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Not appealing

Welliboots93
Welliboots93 Community member Posts: 32 Courageous
Hi, I had my pip report back earlier this week and the woman scored me zero on everything and down played everything I said (she wasn't very nice anyways!)

I told her I have to be prompted everyday to take my meds because my anxiety tells me they will kill me etc etc. So she scored me zero for my meds assistance as she wrote 'only takes medication if prompted, if (partners name) is not available Jade does not take her meds therefore the pain is not significant enough' 
I have chronic pain in every aspect on my legs so I clearly am in pain! She knew about my pain through docs note and disability report and explained in other parts of the phone calls 

All throughout the phone call I was stuttering and kept apologising for getting my words mixed up and told her I self harm and was stopped myself from scratching whilst talking to her 
She wrote on my report 'Jade displayed no signs of anxiety on the phone' even my partner was fuming with that (and he doesnt get fuming often!) 

I told her I work 4 hours a week but I really struggle with that (panic attacks, anxiety attacks etc) and she told me on the phone that 4 hours isn't exactly working, then proceeded in every single box on my report to write one of the reasons Im scoring zero in everything is because I work 4 hours.

I have to have assistance everyday  getting dressed due to lower body but she scored me a zero because I go to university therefore I must be able to get myself dressed to some standard.

This is just a short list on things that weren't very nice to read and did not sum me up in anyway shape or form. 

There was one point she made which I agreed with and made me realise I did not need pip for that as I can see why I would score a zero and surprisingly it was based around mobility even tho I use crutches. I scored zero because I can walk over 200m with aids or without as I work 4 hours and manage to walk to the bus stop etc. I thought my mobility would of been the worse but thinking about it even tho Im in pain 24/7 I can still go shops etc it just takes me longer to walk 

Going through Pip has caused me more anxiety and depression than in the last couple of years. I spent all day crying the other day because I just felt worthless and like Id been lying my whole life about having conditions! 

But after some talking with my partner, I have decided not appeal (not because I know I'm OK in life) but just because I haven't got it in me to go through this process for longer, I'd rather try and get better using swimming to build up and improve my mobility and attend my specialist counselling sessions to improve my mental health. I never thought I'd score zero on everything as I had evidence to support that I need help daily and I have mobility problems but I was clearly just given a fed up nurse by the sounds of her. 

Now, I want to focus on getting better as I know if I did have pip I would rely on that for income and use it as an excuse to not work in jobs I want to do etc (I already said if I got pip I'd quit my 4 hour job and not work and just do uni) 

I really do feel for anyone who is going through the same process of appealing and not feeling like you've been listened too! But keep going, they don't know like you know yourself and I hope you prove them all wrong!

Anyone who has been successful, I'm absolutley made up for you and really glad you're able to get the support you need! Xx

But for now Im stopping obsessing over pip, the whole 21 week process just consumed my daily thinking so I'm glad it's over and I can focus on myself. I know I need help everyday but I'm going to focus more on getting better so my partner doesn't have to take care of me everyday!

I know this is a long post, but thanks for reading it! ❤️

Comments

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 53,320 Disability Gamechanger
    Hi,

    I'm sorry to read this. Although there is one thing i will point out and that's the report, you haven't scored zero points yet because you've just received the report. The recommendation is zero points, although they do mostly go with the report, they have been known to go against it. Never say never until the decision's been made. There has been members on here that thought they wouldn't have an award because of the report but when the decision was made they went against it and points were awarded, which was enough for an award.

    Of course once the decision has been made if you're not awarded then it's your decision whether you choose not to request the MR followed by Tribunal. Whether you do qualify for PIP is difficult to advise on because no one here knows how your conditions affect you.

    People do work and claim PIP but if the work you do contradicts the reasons why you're claiming then yes it can go against you.

    Just to let you know the stats on MR decisions has increased from 17% to 54% and that is just huge. Tribunal success rate has also increased, although i'm not sure by how much, i do know it was about 74% success rate before Covid19. The majority of people that do claim PIP are awarded successfully without any problems at all.

    If the worst does happen and you are refused although you have 1 month to request the MR, with good reason you will have 13 months and same for the Tribunal.


    I would appreciate it if members wouldn't tag me please. I have all notifcations turned off and wouldn't want a member thinking i'm being rude by not replying.
    If i see a question that i know the answer to i will try my best to help.
  • Kittyc
    Kittyc Community member Posts: 49 Courageous
    See what the report says and contact your local welfare rights officer at your council.  They will help you with the MR.  Deep breaths 
  • Chloe_Scope
    Chloe_Scope Posts: 10,586 Disability Gamechanger
    Hi @Welliboots93, really sorry the report didn't reflect your situation. It is completely your choice regarding the appeal. We'll be here whatever you decided to do.
    Scope

  • janer1967
    janer1967 Community member Posts: 21,964 Disability Gamechanger
    Hi @Welliboots93 I am sorry you seem to have had a bad assessment report and that you dont feel you have it in you to fight it. That is how a lot of people feel so they dont take it any further

    Whatever you decide to do we are here to offer support
  • TeddyB22
    TeddyB22 Community member Posts: 178 Courageous
    Don't give up. If it means going to tribunal do that. It took me nearby 27 months but I got there . My first assessment was a face to face. That report was filmed with lies. When I went to tribunal the assessors agreed that that first report was biased.
    You see the whole process is so one sided. They rely on people like you giving up. Don't give up. Get representation. Get medical notes. Go all the way. It will all be worth while.
    Take care welliboots93
  • Welliboots93
    Welliboots93 Community member Posts: 32 Courageous
    Thank you everyone for your lovely words! 
    Its just so hard to read something that has been completely misconstrued by someone who has known you for one hour and didn't even appear friendly!

    I don't think they realise sometimes that people need to bring in an income whilst waiting on support from the goverment, but then they use it against you. If the assessment and decision making were quicker then people wouldn't have to put their health on the line just to be able to put food on the table!

    I'm going to wait on what the deicison is and hopefully go from there!

    You're all lovely people xxx
  • chiarieds
    chiarieds Community member Posts: 16,007 Disability Gamechanger
    @Welliboots93 - I think it's very wise to wait for your decision letter, as advised above, then see how you feel. A Mandatory Reconsideration can simply be done by writing a letter, whilst I can appreciate that if that's not successful, then appealing to a tribunal might be way more stressful. At the end of the day however, with a tribunal, you have 3 people just listening to how your disability affects you, rather than giving weight to the Health Care Professional's assessment.
    Anyway, please do let us know when you receive your decision letter, & use this forum at any time to let us know how you're getting on. :)
  • dawny63
    dawny63 Community member Posts: 43 Courageous
    Hi there welliboots. My husband recieved 0 points after phone assesment.  He put in a mandatory  reconsideration.  He found out today hes been awarded standard  rate care. No mobility but is happy  with award. Award for 2 years and  8 months. So is always  worth seeking  as can change. 
  • WorldsoldestNEET
    WorldsoldestNEET Posts: 42 Listener
    Didn't even bother with ppi. That's one hoop I won't be jumping through for the government.
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 53,320 Disability Gamechanger
    Didn't even bother with ppi.
    Do you mean PIP and not PPI?
    I would appreciate it if members wouldn't tag me please. I have all notifcations turned off and wouldn't want a member thinking i'm being rude by not replying.
    If i see a question that i know the answer to i will try my best to help.

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