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!

DS has gone from middle rate DLA with lower rate mobility component for the last ten years to zero when reviewed at 16 for PIP. Awaiting MR.

I've applied twice and got 0 points each time. I have multiple problems including ADHD, ASD, endometriosis, osteoarthritis, possible psoriatic arthritis. I felt totally gaslit by the process. The reports said ‘You said x but you can do y so I think you’re fine’. Like ‘You said you struggle to plan journeys but you drive to work so I think you can plan journeys’. Okay, I can drive a couple of miles to and from work where I’ve worked for 20 years but trying to travel anywhere new, anywhere out of my routine, getting public transport if my car is out of action results in my getting totally lost and me having a total meltdown. I would not try to book a train journey without help because I’d be terrified of booking the wrong train. One day I drive an hour and a half to a training session only to find I was a day early!

My report said I wasn’t on any medication for my mental health issues or having therapy. It neglected to mention that I can’t take meds because of the risks alongside other medications I’m already on. I’ve been waiting over a year for mental health support on the NHS and the only private provider around here that can help is £45 a session which I cannot afford. I’ve been on their subsidised waiting list (still £20 a session and chased 4 times). In the mean time I’m getting invasive thoughts multiple times a day. But I’m not having therapy or on meds so I score 0?! Do you have any advice on how to phrase things to make issues clearer/help with scoring? Is it wise to say ‘If I get PIP I’d use the money for private therapy/to book a carer’s ticket for someone to travel with me’?

Good point. You would expect assessors to have some basic knowledge of the myriad of adaptations that can be made to cars.

Are you going to answer my post/my questions from 22.44 @PIPnamechanged ?

And the poster who asked why someone with chronic conditions like rheumatoid arthritis have to have 3 year reviews, when you KNOW it's not going to get better?

Or are you cherry picking the questions you want to answer only, because they're easier, and because you have no answer for mine and that other poster's?

Why say ASK ME ANYTHING and then go on to ignore some posters and their questions?

.

Sorry OP that's not correct. It is the responsibility of the assessment provider to request supporting evidence for health issues however it is extremely rare that such requests are made......today's PIP decision makers appear to rely solely on assessment reports produced by health care professionals that often have little to no relevant knowledge/experience of the real life impact of the health issues they are asked to assess. This is inherently unfair on both the assessor and the claimant.

Everyone switches from DLA to PIP after age 16, as you seem to know already.

His claim will be treated like it’s brand new, the government want it that way. Lifetime awards of PIP are rare now (usually given in terminal illness cases and only a few other scenarios), not like they were with DLA.

It is also because many conditions (even ASD) can change over time. While they’re still present, age can help with function (remember - PIP is a functional assessment and not one of diagnosis).

For example, if someone claims DLA for their child with ASD aged 4, for all the DWP know, that child got to age 14, had travel training, coped at mainstream school and is now off to college with a part-time job too. In this case, removal of their award would be likely because of their functioning ability.

Equally, if that child has profound difficulties and is never likely to manage independently (even with intervention), a lifetime award would be appropriate.

Because you're asking questions about the bureaucracy and paperwork that OP doesn't control, not about her role as the person on the end of the phone actually doing the assessment. OP doesn't know why the postal systems are so shit, that's not part of their job.

Not cherry picking anything, it’s very hard to see every question. I’ll find yours in a minute and I’m sure I’ve missed others.

Already replied to the RA query if you’d care to go and look.

Yes my question about working outside scope of knowledge was also ignored.

They're adult so no school in question - was mainstream as high functioning autists are encouraged to stay in mainstream, but struggled both because of autism and severe dyspraxia - frequent falls, head injury etc. No clubs or any socialising. PIP was paid for 10 years, autism cannot be cured so I don't know what may undermine GOSH diagnosis and how it is even possible to award an autistic person 0 points on social and communication disabilities if this is what autism essentially is.

They initially waited for MR as told in guidance (and couldn't face contacting DWP again after the debilitating stress of in-person assessment, it took a couple of months to recover from that) but now with winter bills they're going to be starving.

How long are mandatory reconsiderations taking at the moment and who oversees them?
Are they worth asking for?
If they are rejected is it worth going to appeal?

