I carry out PIP assessments - AMA

[PIPnamechanged]

The disclaimer:

I changed my name for this.

I can’t tell you why your claim was declined, or if you’ll be accepted with a particular condition.

I can’t comment on individual claims or look you up on the system on Monday.

I won’t bother with any “how do you sleep at night?” comments as they’re just inflammatory.

I’ve done the job for around 8 years, so covered the job in pre and post-pandemic times. Work full time, 9-5 and I’m a nurse by profession.

My part of the job is the actual consultation.

Ask away!

This is exactly how I feel,claiming pip actually exacerbates my MH.

I've dealt with several people who are in remission. All have had to go to Mandatory reconsideration despite the exhaustion and other after effects that affect their lives, their illnesses have resulted in them having to deal with. Not to put you off, but just an example of how cruel the assessments can be

(Yes, I know I've been angry all through this thread, but I have seen too many awful assessments and assessors - sorry!)

Threads like this really worry me because I found the whole thing very stressful and degrading and that was with a thoroughly decent assessor who immediately awarded full PIP. When I read this thread and others I worry about what will happen in the future. It also really angers me that I may eventually be penalised for working. Working is exhausting and exacerbates my condition but it allows me to feel like I'm still a useful member of society. To take that away from me and to punish me for being resilient and determined is everything that is wrong with our benefits system.

I also thought it was disgraceful the way the woman with MS was punished for exercising. We are urged by neurology to exercise because there is some evidence that it can help with remyelination. MS has no cure and progressively gets worse so we do everything we can to slow progression. Effectively punishing someone for striving to be as well as possible and striving to work and pay taxes sums up the utter stupidity and cruelty of our benefits system. It will cost a lot more to keep me in a care home for the next twenty years so I try to avoid that fate.

Thank you for answering my question I appreciate it. At what point do PIP reviews become longer than 3 years in between?

The way it was portrayed in the media made no sense in the context of RRMS.

The reason I started yoga and have been trying to walk a little bit more is because a medication I was put on after my last review causes horrible joint pain and stiffness, and I'm afraid if I don't push myself to do something my condition will get worse.

But I don't know if in their eyes it counts as my condition improving and therefore a change I must tell them about. This is the anxiety I live with all the time while on PIP.

I was awarded 2.5 years first time…..and next time got 4.5 years

i don’t think there’s any rhyme or reason to length of award…..just the DMs choice?

I take it you are a healthcare professional? You should have been paid if they have contacted you for further evidence.

No, that's not true now. You can record it on your own equipment, such as your phone. Preparing for your PIP assessment | Disability charity Scope UK

I think it would be a backwards step and potentially end up costing more overall rather than less if they limited it to people who were not working or means tested pip as it would be a disincentive for people to work where, like you, work is difficult anyway. The basic principle of pip is that it is towards the additional costs that a disability bring which applies whether people are working or not, non working people are then able to claim extra through universal credit,

My first award was three but I then this year had to put in for renewal that was jan I had to wait to this week for an answer and I didn’t need need another assessment they just based their decision on my answers and I got 5 years so I think it’s an individual case thing sorry meant for @Crispynoodle

Are there any repercussions if you're found to be lying on an assessment? Or is it ok as long as targets are met? My dad is currently going through mandatory reconsideration after his initial assessment essentially said he was fine, no issues cooking/preparing a meal for example. He can't even hold a cup of tea without spilling it. He's had a stroke and two TIAs since February. The report contained many lies.

As a previous poster correctly said, there is no reason, or rhyme it would seem, when choosing the length of a persons award. So much money is wasted on reviewing people who will never improve. It all seems to depend on whose desk, someones form lands on.

Can someone please recommend a reliable way or an app to record the assessment phone call (with permission of course)?

Put your phone on loudspeaker and use your laptop to record it. I'm not sure if Windows has a voice recording app but on Mac it's called voice notes.

Use Voice Memos app on iPhone

It doesn't work during a call unfortunately.

You may need 2 phones. Can you set it to record on another iPhone with your call on speaker?

I said above your post that you can record it on a computer while putting your phone on loudspeaker.

Yup that too. More than one way to skin a cat.

@PIPnamechanged thank you so much for this thread, and I'm sorry for the unnecessary abuse aimed at you.

I get PIP for my mental health and have never had any kind of assessment, in the original claim or renewal 3 years later (that was awarded for another 4 years). I'm assuming this is because I had rock solid medical evidence- detailed letters from my psychiatrist and therapist stating I'd been sectioned for 6 months twice, see them weekly/monthly, list of my diagnosis's and how they affect me etc. I am fortunate to have private healthcare though so know how lucky I am to have such a supportive team who wanted to help me get PIP.

I feel very lucky because I don't have the brain space to appeal etc and don't know how I'd ever have coped with an assessment. It was literally paper application form to approved by letter 6 months later, nothing in between.

Thank you for what you do and for being honest with us. It's not an easy job.

How do I trust that you’re qualified enough to assess my autistic adult DC?
Do you have people like me asking before the assessment begins, if you’re trained specifically in autism and if your answer is no, how do I know you’re equipped to make informative decisions regarding autism and say an autism related eating disorder like ARFID?

If an assessor has no training in say the above two areas, and you have no set criteria to use (although the PIP training manual surely covers things like this?), how can you make an informed decision for each descriptor?

Always inform them PRIOR to the day that you’ll be recording - otherwise it can hold up the process after the assessment apparently.

@Webbb i dint want to rain in your parade, but I know people with rock solid evidence who’ve had to go to tribunal…

Said tribunal consisted in opening the files, not even asking questions and saying ‘yay, it’s obvious that….’. And giving them PIP.

Even when people are suicidal and doing the interview might well tip them over, they dint always get a paper based assessment.

So yes rock solid evidence helps
But having rock solid evidence doesn’t mean the whole process isn’t going to be messy and unfair.

And THAT is one of the biggest isdue with the process tbh.

Hello
Can I ask if it is usual to have a 2 1/2 hour telephone assessment and then be expected to have another 2 hours another day? It just seems a bit much, it has caused me so much anxiety because I feel the assessor is maybe trying to wear me down or catch me out and it is affecting how I am answering the questions. Is this something to be worried about. I have asked to have it recorded.
Thank you

@Henny5 ive never heard of an assessment being that long before.
2.5 hours is already very long. Mine was 30 mins! (But that’s also unusually short)