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

Are you an assessor or a decision maker? Which are you?

@Baileysatchristmas @TigerRag This is also our experience. My DC claimed PIP after DLA ended and was refused. I asked for a copy of the assessor's report and it was literally a work of fiction. Actual conversations mentioned as evidence that never took place and that DC spoke fully for themselves at all times when they actually went 'mute' for a lot of the 3 hour assessment time.
I know that a lot of assessors are probably good, honest people but so far 3 out of 4 times we've spoken to assessors they have produced reports that were factually incorrect or outright lies. How do you explain that @Impr90 ?

The PIP assessor (also a nurse) who saw my daughter couldn't have been more helpful and kind. My daughter was extremely anxious going in and the lady really helped put her at ease.. are you given training specifically for calming very very anxious clients?

No but he will be moving over soon I have planting friends who have gone through tis,with their older disabled children and secured higher rates at PIP than DLA

So having a disability doesn’t in and of itself entitle a person to the benefit. It’s the functional impairment associated with the disability that’s considered.

Are you able to expand on what your reference to inhumane treatment means please?

Have you been through a pip assessment?

No one should be misquoting you. Did you consider submitting a complaint?

Glad you think it's funny 's that my child is severely disabled

That's literally what happened to me.

As an example, they said I said I could walk over however many metres.

My report from my surgeon contradicted that and explained why walking more than a few steps (with aids) was impossible for me, and how it always would be.

I was awarded at mandatory reconsideration, but I'd have gone to tribunal if I had to.

"I'm not exaggerating anything"

AND

"Why do you think they're famous for being evil?"

🤔🤔

i think this is actually the issue, lots of people assume that simply by having a disability means they should get Pip, when. as you've said, its not about having the condition, its about how the condition affects your daily life and i don't think this is made very clear to people

I asked for a mandatory reconsideration and was awarded very shortly after that. I did say I wanted to complain but I can't remember what happened with that - I'd need to get my records out - but I suspect I was fobbed off.

The assessor's report was full of literal lies.

on a side note, i do get the lower award for pip but have recently been diagnosed and now have to wear hearing aids... do i need to inform PiP right away or do i wait for my assessment in 18 months?

I could expand on that. Someone I supported had what seemed like the kindest, nicest assessor. They had severe autism and were physically disabled. They were in tears and having breathing difficulties during the assessment. The assessor put his hand on their shoulder and told them that he would not make them do the physical part of the assessment, so they don't need to worry about that part, because he could see from their actions and mobility equipment that they were in pain.
In his report, he wrote that the applicant refused to participate in the physical part of the assessment, so he was unable to assess the mobility part of the claim, and awarded a disabled, wheelchair user zero points.

The care part of the assessment was also complete fabrication. Every word. That's pure evil.

If that person hadn't had me to advocate for them, I doubt they'd be alive now.

The lies could be from both the applicant and the assessor though. However, I’d think that it’s more likely that an applicant might lie than the assessor as the applicant has a financial incentive to obtain PIP.
My experience of supporting families applying for DLA is that the application doesn’t have enough detail, or places a positive spin on things the child can or cannot do. So yes, I have experience of DLA applications being accepted after appeal, but thats after the parent has had support in filling in the forms accurately.

OP how often do you do an assessment where you can clearly tell the person is lying/faking illness to try and falsely claim benefits?

Interested to hear a first hand opinion on this as some people will tell you it's a tiny amount and others say it's a huge problem.

Are you a part of the disabled community?

They really are. That is not an exaggeration.

It’s very unlikely. The nature of your condition (remitting and relapsing) as well as your requirement for physio and rehabilitative services means it’a very unlikely there’d be a change to your award. All the best

@Impr90 Are you an assessor or a decision maker?

As your posts suggest decision makers as you make award yet your title says assessor

Im sure you understand if you’re offering to help people that it’s important they know what area you’re offering help in as the two jobs are very different…

Why are you ignoring every question asking if you're a DM or Assessor, OP?

I complained and was told to prove it. She couldn't get her lies straight. For example, she claimed I'd chosen not to drive (I've never passed the eye test to drive and never will do) but her own test she did on me proved that there's no way I can drive.

Somebody did this exact thread in AMA recently. It's shit. I am dreading my son's transition from DLA to PIP especially given the horrors stories I've read. I have a friend going through this as the moment and she and her son have been treated like a piece of shit by the assessors. Her hair is falling out with stress. It's a disgusting system. Another story on here yesterday made me lose all hope for her and others like her. I wrongly thought a change of Government might make the system more empathetic but it appears not.

Is it usual for assessment to be all over the phone? Or would it be unusual? If someone is turned down at mandatory reconsideration, is it worth them appealing, especially if they have not been seen in person? What does an appeal actually entail? Will people have to actually go to court for instance?

I'm not going to answer your personal question.

But the exaggeration is right there.

They're not 'famous for being evil' 😳

So, no then.

Again, yes. They are. Very well known.