My DS written report used the wrong name and stated his life long/life limiting health condition had the potential to improve ( his consultant laughed at that one) .
The report also said the assessor had examined him ( she hadn’t) had seen him drink from a glass ( he hadn’t) and he was wearing appropriate clothing ( he wasn’t).
They also insisted he answer the questions despite his appointee ( me) being there and him stating he didn’t want to speak.
She then proceeded to ask him repeated questions about a medical condition to do with his penis that was listed on his medical info but was nothing to do with his life limiting condition in an apparent attempt to embarrass him ( he was 16years old).
Next time he has an assessment it will be being recorded.
I guess my question is this- how can we state that incorrect info has been written in assessment report ?

For people reading this thread who might be going through the hell that is claiming PIP, I just want to flag up this thread. It is a bit old now, but it proved really helpful when I had to make a claim for PIP on behalf of my DH a few years ago. I am so grateful to @iwasateenagepipassessor if she is still on MN.

www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/2764894--to-give-people-assistance-with-claiming-PIP?reply=64476009

Your job as an assessor is to consider the impact of the health issues in front of you utilising the knowledge and skill base you apparently have. The process of claiming PIP does indeed require an immense overhaul not least the way so much of the personal testimony submitted by claimants is basically ignored in entirety particularly when health issues are complex. The system is extremely unfair.

Hmmm yeah. I see the OP has now responded to me, but only to say she will see mine soon, as she hadn't noticed it. 🙄

I won't hold my breath waiting for a response.

This is so hard though because Doctors say they can only write that a patient has told them they struggle with whatever it is. They don’t live with you so can’t say that is how it is. Then DWP say the letters are no use because they just say what you’ve told the doctor.

Did you actively choose to look for that job or settle for it?

@PIPnamechanged I appreciate you answering my question but your excuses for refusal are utterly shite to be honest. So many here are posting tragic and desperate situations and it's utterly disgusting. Nobody WANTS to be on disability benefits but Christ you people make it so difficult for us. I'd be ashamed to be you.

I don’t send the forms or decide when they’re sent/due back. The DWP back office will do that. It’s probably automatically generated but I can’t say for sure.

They're probably so far behind because of the significant increase in applications. Covid is no excuse? Do you say that to specialists with a long waiting list for the same reason?

No idea on why the letter comes out 10-12 days after. Again, not anything I deal with personally.

I don’t ask questions 5 or 6 times in different ways. Can you give me an example? There’s a good chance the person is trying to get information from you - are you forthcoming with enough info, or are they having to ask several ways to get it?

I'm going to tribunal.

I got a text from the DWP on Easter Sunday saying they were going to call me. I assumed they meant on a working day but they called me 2 minutes later. I'd just had my lunch with wine and didn't give the right answers to their questions - I needed time to think to give the right answers. What I had said was then used as evidence against me.

Does DWP make a habit of phoning people on high days and holidays and only giving 2 minutes warning? Is it a deliberate policy?

Also how long does it take to get a tribunal date? I applied for the tribunal in January (and made the original claim in June 2023)

And thanks for doing this thread! Not sure if you can answer my questions but I thought I'd ask anyway.

What have I done to be ashamed of?

They’re not MY excuses for refusal. I gave you an insight into how it works, what criteria the decisions are likely to be made on, why the lifetime award of DLA counts for nothing in real life.

Don’t take your anger on the system out on one individual.

I don't envy you TBH.
My late wife was awarded a lifetime DLA Higher rate for her SPMS in 1998.
Having to then go through all the PIP stuff was heartbreaking as in the intervening time she was totally dependant on care. The initial forms were an insult where you couldn't give an answer that reflected the true situation.
Example "Do you use adapted implements to prepare a meal" Yes or No.
No way of answering I can't even feed myself.
The nurse who came for the final assessment looked genuinely embarrassed as my wife was in a powered hospital bed with ceiling track hoists so the carers could hoist her into a shower wheelchair.
I'm afraid I had a bit of a dark time over the next few months before it was all sorted and it still makes me cry to this day.

No, I looked for it. It was better pay, better hours, no nightshifts etc.

Yes I do ask this of specialists. Covid being used an excuse to be permanently behind by a year or more is a load of bull. Time for everyone to pull their socks up, and stop using the covid excuse.

And yes, assessors DO ask the same questions a number of times in several different ways.

100% this. ^