then she told me their is no help for depressed people and there will not be i could wait for the woman to get my home which i trusted her in i felt shamed and humiliated
i would not of bothered claiming if i knew i had to go through this i would of just carried on struggling she was rather uncomfortable around my son as he should not of been their ,i have not yet had the decision but the way the medical looked its a no .i do not know what to do i am frightened and petrified now as as what to do any advice is very much appreciated at this distressing time thanxs
i would not of bothered claiming if i knew i had to go through this i would of just carried on struggling she was rather uncomfortable around my son as he should not of been their ,i have not yet had the decision but the way the medical looked its a no .i do not know what to do i am frightened and petrified now as as what to do any advice is very much appreciated at this distressing time thanxs
Replies
First of all you have absolutely nothing to be ashamed off!
This is, unfortunately a common experience where the report has little to nothing to do with what happened or said at these assessments. Unfortunately it has been government policy to do all it can to discourage people from taking up PIP and dropping their claims before getting to the appeal tribunal.
When you get your decision if you disagree with it you will need to ask for a mandatory reconsideration. While a small number do get their decision changed at this stage most need to go onto appeal to get the help they deserve. The success rates at appeal are still high.
You mention two particular incidents, scalding yourself and accidently setting fire to the kitchen, did you get medical help in either of these incidents? I ask because the DWP recently changed their guidance for decision makers after losing a case in the upper tribunal.
Please don't let them put you off from getting the extra help you need and know that we are here to help and support you. Many of the members here have been through this process, and we have members with specialist knowledge they share with members and a fantastic support line if you need them.
As an individual I stood alone.
As a member of a group I did things.
As part of a community I helped to create change!
“Good Afternoon”
A very very big welcome!!!!!
I’m very sorry to hear that you are also going through this “Nightmare”
Please please don’t feel alone anymore!!!!!!!!!!
We have got many many members in similar situations as you.
They are all at different stages so you may find looking through there post very very useful??????
We have also got a number of “Benefit Advisors” who would be more than happy in helping you.
There is also “Lots” off info for you to browse through a your leasure !!!!!!
Please please let me know how you feel ?????
While it is unclear how the advice will be applied it clearly shows that there is a higher risk of harm to yourself or others, of which the consequesnces could be very serious and this should be considered when considering the point awarded.
As an individual I stood alone.
As a member of a group I did things.
As part of a community I helped to create change!
There are two courses of action for you to take
First, when you receive your decision letter you must request an MR within a month of the date of the letter. If you have any further evidence GP's supporting letter or testimonials from friends or family that know you well now is the time to submit them. While it is important to address the issue with the report, that will not score you any points. You should concentrate on showing that you meet the criteria for an award. If you haven't done so yet take a look at the B&W self test for an idea about the points system, descriptors and the criteria for an award.
http://www.mybenefitsandwork.co.uk/pip/indexxx.php
The second thing to do is make a complaint about the assessor to the assessment provider. Although you can say in your MR that you are lodging a complaint the two things are separate issues. The dwp decision maker has no medical knowledge so relys on the report to make the decision. In no way am I supporting the DWP but the problem lies with the AP. Making a complaint will have no adverse affect on your claim and may help in getting the system changed.
CR
Please please let us know how things are going if you don’t mind????
“You will never be alone”
Welcome to the community Sorry to hear you’ve had such a tough time. I hope it helps to chat with our members
Senior online community officer
Tribunals, if you have to go that far, know that most assessors tell blatant lies. A tribunal will reassess you fairly as they are impartial, not there to follow the DWP agenda of failing as many people as possible.
Good luck @misstracey there have been some recent reports on here of decisions being changed,it is worth asking them to look again.
ESA can be reviewed at any time . ESA and PIP are separate benefits and although they seem similar they have different criteria.
Which ESA group are you currently in ?
CR
There are guidelines for severe conditions that may qualify
https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/sites/default/files/pdf/Severeconditionsguidance.pdf
For anyone thinking this may apply you will need to have an assessment and will then be notified of this on your decision letter.
CR
First is to submit an SSCS1 form with basic reasons for your appeal
the DWP will prepare their case and send you a copy
When you receive it check that it contains all the evidence and then use it to make your own submission
CR
https://formfinder.hmctsformfinder.justice.gov.uk/sscs1-eng.pdf
CR
Sorry to hear you did not get a good decision, I know how you must be feeling as I have been to hell and back with these assessments and astonished at some of the blatant lies many of these so called professional's tell. In my opinion they should be held to account in the courts for the undue stress they cause so many disabled people. Even having someone with you as a witness seems to count for nothing in the eyes of the DWP.......Law unto themselves.
After much humming and haring what to put in my appeal that I sent off just a few days ago this is what I wrote. (kept it in the little box provided)
1) I received miss-leading information from the independent assessment services and DWP.
