My time has finally come......

pollyanna_26 · 17 May 2017 at 10:48PM

The op knows the outcome of the account above but for those fearing their forthcoming assessments . I went into detail above to show that there are good experiences as well as bad .
My dd was originally High Care , Low Mobility on DLA . This transfer to PIP resulted in Enhanced awards in both Care and Mobility which is a true reflection of her complex physical and mental health so I hope it will help to balance the fear a little .
To be honest the worry continued here until the award letter arrived .
Good luck to all going through the process .

Prinzess If you are sending your request by letter which is the best thing to cover all your points , send it Royal Mail first class tracked handing it in at the post office (I have a feeling you may already do this already but it may be useful for others reading this thread )
You are given a receipt and can track on the Royal Mail site and see the signature of the person who accepted it . I always print off that and keep it in the file with the current paperwork .
It shouldn't cost too much , the most I've ever been charged is around £3.00 and that was a claim form with a lot of medical evidence and letter form Consultants , GP etc . A few sheets of A4
shouldn't cost much at all .
I would advise sending it on Monday . We're heading to the weekend now .
polly

greenorange · 18 May 2017 at 6:36PM

Just thought I'd give a positive account, as there doesn't seem to be too many.

I have been receiving DLA since I was a few years old. Middle rate care, low rate mobility. Dropped to low rate care, low rate mobility when I turned 16. I recently transitioned over to PIP, expected to lose it completely, and was given high rate for both.

I did have a lifetime award with DLA, compared to 10 years for PIP, however it's more than I expected. The health care assessment was with someone who I felt was quite caring and supportive.

Not always the case, I know. I had an ESA assessment around the same time, got 0 points, and lost my ESA claim shortly after. Thankfully I started work a few months later.

Gypsywoman · 20 May 2017 at 11:47AM

I had to go to the Health Centre to see the ATOS assessor. He was respectful and did say 'I am not going to ask you to do any physical movements for the purpose of the assessment. I can see you are in pain'

I was awarded enhanced on both, but only for 3 years - not sure if this is to do with my age I will be 6 months short of 64 when I have my 3 year assessment, although I know they can do one any time before.

I had asked for a home visit and been turned down, My CPN rang them to ask why and it was because it said in my MH care plan that I did not like people coming to my home, which did not actually mean invited people. Also a few other things that maybe rang their alarm bells in my risk and relapse plan.

My CPN comes every fortnight and started those visits 5 years ago. I have bipolar and it is episodic and I have only had low/depressed episodes, but understand they are responsible for their staffs safety. So my CPN took me in her car and all was fine.

I did ask for the assessors report and was surprised to see that he had put 'I declined the physical' not him saying ' I was in too much pain' but that 'I had declined' I have shown my CPN and she noted this down for she heard what he had said. I must ask her if she will be doing anything about that completely wrong statement.

I had to do the little mental check of spelling a word backwards and how much change and a subtraction. I have a degree and an honours degree. I have physical disabilities and bipolar, no learning difficulties and yet I did not feel insulted, for I know other people who could not answers those questions and they are friends of mine.

My main concern are the 3 years running out short of my 64th birthday and if they will attempt to transfer me to AA . Also, the statement that 'I declined the physical'. I do not want that to happen to someone who does not have a witness there and then it be used against them.

Good-luck Prinzessilien. x

Silvertabby · 20 May 2017 at 1:20PM

“ Why is it that the government has produced a system that leaves genuine claimants quaking in their shoes and distrustful that they will have a fair hearing?
”
Because the Tories need to make savings and disabled people are worthless drains on society. They need to get rid of benefits, in order to let their wealthy chums have their tax breaks. Posted by Fenwoman

Labour were still in power when my sister had to attend an 'benefits review' back in the early 2000s.

She was a talented florist, but she couldn't get a job because her lupus induced total renal failure meant that she had to spend 3 full days of every week in hospital, tied to a dyalisis machine.

The assessor wanted to know why she couldn't sleep when she was in hospital, so she could get a night shift job stacking supermarket shelves.

My sister really was ill - she died shortly afterwards.

ukmaggie45 · 20 May 2017 at 6:33PM

Gypsywoman wrote: »

I was awarded enhanced on both, but only for 3 years - not sure if this is to do with my age I will be 6 months short of 64 when I have my 3 year assessment, although I know they can do one any time before.

From what I understand you will be called in a year before your award runs out. So effectively you only have it for 2 years.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings, but it's probably better to be forewarned.

