Pip assessment report

[Natkjdcjw]

Hey, wondering if someone could help with any information possible.

I had my sons pip assessment 2 weeks ago, I thought it went really well. The assessor was absolutely lovely, thought she had listened to me. they have sent me a copy of the report today, on there she has stated that my son who has ADHD and terrible memory issues can literally do everything!!

And on every section it says that he attends mainstream college and passed his GCSE’s (only just because we found the right medication just in time!)
When the decision maker looks at this will she take in to consideration what I have said or just the assessor? As if they go by what she said we will definitely be refused.

Thank you

@Dowser the thing is the PIP assessors are called disability analysts, and are often paramedics, nurses and physiotherapists. They're qualified to an extent to give an opinion but under the old DLA assessments it was only medically qualified doctors who did the assessments and gave an opinion. The process wasn't perfect by any means, but the doctor would have some insight into a claimants diagnosis and how it would likely affect care and mobility needs.

The truth is that some of the PIP assessment reports contain outright lies.

When my son needed to move from DLA to PIP I applied to be his appointee - that wasn't difficult to organise and meant I could speak for him as well as complete the forms. Made everything much smoother. This might be helpful to someone. Sorry if it does not necessarily help the OP. Wishing you luck - just keep fighting for him.

@ScarletZebra

We had a similar issue. The assessor decided that as DS was working FT in a call centre that meant he was perfectly ok. She didn't note that it was a temporary job and that he'd been sacked from his permanent one. She also described him as casually dressed, in a suit and tie.

I fought it, and found the DWP on the phone very helpful and sympathetic. He went from zero points back to medium rate care.

I would love for my son to get a part time job like all of his friends but with his memory issues he would find it difficult, and not everyone has the patience to deal with it.

I plan on fighting, I get they can’t make these things to easy. But these assessors need to actually tell the truth. And not assume.
The lady I spoke to was so nice she really pulled the wool over my eyes.

You should be able to work out the points the assessor is recommending by using this and adding them up-

www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/asset-library/Scores-for-PIP-Descriptors-2020.pdf

If you google PIP points awards you’ll see how many you need for each level of award and can work out whether an award is likely.

I’m sorry you’ve had this experience. It really sucks and is so unfair. Please do a mandatory reconsideration and then appeal if nothing is changed if you don’t get the award you think you deserve.

@LifeBeginsNow

Can I ask a question related to pip assessment? I filled the forms in, spoke to assessor and then had the judgement through saying I wasnt entitled to any help (this was months ago). I was so upset and took it very personally (after years of being fobbed off by the medical profession) so I had a cry and filed it away. Since then I've heard how most applications are rejected and you need to fight. I've missed the stated deadline to appeal, is it worth calling and seeing if I can have a review or should I start the process again?

You should definitely start again and fight it to the end. It seems by pp’s comments most people have to fight it. Get all your evidence start making notes and get it put back in again.

All of the assessments are done over the phone atm

Thing that makes me angry is I know people that claimed this benefit so easily and there is absolutely nothing wrong with them! Just been taught to fiddle the system and people like you described are left in the gutter

OP don't do this.

Absolutely no one has claimed PIP 'so easily'.

I could do this if it was a competition rather than looking at individual needs. The fact that my son could not cope with an SN school after 14 whilst others attend m/s, sit GCSES, have girlfriends/boyfriends etc does not make me angry when they qualify for PIP because in comparison they have absolutely nothing wrong with them because they are making good progress in terms of educational access and attainment and are making good social progress.

People in receipt of PIP should make good progress. PIP should remove barriers to progress.

Just for balance in case anyone reading this is horrified by the negative stories and is put off - it’s not always a bad experience. I applied for PIP a few years back and had a really nice home assessment and got given it first time, standard rate for 3 years. I recently reported a change of circumstances due to new diagnoses and was given a paper based assessment (where they have enough medical evidence they don’t need to actually see you or speak to you) and was given enhanced rates on both care and mobility indefinitely (an ongoing award, which is basically a light touch review after ten years). I have numerous autoimmune conditions (Addison’s, lupus, pituitary tumour, asthma etc).

@Punxsutawney Camhs have said they would be happy to write and say that DS can't talk on the phone
seriously, get every scrap of medical and professional evidence you can. IIRC you have a lot of correspondence with his secondary school which should outline a lot of his difficulties, use what you can of that to his advantage. What about primary school reports etc. did they mention communication or organisational difficulties or anything else relevant to show historic evidence?

@Natkjdcjw Do challenge the report and back that up with as much evidence as you can. Keep fighting!

Benefits and Work do a really good guide showing how to challenge the assessor's report and put your point across, but you have to join for a year, about £15 IIRC.
CAB have some very good online tips.

@LifeBeginsNow fight for what you need, it's the only way.

Generally to everyone, amass as much evidence as you can, if necessary request medical records, old school reports, anything that may lend support to your case.

DD's ATOS assessment did recognise some of her disabilities in daily living but not in mobility despite her having had a Blue Badge for several years. After a failed MR, I took DD's case to Tribunal and the Judge, Disability expert and Medical expert were all independently of the opinion DD should have had enhanced rate of both components with enough mobility points to automatically renew her Blue Badge from the outset, so I didn't have to contest anything at the Tribunal. The Judge said if the DWP had bothered to turn up, he would have made them apologise. He also set DD's award for 'It is inappropriate to fix a term' which means she will only get a very light review every 10 years, basically her disabilities are considered not likely to improve.

