PIP assessor here

[Fsj88]

Good evening

I’ve been encouraged to sign up to Mumsnet by a friend who has suggested that some people might find it useful to be able to ask a PIP assessor questions.

If there’s anything you think I can help you with, please ask away

What are your top tips for completing the endless application form and then for the assessment?

And what are the most common reasons applications are rejected?

Thank you

Sorry but we’ve had these ‘AMA’ threads before that turned out to be a steaming pile of bollocks from someone with an agenda, so posters may be cynical.

Is it true that if my son has an interview I can go in with him but I can’t speak or answer questions? He is very bright but ASD and doesn’t really understand his difficulties or struggles.

Make sure you understand what is considered in the scope of each activity, for example there’s no point documenting under activity 1 that you can’t carry food around the kitchen, because it isn’t considered under that activity. Know what’s relevant and keep your questionnaire consistent with the considered restrictions. We only have so much time to assess and write a report so anything included that’s irrelevant just detracts from the time we’ve got to consider a claim. Sometimes people seem to think the more they write the better, but this can be counter productive when considering our time constraints

That’s ok, it makes no odds to me

Do you think there are people that get pip that don't need it.

If he hasn’t got insight into his limitations I would consider discussing being made his appointee with the DWP. Being his appointee will allow you to complete the assessment on his behalf, ideally with him present and contributing. If you accompany him as a companion and not as an appointee you can still contribute to the assessment but he’ll need to demonstrate to the assessor that he’s got good insight into his conditions and anything you both say will need to be consistent with each other. If it isn’t it’s likely the assessor will discontinue the assessment

Yes

What sort of people/conditions lead you to say that? It seems very difficult to make a successful claim from what I have heard.

Thank you so much. I am already his appointee and do the forms for him. So far I have avoided interviews by writing very detailed answers with examples and explaining that an interview would not be appropriate, but he’s getting older now and I wonder if next time they insist on an interview. From what you are saying could it be that I could do the interview on his behalf as his appointee?

Another question...

What sort of supporting documents are worth submitting? E.g medical letters confirming diagnosis?

The biggest problem (and misconception) is that you don’t need to provide medical evidence at assessment. So if you claimed for an MSK condition, told me you’re under the care of specialists/prescribed high levels of analgesia and so on I’d have to take that at face value. Obviously there are risks associated with that in terms of fraud and so on, but it’s fairly easy to exaggerate at the point of assessment

How do you think we could improve the process of allocating PIP - so that those who need it still get it but those who don’t need it are not given it?

GP records
Repeat prescriptions
Sickness notes
Workplace occupational health assessments
scan / X-ray / MRI reports
Any letters written by specialists/ physios etc

Less relevant:
Statements from friends and family
Photographs of injuries etc
Appointment letters
Generic information like vaccinations/ blood results etc

Literally been done to death here -

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/AMA/5490898-im-a-pip-assessor-ama?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=app_share

Sorry I meant it’s a misconception that you need to provide medical evidence. If you’re prepared to lie, you don’t

You’re not obliged to join in

I am aware of that. It’s just as someone that receives PIP at the highest rates, as an ongoing award, I am well aware of the vitriol directed at disabled people who receive PIP on Mumsnet and even threads like this don’t many any difference to any of it (sadly).

Maybe it has, but those people doing AMA are not “live” now answering questions. If the question I want to ask hasn’t already been asked on those old threads then I’m stuck.

Thanks OP. Very grateful for you doing this!

Thanks and no problem xx

What are the biggest differences between DLA & PIP when a child moves between the two?

Someone I know recently had a three hour assessment. Then 6 weeks later they were told it needed to be done again. They asked for a copy of the report/notes from the first one but was told there wasn’t anything. Any idea why this might be?

What is the job itself like? Ive considerd becoming one as it seems like a good work life balance, however I have read many forums saying its a awful job to do. Heavy targets, micromanged, you have to re submit reports countless times. How have you found this?

By the same token do you agree there are many who don’t get an award who should?
Do you agree that telephone assessments miss so much more than a face to face?