2) Unreasonable time was not given to organize help for me to attend the assessment.
3) DWP have ignored all other medical information and based their decision purely on the fact I was unable to attend the assessment for which I had good reason.
4) This was not a new claim for PIP as DWP are implying, it was an award review.
Everyone's appeal will of course be different and I could have added a whole lot more, but as CR says keep it basic. Just get it done and sent off is the main thing for now you can always add extra information as and when.
Best wishes x Rosie
It is really unfortunate to get your ESA f2f so soon but the two are separate benefits.
Good luck and please ask if we can help
CR
im not very clued up on the way the “system” works but I would call them tomorrow, if anyone’s there, or Monday to ask what’s happening.
if nothing else it would put your mind at rest
Susan
I have had both pip and esa appeals going on at the same time that DWP used completely conflicting assessment reports and I was able to use that to my advantage in the end with each case.
ATB Rosie
One is ability to work and one is about to function. You can though be on either or both at the she time.
I haven't ever been asked for an esa f2f.
As you have cancelled one appointment you must attend the next one or your claim couls be closed.
That being said, as it is for ESA, you should ring asap and ask for the assessment to be recorded. It may be to late to request this but is worth trying. This will usually mean that the assessment will have to be rescheduled
CR
If you're going to be appealing the decision, this letter generating tool for MR and this guidance on appealing DWP decisions may be worth looking at. Please do keep us updated and come back to us with any questions.
As @Annabelle26 has done, you may also like to consider putting in a complaint. This link to the DWP complaints procedure may help.
But reading the OP's situation got me angry. So my pal got an 'assessmemt' for pip. She was awarded the lower rate.
Because of her illness she lost the will to fight. The month was over for the MR. But i feel because of her illness that was what caused the delay.
But hopefully she will join the discussion.
I was reading a site this morning on a disability site and seen something which i would like to pass on to folks.
I hope it is ok to put the link up for the site i gleaned it from?
Here2supports web page seems to have disappeared.
As well as logging the date and time of all phone calls and sending all mail by special delivery, if you are called in for an 'assessment' firstly phone whoever is doing it and tell them you will be bringing a friend and also you want the 'assessment' RECORDED.
It is your right to request this. And do not listen to their waffle. You have rights.
Then send a letter to the 'health care provider' stating that you are sending the exact same letter to the dwp. In the letter state again you are bringing a friend and want the 'assessment' recorded.
In the letter to the hcp also include the one the dwp will get. An up to date doctors letter.
And SECTIONS 2 and 3OF THE FRAUD ACT. The pages are widely available.
You now have them backfooting. Not only do you have a witness you have a recording. And you have notified them that if they lie then under sections 2 and 3 of the fraud act you can get the police involved because they are trying to defraud you of your benefit.
And remember to photo copy ALL documents.
The more folk post the better. And if like myself points need changed, sorted and clarified the better.
Once again cheers
A midwife?! Dear God.
?
Then one day I was asked to attend a assessment for the first time I disclosed some of my full history on the form that has to be filled out.
I had been assessed on multiple times and has passed criteria to get the benefit.
This time after a wait of one and a half hours I was called what was strange a women opened the door from gave me a form, which I couldn't fill in correctly, then the guy proceeded to guide me down corridor ,basically holding me by shoulder, asked me can I see the door, which was ablaze with light in a darkened corridor.
During the accessment which was question after question, nothing else, he procceeded to shout at me when I told him I was raped as a child.
He ignored all medical evidence ,such as damaged right leg, I was unable to use right arm, I had Fibromyalgia, Diabetes dangerously high blood pressure. I was awarded no points
After waiting two years I went to tribunal, I lost
I was later told by CAB that I had no chance of winning due to the judge in charge, he had a reputation of no only finding against people but also making case airtight ,so no second chance.
What made the tribunal so bad DHSS broke rules and then did not send a representative, the clerk of the court then asked my representative to stay were she was.
During the questioning the doctor proceeded to make a joke about my time at Talk Liverpool seeing a Councillor, I have to say this effected me and I closed down.
Three years of fit notes by my doctors, I went for a PIP assessment ,amazingly the same thing happened .
They asked me hypertetical questions such as do you have pets, if you were lost what would yo do ?
The assessor even lied about my prescription which I believe is 19+ items saying it wasn't shown, why would I not show it ?
Being a diabetic you have toiletries needs she ask do you wear diapers exactly the same as ATOS, she was told about my depression osteoporosis, Fibromyalgia, diabetes, hypertension with danger of heartattack ,damage to my arm and leg the use of a cane which I have to use on the opposite side due to possible further damage to my arm.
She then asked how I got there Taxi was the reply which she okayed, even watch us get into taxi.
The result no points ,79p for taxi.