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!

Definitely an increase. The wait times used to be 3-4 weeks. They’re now months.

I also see cases where the person applied 18 months ago. Sure, any award is backdated, but that’s a crazy time to wait.

I’m not sure what the gov will do to try and get this under control. I think perhaps they’ll change the criteria - maybe stop people who are working from being able to claim, or put a minimum time between a failed application to being able to apply again.

This is a hard one. We do hear horror stories of people being extremely unprofessional.

None of the calls/video chats are recorded, and I think that gives rise to people feeling like they can say or do whatever they want without any consequence. It’s their word against yours, at the end of the day.

are you a qualified nurse?

how do you/did you get into this job?

Yeah, there’s a set amount of four per day. However, if you get a complex case or one that needs extra time (interpreter, speech impediment etc), the number will be adjusted.

I never work past 5pm. I do have to start before 9am though, in order to prepare properly for the day ahead.

Case law also says that’s wrong. I’m a lawyer in this area.

I am indeed!

These types of jobs are advertised just like any other job. If you have decent experience (ideally in a range of settings) and the necessary qualifications, you just apply like normal.

The 9-5 was what attracted me so that I could balance it better with family life.

Thank you.

What's petrified me is that I got a phonecall from some random woman saying she just needed to double check a few details for DS claim, and had a pretty informal chat with me. About twenty minutes in, I said "is this the assessment, I wasn't expecting one??" And she replied that yes it was and she had everything she needed.

How is that ok? I felt tricked.

I then said to her I hadn't included much paperwork (despite having a 7 inch thick binder of reports and hospital letters, ADHD diagnosed) because obviously they'd had tonnes already over the past 6 years and she said none of that gets passed on?! Why??? If you're transferring a child from DLA to PIP, surely you must know they haven't qualified for 6yrs (since diagnosis) but somehow self cured on their 16th birthday. The letter is sent stating transferring from DLA to PIP, so why do you not look at any of the information present already?

That's terrible

Thanks for the AMA. I think the system is bad but the individual assessors I've had have been mostly kind.
Are you supposed to ask leading questions? i.e. questions that would socially lead to automatic agreement or disagreement. I struggled with these in my first assessment, I'm autistic and it took me a minute to process what was actually being asked, so I had to be really careful not to automatically agree when something was wrong but phrased in a leading way.

How often do you have to ring up the next day to check something? (this happened to me, totally freaked me out).

With consultant letters, why do you (general) believe them and not us? I know they're doctors and are supposed to be writing accurate information. But I told exactly the same things to my consultant as I had to my PIP assessor, and the consultant believed me and wrote it down. That letter then acted as evidence when I requested a change of circumstances. The consultant didn't make me walk until I collapsed, or demonstrate several other issues - she just believed me (obviously I was telling the truth!). It didn't make sense to me that PIP only believed me once I'd gone through a middle man, as it were.

What do you think about integrated disabled/ non-disabled hobby groups? I mentioned I went to a hobby group with a higher than usual proportion of disabled people, and that it was run so as to be accessible to all. The assessor kept asking if it was a "special needs group" and when I said it wasn't, wrote on my report that I have no trouble with xyz because I attend the hobby group. Which would have made sense if it wasn't a group run in an accessible way - but not a specifically accessible group.

How much are you paid? Is it band 5 or band 6 equivalent?

They can be recorded if the client requests it. The client can record if they wish.

Yeah, I know about the case law shaping PIP claims in relation to certain areas of the application form. Some areas are in desperate need of overhaul.

Interested if you want to elaborate on the case law you’re referring to?

@PIPnamechanged are you medically trained? Secondly, how do you assess someone if they can’t communicate?

An autistic person has a "severe social impairment" as part of their ASD diagnosis from Great Ormond Street Hospital and also a separate diagnosis of severe dyspraxia from an occupational therapist. They got higher rate PIP then was re-assessed after 10 years (in person even though it should have been the light touch approach) and awarded 0 points.

The mandatory reconsideration form was submitted in January but DWP has not sent any decision letters. They don't give the timeline for mandatory reconsideration either and it looks like they won't reply at all. Is there any way to challenge their PIP refusal without waiting for the mandatory reconsideration decision? The guidance says they have to wait but for how much longer?

Also, how can they claim the money underpaid for almost a year? Is it just taking DWP to court that's left?

What medical training do you have to have? My sister died in January and having come across her rejected pip assessment I'm amazed....apparently the hands she couldn't move anymore that were so severe she could no longer have knuckle replacements looked fine to the assessor but I wiped her backside and held drinks for her the last 3 months of her life.

They can. But very few people know that and choose to do it.

I was referring to the interaction being recorded from our end. Akin to how all calls are recorded in call centres. I think it should be like that because it would allow 100% transparency. No more “I said this and the assessor wrote that”.

I’m a nurse with 13ish years of work.

People unable to communicate can have an appointee - a family member, friend or advocate who speaks for them.

My sons assessor stated in her report that there was no evidence of learning disability as he sat GCSE’s. Happily omitted that he has an EHCP, TA support and exam accommodations and carefully chose not to actually whether or not he actually passed said GCSE’s 🙄

My son was awarded DLA at 3 years old until 2027 (he's now 13). I am dreading 16 and his transition to PIP. Could you tell me why I will likely have to jump many hoops to obtain it when my son has a condition he was born with and will not go away. I ask this as many of my parent friends in a similar position have been refused PIP despite the needs not changing because the condition is "from birth" and will never change. I am furious that I am going to have to fight for the financial support he needs. Can you tell me why this is?

I don’t personally deal with MRs or appeals, but I believe that you need to wait for the MR before you start going through the levels of appeal.

So they’ve waited 10 months and counting - have you been in touch with the DWP for an update? Surely they should be telling you what stage the MR is at? That seems an incredibly long time to wait.

If MR is successful, their money will be backdated.

You say about the letter from GOSH…is the person functioning socially from day to day? Mainstream schooling, going to clubs? Anything that may undermine the letter?

A degree in one of the healthcare fields (nurse, paramedic, physiotherapist, OT are the most common ones) is what is required along with experience in your field.

That’s awful; did you ever appeal it before she passed away? Very sorry for your loss.

So can I ask what makes you an expert on someone's ability to drive OP if they have a car with power steering and/or a specialist cover for the steering wheel to aid grip? Sadly, in the majority of cases, the assessors rarely ask probing questions about driving, they choose instead to assume that severe arthritis equals no driving at all. Such a dreadfully biased assumption IMHO.

Can I ask if an autistic adult has had dla for 10!years and nothing has changed, surely the award should just be continued at review? I’m hearing so many stories of people being downgraded - how can this be possible

This is my position. It's fucking outrageous.

How do you deal with a situation where just applying and all the firms is so complicated that the person applying can't actually get it right? I have a call with a assessor next week, but it's my second try and I just can't fill out the forms right. I know I'll get rejected, but I'm actually so anxious and discombobulated by the process I don't think I'll ever be able to communicate that.