As above, I found the Benefits and Work guides and the CAB online guides very helpful, especially for things like keeping a diary and the observations of reliable, repeatable, in a timely manner things.

I found it an incredibly difficult process, it's also frustrating beyond belief, but each time there was a setback, I fought and fought some more for DD's future.

Never give up!

Thing that makes me angry is I know people that claimed this benefit so easily and there is absolutely nothing wrong with them! Just been taught to fiddle the system and people like you described are left in the gutter

It is exactly this ()completely untrue) attitude that led to the assessments being this harsh. A knee jerk reaction of people getting something for nothing and it just wasn’t and isn’t true. The fraud rate is less than half a percent. There are more unclaimed benefits per annum than there are fraudulent claims.

I'm absolutely shocked that they are turnt down on the grounds of gcse. Looks like I have a battle ahead.

@Natkjdcjw thanks, did you phone the DWP or your assessment company for the report?

I know people who've got it without a fight too, so it is possible.

@Punxsutawney - sympathy, trying to do this and EHCP at the same time is tough. One step at a time.

I currently know someone who has claimed fraudulently and it winds me up.

[quote EasilyDepleted]@Natkjdcjw thanks, did you phone the DWP or your assessment company for the report?

I know people who've got it without a fight too, so it is possible.

@Punxsutawney - sympathy, trying to do this and EHCP at the same time is tough. One step at a time.[/quote]
I called pip help line. I would say try and ring as early as possible. The lady I spoke to there offered it to me.

I will do nat. I'm kicking myself for giving up so easily but there's only so many times you can be told you're faking these things without it having an effect!
Good luck with your sons claim!

Dc2 was originally turned down based on two 'facts' which were repeated throughout the report:
That they signed their name and wore shoes with laces that had been tied.
It didn't seem to matter a jot that they are severely visually impaired and have a significant tremor. (And in fact had the place to sign pointed out in the form. We were never asked who had tied the laces.)
We asked for a MR, I wrote a letter in response and they were immediately awarded the higher rate.
That assessor was also silkily pleasant. I don't know how she lives with herself.
To anyone who gets turned down, FIGHT IT.
When the award came up for renewal, it was automatically awarded again.

@LifeBeginsNow

Thank you lyra. I'll get on and do that and be a bit tougher this time! I had a friend point out that some of things I do are because I've adapted and really I should make them much more aware of my limitations.

@LifeBeginsNow

You don't necessarily have to start again. (If you do, you'll lose any backdated monies.)

Have a look at the Benefits & Work website.

You have nothing to lose by requesting a late Mandatory Reconsideration, whilst preparing a fresh claim on the side. One will feed into the other anyway.

You will need to give a reason for your late request, which I imagine would be a combination of circumstances, not helped by coronavirus.

@LifeBeginsNow

Here:

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/employment-and-support-allowance/esa-appeals/mandatory-reconsiderations

In dreading this! My DS can't risk asses, problem solve or make sensible (safe) decisions at all, he also has a life limiting chronic degenerative genetic condition, has several implanted medical devices and had always had high rate DLA.

I have just filled out his paperwork for PIP and everyone has told me to expect a fight. I'm so bloody tired of fighting everything and everyone for him to get the basics I've been doing it for 16 years!

I don't want to be one of those people but I know of at least 3 people very recently who have received PIP, people I know very well and there is fuck all wrong with them!

@mineofuselessinformation

Dc2 was originally turned down based on two 'facts' which were repeated throughout the report: That they signed their name and wore shoes with laces that had been tied. It didn't seem to matter a jot that they are severely visually impaired and have a significant tremor. (And in fact had the place to sign pointed out in the form. We were never asked who had tied the laces.) We asked for a MR, I wrote a letter in response and they were immediately awarded the higher rate. That assessor was also silkily pleasant. I don't know how she lives with herself. To anyone who gets turned down, FIGHT IT. When the award came up for renewal, it was automatically awarded again.

Wow seriously! That’s insane...

With lockdown now I think they will probably shut down again for a while. So the wait will be so long. But it gives me and everyone else time to get as much evidence as possible. You have all given me such reassurance that the outcome could be better than I imagined earlier today

My latest assessor report says that, because I didn't get my wheelchair through the NHS wheelchair service (because my legs gave up suddenly and I needed one ASAP), I can walk 200 metres. The second justification for that is that, on my bad days, I can "walk" to the bathroom.

1. My house is a tiny little terrace. It's probably not much more than 6 metres at most to the bathroom and, on a bad day, I need to stop at least twice.
2. I shuffle round, I don't walk. As I can't shuffle far, even on a good day, I use a wheelchair.

Since the assessment, I've had an appointment with the wheelchair service and have a wheelchair that's much better suited to me and my needs.

@Natkjdcjw cooking used to be can you chop veg, use a stove safely etc now it’s if you can use a microwave then you can cook!

Sorry to piggyback onto your thread, and thanks so much Jamie Lee Curtains for that link.

I’ve been trying to score my husband on it, and believe that he should get the standard rate for both mobility and living, but much of my frustration (and need for help) is that he’s become unable to properly look after our son or the house. ( When he started to find work too much and was being put on disciplinary procedures I encouraged him to semi retire, but the main carer for our youngest and keep house while I worked full time.) It’s becoming clear that he can’t meet our son’s needs and I’m pulling my hair out and we need to hire some help. Meeting parenting/family responsibilities does not seem to be part of the assessment. Is that right? Is there anything else we could be applying for?

Thanks lots

be the main carer for our son.