P.I.P. timescales...

Holly_dolly

Hi serendipity2706,
I will do that on Monday, I watched a YouTube clip on assessment and doesn't look too bad! I'm not very good when it comes to answering questions on sons condition because it changes so quickly.. One minute he can be fine and the next minute he can be on a rampage so I hope they have an understanding of autism.

money_saving_hedgehog

Just a bit of good news my daughter has not waited as long as some people. Claimed on 17 december had assessment with atos in march and received full care and mobility award on friday. So all done and dusted in 4 months. It really must be down to area, we are in merseyside.

Holly_dolly

Hi so glad someone got good news about their PIP benefit...

Pollyb

Holly_dolly wrote: »

Just found out nhs Lanarkshire will be dealing with Scotland... Because atos made a mess out of the ESA assessments and Scotland doesn't trust them, feel a bit better now!!

My assessment was done with them in Glasgow, the lady was very efficient, took ages to get the assessment I was seen by them on 19th of March, lady told me DWP would have the report the next day and they did and I was awarded on 27th. I got a copy of the report and believe the report was very far and I have received the awarded that I expected Standard care, enhanced mobility.

They go through your typical day and the questions on the claim form,I had a physical examination basic things stand up, lift arms and legs. They fill the claim form in with the points they believe you should get based on your answer and what they observe from your assessment.

Hope everything goes well at your assessment.

malebolge

money_saving_hedgehog wrote: »

Just a bit of good news my daughter has not waited as long as some people. Claimed on 17 december had assessment with atos in march and received full care and mobility award on friday. So all done and dusted in 4 months. It really must be down to area, we are in merseyside.

Sounds like it could be area related as I claimed on 10th december and was given my full care & mobility the previous friday. I don't live in Merseyside but had my Atos assessment there at the anfield place.

Sunshinesusie

Not sure if area related or pot luck. I'm in Merseyside area and am yet to have my assessment. Claim was made on 7 August.
Have been in touch with both DWP and ATOS with little success. Email to MP in November resulted in standard reply from Mike Penning. Things made worse last month when claim was returned to DWP, they've since returned it to ATOS but it's now being treated as a new claim received in March, though have been told, if claim successful, will have money backdated to August.
That's all well and good but in meantime stress of on going situation I'm sure is causing my condition to get worse. Have complained to both DWP (with copy to MP and Mike Penning) and ATOS. ATOS have said they'll look into it. DWP have said somebody will get back to me. That's been said many times throughout this process with the reality being that they don't and I have to call them. Again stressful and only possible when health condition allows it and then it completely wipes me out for days.
It's horrendous. At least forums like this show I'm not the only one having a tough time though jealous of those treated less chaotically. Just wish there was more coverage in the media. Find it hard to believe there's not been a public outcry about the treatment of the sick and disabled.

Holly_dolly

Hi sunshinesusie,

I don't think media will run with the news as the European election is in May maybe after the election but I doubt that very much, they want Britain to look like it's saving money by punishing the ill and disabled.
Some one on here said contact the European Union about the government abusing our human rights... Don't know if that'll work.

Holly_dolly

Atos is supposed to be held accountable for anyone waiting longer than 6 months, as this is run by a complete nut who doesn't care for the normal person, he's more interested in the shares he has in the company!! That's how they got the contract not because they did a good job on the work capacity assessment, everyone knows the company's not reliable.

serendipity2706

Sunshinesusie wrote: »

Not sure if area related or pot luck. I'm in Merseyside area and am yet to have my assessment. Claim was made on 7 August.

See what other assessment centres you can get to. There's a link on the Atos website. Phone Atos and see if any of them have an appointment. Ask the length of the waiting list for the centre you are allocated.
Also phone every few days and ask for a cancellation at all the centres you can get to. They refund travelling expenses so you wont be out of pocket. After a week of phoning, I got a cancellation for 3 weeks time.
I've found, along with a lot of people on here that you have to keep at them.

Sunshinesusie

Thanks serendipity but have to have home assessment which I know is a longer wait. When I phoned in January I was told somebody would call me back within two weeks to confirm whether I'd have home assessment. Nobody called.
My condition was particularly bad in Jan and Feb so I wasn't able to chase this up until March. When I did call they couldn't see what had gone wrong and said they'd get back to me later that day. They didn't.
Several days later I called again and was told my form had been sent back to DWP and this could be a good thing. Then they said maybe not as, according to ATOS, DWP had cancelled my claim.
Called DWP they couldn't see why form had been sent back to them and said somebody would call. Same day boy from ATOS who said he would phone back same day called to say home assessment had been approved in January and he couldn't work out why I'd not been told. Told him about phone calls made that day and he then confirmed form had been returned but because it hadn't been filled in. So now two reasons for form returned - either DWP action or because I'd not completed form. Neither correct.
Next day DWP call to say they hadn't cancelled claim (allegedly thy can't do this, only claimant can, and I definitely hadn't) and form going back to ATOS. They said a lot of other stuff but I wasn't fully functioning at the time. Next day I rang DWP and asked if conversation could be confirmed in writing.
Two weeks later nothing from DWP, called them told to call ATOS. That's when ATOS confirmed they'd got form but now being treated as new claim. Called DWP to ask it they could convince ATOS that this is not a new claim. They said somebody would get in touch. Still waiting.
In meantime I'd emailed brian pepper at ATOS (mp and Mike penning office copied in) when I'd first found out about returned form. At first no response. When I found out that I was now being treated as new claim contacted brian pepper again (mp etc copied). This time email acknowledged and have been told complaint now being looked into.
As for media coverage I do understand political motivation but there to be such a blanket non challenging media on such massive welfare changes is quite astonishing. Unless it's benefits street which shows us all as scroungers.