Claiming Disability Benefits. What was that you asked?

[TILFA]

Inspired by a current thread. But I'd love this to be a lighthearted "wtf did you just say?" type of thing because us people having a disability can do strange things to people who are fully able bodied as they can feel uncomfy or don't know how to treat us, especially if they are benefits assessors 😁

I'm involved, in a voluntary capacity, in helping benefits claimants. I don't fill out forms, but I do get to hear plenty of decision reports. So I have empathy with those battling the system, but sometimes I have to laugh.

I had my own PIP assessment at home. I handed the assessor everything shed asked for (they lost my evidence), including my CVI (cert. of visual impairment; I'm registered blind). She couldn't grasp that my vision issues are just part of a progressive neurological condition.

I heard her stand up and she said 'if you can just read this, from the top please' - she apparently was testing my eyesigight. I told her I couldn't even see where she was, let alone read an eye test and her initial response was "well, how about if I stand here?" {shuffling sound)...

I said she could sit on my knee to show me if she wanted but I still can't read and she said "oh, sorry, I thought you were taking a masters degree?". FFS I'M BLIND, I know how to read, I just can't quite manage it, sigh.

I'd love to hear yours, just so I can have a laugh at their expense for once! don't forget - lighthearted only please, I am aware of the very real struggles

'Because Mr Notice worked until recently I have decided he is able to...' - that was his first PIP assessment where he scored zero points across the board. He had to medically retire due to his disability! I was so sickened by the system I didn't have the energy to even ask for a MR.

A year later I was still angry so he reapplied...

'Mr Notice didn't sound like he was in pain' - after the phone assessment.

He did get awarded standard for both in the end.

God they hire absolutely anyone with an HCP qualification of any kind. No aptitude testing of the candidates, it seems and apparently no job specific training.

From all the stories I (mobility impaired and neurological disease) was massively lucky. “Obviously I’m not going to ask you to X, because I can see you can’t”, “You look really uncomfortable sitting there. How do you sit at home?” Common sensical. Compassionate. Great. Awarded appropriate amounts. No issue.

Poor DC1 (autism, MH, sensory impairment), had an experience more like yours. I went along as chaperone and was lost for words. Then lost for words all over again when the report came through. Pure fiction. Appeal. Tribunal. Appointeeship. The works. Took 18 months. Despite them having fulsome and detailed professional reports from the start.

But the Tories designed it like that. Targets and randomness.

Sorry that wasn’t very lighthearted. I just find it exasperating and hard work (and I don’t want to share specifics).

A relative who is a paraplegic went into the room in their electric wheelchair, the report said entered room without assistance. ( was an auto door. And an electric wheelchair.. Can't get much more assisted)

Could drink without assistance.. From a bottle /sports type bottle they took themself as cant hold anything else

DM - severe neurological disability requiring 24/7 care - had a seizure during assessment . The woman assessing - who said she was a qualified GP - looked at mum and said, ‘if that’s not 24/7, I see no reason why she can’t work in an office or something, she can have her seizure and then get up and back to work surely’ .

Bewildering . Have just had to do her review form and dreading the answer . Trying to find evidence I can send them, GP and social refused to write unless DWP directly contact them .

I had an assessment for PTSD, was told if I have a mobile phone I can’t be ‘that bad ‘if you were that depressed you’d not bother with a phone because no one would want to hear from you’

Mine was an assement for LCWRA due to agoraphobia/anxiety/depression.

Assessor: "so you won't even walk to the corner shop on your own?"
Me: "no"
Her: "what if you wanted a cup of tea and you'd run out of milk?"
Me: "I'd send a teenager"
"Her: "what if it was during the school day?"
Me: "I'd ask one of them to go on their way home and have a cup of tea then."
Her: "but what if you really really wanted a cup of tea and didn't want to wait?"
Me: "well that's never happened. I wouldn't go to the shop on my own."
Her: "but just imagine you really desperately want a cup of tea. Surely you'd just go to the shop for milk?"
Me: "ummm no. I would go without. I've gone without lunch when I've realised I've got nothing in. I'm never that desperate for a cup of tea that I can leave the house alone"

Ffs. She went on about bloody milk and tea for about 10 mins.

@anonnickname

DM - severe neurological disability requiring 24/7 care - had a seizure during assessment . The woman assessing - who said she was a qualified GP - looked at mum and said, ‘if that’s not 24/7, I see no reason why she can’t work in an office or something, she can have her seizure and then get up and back to work surely’ .

Bewildering . Have just had to do her review form and dreading the answer . Trying to find evidence I can send them, GP and social refused to write unless DWP directly contact them .

