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

Hi so we do actually decide on the award as assessors but it’s signed off by a final decision maker within the DWP

I would be awarded PIP if I could complete the application. There is so much to do, finding evidence etc, that I've got frozen and can't progress. This includes reaching out for help. I so wish it could be done online. I'm auDHD.

If your friend is up to it, involve the press. They HATE the press. I've had a few claims completely reversed with press involvement. Very satisfying.

So, no then.

Please stop being so intrusive.

My refusal to be bullied into answering your personal question, does not give you the right to decide one way or the other.

Hello. Really glad to hear of your positive experience.

Would your friend feel able to advise the assessor of the situation do you think?

My experience was really positive too. Awarded higher rate for MH and ED issues. They actually granted me points for criteria that I said I could cope with on the basis of my diagnoses.

Oh and further to this, the friend I refer to is her son's appointee because he is unable to communicate properly. The assessments have been done over the phone with mum, his carer. When the report came in, the assessor lied outright and said the son had had a face to face assessment and had been perfectly capable. The assessor hadn't even spoken to the son, let alone met him. How is this allowed to happen? How do these shitty people get the job? Is lying part of the job description?

It's not a personal question. You're either disabled, or you're not. Disabled isn't a dirty word, and being disabled isn't shameful. Which is why I'm guessing you're not, because those of us who are disabled tend to talk about it, as we can often provide support to others.

It’s absolutely worth appealing a MR.

An appeal panel is made up of a legal bod who is the chair of the panel and a Dr. Both are independent of the DWP. Sometimes there will also be a disability rights person on the panel as well.

You don’t go to a court as such. It’s held in a tribunals place. In the two cities near me they are basically big building with lots of rooms.

The DWP can send someone as well to represent their side at the appeal. They’ve done that in about 50% of appeals I’ve been to.

The panel ask questions about the impact of the disability and make their decisions from there. They’ll often also request medical evidence before the tribunal (my GP for example will now only reply to the appeal panel and not the DWP generally as they see it as a waste of time as they often have to do both).

How can you support anyone, when you think its hilarious to have a disabled child ?

I’m really glad you got your award though it sounds as though you were entitled to it at your first application. Unfortunately not everyone has got the capability or ability to undertake that sort of research alongside making a claim

This is sadly very common. At my own first assessment, the assessor described me in the report and it was as if she was describing someone else. Thankfully I had recorded the assessment, and had two witnesses present, so I was able to provide solid evidence that she had lied (over 250 times!!) in her report.

Why do you keep repeating something that I haven't said?

I am an assessor but as part of the assessment process we score the application and award or not, as well as decide on a review period. The decision is then signed off by a DWP decision maker

Of course it's a personal question and again, it's not one I'm willing to be bullied into.

And you behaviour on this thread IS bullying, considering you keep laughing at my posts, using the laughing emoji on the reaction button.

The last bit of your post makes no sense. You have no idea how many hidden disabilities people have who don't want to tell you about them, because they feel it's none of your business.

Certainly, and with pleasure.

Actual lies being written in the report that were contradicted by the reports from my physiotherapist, occupational therapist and orthopaedic surgeon.

They refused to stop when I was in tears and said in the report that I was not upset even though I was and asked them to stop.

They said that I could cook without an aid when I had told them that I needed to have help from my partner and I needed a perching stool to be stable to even use the microwave.

I could go on but I was basically called a liar in the report and forced to continue when I asked them to stop because I was in tears and couldn't get my thoughts in order.

Everybody that applies for PIP absolutely believe they are entitled, really want it due to the other benefits it opens to, or desperately needs the extra money.

Of course no one is just going to accept when they are turned down. It will inevitably have a significant impact on their lives.

That still doesn't mean that everybody is eligible however convinced they are that they should be awarded it.

I have only had to apply for pip once, and whilst the assessment was quite traumatic the assessor was absolutely wonderful and I thanked him for his kindness throughout.

I was granted pip, even with less evidence than many with my condition.

I don't think it's the case that you always get someone who lacks compassion.

I've had a very positive experience.

I think you should make a complaint

You haven't answered the ethics question, OP. You say you're a qualified nurse, but the way the PIP process works, directly contradicts the values and ethics of a professional in healthcare. How does this work?

Well whyvdo you keep putting laughing emoji,when i explained my child was severely disabled?

This is a total misrepresentation of your role.

You do not award. You give your opinion based on the assessment.

The decision maker then decides on the award using your assessment as part of the case.

The absolutely do not simply sign off on your decisions. There would be no need for DMs if that was the case!

Whilst they may often agree with your assessment of scores it’s a total misrepresentation to word it as you have.

This one's finding just about everything hilarious on this thread, but of course they're using the laughing emoji (hidden reaction button) rather than being upfront about it.

I’m really sorry to hear this and I don’t understand what purpose it would serve an assessor to do that to you. I’m glad you got your award and all the best for the future

But true..