To be delighted PIP assessments are to be face to face?

When have they never been face to face?

I know they were done by phone for a while due to covid, but they've never actually stopped assessments for people have they?

Why are you so pleased that many people who have long-standing chronic illnesses and disabilities, will have to continue to go through these humiliating, and stressful assessments, that make people so anxious, that they have to have counselling for it.

What a horrible, gloating, mean-spirited thread.

You would have had a fair assessment then. Not everyone is so fortunate.

They will still do paper assessments for those that qualify.

I think it’s a good thing although how doable that is is anyone’s guess. My son had a face to face and honestly it was great that they could see things that are hard to write down. The assessor was great and could see my son wasn’t able to give any input so the assessment was quite quick. He was awarded at 16 and he’s 27 now and never been reassessed. His award actually says until 2067 but I’m guessing that’s a typo 😂

And how would you propose that the fraud number is lower? What are your suggestions for reforming this benefit?

If you have good medical evidence I don’t see the point.
How is an assessor more qualified that a medical consultant? It just ends us costing more with more assessment times and reviews and massive back paying they won’t account for.
The only people who will be put off are people who are scared of the process.

As long as home visits are still an option, i dont see the issue personally. i had a home assessment and it was quite pleasant. Didnt see any side of what some people claim (rudeness, making the claimaint cry, lying etc)

Even DWP acknowledge that PIP fraud is only 0.2% of claims. That’s not a gravy train.

It only applies to PIP, not DLA. DLA for children has never had face to face assessments that I'm aware of.

And if you believe what that poster said you will believe anything

This is why PIP needs to be abolished and replaced by a benefit that targets disabled people. The present system is open to abuse. Too many people on the gravy train.

It is not 'so easy' to claim PIP.🙄 It is quite the opposite.

UC usually stops when you're out of the country for 28 days....

So they can face to face for this but not for GP appointments. Says it all.

That would also be hugely expensive and rates of fraud for disability benefits, is very, very low. There are for more people who are eligible for it and need it who don't get it.

So long as home visit is an option

I'm about to start chemotherapy for cancer. I will be applying for PIP once the side effects kick in. As a result of the treatment my immunity will be shot. What benefit is it for me to be face with an assessor? A room full of people coughing and sharing their germs when I have zero immunity? All so an assessor doesn't think I'm faking it?

For reference I am late 30's and have always worked in some capacity since I was 16. I don't claim any benefits and have never done. I intend on continuing to WFH through treatment. The PIP will replace the income I'm losing by dropping my hours.

Its only when you are down and need a little help that people have delight in just kicking you further down and thinking you are faking it.

@ReacherJack the nearest bus stop is a 15 minutes walk away. Then once I get into the city centre its another 20 minutes walk to the assessment centre. I use a Zimmer frame to help me get about but I would struggle walking those distances

It's a very good thing. People (especially on here) grossly underestimate the amount of fraud exaggeration within the disability benefits system. I know at least 4 people off the top of my head who are playing the system. I dont begrudge them it and can't really blame them for taking advantage when it's currently so easy. People who say "but Dr's reports!" they may state the condition but rely entirely on what the claiment is sayinhg for how it actually limits or impacts their life.

Those who are scared they may lose thier PIP/DLA probably know they may not need it at the level they have it.

There are also so many conditions that should be added to the "for life" list too.

@ReacherJack thank you for understanding. Taxi journeys are extremely uncomfortable and they can't park anywhere near the assessment centre. Hence my telephone assessment x sending hugs 🤗

I think any “one size fits all” solution is going to cause problems when applied to disabled people because the range of disabilities is so broad.

My face to face PIP assessment in 2016 was one of the most humiliating experiences of my life. The assessor clearly didn’t have the training to properly assess my needs, and if I am being charitable, I will attribute her twisting of my words whenever she read out what she was going to put in her report to a desire to sound more educated, when plainer English would perhaps have been more appropriate.

I’m incredibly fortunate that I had my husband with me to support and that we also had the right kit to record the assessment so we would have proof if we had to appeal.

I have higher rate for both mobility and daily living, and in 2019 was given a continuous award with no review before 2029, because it was clear from my medical records that my condition wasn’t going to be temporary.

But for anyone who thinks the system isn’t stacked against claimants, I can tell you that I was originally sent an appointment for an assessment many miles away that would have been incredibly hard to reach on public transport in my wheelchair. My husband phoned and they switched it to a centre 2 miles away we could reach by bus. But no doubt, had I somehow managed to get to the original location it would have counted against me.

By the time you start applying for PIP, you’re perhaps already facing the worst time of your life and don’t always think that you can challenge some of the ridiculous ploys and just have to find a way to get somewhere daft. Even when they blatantly have appointments available much closer to your home.

PIP fraud is the lowest of all benefit fraud at just 0.2%. So quit the goady shite of how there are loads of scroungers who don’t deserve it. To be awarded it in the first place is hard enough.

Yep, same here, they speak to me over the phone to do his claim, when it was face to face they spoke to me in my house. Same outcome.

@ReacherJack
I presume you mean taxis because if you can’t walk much buses are more than a bit difficult…
And don’t stop close to the exact location very often.

I’d hope the assessors can use common sense in cases like @shellyleppard has - if safe and reliable access isn’t available (she may also not be able to actually get into the assessment centre without, for instance using a wheelchair but may actually not have a wheelchair herself), that home visits are considered if face to face is mandatory.

Im not criticising you but sometimes what seems obvious to an able bodied person is utterly unfeasible for a particular disabled person.

My DD is doubly incontinent and can’t stand or bear weight or sit on a toilet so days out/events that don’t have the kind of changing facilities that include being able to lie to have her pads changed are impossible (she also can’t control either incontinence). I was a bit shocked by a hospital telling me she could use the baby change facility- she’s the height of an 11 year old and weighs 24.4 kilos.. but this is the sort of thing that if you haven’t actually been faced with that issue you won’t even see it.

The reason I mention that is that not everyone is comfortable discussing or disclosing that particular aspect of being disabled that often accompanies mobility issues. Just food for thought really.

This isnt true. If you leave the country for 4 weeks all benefits stop. DWP get pinged when you go through customs via your passport.