PIP video assessment/Long Covid

dp1

Hi Just wondering if anyone can give me some advice. I suffer from Long Covid - I had Covid in January 2022 and still haven't recovered. I applied for PIP a couple of months ago and received a text today with an appointment for a video assessment in a couple of weeks time. I'm just wondering what to expect - do they go through the questions on the form I filled in? I do manage to work just a few hours a week when I can  - I'm worried this will make me seem healthier than I am - I am completely exhausted after a 3 hour shift and usually have to go straight to bed. Will the person doing te assessment have an understanding of Long Covid? Thank you in advance

Alice_Holt

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/help-with-your-claim/your-assessment/

Note that many people claim PIP and work.  

Did you emphasis the exhaustion on your form?  

You could take a diary listing day to day difficulties due to LC, exhaustion when you go to the assessment.  They will ask you about a typical day.
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/Documents/Advice (public)/pip-diary.pdf

Be aware that reliability is very important for PIP.  See:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1144278/pip-assessment-guide-part-2-assessment-criteria.pdf

Section 2:2

peteuk

The assessment will go through your basic details and then the questionnaire.  If you have noted your not affected in an activity then they will ask if that is the case and move on.  
Basic info includes type of house, who lives with you, pets, hobbies, interests, education, work, driving etc. 

Then it usually start with mobility and planning a journey and then into the questionnaire from activity 1 - 10.  Please be aware that if there is no mental health issues you will automatically score 0 in some activities.   Coivd is obviously new but should be treated akin to a post virus fatigue or fibro. 

Good luck. 

dp1

Thanks to you both - Alice I'll look at those links later. Yes I emphasised the exhaustion - I'm just concerned that the assessor might not have a lot of understanding of Long Covid.
i just hope I can explain it well enough.

dp1

Just an update - I thought it could be helpful to someone.
So I had my assessment - the lady doing it was very brusque and only wanted yes and no answers. I tried to go into more detail a few times and she interrupted and said I just want a yes or a no. For example 'do you sit or stand at work' I tried to say I sit as much as I can as I feel too tired to stand' - to which her reply was 'so you sit at work? Yes.' She asked a lot about medication and I got muddled as she was asking about medication which isn't relevant to my Long Covid - I eventually said 'I'm sorry you're confusing me.'
At the end she did ask if I wanted to add anything to which I said that I didn't think I'd been able to explain how much it affects my life - but I'm not sure if she typed that in.
She said it would take up to 8 weeks to be told if I would get a PIP award. 
I don't think it went very well as I wasn't able to elaborate on anything...will just have to wait.

Muttleythefrog

dp1 said:

Just an update - I thought it could be helpful to someone.
So I had my assessment - the lady doing it was very brusque and only wanted yes and no answers. I tried to go into more detail a few times and she interrupted and said I just want a yes or a no. For example 'do you sit or stand at work' I tried to say I sit as much as I can as I feel too tired to stand' - to which her reply was 'so you sit at work? Yes.' She asked a lot about medication and I got muddled as she was asking about medication which isn't relevant to my Long Covid - I eventually said 'I'm sorry you're confusing me.'
At the end she did ask if I wanted to add anything to which I said that I didn't think I'd been able to explain how much it affects my life - but I'm not sure if she typed that in.
She said it would take up to 8 weeks to be told if I would get a PIP award. 
I don't think it went very well as I wasn't able to elaborate on anything...will just have to wait.

Yes sadly HCPs can be like this to try to efficiently get through 'their assessment'.... but it's actually your assessment. You tried your best by the sounds of it to explain problems.

My advice is contact the DWP tomorrow (number at top of DWP PIP letters) and ask if you can have a copy of the assessment report - if they don't yet have it you can try again next week. The decision as the assessor said could take some weeks but the assessment report in hands might be useful to see as likely to determine outcome. Good, bad or ugly having the document ASAP can be useful for peace of mind or to buy time for any reconsideration thinking.

HillStreetBlues

Just having yes/no answers is totally wrong,

Do you sit or stand at work?  can be a totally pointless question, many people sit at work as it's a desk based job.
So a more detailed answer is needed, I have to sit at work, as I'm unable to stand more than (insert minutes)  due to fatigue.


Anything fatigue related is a nightmare to get the correct award without going to a tribunal.

sammyjammy

This is very disappointing, it might be worth writing all this down whilst its fresh in your mind and making a complaint, its disgusting.

dp1

Thanks for your replies.
Mutley - I had a text from DWP saying they had received the assessor's report the next day so I'll phone and ask for that tomorrow - thank you

dp1

So the assessors report came today - just 11 days since my assessment - I got zero points and there's nowt wrong with me!
A lot of the decision sounds like she's talking about a different person - I was did not appear to be anxious or tired, I can go to the doctor's alone ( I live alone), I can speak to my neighbours, I have my own bank account, I work 4 afternoons a week - yes but just over a year ago I worked full time in 2 jobs and I struggle to work the hours I do to pay my rent and bills! She lists what I can do but there's no mention of how exhausted I am after I do something and can't do anything else.
So I was a bit peed off about it but this afternoon I rang Citizens advice and spoke to a really helpful lady and now have an 2 hour phone appointment for next Thursday when they'll help me fill in the forms for a reconsideration.
Just thought this might be helpful to anyone else with Long Covid or Fatigue. x

Muttleythefrog

dp1 said:

So the assessors report came today - just 11 days since my assessment - I got zero points and there's nowt wrong with me!
A lot of the decision sounds like she's talking about a different person - I was did not appear to be anxious or tired, I can go to the doctor's alone ( I live alone), I can speak to my neighbours, I have my own bank account, I work 4 afternoons a week - yes but just over a year ago I worked full time in 2 jobs and I struggle to work the hours I do to pay my rent and bills! She lists what I can do but there's no mention of how exhausted I am after I do something and can't do anything else.
So I was a bit peed off about it but this afternoon I rang Citizens advice and spoke to a really helpful lady and now have an 2 hour phone appointment for next Thursday when they'll help me fill in the forms for a reconsideration.
Just thought this might be helpful to anyone else with Long Covid or Fatigue. x

You are far from the first person to say a report for PIP (or WCA for ESA/U.Credit) sounded like it was about a different person.

Sadly the description of how the event went did make me fear the HCP had 'hijacked it'. However... forewarned is to be forearmed. The DWP will take their decision in due course - they may not agree with the HCP's report but mostly they tend to replicate it for the decision.

I would suggest asking for reconsideration if decision when it comes is as expected to refuse you PIP and do indeed get support from CAB but be aware the assessment report is not the decision as I'm sure they'll remind you. You can prepare though  including by getting any supporting evidence if possible. Reconsiderations usually do not result in a changed outcome... however appeals thereafter to independent tribunal are substantially successful in claimant favour and they tend to look at all evidence and take their role and claimant seriously.

Crucially... ability to perform the tasks reliably needs to be a key focus in your case...

Reliability has four components each of which must be satisfied in order for an activity to be undertaken ‘reliably’. The four components are:

• Safely
• To an acceptable standard
• Repeatedly
• In a reasonable time

Good luck... and update as necessary for advice etc.