Jesus that's horrific

@anonnickname

I had an assessment for PTSD, was told if I have a mobile phone I can’t be ‘that bad ‘if you were that depressed you’d not bother with a phone because no one would want to hear from you’

that Is truly terrible, I'm so sorry someone stopped so low. I hope you are doing well at the moment and can find reasons to smile or feel joy.

@Thoosa

Sorry that wasn’t very lighthearted. I just find it exasperating and hard work (and I don’t want to share specifics).

please don't worry, I totally understand. I had a rage-type feeling for about a week after Mt last assessment.

How ate you and your child now? I hope assessors have impovrf before your child's next onslaught

Dc doesn’t need a blue badge because he can get to where he wants to go if someone drops us at the door and I am there to support him. There’s absolutely no reason to suppose I might struggle to stop him bolting just because he now is taller and heavier than me, let alone struggle to carry him back to the car if he collapses. Letters from his GP and extensive EHCP detailing his needs do not need to be taken into account. This is not one arseholes decision, we’ve appealed and been through the ombudsman. They are all quite sure they are allowed to refuse us though recognise it must be very difficult for us. Oh well so long as they’ve decided my life role is “human crutch” I’ll just not worry about work or anything.

Fuckers. (And no it’s not a mistake and he isn’t “not disabled enough”)

(some of them) are really fucking awful aren't they?

a more serious one in mine. It was a home visit
and couldn't find anyone to be with me so was feeling quite alone and tearful. My son remotely helped me set up a doggycam so he could watch and listen so if things got bad he could phone me to help. He could watch and hear everything and was disgusted seeing her pretend to throw her pen at me many times to see me flinch or move out of the way.

Well, tough shit for her because obviously couldn't see her or her pen!!

and, as she got ready to leave my son kept whispering into the doggy cam "sshhhh it's OK" whilst I was trying so hard not to laugh the assessor left thinking I was in tears crying!!

I hate those bastards.
Before Stoma when I would quite literally shit myself up to 25 times a day, I was asked if I really needed to change every time!
Post stoma, can I plug it so that I don’t get interrupted nights!

Recent PIP assessment (now awaiting tribunal 😬)
The decision maker wrote in report that (despite all the million things I have said I can't do now, the examples given and all the evidence provided) that I was very capable as I had studied for a professional qualification. I studied for said qualification 15 years ago.
And twice reported both on original decision and in response to MR that I didn't take any pain medication.. despite verbally telling them and listing in writing the multiple pain medications I take everyday. So bizarre. It's impossible to think how I could have been any clearer.

I have so many anecdotes about this, but the ones that come to mind, written into my report
'Mrs Furrybutts was asked to walk the length of the room but she refused' I didn't refuse to, I would have been unable to, however at no point during the assessment did she ask me to!!

Also written on my report on another occasion 'Mrs Furrybutts claims to have anxiety and depression, however I didn't see any evidence of this during our interview'
I had shown her a full report of my mental health assessment, as I had not long been discharged from hospital due to a psychotic episode.

I will try and remember more, but the most bizarre one was my last assessment 12 months ago. No face to face interview, just forms to fill in. I filled them in stating that nothing had changed re my disabilities, no change to my medication etc.
Letter back informed me that I had been moved onto the higher rate of PIP for both elements, (was previously on standard rate for both) and this decision was made due to information provided by my GP. I haven't been to the GP for 3 years!! But not only that, this is a new GP practice due to moving into the area 2 years ago, and HE'S NEVER SEEN ME!

They asked my mum how come she could move a few steps from her wheelchair
She replied because I can
It was really uncomfortable

They had a huge file of her having been 98% in a wheelchair for 10+ yrs. DRs notes operations etc degenerative disease
She was just very poorly informed and rude

These are absolutely disgusting what is wrong with our government!

My friend has a condition that affects her differently day to day, and she got refused PIP once. Luckily the person assessing her the 2nd time told her to describe her worse day and assessed her on that, and she was awarded it. It's a shame more aren't like this. It's a good job as well as she's deteriorated since then.

I've heard so many, but the one that makes me really laugh happened to my good friend. According to the assessor my friend made good eye contact throughout the interview and followed her around the room with her eyes.

Said friend was born without eyes.

@Heartofglass12345

These are absolutely disgusting what is wrong with our government!

My friend has a condition that affects her differently day to day, and she got refused PIP once. Luckily the person assessing her the 2nd time told her to describe her worse day and assessed her on that, and she was awarded it. It's a shame more aren't like this. It's a good job as well as she's deteriorated since then.

Because legislation says that a person must be affected 50% of the time to score points for any particular descriptor, so a person should not be assessed just on a worst day unless most days were worst days. I suspect this was the case.