Pip assessors

[Ghostfacekjlla]

What have people's experience been with pip assessors when having their assessments? Have they been nice or quite abrupt/efficient? Is one agency they use better than the other?

I'm attending one soon so wanted a heads up

In Scotland it is child/adult disability payment instead of pip and the system couldn't be more different and also better. I applied for my son and the paperwork was sent away with his information etc in it and he got high rate care and low mobility. My husband has not long applied for it and the lady that came to see us was lovely and helped us with the form for him and submitted our evidence with it. He got a text to say his claim is being reviewed and he will receive a decision soon. We got a copy of the application form sent to us and it was exactly as she had typed it and there was no lies in it

Thank you

Mine was so lovely. Put me at ease. I got awarded higher rate for both and also have mobility car. All happened super quick and also got £2500 backdated. I was very surprised as heard horror stories. I was just super honest and i do think they know when people are embellishing.

That's great to hear! Did you have a lot of evidence?

Mine was lovely throughout.

She would to ask when it would be a good time to call.

We had the assessment.

She called back within 5 minutes to say that I'd been awarded higher on first part and lower on second.

This had been going backwards and forwards for years, I received a good sum in back payment.

I was terrified of applying, but it all came good.

@Airyfairy99 very similar!

I have just helped a friend make a PIP assessment for her severely autistic adult son. She didn't know she could apply. We spent hours on the application. I have a child with autism and ADHD who has a long term DLA award so I was able to help. Friend is an appointee for her son.

Assessor was hideous. Accusatory. Dismissive. When the report came through it was outright lies. She did not, at any point, talk to my friend's son because he is incapable of doing so. Yet she said "you were capable of sitting and talking and engaging, you didn't show any distress and were completely able to understand the questions we asked". The whole report was a complete fabrication. They had spoken only to his mother. I was so shocked at this. Mum was so upset she refused to appeal. She said she'd managed so far so would continue to do so. I am enraged by this but this is what they want isn't it? My friend is a perfect example of how the DWP get out of paying PIP for those who truly deserve it.

Mine was really kind too. The assessment call was very short and the report actually gave me points for areas that I said I didn’t have any problems with, saying that based on the evidence they thought I would have problems with those areas.

Yes, I had a stack of medical records going back 30 years.

It was he nightmare stories putting me off trying to claim.
I could gave done it years ago. Hey ho.

Yes, mine was.
Mine even said they'd seen me walk briskly.......... over the phone. (Not Zoom).

They awarded me nothing and I took it to a tribunal and the decision was reversed.

I got several thousand pounds in back benefit.

To those who say they can't face a tribunal, please go for it. More than 75% of them are successful.

And please remember that tribunals are not done by the DWP. The DWP are entitled to attend, but they rarely do.

My DS got ADP (the Scottish version of PIP) just on the papers. He didn't have an assessment.

Wtf? I don't understand how they can get away with that as it doesn't even make sense for them to say. I'm sorry that happened

Ha! That was one of the reasons my appeal was allowed.

The DWP rely on people being too scared to appeal.

Good, not that you should've had to. Was that capita or the other one?

This case has stayed in my mind since the Disability News Service first broke the story. The PIP assessor not only laughed at her, he also offered her son out for a fight and damaged their property.

He did get suspended, thankfully.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-50187803

Atos.

Also, to anyone thinking about claiming PIP or already in the PIP system, I'd always advise signing up for any online access your GP practice offers, such as medical records, summary records, medication history. Then you can print out everything you need for yourself at home, including any consultants' letters the GP practice has been sent and uploaded on to your records. (Not every consultant or HCP sends a copy to the patient for some reason.)

And/or you can also use the DPA to get hold of your records from hospital consultants and other medical professionals and services.

Be aware of the PIP regulation (i.e. the law) on being able to carry out tasks 'repeatedly, reliably and safely'. This has been tested at tribunals and includes the concept of pain.

So, 'can you walk 20m? I expect you can!' could mean the answer is, 'No, not repeatedly, reliably or safely as per the regulations. Every step hurts, and my balance is poor. I've had falls. This is because of my diagnosed arthritis which has permanently damaged my feet. I enclosed copies of those letters for you.'

You can get excellent advice on this site

https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk

My husband's was lovely, until she marked him down and refused him.
My son's was also lovely, and he was awarded very fairly.
Different experiences here.

Yes, it's excellent. There are plenty of free pages of advice on there.

I just had couple hospital letters as evidence. It was really easy process and from phone interview to payment was just a couple weeks.

The one my DM had was pure evil. She was in a wheelchair and compared everything my DM said to her own condition. She was exceptionally rude and wouldn't let my DDad speak. My DM was in tears throughout and was refused. I wanted to complain but my DM didn't want any trouble.

It also applies to "yes I can walk round town for an hour or 2 but then it takes me a week to recover from the pain and fatigue"