My best wishes to you, I'm glad you got a decent award. I just got my date for Tribunal yesterday - I'm 68, so it's my last chance to attempt to get a Motability car back. Lost my car last November.

Prinzessilein · 30 May 2017 at 1:19PM

So....

We phoned and asked for a copy of the report...'no problem, it'll be in the post to you'

Today we phoned again to ask where it was...and were told that the decision maker is working on my application...fine, but what we want is the ATOS report...only to be told that this is with the decision maker, and they don't make copies...I can't have a copy until AFTER I have the award notification!

I suspect this may not be quite true....and there will be another phonecall to the tomorrow! Maybe talking to someone different will elicit a different response?

IF it's true that you cannot have the ATOS HCP report until after the decision letter, then why did the first person promise to send me a copy that day...then there's the question if why they promised me the report and then never sent it....one hand not knowing what the other is doing?

Eh, but they don't make this easy for us do they!

ukmaggie45 · 30 May 2017 at 7:04PM

Prinzessilein wrote: »

So....

We phoned and asked for a copy of the report...'no problem, it'll be in the post to you'

Today we phoned again to ask where it was...and were told that the decision maker is working on my application...fine, but what we want is the ATOS report...only to be told that this is with the decision maker, and they don't make copies...I can't have a copy until AFTER I have the award notification!

I suspect this may not be quite true....and there will be another phonecall to the tomorrow! Maybe talking to someone different will elicit a different response?

IF it's true that you cannot have the ATOS HCP report until after the decision letter, then why did the first person promise to send me a copy that day...then there's the question if why they promised me the report and then never sent it....one hand not knowing what the other is doing?

Eh, but they don't make this easy for us do they!

I believe they lied to you. You are allowed to have a copy of the HCP's report. Suggest you take a look at Benefits and Work forum - you can only post if you're a member, but I think anyone can read. And I assume search - posts there do come up on Google searches.

I asked for my HCP report just after I'd been for the Face to Face thing. It was so bad I complained to ATOS with a copy to my MP. I heard back from my MP before I got the written reply from ATOS. All of it before I got award notification. I don't believe the rules have changed. But I have heard of other people being told the same as you.

Good luck! And if you feel able to accept cyber-hugs I'm sending some to you... I really do feel for you. I'm on the (possibly) last leg of the process, Tribunal prob on 12 June... After the previous decision was set aside - it was taken in my absence, neither myself nor my advocate had been informed of the date.

Best wishes from Liverpool!

poppy12345 · 30 May 2017 at 7:09PM

Prinzessilein wrote: »

So....

We phoned and asked for a copy of the report...'no problem, it'll be in the post to you'

Today we phoned again to ask where it was...and were told that the decision maker is working on my application...fine, but what we want is the ATOS report...only to be told that this is with the decision maker, and they don't make copies...I can't have a copy until AFTER I have the award notification!

I suspect this may not be quite true....and there will be another phonecall to the tomorrow! Maybe talking to someone different will elicit a different response?

IF it's true that you cannot have the ATOS HCP report until after the decision letter, then why did the first person promise to send me a copy that day...then there's the question if why they promised me the report and then never sent it....one hand not knowing what the other is doing?

Eh, but they don't make this easy for us do they!

Most will send out copies before a decision is made but some won't send until after a decision has been made.

Prinzessilein · 8 June 2017 at 2:21PM

Time for another update...

Out of the blue, the ATOS report came today.

There are parts of it that seem as if the HCP was examining someone totally different.....From vague 'facts' that they appear to have made up out of thin air (the report says that one diagnosis was made whilst I was still at school in the late 90s...which is really odd as I left school about 20 years before then!!!) to 'observations' that I was seen to read the names of my medications (which I did NOT do!)....to statement s about my family and my medication that are just plain and simple wrong! (number of siblings ...wrong!....doses of medication....wrong!....)....and the report of the Mini-Mental-Health-State exam made interesting reading, I queried a few bits with my Mum/Carer who was in the room with me at all times - and she agrees that some of the stated activities were not part of my assessment!!!!

There were some rather awesome leaps of logic...I was apparently tearful, rocking constantly, and spent much of the assessment humming to myself...and yet I also showed no visible signs of anxiety!!!! (so if I was observed to rock, hum and weep, why else was I doing this if not because I was anxious!)....I brushed hair from my eyes (unlikely as I have VERY short hair), and also bent to the floor whilst sitting...which apparently showed I have full range of motion inn my arms.

