PIP assessment - what can I expect?

[StarOnTheTree]

I've got fibromyalgia that's been getting worse for years. I've just applied for PIP and I've got my assessment in 2 weeks time. I don't usually get anxious about anything but I'm really worried that they'll just dismiss or minimise my issues. I don't look ill though I limp quite a lot but not all the time.

I can do lots of things once or in a minor way, e.g. raise my arms, but I can't keep them up. I'm worried about them hurting me too

Does anyone know what they'll ask me to do or what they might do to me?

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

Mine was awful, don't do anything that hurts and take a friend/ partner for support. Good luck!

[StarOnTheTree]

Thanks Dame I'm sorry that your assessment was awful. What made it so bad?

[StarOnTheTree]

Do they do any prodding and poking?

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

Mine was well over an hour, very detailed questions. The physical was brief,I couldn't do a lot of the things I was asked , even though they wrote down I could

The assessment room will be deliberately far from the entrance and they will watch you walk, so if you limp and need to stop make sure you make a point of stopping to rest.

Be VERY detailed in your answers and don't let them rush you into answering.

The woman who assessed me was dismissive and cold and treated me with disdain, I really hope you have someone nicer. I'm not really easily upset but I felt like I'd been hit by a bus afterwards.

Expect the worst basically and anything else is a bonus x

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

They don't prod and poke , they asked me to- get up from the chair , raise my heels off the floor, raise my arms and turn my neck left and right, cross my legs while seated. Literally took 3 mins or so.

[Groovee]

I somehow ended up getting a home visit. They were here about 2 hours. Did light examinations and asked me the same questions as the form.

I had low rate care on DLA but they awarded me enhanced care and standard mobility.

I have fibromyalgia.

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

They point blank refused me a home visit bastards and the assessment centre was nearly an hour's drive,my dh had to take the morning off.

Really hope you are successful OP

[StarOnTheTree]

I've got an hour's drive too but driving is fine fortunately. I need to think of someone to take with me!

If I'm not successful I'm going to appeal and appeal and appeal. I've lived like this without any help for far too long....

[NotCitrus]

Take someone with you, who will chip in every time you answer with "but you can't do that more than once" or "yeah, but if you did try that, you'd then be in bed for three days, so you can't do it really". They basically asked me all the questions on the form, so I had my copy and mentioned all the same stuff plus any extra issues occurring since I'd written it all 18 months earlier. Remember to explain that you can't do things safely/repeatedly/reliably even if you can do them once (when that's the case, obviously!)

If they try to move your body in a way it doesn't, yell out and refuse. Though I was asked to try various moves and stop if anything hurt or didn't go, so I don't recall actually being touched. Assessment was over 2 hours, got basic care award despite them not giving me points for deafness (after 90 minutes I could understand the interviewer fairly well, and had interpreter).

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

They will ask you about the journey- say you're very tired and you will suffer the next day.

I had someone from the CAB do my form and the PIP scored me zero even though I actually scored really highly,i appealed and was scored zero again. The CAB said they are seeing more and more people who are just scored zero.

I already have a blue badge and have had one for 9 years but clearly I'm not disabled enough for PIP

Sorry, rant over!

[StarOnTheTree]

That's terrible Dame Is there nothing you can do about it now?

It will be no problem saying I'm tired. After 2 hours driving and the assessment I'll be in bed as soon as I get home I've just realised that I limp more than I walk normally, not sure when that happened though. I wish they'd find out what's causing this thing and then come up with effective treatments or even a cure

I've got one bolshy friend who knows how much I'm affected by this condition but he's not reliable. I'll speak to him about coming with me though and hope for the best.

[Dolallytats]

I had one because I am severely agoraphobic. If you can ask to record it. You have to supply the equipment yourself and record on two devices at the same time, but lots of people have had their assessors lie about answers given (including myself).

There is a Facebook page called ME and Chronic Illness Benefits Advice Group that are really helpful.

Remember in your assessment it is about what you can reliably and safely do. I can get to the corner shop on my own sometimes, but am unable to do it several days in a row (in fact, I have been struggling with doing this at all for several weeks, but this is an example) so I can't reliably do it.

I had my home assessment (which they only agreed to after I wrote a letter saying I didn't think they were taking Mental Health issues as seriously as physical ones) and got denied PIP. I had the tribunal (couldn't go as can barely leave the house) and they agreed to a 2 year standard mobility and care award in my absence.

This ends in Febuary and I am already getting anxious about it as things haven't got any better, if anything they are a bit worse

Good luck.