PIP Medical tomorrow so scared.... :(

kategregory

Hi all,

Just want to see what others have experienced when having a medical at home..

I suffer from a severe panic disorder,aniexty, depression and have agoraphobia. I've been suffering for over 11yrs now and was claiming DLA but had to change to the new pip.

My partner had to phone DWP when we received the letter to say I needed to claim again through PIP, they said they had to speak to me but I am unable to use the phone at any time due to my disorder.. So a few days later they sent a lovely lady around to make sure it was ok for my partner to fill out all forms and have the payment paid into his account. So he is now a appointee (is that the correct name?).

We then received a letter to say we have a medical which is now tomorrow I'm petrified beyond believe!! I panic when new people come into our house, I don't have family or friends that visit, my children don't even have friends around. I don't even answer the door if someone knocks, I hide next to the wall in case they look through our window. I know I'm not going to get any sleep tonight, not that I do any night but tonight's going to be awful.. I feel awful now...

I've written a letter to give to the person that's coming out for the home visit, cause I know my partner is here on my behalf if they ask me anything I will cry.. So I have a piece of paper saying how I feel on a daily basis, what I can/can't do what I wish I could do. All the things I think helpful I put down. My mind goes blank when confronted... Not sure if this is going to help in anyway..

How long did everyones appointments take, I know everyone is different. I know I am going to be in and out of the room due to my disorder (Sick/toilet) I don't want this to be held against me on my claim... Just so scared.


Sorry for the long post, really need to calm down but I can't.. Thank you in advance for any replies I may receive. x

Prinzessilein

Kategregory....have an early nigh and don't worry too much. ...and try and sleep a little, you'll feel better for it!

I had my PiP face-to-face not so long ago...like you, I had a home visit.

I won't lie and say it was stress-free...but it is something you will survive!

The assessor turned up - earlier than expected. (Not a good start for my nerves!...My mum /care answered the door and let them in....The assessor sat with their laptop , and basically went through the questions on the application form.

Mum answered a lot of the questions on my behalf. ...so if necessary, your partner can speak for you....Use this as an opportunity to make sure the assessor sees how you are affected by your conditions. ...they will probably want to see any prescription meds you take, so have them ready.

As well as checking through the questions, the assessor will note down any inconstancies they feel there are between what you have written on the form and what is either said or observed during the face-to-face.

The assessor may then do a mini-mental state exam - asking a few general questions. If you can't answer them that that is fine, if you are unable to speak, then make sure your partner explains this to the assessor (more than once if necessary!)...and then possibly a few physical tests (checking your balance et.c)...these were stopped by the assessor when it became apparent I couldn't manage them.

And that is about it....all in all, expect it to take about an hour.

Give it a day or two and then ask your partner to phone and ask for a copy of the assessor's report to be sent to you....this will give you a very good idea of what the decision-maker's letter will say (the decision maker relies HEAVILY on the assessor's report).

For tonight...do you have anxiety medication? ...Maybe take some and get a bit of sleep?...If you DO take meds and they make you a bit dopey tomorrow - make sure that your partner mentions this to the assessor.

Good luck for tomorrow...it IS scary, but nowhere near as much as you are worried about!

poppy12345

Some great advice from prinzessilein. Just to add, I've never had a home assessment but i'm sure the procedure is the same. As your partner is your appointee then he'll be able to speak on your behalf. I'm my daughters appointee and i'll be doing the same for her if she needs a PIP assessment in the coming weeks.

Make sure those questions are answered in full and not just with a yes or no. You'll be observed throughout the assessment even down to what you're wearing.

There's no doubt it's stressful. Hopefully the assessment will go ahead and you won't have a call to cancel it, as this often happens. Especially if they're running late. Both my assessments i was very nervous but after i thought it wasn't as bad as i was expecting. Good luck!

w06

try not to worry. I'd dreaded my face to face assesment. Mine wasn't a home visit but othewise it will be similar.


Honestly it was fine. The lady was a nurse, she introduced herself and then went through questions similar to the form you or your partner has already filled in. I was a bit clueless having avoided reading much about PIP to avoid getting stressed, and my disabilities aren't text book things and so it was a bit complicated. But honestly it was absolutely fine, much less stressful than I'd expected.

Try to get an early night, try to relax and trust the assessor in the morning.

good luck

dave030445

w06 wrote: »

try not to worry. I'd dreaded my face to face assesment. Mine wasn't a home visit but othewise it will be similar.


Honestly it was fine. The lady was a nurse, she introduced herself and then went through questions similar to the form you or your partner has already filled in. I was a bit clueless having avoided reading much about PIP to avoid getting stressed, and my disabilities aren't text book things and so it was a bit complicated. But honestly it was absolutely fine, much less stressful than I'd expected.

Try to get an early night, try to relax and trust the assessor in the morning.good luck

YOU ARE HAVING A LAUGH :rotfl:

poppy12345

dave030445 wrote: »

YOU ARE HAVING A LAUGH :rotfl:

Well obviously not! And there's no need to shout. Not everyone has a bad assesment, i certainly didn't for either of my PIP assessments or ESA. I've had 2 PIP assessments in the last 3 years and none of them were bad. Infact the 2nd one i had the HCP was actually very nice, friendly and she even turned the heating up for me in the room we were in because i was so cold. All my reports have been 100% truthful! Never had a problem with an award.

