I’m a PIP assessor - is there anything I can help you with?

[Candledrip]

Please let me know if I can help

@Candledrip
Why can you not use your discretion so you don't ask unnecessary and ridulous questions.

I assisted my neighbour with a her telephone assessment this week. She is 66, has numerous health conditions, severe anxiety, hasn't left her house apart from medical apps since the start of lockdown, lives in one room as she can't get up the stairs. Clearly stated she hasn't worked for 20 years.

60 minutes going through all of that.

Next question -are you in work
Next question - why not ? Followed by another 15 mins of questions about work.

Really isn't it obvious from the previous hour?
All it did was cause extra totally unnecessary stress

How long are renewals taking? Sent mine off in October, heard nothing yet. Had texts confirming they have my forms.

Not a pip assessor but actually washing/cooking does use the same body parts as driving i.e arms and legs

Sorry I know your question wasn't directed at me but I have had one client whose renewal has just taken 15 months !

Someone may be able to drive a car but their legs cannot support them long enough/ safely enough to cook though?

What should you do when the assessor's report is full of lies?

Then when you appeal, the panel refuses to believe anything you say, even with a medical file 2" thick...

Is the plan to just always refuse and hope people just go away out of despair?

Do you have a target of % of claims to approve or deny?

Is there lots of pressure/stress? I've considered leaving clinical practice for this a few times but always been a bit too nervous to bite the bullet, as if it didn't work out I don't want to end up dropping to the bottom of my band/losing the amount of annual leave I get now, etc. I feel trapped in my role, I don't hate it, but I'm at the top of my band so I'll never earn much more if I stay where I am, and I have a disabled child I want to try to put money away for. But I've previously worked in very high pressured environments and suffered significantly with burn out at one point so I'm wary of change.

Tribunals generally overturn around 70% of wrong decisions.

Being disabled cost an extra £1000 a month….

And if the person receives ‘top rate’ daily living, Theyre not just housebound. Their difficulties are much more severe. ‘Anxiety’ doesn’t usually stops you from cooking for yourself or getting dressed.

Their are aids for this that can be supplied by a community OT- perching stools, weight bearing kitchen trolleys, if a person can get to their car and use arms and legs to drive then they should be able to sit down in a kitchen and prepare food. The same for washing and dressing- aids are available to help with sitting whilst washing, it will take more time than usual but it is possible

My brother has a multitude of medical issues and pain, many of which he was left with after surviving (just) sepsis and a long induced coma. But he's scared of the process and given his illnesses also push him close to suicide he won't engage. I've offered to help him. Others, including a charity, have offered. He has the backing of his GP and diabetic nurse. He still scared he will have to face a firing squad and it will push him over the edge. An edge he is perilously close too.

Are there any applications where the actual claimant won't have to face the questions in person?

Cooking doesn't just involve sitting down to prepare veg though does it ? You need to stand at a hob, lift a heavy pan safely. The PIP criteria looks at not just whether you can do an activity but whether you can do it safely, reliably , repeatedly, within a reasonable timeframe. The assessor has to consider how long an activity takes someone to complete it.

i imagine you dint have any issues moving aroubd yourself or have an energy limiting illness.

But no being in a kitchen isn’t the same as being sat down in a car driving.
Nor are the movements the same. It’s nowhere near as simple as ‘you move your legs and arms’.
Otherwise using a wheelchair would qualify me for having issues with cooking just because of that.

If he was to send in enough medical evidence they may be able to do a paper based assessment without needing to ask him questions. making a note on the PIP form that an assessment would likely cause him stress and getting his medical professional to write a supporting letter may help with this.

Not if you have an energy limiting disease.
Not if you have issues with lifting your arms above your head or holding them straight.
Using a perching stool doesn’t help you to get ingredients - you still need to be able to stand and walk to get stuff. Something you dint need if you’re driving a car.
Does it help?

My children have ASD. They all had lots of paper evidence for their difficulties so I sent all of that in. They were never called for assessment because the assessors could gather enough information from the paperwork to award the points they needed.

Not necessarily-
it asks if you can prepare basic meals which include sandwiches and microwave meals, people may not like them but that’s what is meant

Also @TwinklyRoseTurtle the fact one can do something, because they have no choice (eg they live in their own) isn’t a criteria to say you dint need help.

If doing the cooking means iYou end up in pain everyday just to be able to eat, you rightly get points.
Or if it takes twice as long as a normal person etc….

So his GP and diabetic nurse will be the ones that know everything about him. Plus the hospital of course, from the ICU and HD stay and operations. We can get the evidence from them?

He seemed to think he'd be interrogated on the call just requesting the forms, is that correct? If I call and simply ask for the forms to be sent, will they be?

Can you explain to me why my child has seen probably 30 NHS professionals over the years, to say nothing of the teachers and TAs who saw him through 3 special schools yet you think you have better knowledge to decide how disabled he is?

Can you tell me if you understand how the system of applying and renewal makes parents almost throw up from stress?

Do you care?

How do you sleep at night?

Yes you can order the form as long as he is there with you to give consent. You will need his NI number, bank account details and details of health professionals.

Claimants who cannot undertake any journey because it would cause overwhelming psychological distress score 10 points, therefore get standard rate mobility not enhanced. Unless, of course, they score points on the moving around activity as well.

I think replying with sarcastic answers is not helping anyone- I was merely offering insight into how it’s viewed by medical professionals

It is about getting across on the form, how your conditions affect you in your day, to day life. Include copies of any medical evidence you have, along with your application.

Thank you.

I will promise him there's a way to apply with others helping and keeping him safe.