AIBU to be petrified by my upcoming PIP assessment - tips?

[UpOnDown]

I've got the medical assessment for transferring from DLA to PIP this week. I'm dreading it - I'm on high rate for care and mobility for DLA, it was an indefinite award. I'm a wheelchair user, have carers coming in and have MH issues.

I've got a home assessment this week and I'm dreading it - does anyone have any tips at all?

Jelly - quite, the criteria are narrow and intended such to attempt to catch people out. You have to hit the criteria correctly. Stating you need help with housework would not qualify someone, yet breaking housework into component parts - bending, lifting, reaching, carrying, walking etc would.

Twitchy - I have M.E. - if your fibromyalgia is debilitating you should definitely definitely apply, and appeal if they reject you. 7/10 appeals win. Your DH should reapply then appeal too. Absofuckinglutely.

We found that if you didn't have mental health issues they didn't want to know

I have mental health issues amongst other illnesses - list as long as my arm including a neurological disability.
I cried twice during my assessment and they said I 'built up a rapport with the assessors and was jovial throughout' . As far as my naive self was aware i was wandering her questions to avoid being marked as uncooperative. My Assessor (a nurse) also couldn't understand why I can't take a certain painkiller for my neurological condition...

I lost at appeal too. I used to work with the tribunal judge that did mine and I felt so embarrassed.

That's why I said to you earlier OP about the talking thing, make sure your HCPs that are with you answer a significant chunk for you too.

Ah. Another tip if you suffer from short term memory. I can recall stuff I did ten years ago but I cant remember what I was doing half an hour ago.
They asked for all my operations and when I had them. I duly told them. Report = "away had to difficulty recalling x y and z so no short term memory". The last time I had to have an op I was 13!

I'm not saying this to worry you OP, just so you can be aware of where they try and catch people out. Totally unfair because they end up catching the genuine in that big old net of theirs too.

Good luck with your assessments this week OP & DawnDonna

Sorry to hear your experiences twitchy and AwaywiththePixies27

Thanks for the luck, I'll need it!

For all who have to go through this and all who have been through it.

Good luck Dawndonna if you haven't already had it. Mine is in a couple of hours.

Good luck

Thanks!

Good Luck!

I'm tomorrow!

Okay, over and done with. Got my ESA medical soon!
This is seemingly never ending!
Anyway, the woman seemed nice and I'll get a decision in six weeks time.
Again, good luck, everyone!

Happy it's over I bet!

Good luck

I'm glad you got through it I got told six weeks too