PIP: Failed assessment, utterly terrified

apronedsamurai

had my medical assessment for PIP on march 15th.

Despite the fact that I was on DLA middle care component for 4 years, and ESA support group as soon as it was introduced (so approx 8-9 years), I got 0 points for my PIP assessment.

My report was riddled with mistakes and contradications. No restriction of my lower limbs; yet the report says I had a altered gait and slow walking pace. I have severe arthritis, and wear an ankle splint to stabilise my joint.

My family supervise my medication usage, to prevent me overdosing. This is noted and accepted...but I got no points anyway.

I did the congitive test. I failed to properly spell the word I was given by the assessor correctly when asked to spell backwards, and only recalled 2 words out of 4. According to assessor, nothing wrong with my memory.

I regularly consume food that is half-raw; or burn food so badly it is no longer edible. I actively self-harm utilising available kitchen utensils, and at worst times, my family have to prepare meals for me, which I then heat up. Guess what? I don't need any help in the kitchen!

I can attend medical appointments myself. Curious, given my mother was with me for the whole duration of the assessment and did not leave my side.

Made good eye contact and rapport with assessor. Curious, given I faced the wall and spoke to it, without turning around.

I am at college, have a student loan (I am in Scotland) and was going to go to university in September. But know I am scared, absolutely scared. My money has been taken away, and I have no faith in appealing it, I do not know if I have the mental strength to take this all the way through to tribunal level.

My mother has offered to support me financially. However she is abusive, and an alchololic and my worry is that in a moment of anger she will just cut the financial support.

And yet, despite all this, I got a letter from the housing benefit people to tell me that due to my PIP award ending....that my HB entitlement was being REDUCED (when I thought it was terminated...? I thought full time students did not get HB at all if they did not recieve DLA/PIP?)

Can anyone please advise? Feeling really desperate

GlasweJen

Were you seen by Salus by any chance? (Lanarkshire/Glasgow area).

My report was a work of complete fiction, all you can do is call and ask for a reconsideration and then start writing your appeal. Citizens advice can help with that if you need it but it would be helpful for them if you could read the notes and write about the bits you disagree with before you see them.

apronedsamurai

GlasweJen wrote: »

Were you seen by Salus by any chance? (Lanarkshire/Glasgow area).

My report was a work of complete fiction, all you can do is call and ask for a reconsideration and then start writing your appeal. Citizens advice can help with that if you need it but it would be helpful for them if you could read the notes and write about the bits you disagree with before you see them.

Err, Atos I think. But yes was in Glasgow.

I saw CAB today and have written a long letter challenging each of the contradictions etc etc.

Prudent

It is so sad that after all the publicity about seriously inaccurate reporting this is still going on. Do you have a welfare adviser at your college?

apronedsamurai

Prudent wrote: »

It is so sad that after all the publicity about seriously inaccurate reporting this is still going on. Do you have a welfare adviser at your college?

Don't think so.

I have contacted my MP; have written a letter for the mandatory reconsideration (used the letter CAB did for me, and expanded on it). Just worried about it going as far as the tribunal level

Alice_Holt

Do take it to the tribunal service (TS) They will be far more thorough than the flawed ATOS MA.
0 points indicates to me that ATOS have got this totally wrong.

Has the CAB got a caseworker who can help you with an appeal to the TS?

If not, don't worry too much. There is a lot useful info online:
http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip/pip-appeals
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/449043/pip-assessment-guide.pdf
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/appeals/apply-to-tribunal/
http://www.advicenow.org.uk/guides/turned-down-dla-aa-or-pip-or-think-youre-not-getting-enough

The tribunal will ask you questions about your day-to-day life, what you need help with, it is not a cross questioning. They are reviewing the DWP decision, and there is a lot you can do to help them come to the correct decision:
About 10 days before the hearing you can send them a statement setting out how you meet the PIP criteria,
Get your GP / other health professionals on board, get medical evidence to send to the tribunal.
Keep a diary / notes on how your illnesses affect your day-to-day life, take it to the tribunal and use it to give the tribunal examples and illustrations.

