Claiming PIP with a good job

leeloolee

sarahlply said:

Also access to work scheme used to help with partial funding of taxi transport, their assessment for help used to be faster and you could be granted help for some of your taxi fare and then be able to claim a agreed number of trips a week, your manager had to sign off you had attended work that day, definitely check if you can still apply.

I don't think I'd be able to, as I have the option to work from home most of the time, but it's good to know I may be able to get help here if I do have to go in. My main purpose for taxi trips right now is hospital appointments and GP appointments. I'm having lots of tests done to try to find out what's going on physically (lots of abnormal results and worrying symptoms), and I can be spending £60 on an Uber to get there and back because I can't manage public transport. I've just had to spend hundreds of pounds on a new mattress to try to help with my physical pain. Well over £1000 this month spent on my health issues, between the mattress, the taxis, the gym for me to do my swimming/physio, the expensive food I have to buy. I'm very grateful I have the money to buy the stuff but it's really leaving me with nothing left over at all. 

sarahlply

Yes, during covid they started phone interviews but downside is getting everything recorded on paper correctly so definitely state up front an assessment by phone or person must be recorded so they can pre arrange equipment as it’s not standard practice so has to be booked ahead. As a standard practice they don’t come to your home unless you ask them too and even then I was turned down so they don’t always grant the request, in 17 years had only heard of it a couple of times while working in a linked role.

in terms of fraud it’s more if you have surgery or other treatment that improves the situation and obviously that’s not the case/ won’t happen with the issues your mentioning. There is a diary sheet you can download from citizens advice website that can help you record each day how your difficulties affect you and how you have to go out of pocket to try and adapt to look after yourself/manage.

it also helps to keep and Inc a list of adaptations that work have put in and a list of equipment you have purchased yourself such as your mattress.

sarahlply

Also if you apply before your test results are through make sure to update them once they have gone through as to out one and treatment.

Spoonie_Turtle

I really wouldn't get too hung up on the actual assessment.  The reality is - and I don't want to put you off here, just prepare you for it - that it is very possible the report from the assessment could be very inaccurate.  But trying to get that corrected afterwards isn't what results in an appropriate award, only putting your case forward for what descriptors you meet and why.

You might be fortunate and get an assessor and DWP decision maker doing their jobs properly, it does happen.  But if you don't, it's nothing personal as lots of people end up with inaccurate reports and/or wrong decisions in the first instance.  What matters is whether you meet descriptors to score enough points, and knowing what you should be entitled to will help you be motivated to fight for it.

Recordings of assessments are only useful if you want to put in a complaint about the assessor, which is a separate process from trying to get the right decision.

Spoonie_Turtle

leeloolee said:

Muttleythefrog said:

Agree with all above advice. PIP is a gesture of the state to the idea that in day to day basic life disabled people can incur extra expenses to put themselves on equalised footing with non disabled. And actually there's no need to give examples by me... you've done that yourself in your post... you incur extra costs. So morally you absolutely are entitled to claim as while those costs won't be as such assessed they flag up some of your life features are actually what a non means tested disability benefit is for. It then comes down to the technical.... qualifying for PIP... look at the activities and descriptors... do some reading up and see if you should qualify. If you think you can... it can be a long slog but it may well be worth it. 

Your job is only relevant in the sense it could provide evidence as to your disablements or lack thereof. For example if your job happened to be as a tour guide then you might have difficulty to convince an assessor or the DWP Decision Maker that you struggle with planning and executing an outdoor trip...silly example but you get my drift.

Fraud? Only really a risk if you lie about your problems or fail to report them relevantly changing after an award. A much bigger concern is getting an award that is correct which is a much bigger scandal genuine claimants face - many have to pursue an entitlement through reconsiderations and appeal. The real fraud in regard to PIP lies with DWP DMs and assessors who are taking money to do a job they often do not do (properly).

Also, I find the whole fraud idea really nerve racking... how do they investigate whether your circumstances have changed? I can't see how mine ever will, given that autism and ADHD aren't ever going to go away, and seem to get harder and harder to deal with the older I get. 

[Sorry for the double post, but it was on a separate page and I couldn't quote it in my previous comment.]