Just because all we hear is bad storied it doesn't mean everyone has a bad experience. If a person has the award they wanted then they have no questions therefore nothing to ask, so we don't hear about them.

So many people have no idea what PIP is all about, they dont do their research and those transfering from DLA (some of them) just think well they've been on DLA for years with a life time award, they'll be fine. This isn't the case. Evidence, is important. The amount of people that fail to send in evidence and just expect DWP to contact a medical professional, they mostly don't do this. Evidence is important, and if a claimant has evidence that proves those descriptors apply to them then even better.

melbury

When my OH had his face to face it was with a nice lady, who actually offered some very helpful advice for dealing with some of his conditions.

Not everyone has a bad experience, so please be positive and all the best.

50Twuncle

Prinzessilein wrote: »

Kategregory....have an early nigh and don't worry too much. ...and try and sleep a little, you'll feel better for it!

I had my PiP face-to-face not so long ago...like you, I had a home visit.

I won't lie and say it was stress-free...but it is something you will survive!

The assessor turned up - earlier than expected. (Not a good start for my nerves!...My mum /care answered the door and let them in....The assessor sat with their laptop , and basically went through the questions on the application form.

Mum answered a lot of the questions on my behalf. ...so if necessary, your partner can speak for you....Use this as an opportunity to make sure the assessor sees how you are affected by your conditions. ...they will probably want to see any prescription meds you take, so have them ready.

As well as checking through the questions, the assessor will note down any inconstancies they feel there are between what you have written on the form and what is either said or observed during the face-to-face.

The assessor may then do a mini-mental state exam - asking a few general questions. If you can't answer them that that is fine, if you are unable to speak, then make sure your partner explains this to the assessor (more than once if necessary!)...and then possibly a few physical tests (checking your balance et.c)...these were stopped by the assessor when it became apparent I couldn't manage them.

And that is about it....all in all, expect it to take about an hour.

Give it a day or two and then ask your partner to phone and ask for a copy of the assessor's report to be sent to you....this will give you a very good idea of what the decision-maker's letter will say (the decision maker relies HEAVILY on the assessor's report).

For tonight...do you have anxiety medication? ...Maybe take some and get a bit of sleep?...If you DO take meds and they make you a bit dopey tomorrow - make sure that your partner mentions this to the assessor.

Good luck for tomorrow...it IS scary, but nowhere near as much as you are worried about!

How did it go ?
I bet that it wasn't worth worrying about ?

poppy12345

50Twuncle wrote: »

How did it go ?
I bet that it wasn't worth worrying about ?

Umm you got the wrong person..it was kategregory that had the assessment.

TOBRUK

kategregory wrote: »

Hi all,

Just want to see what others have experienced when having a medical at home..

I suffer from a severe panic disorder,aniexty, depression and have agoraphobia. I've been suffering for over 11yrs now and was claiming DLA but had to change to the new pip.

Kategregory, I understand the worry and the anxiety with a home visit. I had a face to face assessment (I was moving from DLA to PIP) in August. I didn't have anyone with me when the assessor came to visit, and I don't suffer with your conditions. You have the support of your partner, who will be able to help with any answers and support you with the visit.

The assessor who visited me was pleasant enough, she was typing on her laptop throughout the visit, and explained what she was doing and also tried to put me at ease. She was here for over an hour, and yes it is a bit stressful - as these things are. Yes, everyone is different, but just be yourself, and try to give details of how your condition affects your day to day life (your partner can he with this) to give a true overall picture, and try to give examples.

I didn't phone to ask for her report, I just waited to see what happened first, as my feeling was that if I did see the report, (although some say that it would give you an idea) I may have read in to it something that could turn out to be totally different to their decision. I would wait for the decision, and only then, if I disagreed with it, ask for a report and challenge.

Within 4 weeks, I received their decision (when the dreaded brown envelope arrived) and I was successful.

Please try not to worry too much about the visit, although I know it is difficult. Wishing you well.

kategregory

Hi all,

Sorry for the delay in responding...

Well the morning came (29th Sept) and we had a phone call to say it was cancelled.

As you can imagine this was another of my nightmares considering I had tried so hard to prepare myself for it..

Partner rung up to be told they have no appointments available and that we'd receive a letter with a new date, we received this just over a week ago for this morning. And 10 mins late a lady arrived, I was in pieces before hand, up and down to the loo and being sick!

She seemed nice to start with until she tried to catch me out saying 'Ok, I've just asked you about your good days and bad days, you've just told me today is even worse although a moment ago you told me every day is the same'?! Then she realized I also had mentioned my anxiety is worse when stress is cause like today... So she said she can see that this actually makes sense!

She also tried to catch me out on other questions, but as I had nothing to hide I answered the best I could, although my arm is now hurting as I tend to rub/scratch my arm when under stress or when I am very anxious.

To be honest she said it should take 45mins but she is aiming for an hr which I was dreading, she said she was a nurse in the past which in away helped but without sounding out of order I do feel like she was trying to make my illness out without being a Dr if you know what I mean.?! All in all she was nice enough basically told me to answer all the questions even though my partner was my appointee, which I found strange, of course he had to speak on my behalf as I am no good face to face with anyone....

Thankfully it is done now, fingers crossed they award me something. Thank you for everyone who has responded, I shall up date when I hear anything back. xx