Help. Pip assessment person arrived early

[Deleted User]

I found the receipt. Basically just got the usual 'this will be relayed to management' reply. Could tell they didn't get it at all. Was offered a refund but don't feel like going back.

Have asked for the PA4 Consultation report, said should hear in 3 weeks either way as report received 6th February.

[Deleted User]

Got the PIP decision.., only received 4 points for mixing with people. Asked for a PA4 form twice now. The summary of the decision on the decision notice has assumptions and completely ignores the answers I gave in the interview. Ignores the fact that I couldn't even sit comfortably during the face to face. How could she say I didn't seem anxious when I kept ripping my hair out and was in tears when she tried to insist she could come in half an hour early and my support worker wasn't there? I had to use my asthma inhaler half way through cause i didn't stop coughing. Nerves again. No mention of the fact that when she asked me what medication I was on I couldn't list even one, kept saying 'please just look at the repeat prescription form (didn't realise at the time that this was why she was asking) and referred to my steroids as 'the one that begins with 's' several times. Oh well, I know this is par for the course. But still astonished someone can be so dishonest. These obviously are just some of the points.

PIP says the PA4 has been sent out but asked for another one.

The decision letter was sent on 18th Feb so I can ask once more, then I will have to phone and tell them I am asking for an MR, then I will have another 30 days to write the reply saying why the decision is wrong. And will keep asking for the PA4.

Having days when I am completely unable to do anything due to problems with my older son (another thread). Got housing issues, lots of things going on so although expected, finding it hard to cope but will get through this somehow.

No idea how people who do these face to face interviews can look at themselves in the mirror.

GlasweJen

The current system is an absolute shambles, sorry you're having to deal
with this

[Deleted User]

I have my PA4 report now.

Hum. Things missed off, bare faced lies (like she says I can crouch to the floor and rise again, never did that nor would I, I refused to do squats) lol. Says no display of anxiety but also says I was aggressive. Only point I got slightly insistent was when she had asked me three times to list my medication and i couldn't (as above) and i said for a third time PLEASE look at my repeat prescription list, its all on there.

Her OT type comments are mostly non comprehensible to me but I can see she says I can do things I can't in some places.

She says I can extend both legs with equal strength and I know I don't, had a physiotherapist assessment that said I have a lack of strength in r leg (but can't find a report from that). Can I ask for a report from that (was two years ago. Last year I paid for another physiotherapy assessment - is it worth seeing if there is a report from that? That physiotherapist said my top vertebrae were fused, had an xray years ago that said I had pronounced curvature of my spine. But I don't have any of this stuff readily to hand as evidence.

Do I go through the report para by para and dispute what was said or do I just go for the format of the original PIP form?

Its quite difficult to do because its a long report and I get overwhelmed rather easily. She also shows her bias when she said "MSE shows some hostility towards assessor when she did not like the questions asked". Was not aware of not liking questions, I just had problems answering some of them. But of course, I showed no anxiety at all.

Started reading the DWP guidelines.., occurred to me that the assessor states I go hypo four times a day and use that to prompt me to eat (which is true), she completely ignores the safety concerns of this and says that that means I don't need outside prompting to eat. Deary me. Complete missing the point. I am beginning to wish there was a way to complain about the assessment that would actually do some good. Like she reports that I had a fire when cooking due to inattention (recently had another one as well), but says I am perfectly able to cook because I can concentrate on the internet (my obsession) and watch movies (which is actually the reason I forget things). So I don't have any cognitive reasons to not be able to concentrate, so I can cook (forgetting the inability to prepare food which she also reports and ignores in the same para).

[Deleted User]

Thank you.

Can I say things like I think the descriptor should be marked x because hypo's are actually to be regarded as dangerous and undesirable rather than a constructive prompt to eat that means I don't require outside prompting to do so?

Ames

I don't know about the hypos, but my instinct is that having them in the first place is bad and a sign of needing outside prompting to stop them happening in the first place, rather than being akin to feeling a bit peckish and deciding to eat.