Throughout this, keep in mind the points-based PIP criteria (8 points needed for a Daily living award). Base your examples / evidence around these. Because this is the basis on which the tribunal will make their decision.

It is worth doing this in order to get the right decision. I know it sounds daunting, but the tribunal are there to listen to you and then decide if the DWP got it right. Give them the facts - the majority of appeals are successful.
And a loss of your DLA/PIP will reduction your ESa and HB (with the withdraw of disability premiums).

Good Luck. I'm sure you will be successful.

apronedsamurai

Alice_Holt wrote: »

Do take it to the tribunal service (TS) They will be far more thorough than the flawed ATOS MA.
0 points indicates to me that ATOS have got this totally wrong.

Has the CAB got a caseworker who can help you with an appeal to the TS?

If not, don't worry too much. There is a lot useful info online:
http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip/pip-appeals
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/449043/pip-assessment-guide.pdf
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/appeals/apply-to-tribunal/
http://www.advicenow.org.uk/guides/turned-down-dla-aa-or-pip-or-think-youre-not-getting-enough

The tribunal will ask you questions about your day-to-day life, what you need help with, it is not a cross questioning. They are reviewing the DWP decision, and there is a lot you can do to help them come to the correct decision:
About 10 days before the hearing you can send them a statement setting out how you meet the PIP criteria,
Get your GP / other health professionals on board, get medical evidence to send to the tribunal.
Keep a diary / notes on how your illnesses affect your day-to-day life, take it to the tribunal and use it to give the tribunal examples and illustrations.

Throughout this, keep in mind the points-based PIP criteria (8 points needed for a Daily living award). Base your examples / evidence around these. Because this is the basis on which the tribunal will make their decision.

It is worth doing this in order to get the right decision. I know it sounds daunting, but the tribunal are there to listen to you and then decide if the DWP got it right. Give them the facts - the majority of appeals are successful.
And a loss of your DLA/PIP will reduction your ESa and HB (with the withdraw of disability

Good Luck. I'm sure you will be successful.

Miss I am a full time student and my understanding is we do not get any benefits UNLESS we are disabled...so surely I should be losing ALL my benefits?

Alice_Holt

That may also depend on whether the course you are on is classified as advanced or non-advanced.

If your college doesn't have a welfare adviser, do see if the CAB can help you with your appeal.

apronedsamurai

Alice_Holt wrote: »

That may also depend on whether the course you are on is classified as advanced or non-advanced.

If your college doesn't have a welfare adviser, do see if the CAB can help you with your appeal.

Its advanced. I was hoping to go to university.My college doesn't have a welfare adviser.

See, the PIP/DLA/Housing Benefit/JSA is all linked now, so a sanction of one tends to ripple out to the other as well.

Also, I had my ESA suspended in September 15th, whilst the DWP was "determing how much I was owed, with regard to my student loan."

When this had a knock on effect (wrongly so due to my DLA eligibility at that time) on my HB, I appealed to the DWP, citing the reasons why I was still eligible to ESA. They phoned me the next day to say my claim was not terminated or ended, merely being suspended whilst they were making a final decision. (This was in January: not heard anything at all from them since).

Utterly baffled tbh

Alice_Holt

I believe that part of your student loan can be treated as income and be included in the calculation of income-based ESa. This may explain why the DWP are reassessing ESa.

Just a thought - are you an NUT member? Would they have any resources you could access?

apronedsamurai

Alice_Holt wrote: »

I believe that part of your student loan can be treated as income and be included in the calculation of income-based ESa. This may explain why the DWP are reassessing ESa.

Just a thought - are you an NUT member? Would they have any resources you could access?

Nods, yes that is it exactly. And that is what they said. But I am baffled as to how I am now still seemingly entitled to HB, despite the fact I no longer have the PIP

No ms I am not a NUT member, not sure what that is