Pip assessment questions

rockingbilly

CTcelt1988 wrote: »

Yeah right. Going by your other comments, i don't believe a word you say.

Your problem not mine!

Muttleythefrog

kingfisherblue wrote: »

However, it must be remembered that many people receive the correct rate of PIP when first assessed, but you don't hear anything about them. You only hear the stories of incorrect awards. In some cases, the awards (or failure to receive an award) may actually be correct, but the claimant does not agree because it is lower than they want. Not everybody who claims will qualify for PIP, and for those who do, they may not qualify for a higher rate but want one anyway.

I accept that some mistakes are made, but as already stated, no one posts about the correct awards that are given.

To be honest I doubt many claimants have a clue what they should get... no criticism intended but the Op here for example wasn't even aware of the criteria despite having applied and filled out the How Your Disability Affects you form... hence my posting on their other thread to assist. Plus also I suspect like for ESA many claimants simply do not request the face to face reports or understand the law sufficiently to make any claim of whether they've been correctly assessed. I got a good award for PIP... but I'm aware that proper procedure wasn't followed.. I'm aware the law has not been correctly applied... and I'm aware of the flaws of the PA4 F2F report. But I suspect I'm right near the top in terms of claimant ability to understand and navigate the relevant matters...and therefore I expect I'm much more likely to provoke and detect errors and try to do something about them. If single I'd be taking my case to tribunal. Anyway... good luck with son's claim... let's hope it's swiftly dealt with favourably and out of the way.

Muttleythefrog

rockingbilly wrote: »

I always (except for once when my wife was refused to come with me into the assessment on the grounds that the room was too small and not enough chairs) have to go on my own. My wife can drive but she refuses to drive into the city where the assessments take place. She is a nervous driver and gets distracted easily. I no longer have a driving licence. Both our children work full time so they can't come and to be honest I don't want them to see me in the state I get at these assessments. No one else can come with me.
I'm not that confident enough with a face to face meeting with anybody, never mind a benefit assessment. I feel intimidated and nervous, but I really do try my best to put a face on and not show it. I am not strong enough to go up against them in the way you suggest.
They always seem to control the assessment which leaves me in a state which then leads me to want to get it over with as fast as possible.

It's a shame you haven't got someone who could go... even if a friend. I understand some of the things you say.... I didn't want my wife to see me in the state I'd get.. and to confirm she did end up getting physically injured (accidentally) as well as describing it as one of the worst experiences of her life (she has largely refused to even talk about it since and has never read the resulting PA4 report even though it is in effect one of the most important documents in her life as it conveys real potential impact on her ability to continue living in the UK)... so I'm not going to put icing on that cake for public viewing.

The HCPs will probably try to take some sort of control because of the pressures of time and their determination to get through the assessment efficiently shutting out irrelevant disability categories and picking up simple facts they can extrapolate to justify descriptor elimination or selection. I can only advise you be yourself...try to hide nothing unless that (like for me) is how you deal with things. Do significant preparations including what you'll say in relation to the various disabilities you have... there should be few surprises in terms of the questions asked. If you've reported problems getting washed (as random example) then they may well ask how often you shower and how you go about having that shower. Preparation is key because it is easy to fail to convey pertinent facts under pressure... focus on the descriptors and which apply and how you justify that they do and how that translates into response to prompt for information in that disability category. It is unfortunate that the very disabilities many claimants have will make them struggle with the process and fail to get the award those disabilities imply. Things like good preparation might help.

yasminec

I have had assessment with a pip professional who was a nurse and asked for a copy of what she had written was so shocked that she does not even mention my muscular dystrophy in her report which is appalling as this affects my life. I was so nervous came half an hour early just woke up and forgot to mention things as she was rushing me. What should i do know that on her report it willbe very unlikely i get this.

NeilCr

Wait until you get the result (it may not be as bad as you think). If it's not the outcome you expected then you apply for a Mandatory Reconsideration. This has to be in within 30 days of the notification of the decision

More information here

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/appeals/mandatory-reconsideration/

You may want to get help from CAB or similar

Muttleythefrog

yasminec wrote: »

I have had assessment with a pip professional who was a nurse and asked for a copy of what she had written was so shocked that she does not even mention my muscular dystrophy in her report which is appalling as this affects my life. I was so nervous came half an hour early just woke up and forgot to mention things as she was rushing me. What should i do know that on her report it willbe very unlikely i get this.

I notice you've posted in another thread asking about points. You've been given a link to guidance there. But it is important you understand this... the report you have is quite likely to essentially form the decision made by the DWP. Look at the descriptors the report says are applicable to you and add up the appropriate points they represent... you'll be able to determine what award is likely to come if not already made. Yes unfortunately omissions are common... these reports can be terribly inaccurate which is why you've done the right thing in getting hold of it quickly to be prepared for what may be to come. The rushing unfortunately is standard... they want to get through the assessment efficiently and hence my advice as it was.

I'd advise posting in here any updates if you need assistance on your case. If you are struggling to understand the descriptors selected and the points then go through each of the 12 activities (10 Daily Living, 2 Mobility) and report which descriptor is selected in the report for each activity. For example the first activity is 1.Preparing food and they will have denoted that one of a,b,c,d,e or f applies. But you should be able to understand the points and likely award and I expect you can ignore most of this comment. Best of luck.

ETA I should say that if the report is inaccurate I'd be inclined to intercept the decision by presenting a challenge to it as appropriate so that they could consider evidence in light of the report rather than just accepting it all as it is. However.. being entirely honest I do not get the impression you'd be well placed to do this without support and I suspect by the time you get such support (if you can) and given the timeline already in play you may miss the boat and so probably you will need to just wait for the decision with a view to asking for reconsideration if the result is not satisfactory. But as I say that decision you can probably assume before it is made with what you have.. no guarantees but the HCP's PA4 report is typically treated as gospel.