I’m a PIP assessor AMA

[Greenflow]

Good evening all

AMA

You could be anyone, OP.

I would advise anyone who joins this thread to be aware of MNHQ’s frequent advice in this regard.

Of course. That’s the nature of an anonymous Internet forum

How does it feel assessing someone when you have no clue about their disability, probably haven’t even heard of it when it’s a rare condition and don’t understand the impact of it at all? I accompanied my mum to her assessment and they literally googled the condition while she was there after I spelt it out to her. It baffled me how this was person was deemed competent to assess her.

I have a friend that did your job but eventually left because she felt the constraints of the system sometimes meant that couldn’t award financial support to people she believed needed it while at other times she felt people were lying and receiving money for it, but there was nothing she could do.

Do you experience this and if so, how do you cope with it?

This is the nature of working in any area of healthcare. I don’t know any healthcare professional who is familiar with every condition they might have to assess and/ or treat

Interesting timing for this thread.

What do you think of the government proposals to change the scoring for PIP awards?

This is a goady thread op. Very timely.

No thanks.

I have many concerns but the the biggest of all is that people with mental health difficulties will be disproportionately affected

Ah, so you haven't done much research into the changes?

Interesting.

🤔

You’re being vague. Intentionally or not I don’t know. If you’re able to better articulate your viewpoint we can better discuss

Indeed, Lady K.

😉@PandoraSocks

How rigorous do you think the selection and training procedures are? I've had assessors ranging from a batshit narcissist who spent the interview 'empathising' by telling me all about her problems, through hostile box-tickers who couldn't have made it any clearer they assumed I was lying, to an amazing assessor who'd done training in my condition. She was very, very diligent and asked tons of questions that showed she understood what may and may not be possible.

I'm covering a period from 15 years ago to 5, though. I wonder if things have changed at all.

My point is that, despite the narrative that the government has tried to push (a narrative that it clearly thinks the public might find palatable), it is is people with physical disabilities who will be the most impacted.

That is why I thought you might not have done much research.

I disagree, most areas of healthcare have at least an awareness of the conditions they deal with. To not have even heard of it is shocking. Besides in most areas of healthcare you are caring for the person, not responsible for making decisions about their care needs when you don’t understand them!