They send people a 'review' form in order to assess them before the end of the award.  This needs to be treated as the same as a new, full claim though - the wording of these questions feels designed to trip neurotypical people up, let alone neurodivergent people!  It asks if anything has changed, but the assessor and decision maker probably won't have the previous claim form so filling in the review form needs to explain all the difficulties just like in the initial claim.

sarahlply

Spoonie_Turtle said:

I really wouldn't get too hung up on the actual assessment.  The reality is - and I don't want to put you off here, just prepare you for it - that it is very possible the report from the assessment could be very inaccurate.  But trying to get that corrected afterwards isn't what results in an appropriate award, only putting your case forward for what descriptors you meet and why.

You might be fortunate and get an assessor and DWP decision maker doing their jobs properly, it does happen.  But if you don't, it's nothing personal as lots of people end up with inaccurate reports and/or wrong decisions in the first instance.  What matters is whether you meet descriptors to score enough points, and knowing what you should be entitled to will help you be motivated to fight for it.

Recordings of assessments are only useful if you want to put in a complaint about the assessor, which is a separate process from trying to get the right decision.

I unfortunately disagree re recording the assessment but my situation is very complicated and previous assessments were not accurate despite my carer and I linking my difficulties to the descriptors. I had over 30 errors this most recent review and the assessor claimed I was calm despite me openly sobbing when she questioned me about why trauma counselling was being delayed post domestic abuse, luckily I had a witness to the call/assessment over the phone with me.

if you suffer anyway with anxiety I would also record as it’s a back up for the DM to show how you struggled, especially as my assessment lasted 3.5 hours and the assessor was obviously not grasping the full situation as the call went on.

Muttleythefrog

leeloolee said:

Muttleythefrog said:

Agree with all above advice. PIP is a gesture of the state to the idea that in day to day basic life disabled people can incur extra expenses to put themselves on equalised footing with non disabled. And actually there's no need to give examples by me... you've done that yourself in your post... you incur extra costs. So morally you absolutely are entitled to claim as while those costs won't be as such assessed they flag up some of your life features are actually what a non means tested disability benefit is for. It then comes down to the technical.... qualifying for PIP... look at the activities and descriptors... do some reading up and see if you should qualify. If you think you can... it can be a long slog but it may well be worth it. 

Your job is only relevant in the sense it could provide evidence as to your disablements or lack thereof. For example if your job happened to be as a tour guide then you might have difficulty to convince an assessor or the DWP Decision Maker that you struggle with planning and executing an outdoor trip...silly example but you get my drift.

Fraud? Only really a risk if you lie about your problems or fail to report them relevantly changing after an award. A much bigger concern is getting an award that is correct which is a much bigger scandal genuine claimants face - many have to pursue an entitlement through reconsiderations and appeal. The real fraud in regard to PIP lies with DWP DMs and assessors who are taking money to do a job they often do not do (properly).

Also, I find the whole fraud idea really nerve racking... how do they investigate whether your circumstances have changed? I can't see how mine ever will, given that autism and ADHD aren't ever going to go away, and seem to get harder and harder to deal with the older I get. 

The simple reality is they won't investigate unless they were tipped off as to benefit fraud. My understanding is then most such reports lead to no further action (most are likely based on malice or misunderstanding). So definitely don't worry about that.... as long as you provide information honestly that's that. Much of the information I provide honestly is rejected... at the end of the day a much greater concern is them accepting your truth... that can be the challenge as Spoonie above eludes to. Reassessments are typically carried out every several years 'to ensure the award is correct'. Generally speaking your problems sound hard wired or likely to get worse so please don't worry about any fraud or media stuff. It should really just be an issue between you, your truth and appropriate technical qualification for the benefit as per its criteria... and this is where the challenge lies because of deficiencies in the system... don't be put off.

Spoonie_Turtle

sarahlply said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

I really wouldn't get too hung up on the actual assessment.  The reality is - and I don't want to put you off here, just prepare you for it - that it is very possible the report from the assessment could be very inaccurate.  But trying to get that corrected afterwards isn't what results in an appropriate award, only putting your case forward for what descriptors you meet and why.