As expected the assessment concentrates 90% on my physical issues and totally ignores my mental health - and also assumes that if I can do a task once, even if takes me longer than anyone else, then I can do it repeatedly, reliably and consistently...which is most definitely NOT the case!

On the other hand....the assessor makes clear reference in the report to some of the material I sent as 'supporting evidence'....using this to justify areas where they accept I have additional needs. ...(and also ignoring those parts of my supporting evidence that reference my mental health...and in one place stating that the report I submitted from a psychiatrist states I have difficulties in communication, but also stating that the HCP disputes the finding as they observed no problems in the Face-to-face!...clever of them, as in one short session they supposedly learned more about me than my specialist, with years of training not only in mental health but in ASD, did in the multiple sessions I had with him!!!)

Having said all this there is some fair stuff in the report.....where the descriptors concentrate on physical issues the HCP has made a reasonable assessment.....looking at the 'Care' points that they recommend it seems I should be pretty much well into the needed points for Enhanced Care....(Even allowing for the zero points they suggest for communication and for reading....(I have a diagnosis of dyslexia which the HCP also openly disputed in the report)...my other care needs seem to combine to put me in the higher bracket....for mobility I WOULD a few months ago have probably been in the Enhanced band for this too, but the 'new' rules that the government brought in on mental health and mobility back in March means that my points are much lower...but the HCP still recommends enough points to get me lower rate.

So final (with luck!!!) stage is to wait for the official report from the DWP decision maker. ...if they go with the HCP report then although I disagree with the actual descriptor-points it will still give me the award I suggested in my original post that I feel is right.....so I am actual starting to fee ever-so-slightly more hopeful!

(which is not to say that we are not still considering a letter of complaint about the attitude of the HCP during the home visit!)

Prinzessilein · 10 June 2017 at 9:53AM

...and the decision letter has arrived!

As expected, they have simply copied the 'findings' of the HCP. ....which means there are inconsistencies and what I term 'lies' on the report....and a total refusal to consider almost all of the mental health issues. (Communicating and Reading both cored a big fat zero!....the report from the HCP said I struggled to communicate with them, mentioned all the observed signs of anxiety and still scored me zero, and the decision maker simply rubber-stamped this)

However...I did score for some of the mental health issues, and the physical issues were very fairly recorded.

When we looked at the criteria prior to completing the forms, Mum and I assessed my needs as Care 25 points and Mobility 8 points (under the 'new' regulations...it would be 14 if they accepted Mental Health issues as impacting on mobility)....The HCP and Decision Maker awarded me Care 18 and Mobility 8.

So, I have gone from DLA Lower Rate both Components to PiP Care Enhanced and Mobility Standard....which is the award I felt was justified. ....so even though the report says I can do quite a bit that I know is impossible for me, I will not bother asking for an MR ....it would be a HUGE stress for me (an my lovely Mum!) and getting extra Care points would have no effect on my actual award.

The one thing that shocked me a little was the duration of the award....my DLA was 'indefinite' and I was under the impression this was not given for Pip.....but this award is recorded as being 'ongoing' with a recommended date for reconsideration/renewal of 'after 2027'...so 10years!

So ....I have the award I feel is right...and I did it without any help (other than my lovely old Mum!)...so for anyone else stressing about the transfer, it CAN be done!...The HCP report and the DM letter both reference the specialist reports that I enclosed with the application form (one of which was 10 years old, but as the condition is one that is ongoing it was still deemed relevant), so it clearly pays to send the relevant documents when applying....the Face-to-Face was a fight to arrange, but be strong, firm, insistent and above all polite when asking (and re-asking!) ...the Face-to-Face itself was a real headache - the HCP had no experience of my issues and it showed! The report is littered with inaccuracies and mistakes - but having someone with me was brilliant, Mum was able to state and relate my difficulties and how they relate to descriptors.

Now, I can finally relax!....a big thank you to you all for the support and help!...it really helps to know that others are struggling though this process.

For those going through it now, or expecting to go through it soon...a big virtual hug!...and remember you do NOT have to do this alone...a friend or family-member can be with you at all stages!...be honest when filling out the form...send all relevant evidence with the form if possible....be honest at the Face-to-Face (including NOT putting on a brave face and trying to say everything is fine!!!)

My time has finally come......

Comments

Categories

Get our FREE Weekly email full of deals & guides - and it’s spam-free