Help with PIP Face to Face assesment

caprichos

rockingbilly wrote: »

You were entitled to answer as slow as was necessary to get the full details/explanations out. The assessor was controlling your husband - you/he should have told the assessor that they had missed out an explanation/that they were putting pressure on him/that if the assessment would take 2 hours to give a full account then it is going to take 2 hours and we will not be rushed! Nothing of what happened or how the assessment was conducted was your fault - it's just the way they wanted the worst outcome for your husband - but wait and see and get the assessors report from the DWP asap.

Her manner was definitely not good. when my husband asked her to please open the door a bit to let some air in she said she could not do it as it was a private meeting. my husband was getting more frustrated, uncomfortable, tired...so much so that he started scratching his arm which happen to have a spot that he broke and
started to bleed. she then said, oh you've harmed yourself? and carried on with the questioning. I was also loosing the plot just seeing him struggling so much.

robt1066

OP and husband could, and probably should, make a complaint to ATOS re HCP.

The HCP probably had a lunchtime appointment with a banker !

If nobody complains, then those HCP's that fall into the category of bring ignorant money grabbing, and under qualified will get away with it.

Alice_Holt

robt1066 wrote: »

OP and husband could, and probably should, make a complaint to ATOS re HCP..

Perhaps, better to await the decision and sight of the assessment report before taking this step.

OP - it may be worth making some notes about the assessment whilst it is fresh in your mind.
As another poster suggested if you request a copy of the report, you can check if the assessment report reflects what you told the HCP, particularly the description of a typical day section.

If you do need to appeal I suggest getting the help of an accredited advice agency.

These are also useful sources:
http://www.advicenow.org.uk/guides/how-win-pip-appeal
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/appeals/mandatory-reconsideration/
http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip/pip-appeals
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/547146/pip-assessment-guide.pdf

But, once you have noted your comments on the assessment, try not to worry too much. There's not a lot to be done at this point until you get the decision.
If you have a GP's appointment coming up, it just may be worth checking if they would support your husband should an appeal be necessary. Would they confirm that he is unable to walk 20m reliably without needing to stop due to discomfort for the majority of the time?

Diary

Just in case anyone isn't aware, you can request a copy of the outside video footage of you entering the PIP assessment centre.
I've requested it immediately after all 3 times I've been to an assessment, along with a copy of the reports - 2 were my own assessments and one wasn't.

Might be useful for somone.

caprichos

Alice_Holt wrote: »

Perhaps, better to await the decision and sight of the assessment report before taking this step.

OP - it may be worth making some notes about the assessment whilst it is fresh in your mind.
As another poster suggested if you request a copy of the report, you can check if the assessment report reflects what you told the HCP, particularly the description of a typical day section.

If you do need to appeal I suggest getting the help of an accredited advice agency.

These are also useful sources:
http://www.advicenow.org.uk/guides/how-win-pip-appeal
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/appeals/mandatory-reconsideration/
http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip/pip-appeals
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/547146/pip-assessment-guide.pdf

But, once you have noted your comments on the assessment, try not to worry too much. There's not a lot to be done at this point until you get the decision.
If you have a GP's appointment coming up, it just may be worth checking if they would support your husband should an appeal be necessary. Would they confirm that he is unable to walk 20m reliably without needing to stop due to discomfort for the majority of the time?

Yes I think that is a good move. Maybe best to wait for outcome as if it comes right we will just put it as a very unpleasant day and forget about it. Thank you for all the links too. One of the reasons for posting here apart from getting advice and hopefully help others is to have a written record of the situation.

caprichos

He does have an appointment in two weeks time so we will mention it to GP. she is very helpful and sympathetic and she has know the family for many years. I will ask if we can have a letter ready in case we need it.

Thanks!

Glen_Clark

Raises an interesting question as to what motivates Disability Assessors (or 'Health Care Professionals' as they seem to prefer to be called). In the Channel 4 programme it only mentioned their being paid per assessment. But if thats all it was then it would be in the DA's interest to accept everything the claimant says - flying through all the assesments with no complaints and no appeals.
So where is their motivation to stop people's benefits?

caprichos

Glen_Clark wrote: »

Raises an interesting question as to what motivates Disability Assessors (or 'Health Care Professionals' as they seem to prefer to be called). In the Channel 4 programme it only mentioned their being paid per assessment. But if thats all it was then it would be in the DA's interest to accept everything the claimant says - flying through all the assesments with no complaints and no appeals.
So where is their motivation to stop people's benefits?

To be honest I guess there are many people but may not be entitle to some benefits and they need to check on this?

Maybe they need to make some cuts somewhere or meet budgets?

The thing for me is that someone like my husband that suffered a stroke that left him unable to use his right arm has to use a stick to walk pooorly as his right foot drags on the floor....the HCP should have stamped that form and say yes he is indeed not able to cook and he has serious mobility issues.

And this probably applies to many other conditions.

Glen_Clark

caprichos wrote: »

To be honest I guess there are many people but may not be entitle to some benefits and they need to check on this?

Maybe they need to make some cuts somewhere or meet budgets?

The thing for me is that someone like my husband that suffered a stroke that left him unable to use his right arm has to use a stick to walk pooorly as his right foot drags on the floor....the HCP should have stamped that form and say yes he is indeed not able to cook and he has serious mobility issues.

And this probably applies to many other conditions.

Well yes but the Capita DA caught in the Channel 4 secret camera did not seem concerned with morals or ethics. His only concern seemed to be maximising the number of assesments he did because he was was 'on piecework' - paid for each asessment. So I don't know why he didn't just pass everybody so he could do 100 assessments a day with no appeals. There must be some incentive to fail people I haven't heard about.

robt1066

Disagree re complaining only if outcome is not acceptable. The HCP was rude. That is clearly not acceptable. If you do not complain then you are letting down all PIP claimants who encounter this HCP in the future.

Not all HCP's underperform, but those that do need outing.