You might be fortunate and get an assessor and DWP decision maker doing their jobs properly, it does happen.  But if you don't, it's nothing personal as lots of people end up with inaccurate reports and/or wrong decisions in the first instance.  What matters is whether you meet descriptors to score enough points, and knowing what you should be entitled to will help you be motivated to fight for it.

Recordings of assessments are only useful if you want to put in a complaint about the assessor, which is a separate process from trying to get the right decision.

I unfortunately disagree re recording the assessment but my situation is very complicated and previous assessments were not accurate despite my carer and I linking my difficulties to the descriptors. I had over 30 errors this most recent review and the assessor claimed I was calm despite me openly sobbing when she questioned me about why trauma counselling was being delayed post domestic abuse, luckily I had a witness to the call/assessment over the phone with me.

if you suffer anyway with anxiety I would also record as it’s a back up for the DM to show how you struggled, especially as my assessment lasted 3.5 hours and the assessor was obviously not grasping the full situation as the call went on.

I'm not saying don't bother recording the assessment, I'm just saying a recording won't usually get a person the correct award.  (Exceptional cases do happen but they're just that - exceptional.  People should not anticipate that a DM will listen to the recording when making their decision, even for an MR.)

3½hrs is absolutely ridiculous, I'm sorry the assessor put you through that.  Just awful.

sarahlply

Spoonie_Turtle said:

sarahlply said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

I really wouldn't get too hung up on the actual assessment.  The reality is - and I don't want to put you off here, just prepare you for it - that it is very possible the report from the assessment could be very inaccurate.  But trying to get that corrected afterwards isn't what results in an appropriate award, only putting your case forward for what descriptors you meet and why.

You might be fortunate and get an assessor and DWP decision maker doing their jobs properly, it does happen.  But if you don't, it's nothing personal as lots of people end up with inaccurate reports and/or wrong decisions in the first instance.  What matters is whether you meet descriptors to score enough points, and knowing what you should be entitled to will help you be motivated to fight for it.

Recordings of assessments are only useful if you want to put in a complaint about the assessor, which is a separate process from trying to get the right decision.

I unfortunately disagree re recording the assessment but my situation is very complicated and previous assessments were not accurate despite my carer and I linking my difficulties to the descriptors. I had over 30 errors this most recent review and the assessor claimed I was calm despite me openly sobbing when she questioned me about why trauma counselling was being delayed post domestic abuse, luckily I had a witness to the call/assessment over the phone with me.

if you suffer anyway with anxiety I would also record as it’s a back up for the DM to show how you struggled, especially as my assessment lasted 3.5 hours and the assessor was obviously not grasping the full situation as the call went on.

I'm not saying don't bother recording the assessment, I'm just saying a recording won't usually get a person the correct award.  (Exceptional cases do happen but they're just that - exceptional.  People should not anticipate that a DM will listen to the recording when making their decision, even for an MR.)

3½hrs is absolutely ridiculous, I'm sorry the assessor put you through that.  Just awful.

Thank you for understanding and explaining, it’s been consistent re errors since I went from dla to pip and unfortunately having worked in a related role I have heard of many others put through this. Benefits U.K. were suggesting always to ask for the recording, might be due to telephone assessments and their client’s experiences during lockdown that they started it but it proved useful for me.
thank you re 3.5 hrs, they even used it against me in the report, believe it’s not a isolated case either, horrid at best and felt cruel, took days to recover!

DullGreyGuy

elsien said:

It’s not means tested. Which means that the government decided that it is absolutely fine for someone to claim it if they need it regardless of income.

In no way reflecting on the OP and absolutely agree that they are entitled to claim based on what they have posted.

However I am confused by the comment "if they need it" @elsien. Given PIP is just a cash payment then "need" on the surface really would mean its a means test

The government has decided you can claim it if you qualify... it's nothing to do with "needing" it. An associate is a senior partner in a law firm and blind; I understand he would qualify for PIP (no idea if he claims or not, not my business) but I'd strongly suspect that as he bills out at £1,500 per hour that £68/week is unlikely to even be noticeable in his account and so question how you'd think he "needs" it?