P.I.P. timescales...

Frugalsod

CTcelt1988 wrote: »

If this happens now with a small number of claims, how can they cope with 2million being assessed from 2015? I can see PIP being delayed again to Indefinate awards.

What will they be doing about people with indefinite awards?

Indie_Kid

Frugalsod wrote: »

What will they be doing about people with indefinite awards?

We're meant to be being assessed in 2015. I have a feeling it'll be later than that.

Confuseddot

925dancer wrote: »

I got my decision, I was turned down. Having spoken to customer service they relayed the decision letter to me and she was shocked to see I was assessed by a physiotherapist as I asked if it told her. She then had the decision maker call me.

There followed a conversation where I completely melted down and he apologised and sounded genuinely sorry that my report wasn't at all thorough enough for someone with mental health problems. As I suspected might be the case, my GP was not asked for any information and I am yet to have got to the top of the referral lists for proper psych treatment. He asked me lots of far more probing questions than I had at my assessment. He has made a note that my claim is to be looked at again and I am going to get a supporting letter from my GP, who I am seeing on Monday anyway. Thankfully I have a friend who has offered to pay for that letter should there be a charge as I am barely scraping by on ESA assessment rate.

I spent much of yesterday crying and now I am thoroughly angry that mental health patients are sill being treated this way. My report, snippets of which the customer services lady read to me, make note that I attended on my own in a taxi but didn't note I told him I was nearly late as I was trying to find a way to book said taxi online due to my anxiety with the phone but couldn't so had to make a phone call, which took time. It also noted I was well presented showing I looked after myself well. Again, wholly unfair, I happen to be heavily involved with vintage and don't own anything anyone would consider casual clothing other than pyjamas! What was I supposed to turn up in!? I had a head scarf on because I hadn't showered for weeks and wanted to hide my hair. I might be severely depressed but I still have a smidgen of pride when out on public.

So all of our fears are true, the WCA doesn't sufficiently make allowances for those with mental health conditions (and many others) and neither, would it appear, does PIP.

My fight to keep my flat continues, as does my fight to stay well enough to keep myself alive.

Sorry to hear that, that sounds like my esa claim report whereas my pip one seems to have been a true report of what was said not helpful for you but a bit like WCA it going to depend on who you see. It was Capita that did my PIP one not sure if it makes a difference.


I got PIP for mental health so it is possible.


Good luck with you fight !

Chrysalis

rich_shot2003 wrote: »

yes saw that as well.

i think if they do pull out then the days of IDS in his job will be numbered which has to be good.

the whole thing now is just a fast and needs pulling.

sadly probably not.

the only way IDS is out of his job is if the tories lose the election.

ATOS were just the fall guy, its the whole reason the DWP are outsourcing so they (the policy makers) have plausible deniability.

Do we really think ATOS were lieing on reports etc. to mark people fit for work just because they felt like it? almost certianly (but no proof) they were under pressure to cut the numbers qualifying for benefits, however the DWP would never admit this.

eg. the whole purpose of PIP is to cut the DLA budget by 20%, thats it. They aim to get that cut by redefining disability, examples are, adding to PIP the pretence someone is mobile with a wheelchair (even when they dont have a wheelchair) and cutting the distance measured to get the highest mobility payments. Plus of course enforcing medical assessments even when is strong supporting evidence.

Interestingly enough capita doing PIP assessments wanted to record them but the DWP have told them they dont want them recorded. What are the DWP trying to hide?

Indie_Kid

Chrysalis wrote: »

eg. the whole purpose of PIP is to cut the DLA budget by 20%, thats it. They aim to get that cut by redefining disability, examples are, adding to PIP the pretence someone is mobile with a wheelchair (even when they dont have a wheelchair) and cutting the distance measured to get the highest mobility payments. Plus of course enforcing medical assessments even when is strong supporting evidence.

PIP mobility is still about being (un)able to walk for those with walking disabilities. But I can't understand why aids aren't taken into account for them, but they are for those of us with other mobility difficulties. Do know someone who is blind who had her LRM taken off her because she told DWP she uses a mobility cane.:mad:

Mr_Lawnmower

Chrysalis wrote: »

adding to PIP the pretence someone is mobile with a wheelchair (even when they dont have a wheelchair) and cutting the distance measured to get the highest mobility payments.

The 2013 changes to the ESA descriptors now talk about mobilising, which is the ability to walk using aids or self-propel in a manual wheelchair.

The PIP "moving around" activity does not take self-propelling ability into account. Whilst the descriptors take some account of aids or appliances, the wording of the distance related descriptors is "stand and then move", so self-propelling ability in a manual wheelchair is not relevant to this activity.

Indie_Kid wrote: »

PIP mobility is still about being (un)able to walk for those with walking disabilities. But I can't understand why aids aren't taken into account for them, but they are for those of us with other mobility difficulties. Do know someone who is blind who had her LRM taken off her because she told DWP she uses a mobility cane.:mad:

DLA lower rate Mobility is solely about the help and guidance needed from another person. If an aid, appliance or assistance dog reduces this need, it can remove the entitlement to lower rate Mobility.


Roughly speaking, the PIP "planning and following routes" activity relates to the factors relevant to DLA lower rate Mobility and the PIP "moving around" activity relates to the factors relevant to DLA higher rate Mobility. The rate of any PIP Mobility award awarded depends on the total score for these two activities, so it is not as simple as saying the PIP criteria are harsher. Some will get higher Mobility component awards under the PIP regime than they did under DLA.

However, it is fair to say that those whose walking problems are purely physical, who expect to score 0 for "planning and following routes", may get a lower Mobility component award under PIP than under DLA.

smudge75

UPDATE

I have had a phone call today that after nearly 9 months i have been award Enhanced care and Enhanced mobility for PIP to say i am relieved is a understatement . thankyou to everyone for support .:j:j:j

serendipity2706

Have my appointment for PIP this afternoon. The last one was cancelled on the day of the appointment- nothing heard from them yet, so far, so good.

serendipity2706

smudge75 wrote: »

UPDATE

I have had a phone call today that after nearly 9 months:j:j:j

Congratulations- bet you ARE relieved after all this time
But, think of the backdated payment, enough to go on holiday!!!

Indie_Kid

serendipity2706 wrote: »

Have my appointment for PIP this afternoon. The last one was cancelled on the day of the appointment- nothing heard from them yet, so far, so good.

It may be worth phoning up and asking if the appointment is still going ahead.

Congratulations Smudge.