Pip Assesssment

Lisa777

Hi All,


I have been reading a lot about assessments on this forum and am grateful for all the great advise.

Unfortunately i have to go to such a dreaded appointment next Wednesday and wish i would have read more before i sent back the form. I am getting high DLA and also ESA since 9 years and never needed to go to an assessment.

I suffer from spinal stenosis, had two surgeries and receive infusions regularly in the pain clinic and am on loads of medication. Very often i suffer also from claudication which means i can't even walk more than 10 meters without bending down or sitting down.

I think i will just list all my conditions:

Spinal stenosis, also in the neck
Peripheral nerve damage in arms, legs, feet and hands
Necrobiosis Lipoidica (inflammable condition in legs)
Type 1 diabetes (numerous injections the day, constant monitoring of sugar levels, hypos and hypers)
Severe depression and anxiety from diabetes related problems.

Of course i can proof all my conditions, have all the correspondence and test results. I was thinking it would be enough evidence if i just enclose a letter from my diabetes consultant at the hospital in which she is also listing all the other conditions. I have also enclosed a print out of my repeat prescriptions.

Now i saw on this forum i should have enclosed more evidence. I really could cry now. All the money i am receiving on DLA i spend on medical stuff. I am also using a physio therapist privately fortnightly just that i'm able to move at all and relieve the pain. I also need to monitor the glucose heavily because i would need to finger stick test 10 times the day but the sensors for my Freestyle libre are not on prescription yet. I can only wear "old ladies shoes" with a good orthopedic footbed etc etc.


This stress is playing havoc with my sugar levels, this stress is unbearable.

Should i contact my local CAB or another organisation for help? I would be so grateful for advise.
Thank you.

[Deleted User]

Did you send all the "proof" with the PIP forms?
Dont stress about the assessment just stay calm and answer the questions as best you can.

Lisa777

Thanks a lot for the reply.

I have only sent the letter from the diabetes consultant in which she stated the facts of all my other conditions as well and have enclosed a print out from the GP of all my repeat prescriptions.

poppy12345

It's not the conditions or a diagnosis that will get you the award, it's how those conditions affect you daily. You need to take a look at the PIP descriptors to see where you can score those points. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/Global/Migrated_Documents/adviceguide/pip-9-table-of-activities-descriptors-and-points.pdf


You can certainly take the extra evidence with you to the assessment but don't be surprised if they refuse to accept it on the day, which is why you should have made sure it was all sent with the form. Sending it now may not help, as you would need to send it to the health assessment providers and not to DWP.


During your assessment they will watch you from the minute you arrive to the minute you leave. Try to answer all those questions with as much detail as possible and avoid answering with just a yes or no, if you can. Remember, they are trying to get a picture of how your conditions affect you.


About a weeks after the assessment you should ring DWP and ask them to send you a copy of the assessment report. This will give you some idea what the decision will be as they mostly go with that report.



Good luck.

Lisa777

Many thanks Poppy!



I will try my very best and will let you know the outcome.

[Deleted User]

Don't worry though, if they continue your award, you have sent all the evidence required. If they don't, you can send it with your MR. Its not a problem.

Try to not stress too much if you can, just focus on answering their questions, remember you can refuse to do any physical things if they cause discomfort.

Please don't panic if the result isn't as you expect. That's what the appeal process is for. Its a bit cumbersome but is do-able.

Best of luck. Come back if you have a need to.

Just as a by the way, I have had problems with unstable type 1 diabetes for about 20 years. Believe it or not, the solution was as simple as changing my injection sites. I'd been using the same ones for decades. Turns out there was 'scarring'and this was affecting insulin absorption. blindingly obvious really but just never occurred to me. My diabetes is now a lot more stable even though my life is pretty stressful too. Sorry if this is no help at all but what you said rang a bell with me.

Lisa777

So i went to the assessment today and i believe, it wasn't so bad at all.


Their computer system was down, they didn't have access to any files. My assessor said she is a nurse and wrote all my answers down on paper. Pretty much the same questions i had answered on the application forms already. She was very friendly and professional.


Of course i have heard that Atos staff is lying and cheating. Just hope i will get the decision soon.

poppy12345

Lisa777 wrote: »

Of course i have heard that Atos staff is lying and cheating. Just hope i will get the decision soon.

They do yes but they also tell the truth and people get the awards they're happy with, we just don't hear about them. You'll always only ever read the bad stories. Lets hope the HCP you had today remains nice when writing the report. Wait a week then ring DWP to request your copy. There's no timescales to decision but the report will give you some idea what the decision is likely to be as they mostly go with the report, just use the PIP descriptors to add up the ticks/dots in the boxes. Good luck.

Lisa777

Thank you Poppy, i will call them in a weeks time!

Lisa777

Hi all,

I just wanted to let you know i have received a copy of the assessment today and got for both components 8 points each. I couldn't see any blatant lie although the fact i'm absolutely stressed out, very scared, anxious and depressed was left out completely.

Review in one years time is suggested. That's bonkers, my conditions are chronic, degenerative and progressive.