PIP Face to face assement

Confuseddot

Hi,

Just received a letter in for my appointment for my assessment which is going to be on the 31st October.

Has anyone had their assessment ? What is it like ? Had my esa wca which I thought went ok but the notes didn't reflect any of what was said.

stressing about it all already

cazz2013

Hi,

The assessment itself was going over and talking through the questions and replies on your claim form. Giving you the chance to explain your problems in your own words. That was my personal experience - though my assessor was reading from a script because the computer system was down. I think it most probably depends entirely on the individual assessment officers. Good luck to you - I am sure you will be fine.

Widelats

Confuseddot wrote: »

Hi,

Just received a letter in for my appointment for my assessment which is going to be on the 31st October.

Has anyone had their assessment ? What is it like ? Had my esa wca which I thought went ok but the notes didn't reflect any of what was said.

stressing about it all already

Yes i had one - all i can say is my own personal experience which might well be nothing like yours.

Assessment was relaxed, friendly, professional and thorough, he listened and took notes and was a nice guy. I do not know if this was because of a quality control guy who was also sat at the back of the room the whole time - i have never heard of a control guy at any assessment before and wondering if its a new thing.

You will be asked to do very basic exercises like squeezing the assessors 2 fingers or standing on tip toes, nothing difficult and i was told that absolutely anything that i was not comfortable with i was to just refuse, he will ask me why i refuse and i give him a answer and thats it.

You also get a good chance to tell your own story as well and he seemed to very much listen and understand.

My assessor was a physiotherapist, not a basic RGN that you find at ESA level assessments, this guy was a pro - i know this because i been weight training and learned body mechanics for the past 25 years, i can smell horse manure a mile off when it comes to physicality.

Hope yours is as ok as mine was.

Confuseddot

Well that wasn't what I was expecting. The nurse was lovely and did seem to be listening and believing me. It was very distressing its never good spending an hour or going through all the things you can't do felt like the worst most useless person in the world last night :(_pale_

It did seem to go better than the esa assessment in that she was telling me what she was typing but I will see what happens if they ever get the report through. She said I would hear within 5 weeks but not holding my breath.

Roxy07

What sort of questions was they asking you if you don't mind me asking? it will prepare me for mine

Pobby

Had my DLA interview last Monday. Very relaxed, mental health issues. I was gob smacked by the lovely manner of the nurse who interviewed me. Told her so at the end. her boss sat in and was also very nice. My wife was present as my memory is not top of my talents.

Roxy07

Pobby wrote: »

Had my DLA interview last Monday. Very relaxed, mental health issues. I was gob smacked by the lovely manner of the nurse who interviewed me. Told her so at the end. her boss sat in and was also very nice. My wife was present as my memory is not top of my talents.

it deffo looks like Atos have had their wrists slapped.

nannytone_2

when i had my ESA assessment, the HCP was still training and had another HCP assisting her.
i dont like to thibk it but maybe when they are still training, they arent 'hardened' to the process.
hopefully this 'nice' attitude will continue but something in the back of my mind says it wont ...

tonyciclo

Pobby wrote: »

Had my DLA interview last Monday. Very relaxed, mental health issues. I was gob smacked by the lovely manner of the nurse who interviewed me. Told her so at the end. her boss sat in and was also very nice. My wife was present as my memory is not top of my talents.

I have never had a DLA assessment only an ESA one. My attitude towards them (ATOS) is that they are not your friend, they are not there to help you get an award nor are they there to help in any way.

Given that when dealing with people of this ilk, I make them do the work and only give simple answers of yes/no. If I don't give them a reason to fail me then they can't. I am also quite adept of saying a lot but none of it has any relevance.

Parva

tonyciclo wrote: »

I have never had a DLA assessment only an ESA one. My attitude towards them (ATOS) is that they are not your friend, they are not there to help you get an award nor are they there to help in any way.

Given that when dealing with people of this ilk, I make them do the work and only give simple answers of yes/no. If I don't give them a reason to fail me then they can't. I am also quite adept of saying a lot but none of it has any relevance.

Classic Andy advice. Take it at your peril.

Widelats

Roxy07 wrote: »

What sort of questions was they asking you if you don't mind me asking? it will prepare me for mine

Basically, they go through the form that you sent back to them, and just confirm a lot of it, or go into further details if you were not specific enough. Like if the form asks "How do you cook your meals" and you answer "On a cooker" they will ask do you have any problems, like can you open tins, what kind of food you eat, stuff like that.

Unlike ESA there are is no trickery involved, they write down what you tell them on their computer, they don't back track your answers and start cross examining you on tiny irrelevant details like ESA do.