I’m a PIP assessor, happy to advise if I can

[Impr90]

Hello all,

If you’ve got any questions you think I might be able to help with, please let me know

All the best for the New Year

In my case it clearly wasn't a mistake. It was blatant lies

Same @TigerRag

And honestly it's upsetting to have people doubt me on here or at least not say we believe you.

My assessor confirmed that I could walk 30 metres, and ticked the right bit of the form for that, then wrote that I could walk for 30minutes, concluding that this means I must be able to navigate easily.
It feels wrong that claimants cannot use difficulties in one area of their daily life (that don't quite fit into the assessed categories) to extrapolate into others but assessors can and do assume that abilities in one activity imply abilities in quite another.

Undoubtedly there will be mistakes made. That’s just human nature.

However, the problem with these reports is the instances outright inaccuracies rather than occasional mistakes.

One of my daughter’s assessors muddled narcolepsy and epilepsy. That’s an error.

In another case I was involved in the assessor stated that the claimant walked up a set of stairs “easily and confidently” and communicated “well and confidently” despite the fact there were no stairs in the place and the claimant is wheelchair bound and non verbal. That wasn’t an error. That was outright lies.

In reality though, PIP is spent on heating, food and carers

Well I suppose I could say the same about what DHs Consultant wrote. I mean it definitely wasn't the truth but I can't imagine why he'd life so I assume it was a mistake.

Unless the consultant repeatedly does that it’s not the same thing at all.

Isn't it also upsetting to assume that assessors are always doing it deliberately. Surely some will be mistakes and some assessors might be just nasty. It doesn't have to be 100% one or the other.

Well I don't suppose I can find that out, actually he's dead so he definitely isn't doing it now.

I think there should be some provision for those who are too sick to work full time but able to work part time. Currently you either have those who work full time to survive, but shouldn't, worsening their condition or contributing to an early death; those who work part time who use PIP to top up basic non-disabled living requirements, leaving them without the very support PIP is supposed to be providing; or those who have no way to manage on the very limited hours they might be able to do, so have to get LCWRA and PIP to survive. So even though PIP is an in-work benefit, because there is no safety net for those who can't support themselves but aren't suitable for LCWRA, it does end up as "bill money".
I think if the government want us "back to work", there needs to be some provision so that people like me, who could work skilled shortage jobs but only part-time, are actually able to support ourselves. Currently my options are looking like working full time until this makes me too ill to function full stop, then getting signed off long-term sick. The obvious sensible option is some provision to enable me to work part time throughout my life.

I think if the government want us "back to work", there needs to be some provision so that people like me, who could work skilled shortage jobs but only part-time, are actually able to support ourselves.

If they were really interested in actually getting people into work they’d have put a stop to the arbitrary back to the office mandates in the CS as a starting point.

My DD has been working full time since shortly after Covid, after previously only being able to work part time. She came off all income benefits and even got promoted. Her bosses say themselves there is no benefit to her being in the office - she works from a list essentially, the office she used to work in closed so she now has to book a desk in one much further away so there’s no ‘team’ element that she’s working in on office days. Yet they’ve got no flexibility and as soon as her boss is no longer able to get away with allowing it (they’ve also been told they cannot allow full WFH adjustments in any circumstances) she’ll end up having to drop to part time again.

As part of my MR I went through the report and highlighted the inconsistencies which was 1.5 pages ling. I find it hard to believe it was a "mistake". And the fact that she called my GP and consultant liars. Both have access to my medical records so can base their assumptions on that. Only the assessor has ever claimed I can drive. Every consultant from when I was 3, has said I'll never pass the eyesight test for driving.

Our agoraphobic family member said she felt the assessor had a good grasp of her issues but it may have been the decision maker's interpretation of the information at fault. She did go for mandatory reconsideration, pointing out that telling an agoraphobic person "I decided that you are able to plan and follow a journey unaided" (which by the way, she is not) is tantamount to cruelty. The reconsideration still scored her zero on all components. Her partner took the paperwork to show her GP, who was likewise disgusted at the wording on the decision letter. Family and her partner do not want her to go to appeal and have to face another rejection. For them it isn't about the money, but the fact that the word INDEPENDENCE is being put into doubt in respect to a person who has never had that and possibly never will.

It is not always necessarily the assessors at fault, the DWP decision makers are the ones that are driving people into the depths of despair.

The whole system needs changing.

I agree. So frustrating and short sighted. I actually left my previous post due to this, and was fortunate to get home working stipulated in my new job contract but not everyone is so fortunate. The flexibility with home working was one of the very few positives to come out of the pandemic but now people are being forced back in - often for no legitimate reason.

Not necessarily as it is not means tested and employed people can claim so they may not be short of money at all.

Does a Direct Payment or an ISA do a very similar thing - in improving one's life and enables the recipient to help with their day to day life - the assessment criteria may not be as rigourous - you need to submit a lot of paperwork though

I never suggested it was always a mistake but surely you can see that sometimes it might be. As I said before it doesn't have to be 100% one way or the other.

We did that for ds last renewal.

Just got renewed for 4 years - previously was done for 3 before renewal.

Same. I literally went through and said "the assessor says x. My report from my consultant directly contradicts this as it says y. My report from my physio also contradicts this as it says b. And my report from the OT also contradicts it as it says z. Also, on my original application I wrote the following: ...."

And was able to refer to so many minutes and so many seconds in the call where I said abc.

There is no way at all it was a mistake. No way.

Would that be for pip or DLA? Would be good to know as have to do DLA renewal in a year for DD.

No they may not be desperately short of money, but it may be a very cost effective support longer term.
My DH and I both have inflammatory arthritis. His old car finally gave up and we got him another on a repayment plan which together with our mortgage maxed out our budget, as me in a practical job can only work part time due to my pain and fatigue. The following week, someone crashed into my car and wrote it off, and due to increases in second hand car prices we wouldn't have been able to afford to replace it without my PIP. The car which enabled me to get to work and travel for my job (nhs commuinity based).

So in essence my pip enabled me to maintain my independence and to keep on paying tax, I definitely pay much more in than I claim. But we wouldn't be seen as on the breadline. DH could also claim, but we make a choice that we don't desperately need 2 sets of PIP so we don't claim it. Some may think we are wrong for claiming as we are both in professional roles, and it took me years after it first being suggested to actually put in a claim. I still feel like I have to justify though - as you can see 😁

the sheer numbers of reports that this has happened suggests to me that the assessors are not all lovely and kind, or even competent, and that is reflected in how people see them and talk about them.

That is on the assessors and nobody else. Them then refusing in some cases to be recorded is another red flag. These are not innocent mistakes. This is something entirely different.

I agree

I think your DH should claim too as he is entitled to and he will only be awarded it if he meets the criteria.
I feel guilty myself though so I know what you mean

I think people entitled should claim. There is a huge sum of money that goes unclaimed each year.

However, if he chooses not to (and it’s understandable) do make sure that you are aware of things like the differences between PIP and Attendance Allowance in later years etc when making decisions. Also things like railcards, bus passes and other things that PIP can sometimes give access to. Do take it all into account before making final decisions.