I can imagine what response you'd get to telling a diabetes nurse 'oh I'm having several hypos a day, great isn't it, it reminds me to eat'. It wouldn't be 'brilliant coping strategy there'.

Danday

Certainly not, a sure fine way of getting oneself into hospital. Also If they had a hypo in the middle of the night and became so confused that they couldn't get out of bed (a typical symptom) I presume that they would just put eating off until breakfast time that is if they are still with us in the land of the living.

[Deleted User]

I am trying to get a letter from my hospital consultant.

[Deleted User]

I have been sent a tribunal date of 31st August which is a lot earlier than expected and shorter notice than I hoped for.

The SEAP advocate isn't working Fridays (day of tribunal) so she can't come (she was the person who helped me with the tribunal letter, couldn't have done it without her). She said she could try to find a colleague but it'll be someone I've never seen before, I don't do well with strangers, particularly in a stressful situation.

Why does life do this? In one way good to have tribunal early, but in another doesn't leave me much time to have someone come with me. I have no friends and family, no one. Our CAB is pretty overloaded.

I couldn't even understand the DWP answer (honestly, it was gibberish, said one thing, then another different thing like I was seen picking up my 25kg german sheperd and 20kg spaniel together, then I restrained them. Just not humanely possible even if I was fit!). It goes on for pages, and I haven't managed to read it yet. I have tried.

I did make a good appeal letter. But the answer ignores it. So gonna be arguing apples and pears. At no point do they acknowledge the bad start to the assessment.

Can anyone make some suggestions at all please?

I don't even know how I'm gonna do the train journey. fortunately its one train but then a walk up a hill which is not easy.

Sorry this probably doesn't make much sense. Cause of the stress around my father's death, my son's problems at school, I'm hardly eating at all now. I just can't. Lost a fair bit of weight (but still a bit tubby so no great shakes there).

poppy12345

deannatrois wrote: »

I have been sent a tribunal date of 31st August which is a lot earlier than expected and shorter notice than I hoped for.

The SEAP advocate isn't working Fridays (day of tribunal) so she can't come (she was the person who helped me with the tribunal letter, couldn't have done it without her). She said she could try to find a colleague but it'll be someone I've never seen before, I don't do well with strangers, particularly in a stressful situation.

Why does life do this? In one way good to have tribunal early, but in another doesn't leave me much time to have someone come with me. I have no friends and family, no one. Our CAB is pretty overloaded.

I couldn't even understand the DWP answer (honestly, it was gibberish, said one thing, then another different thing like I was seen picking up my 25kg german sheperd and 20kg spaniel together, then I restrained them. Just not humanely possible even if I was fit!). It goes on for pages, and I haven't managed to read it yet. I have tried.

I did make a good appeal letter. But the answer ignores it. So gonna be arguing apples and pears. At no point do they acknowledge the bad start to the assessment.

Can anyone make some suggestions at all please?

I don't even know how I'm gonna do the train journey. fortunately its one train but then a walk up a hill which is not easy.

Sorry this probably doesn't make much sense. Cause of the stress around my father's death, my son's problems at school, I'm hardly eating at all now. I just can't. Lost a fair bit of weight (but still a bit tubby so no great shakes there).

That's a 5 week notice, which i think is fairly decent. I've heard people get much shorter notice than that. This and your waiting time has been very quick indeed compared to a lot of other people i've been hearing about.

I can only imagine just how stressful this has all been, assessments are stressful enough without this. Hopefully you'll be able to get someone to go with you. Do you have anyone that can take you, rather you using the train? Is the Tribunal hearing far from home, maybe a taxi is possible? Expensive most likely if it's quite far but would certainly make it a whole lot easier for you.


Remember the Tribunal is totally independent to DWP and the assessment providers. They will listen to what you have to say. If you have any further evidence to send please make sure you send it to arrive at least 10 days before the hearing, otherwise it's possible it won't be used. 71% of those who appear in person have a decision in their favour, i hope for you that you're one of them. Good luck and please do let us know the outcome.