I assess disability claims - AMA

[Galactico]

Just as the title says!

I know the public feeling towards assessors isn’t always good. I’ve been doing the job for about 7 years, let me give you some insight into the “other” side.

Exactly. I do wonder if the OP thought we had no knowledge of the system when she started this thread.

Yeah, this is correct. Someone must be able to cope with changes (road works, bus terminating early, traffic diversions etc) and overcome them. If not, they can’t do it independently

Hi, sorry, just jumping in. I get high rate daily living, but was only awarded 4 points for mobility (based solely on my knees) Basically after numerous blood tests, and x-rays, it was determined my knee caps are out on the side and I was born that way. I must have aggravated it some time down the line. My suspicion is probably when I was pregnant, and the extra weight, plus walking a lot

The past 6 years, my knees have gotten worse. I can't run, I can't dance (which upsets me because I love to dance) struggle with stairs. But it's one of those things where if I'm really really careful, I'll be ok. If not, and there's a slight dip/pebbles in the road or whatever, when I'm walking, my anxiety spikes, because I know if my knee gives way or moves in any direction that I don't expect and control, I'm incapacitated

That's just me knee, sorry I digress. But I do not handle expected change of travel well, I take the bus, but if there's any road works or diversion I get incredibly frustrated and panicked, ending up calling my DP who's at work to help guide me home on the phone

And yet I got 4 points?

I'm sorry, that sounds horrendously difficult.

Where are you, OP?

Can you comment on the fact that only 9% of claimants who are turned down by the DWP actually go to an appeals tribunal?

How do you assess the more complex and less known conditions? I have a rare genetically diagnosed neuromuscular condition that presents like MS. Unfortunately due to one of your assessors failing me I have to work full time and it is causing my disease to progress faster. I have to go up my stairs on my hands and knees. I can’t socialise as I spend the evenings and weekends recovering. I’m too tired to make normal meals. I have no dignity left. Are your colleagues and you trained in rare diseases or how are they handled?

Are your colleagues and you trained in rare diseases or how are they handled?

No, but they're trained in writing fabricated reports.

@TheShellBeach Yes I believe it. According to them I’ve been cured of my incurable progressive condition.

Wow. Just wow.

I'm so sorry (but not at all surprised).

I have only ever claimed dla once so I have very limited experience and I do feel for pp who have had a hard time but my experience has been positive. Accepted first time with small amount of evidence. The assessor was helpful on the phone and prompted me when I admitted that I was unsure how to answer a question. I said that my dc did not always struggle with x and they helpfully said that even if it was sometimes it is enough and empathised with how hard that must be for me as a mum.
Im shocked to hear about all these awful situations pp have experienced. I did know about the awful tragedies in the news when payments were stopped etc which beyond disgusting.
Im anxious about renewing now.
I really hope it works out for people.

Hi OP you mentioned up thread you are assessed on 12 areas of function, what are these?
DD 15 has DLA so she will ( hopefully) be transferring to PIP next year. She has autism, anxiety and selective mutism.

How come my neighbour who had a genuine brain bleed around 7 years ago but is now fully recovered and only 51 doesn't need to work, has a disability car despite being able to walk miles with her dog with no pain and gets full PIP for care.... obviously she hasn't updated her details with you but why does this not get looked at from time to time?

Yes I have a client whose border line personality disorder has gone away, cured according to the assessor. The same assessor said the claimant had no needs as she had moved into her home alone, well yeh she lived alone but it was in supported accommodation and she had a team of people around her.

I have several family members who ‘play the system’ never worked a day in their lives and get pip for numerous ailments,
yet my dh who has multiple sclerosis and may I add works 50 hour weeks lost out by 1 point !
apoeal has begun.
seems As though he was penalised for working 😬

There are a few inconsistencies in@Galactico ‘s posts.

@Runnerduck34 www.citizensadvice.org.uk/Global/Migrated_Documents/adviceguide/pip-9-table-of-activities-descriptors-and-points.pdf

@kittenkipping
Thats madness. I'm so sorry you've been treated so badly , the assessor clearly doesn't have a clue what it's like to walk in your or your daughters shoes.
Good luck with your appeal

If you can access a welfare rights officer they will help with the appeal.

I think the problem is when a you g person has such low IQ they don't understand what others can do compared to themselves. My foster son tells people he is very clever and can do everything himself. That is what he wishes not his reality. I sent in all evidence from consultant, EHCP from special school, report from Educational Psychologist on his IQ and understanding, report from Social Worker on what he can functionally do and I answered form with several examples. I was nominated as his appointee by SW. I was extremely thankful he did not have to go through an assessment. He was given award based upon reports I sent in. He was awarded 29 points for care and 12 for or mobility for 9 years. It was scary to think he could have had telephone assessment and told assessor he can do everything when he can't. I am glad I had a special school EHCP and SW to help give a realistic picture of what he can and can't do. He has IQ of less than 65. How often is it decided not to do a telephone or face to face review and instead rely on reports?

I think the OP has well and truly scarpered this time.

I know this was addressed at op but she seems to have disappeared ! It shouldn't really matter what your diagnosis is because PIP is assessed only on the PIP descriptors and whether you can do those things safely, repeatedly, reliably. So it looks at things like whether you can cook a simple meal, wash and dress yourself, communicate, manage your own budgeting decisions etc and then also looks at mobility, how far you can walk, whether you need aids etc.

In a PIP reassessment, if a claimant's condition has improved but only due to support that is reliant on their PIP award (so their condition would be back to pre assessment severity if PIP was removed) should they still have proactively reported a 'change in condition'? As the actual needs haven't changed, it's just that only with PIP money are they manageable, if that makes sense?

Family member was asked for a routine reassessment and has noted throughout the form (with my help so I've seen it) that their condition is well managed due to the care / treatments they can afford due to PIP but they are now very worried about it and I'm finding it hard to get info to help their anxiety.

If asked for a review in person, they will seem like they are physically more able than their previous application, which is true but again only because the PIP award pays for the treatment that causes this to be the case.

And if they are deemed to have not declared the change in their condition (that it has improved, but only due to support possible due to their award) could they be asked to repay / be in trouble?

Any advice would be very appreciated so I can pass it on.

Hope that all made sense!

@Jammyha Please apply again and if you do not get an award this time, take it to an appeal.

Your chances of success are very high. 80% of the DWP's wrong decisions are overturned in the claimant's favour at appeal.

May I suggest you find a welfare rights officer? They will help you with this.

Also, there is a lot of help here:

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk

It is midnight. How long to you expect people to stay up to answer questions?

Considering the opprobrium that's been thrown at her, I'm surprised she bothered answering anyone.

@TheShellBeach

Thank you, that looks really helpful

Fair point about the time, although many people on this thread were dubious about her saying she worked for the NHS and not the DWP.