PIP: Failed assessment, utterly terrified

NLW

apronedsamurai wrote: »

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.

Your post also contains many contradictions

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

How does your family constantly control your medication? Also how will they do it if you are planning on going to uni? By your other posts you already live alone.

I did the cognitive 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.

This I also find surprising for somebody who can write a informative post properly formatted, including correct grammar and punctuation.

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!

Are you still living alone? As you claim HB I presume you are. Who helps you now? How will you cope at uni?

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.

Does she sit with you at college? Or was she just there for support?

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

Really??? How do you manage at college on a daily basis?

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.

PIP is to help with you with added costs relating to a disability not fund uni.

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.

Is this the same person who controls your meds and cooks for you?

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

It seems you my need to rethink your future options. Have you had your operation yet? It appears to me you are using ESA and PIP to fund your way through College and UNI to avoid any student debt.

apronedsamurai

NLW wrote: »

It seems you my need to rethink your future options.

Ok, don't know why you have came on with an aggressive and militantly unpleasant post attacking me, and I know it isn't intended to fund university so please don't patronise me, ok?

And it is spelt "may". Not "my."

"MAY need to rethink your future options."

A student's status has no bearing on DLA OR PIP (unless it manifestly and obviously contradicts their care requirements. So if someone says "I can't walk X metres, or bend down and yet, manages to do a landscaping course, then yes, that is going to a raise red flag. Also, the money is paid to me. Whether I choose to devote it to the additional costs that arise in relation to my disability, or whether I choose to spend it on crack cocaine, or furthering my university ambitions is my business and no one else. By that logic then, I am disabled I must not go to university!


What an utterly patronising and thoroughly unpleasant post you submitted.

"This I also find surprising for somebody who can write a informative post properly formatted, including correct grammar and punctuation."

That would be because I have good days and bad days. Influenced by my mental health and physical health conditions in addition to the substantially negative effect my medication has on me. THAT in addition the anxiety of the stress of the assessment was what made me forgetful.

"Is this the same person who controls your meds and cooks for you?"

Yes, it is actually. Continuing to have the money would help me to break free of the dependency and allow me to assert my own independence or, use the money to pay for additional support, as you so pompously identified. Her alcoholism is only a recent development, in the last few months.



Now that you are done interrogating, attacking and otherwise trying to trip me up: do us all a favour: keep your comments to yourself. When I am so desperate for the unqualified, unnecessary and unsolicited opinions of a !!!!ing internet moron with an axe to grind and little comprehension concerning the complexities associated with a variable health condition, trust me, your top on the list. Until such a time, stay away from me, and my posts.

apronedsamurai

NLW wrote: »

It seems you my need to rethink your future options. Have you had your operation yet? It appears to me you are using ESA and PIP to fund your way through College and UNI to avoid any student debt.

What operation?

Given the operation will necessitate the complete and absolute removal of my talus, runs a higher than acceptable risk of failure and subsequent risk of amputation...will impair my mobility further, giving me additional arthritis in 10-20 years; and can never be reversed ever, safe for amputation, you will forgive me for not racing to sign up for the procedure.

NLW

TBF I was only looking at it from the point of view a assessor would. Remember they are there to see if you NEED the money for your disability. How many times do you think they hear the "good day/bad day" argument? As I have already said you contradict yourself too much I am not surprised you have been awarded 0 points.

ab1982

You cant pick and choose who responds to posts on an internet forum, some will be positive, some constructive, some negative, some ignorant. If you just want to hear nice things then anonymous internet forums are not the right place to ask questions.

geoffken

Completely agree with NLW.

I cannot think of any occupation that would involve talking to a wall with my mother in tow.
Perhaps pall bearer or embalmer although embalmer may well involve contact with relatives.
Good luck with talking to the wall then.
I have sympathy with your illnesses but to expect to be able to do a UNI course when you cannot even comprehend to spell backwards will be a HELL of a stretch.
How will you cope in tutorials etc.

good luck AND YOU WILL NEED IT!!!!

apronedsamurai

geoffken wrote: »

Completely agree with NLW.

I cannot think of any occupation that would involve talking to a wall with my mother in tow.
Perhaps pall bearer or embalmer although embalmer may well involve contact with relatives.
Good luck with talking to the wall then.
I have sympathy with your illnesses but to expect to be able to do a UNI course when you cannot even comprehend to spell backwards will be a HELL of a stretch.
How will you cope in tutorials etc.

good luck AND YOU WILL NEED IT!!!!

I wasnt asked to spell the word backwards, backwards

It was a word given to me. Try actually reading my original post.

Also, you falsely acccuse me of falsely padding my benefit claim. Please be advised that you have now accused me of the commission of a criminal offence. This is a defamatory statement. Edit your post.

NYM

Go back to CAB.. They may be able to give you whatever answers you need.

Welfare office at your College/Uni might also be able to advise you on what benefits you may be entitled to.

swingaloo

apronedsamurai wrote: »

Also, the money is paid to me. Whether I choose to devote it to the additional costs that arise in relation to my disability, or whether I choose to spend it on crack cocaine, or furthering my university ambitions is my business and no one else. By that logic then, I am disabled I must not go to university!

But if you 'choose' to spend it on something other than to help you with your disability then you dont actually need it in the first place!

GwylimT

Sadly this doesn't surprise me, my wifes last assessment scored zero despite her being paralysed from the waist down. According to her report she has full mobility and she can't be very disabled as she has a job and is studying for her masters.

She was originally approved for high rate mobility and care. Her disability hasn't improved, but thankfully it isn't any worse

We had a reconsideration and correct points were awarded for her needs. It did take a long time, but it was relatively simple.