Pip assessment
serenaly
Posts: 73 Forumite
Well I received my face to face assessment appointment which was very conveniently 35 miles away from my house!!
I suffer from PTSD, severe anxiety and depression and do not own a car or drive, there is no way that I could make a journey of that length on public transport or cab with a stranger. However I phoned the number and they were very good and arranged a new appointment that was around the corner from me. Which begs the question why on earth would you try and send people 36 miles away for their appointment?
I suffer from PTSD, severe anxiety and depression and do not own a car or drive, there is no way that I could make a journey of that length on public transport or cab with a stranger. However I phoned the number and they were very good and arranged a new appointment that was around the corner from me. Which begs the question why on earth would you try and send people 36 miles away for their appointment?
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Well I received my face to face assessment appointment which was very conveniently 35 miles away from my house!!
I suffer from PTSD, severe anxiety and depression and do not own a car or drive, there is no way that I could make a journey of that length on public transport or cab with a stranger. However I phoned the number and they were very good and arranged a new appointment that was around the corner from me. Which begs the question why on earth would you try and send people 36 miles away for their appointment?
I went for a DLA assessment and not having anyone to go with me who could drive, I did what they said. They included a map and full instructions on how to get there independently. Two bus journeys totalling 1hr 20mins and then a 800 metre (1/2 mile) walk from the nearest bus stop to the assessing centre.
I was asked at the assessment how I had got here so told them in accordance with the map and instructions they sent me with the appointment letter - BAD decision
They used that against me saying that I could use public transport and could walk at least 1/2 mile!
What the **** did they expect me to do, not show up?0 -
Well I received my face to face assessment appointment which was very conveniently 35 miles away from my house!!
I suffer from PTSD, severe anxiety and depression and do not own a car or drive, there is no way that I could make a journey of that length on public transport or cab with a stranger. However I phoned the number and they were very good and arranged a new appointment that was around the corner from me. Which begs the question why on earth would you try and send people 36 miles away for their appointment?0 -
Ahh well that makes sense Poppy12345, thanks, I did wonder and they wanted me there at 9.15!0
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rockingbilly wrote: »I went for a DLA assessment and not having anyone to go with me who could drive, I did what they said. They included a map and full instructions on how to get there independently. Two bus journeys totalling 1hr 20mins and then a 800 metre (1/2 mile) walk from the nearest bus stop to the assessing centre.
I was asked at the assessment how I had got here so told them in accordance with the map and instructions they sent me with the appointment letter - BAD decision
They used that against me saying that I could use public transport and could walk at least 1/2 mile!
What the **** did they expect me to do, not show up?
yes but ... quite clearly you could use public transport and walk 1/2 a mile. They didn't "Use it against you", you proved that you were capable of doing it. Given that the exact purpose of the assessment is to find out if you are capable of such things, you gave them evidence.
Presumably they assumed that anyone not able to comply with the instructions to get to the assessment centre would ring to change the appointment (and explain that their disability made it impractical/impossible to get to that venue).I try not to get too stressed out on the forum. I won't argue, i'll just leave a thread if you don't like what I say.0 -
yes but ... quite clearly you could use public transport and walk 1/2 a mile. They didn't "Use it against you", you proved that you were capable of doing it. Given that the exact purpose of the assessment is to find out if you are capable of such things, you gave them evidence.
Presumably they assumed that anyone not able to comply with the instructions to get to the assessment centre would ring to change the appointment (and explain that their disability made it impractical/impossible to get to that venue).0 -
Unfortunately for you the assessor likely lacked psychic powers. Only you know the full extent of your condition and how it affects you day to day.
It was up to you to plan/explain accordingly.0 -
Unfortunately for you the assessor likely lacked psychic powers. Only you know the full extent of your condition and how it affects you day to day.
It was up to you to plan/explain accordingly.
I did surprisingly enough, all of that information was described in detail on the claim form backed up with good medical evidence.
It was a bit late in the day to send them a report after I had arrived back home as to how the journey had affected me.
Besides which if the assessor had been any part good it would have been apparent to all considering how I looked. But my answer was recorded and the assessor just moved on to another subject - social & work history without seeking any further information or questioning.0 -
So you should have either rebooked your assessment at a centre closer to you, arranged with the provider to take a taxi or have a home assessment.
It was not a conspiracy to test you, it is just the way the process works. We are all just faceless numbers in the system. There is nothing personal about it, despite our inherently paranoid natures telling us otherwise.
Tom0 -
So you should have either rebooked your assessment at a centre closer to you, arranged with the provider to take a taxi or have a home assessment.
It was not a conspiracy to test you, it is just the way the process works. We are all just faceless numbers in the system. There is nothing personal about it, despite our inherently paranoid natures telling us otherwise.
Tom
Maybe there should be information of that nature available.
To me all of this seems to be about playing a game. If I did that, if I did this - how would it be interpreted by the assessor/DWP.
As for a home assessment, that is available only to those that have their GP visit them at home as they cannot get to the surgery - I don't fit that category.0
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