PIP assessment for my severely disabled Son. Anybody elses child had an assessment yet?

[SoleBizzz]

I am my Son's appointee as his Mother and he is 18 this October.

My Son is severely disabled and in receipt of DLA higher rates indefinitely.

Having just spoken to the PIP application telephone line my Son is to be assessed to see if he is really disabled (blind, severely Autistic, no speech, double incontinence ).

Asessment for my Son by Capita or Atos wil be carried out soon.

What was your experience of Atos or Capita assessment?

We are in Birmingham I'm unsure of which area we are with regards to the area being Capita or Atos?

[NoHaudinMaWheest]

We have an ATOS assessment on Sunday so I will let you know. Dd's needs are not nearly as severe though. I would hope that you would not need a face to face assessment. All I can say at the moment is that their administration is dire.

[SoleBizzz]

NoHaudin thank you for your reply.

Try this test and read the site wrt PIP before Sunday


www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/pip/indexxx.php

[NoHaudinMaWheest]

Thanks. I used that site when doing the application form. Thanks for the reminder to revisit it.

[SoleBizzz]

NoHaudin was yesterday ok?

[NoHaudinMaWheest]

I think we had a reasonable hearing within the questions they have to ask. Basically it was going through the form again. It was conducted by a paramedic and she was pleasant enough but I wonder how much she knows about ASD and dd's fairly unusual additional issues.
On paper we should score enough points but I am not sure how much opinion comes into it.
The venue was not very disability friendly which for an assessment of people's disabiities seems ridiculous. We didn't have to travel far but the other person there that I was chatting to had come a long way.
I don't know if you could request a home visit - it might be easier?

[SoleBizzz]

Thank you for your reply. I haven't got the form yet. Blimey we fill tge form on then you need an exam on what you've written!

Ffs

[bedelia]

DS1 had a "fit for work" assessment for ESA earlier in the year, which was dire =( We're receiving advice from CAB as he's had to appeal, and were advised that PIP assessment is "gentler" but I would still cover all bases to make sure the assessment is fair and thorough (ie: covers all aspects of day-to-day life rather than focusing on a few things).

We're just about to apply for PIP for DS, who has autism and other ongoing issues. Having learned the hard way from the ESA assessment, we'll likely make certain requests for the PIP:

• Ask for someone experienced with ASD to conduct the assessment, who is more capable of understanding DS's difficulties
  
• Ask for the assessment to be recorded (difficult, I know, but during ESA assessment there were certain important elements discussed which didn't make it into the report..)
  
• Ask for information about changes/delays to be conveyed with as much advance notice as possible the lack of which caused DS to have an awful meltdown
  

SoleBizzz - I second the advice to request a home/telephone assessment if at all possible due to the potential complications and difficulties DS may experience if he attends an assessment centre. Request in writing if at all possible to ensure there is evidence of the request.

Best of luck to you both, hope all goes well!

[NoHaudinMaWheest]

I would say put everything in writing. The initial appointment they sent for dd was on a day when she had a GCSE exam in spite of my sending in her exam dates with the application. When I phoned up they offered me another exam day. I then asked if it could be postponed until her exams are over. ATOS said I would have to phone the DWP to request it which I duly did and they said they would forward the request to ATOS. A friend who is disabled and has had dealings with ATOS suggested that I check that they had actually cancelled the original appointment. They hadn't and if dd had not turned up it would have counted as a no show and her claim would have been cancelled. Which is why I felt I had to accept the appointment for this Sunday.

[2old2beamumandpastit]

Hi, my DS is 18 in September and he was assessed for PIP last year. He like your DS has significant needs deafblind, CP epilepsy and PEJ fed, I have to be honest it was a doddle! I filled the form in and sent a copy of his paediatrician's letter. Heard back in 3-4 weeks all OK
Good luck!

[NoHaudinMaWheest]

2old I am glad the DWP haven't totally taken leave of their senses. It really should be completely straightforward for people like your ds.
I hope he got a life time award.