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

[Candledrip]

Please let me know if I can help

Using aids for activities scores points. So does being able to use a microwave but not a conventional cooker. Someone only able to prepare sandwiches would still be able to score points.

If someone’s legs can not support them for long enough to cook then they absolutely should not be in a car that’s very unsafe! With cooking someone can sit down at a table to prep, sit down in between doing bits but in a car you are constantly using your legs and if there not strong enough to support someone then they shouldn’t drive

Where has the OP gone?

@Coconutter24 are you aware you can get adaptations for cars?

Someone I know with an ongoing chronic condition has had zero points to full award depending on the assessor. Always overturned at tribunal, but can't always face it so often accepted a lower or no award.

How can that be right and is there any effort to make things fairer?

Also on the times he was given zero points despite having significant mobility and mental health difficulties. Does that mean the assessor didn't believe him?

That is why people who are affected like that, would most likely choose an adapted car with hand controls to drive. These aids exist for a reason.

Do you have targets to accept/reject?
We’ve seen so many patients with LT/ life-long and life limiting issues (with evidence) be rejected but succeed on appeal, we’ve begun to assume its targets.

They could tell over the phone that my DD wasn't in chronic pain and didn't have seizures, because she was polite to the Assessor. She got turned down for PIP for 2 lifelong conditions on that assessment. I took them to a tribunal and won. So my Q to the OP is why are these telephone assessments allowed, when the Assessor clearly has no knowledge of the person they're talking to, or how their conditions impact their day to day living? I believe the rejection letter said something along the lines of "very happy disposition, showed no signs of "illness"" Er, that's probably because she wasn't crippled with one condition, or seizing with the other at the time of the call

Yes because my neighbour uses a chair and drives himself around everyday.

For a tea break maybe!☕🧁

Or she knew she was in for a tough time?

@Coconutter24 then it is baffling you think someone who can’t stand long enough to cook shouldn’t be driving!

They do but the original comment had no mention of an adapted car

How is that baffling?
In the original comment there was no mention of an adapted car so that’s what I’m commenting on

Assuming OP intends coming back, I was thinking about this today, because others assume I will easily get PIP as they know the limitations my illness places on my life, but I'm not at all sure I would. Yes, I can walk the minimum distance, not always without pain, but what use is that to me? It doesn't even get me as far as the bus stop. And what then? Yes, I can prepare a meal, but that would be the one thing I did that day. I can't drive at the moment. Sometimes I can, but not for long.
Perching stools are awful, by the way.
I'd be looking at zero points, wouldn't I?

Do people ever get PIP for severe OCD and ADHD?

Yeah I know. I was rolling my eyes as I typed it tbh. It just feels like regardless of what I write/say its an impossible hill to climb. Ive given up trying tbh.

Maybe, but I see no purpose in giving the OP a rough ride. They are not the ones making the rules, as such. They are just implementing the system that the previous Government cooked up. It should be announced soon enough, what this Government intends to do with the PIP, I do believe.

It would depend how the conditions affect you in relation to the PIP descriptors, but yes I imagine many do get a PIP award for the difficulties caused by those conditions.

It's been 3 weeks since I sent my child's first PIP form back.

I wrote after each point where the person reading it could find the evidence for what I said. So something like "see page 21 of evidence called OT report". I then highlighted the point on the OT report.

Then I sent a list of the names of all the evidence.

I was trying to make it easy for whoever was reading it as I heard they don't have long to go through it all. Do you think it helped?

I received a letter back last week saying they have all the info they need (and no assessment was required). What does that mean please?

The OP would not be able to tell you one way, or another. It is about how your life is affected by your condition/s. Look at the PIP descriptors on line, to get more of an idea about whether you would likely score according to their criteria.

Oh great, is this another covert benefit bashing thread.

@Coconutter24
It is baffling because you are aware people unable to use their lower limbs can drive yet think anyone who can’t stand for long enough to cook shouldn’t be driving. Just because the post didn’t specifically mention adaptations doesn’t mean they aren’t used.

I’d like to know (if you know) why children with type 1 diabetes can get dla but then can’t get pip when they are too old for dla? It doesn’t stop being a disability? It doesn’t stop being hard work? It doesn’t stop needing extra attention than someone without diabetes and it doesn’t stop costing more money than not having diabetes. I find it strange and would love to know.

Not the OP but I do the same job. I don’t know if she’ll come back…