to have had a really good experience with my recent PIP assessment (Thanks in no small part to the post from the lovely ex PIP assessor and her/his post)

[barefoofdoctor]

Not really an AIBU but.. Was utterly terrified before my recent PIP assessment (particularly having read the post by the ex-PIP assessor!), as in not eating, feeling suicidal, utterly hopeless as I have an 'invisible' illness caused by a very serious life threatening illness and massively botched treatment/repeated mis-diagnosis/shite treatment by the NHS (and also amazing treatment by the NHS - I am here! I am alive albeit a fucked up version. I swore I wouldn't claim PIP as couldn't deal with the stress (wouldn't sue the NHS as I don't think that's on) unless I was ever harassed over my ESA claim by the DWP, which happened after I was maliciously reported for benefit fraud amongst other things, by some vile ex-neighbours. As such, I put my claim in and was duly assessed. My assessor was absolutely lovely, not scripted at all, completely put me at my ease, so much so that I was slightly worried it was 'a trick!', I wasn't asked to perform anything I couldn't physically achieve and assessor was actually really insightful about my condition and future prognosis, telling me things I was previously unaware of and leaving me feeling genuinely more positive than I have since I fell ill.

I still doubted whether my claim would be successful having read the horror stories but found out last week that I have been awarded PIP which will make my life basically worth living and more than just existing, in constant pain and in a lesser form as the days and weeks and years progress. That is all really Not all assessors are horrendous and it isn't all doom and gloom though my assessor said that there are too many reports of mistreatment/lies and a broken system for them not to be true and confirmed what we know; that the system is extremely unfair and screwed, rotten to the core. But there is hope and who knows perhaps the reforms this system so desperately needs will take place one day soon.

Apologies if this is a bit garbled, I just needed to thank the Ex assessor and show that there are positive PIP application experiences out there, however few and far between.

My assessment was ok but was turned down for pip

Mine was OK (had remote interpreter thanks to train strike, but in combination with DP it was fine), pleasant assessor, and I got the award I thought fair - but for bonkers reasons, totally ignoring the last few criteria which were the ones I should have mainly qualified under.

I suspect DWP suddenly realised if I got one more point I'd get higher rate so decided my hearing loss must actually be no problem at all.

Yes, their assessors have to be lower than a small sausage dog's belly to even agree to take wages doing this to fellow humans. Although there always have been people who will do the bidding of the most cruel and heartless politicians in the past and I guess those people don't go away during periods of decency in society - they just hide their vindictiveness better.

I couldn't sleep at night doing that to a single person. I've seen on the online forums many people say "Oh my assessor was lovely! I don't know what all the fuss was about!" Only to then have the shock of their lives when they got turned down. Have also seen people with really minor things that wouldn't stand a chance under DLA, when you had to have good evidence from actually well qualified medical people like consultants. I think they let those through just to say "But look, it's a better system!" Meanwhile truly disabled people get turned down.

Incidentally - my son got his (autism and some other conditions) although apparently they now have the CURE because his lifetime award he had since he was a toddler is now just 5 years.

So please everyone contact your MP and the newspapers and let them know the PIP assessors have cured autism! (And many other lifelong conditions). They said his situation might change and he might go to university. My forms were filled in for him by a specialist, local charity who do this all the time and we were sure to write all over them that... he's at university.

They said he got the award as they had ample evidence. People send them reams of info from numerous specialists. Our fantastic, magical evidence? GP (who has never met my son) wrote 5 words on a slip of paper. His diagnosis.

Just saw on the last leg no idea if true but they said they get bonuses if they process people quickly

Louiseville, that wouldn't surprise me.

My son's original DLA claim was backed up by consultants, (one of whom saw him in a weekly clinic for years), speech and occupational therapists - you name it. PIP was awarded on the strength of 5 words scrawled on the back of a fag packet by the GP, who knows nothing of his conditions - and luckily, no face to face. But I have heard they even employ paramedics/physiotherapists as assessors - pretty well anyone they can find. How someone with no background in complex and varied and sometimes, quite rare, disabilities, could ever have a valid opinion... Might as well ask a randomer from the nearest bus queue. I think the training is just 3 weeks or similar, too. All this to please a few Daily Mail readers and save money to give Cameron's mates a tax cut.

Husband scored not quite enough points to get lowest rate and at the tribunal, the judge one ran rings round him, til he was so confused he came out with some contradictory answers. This time, we have it in black and white from his audiologist, and GP who does know him well.

May is a shameful, evil piece of work if she doesn't reverse the whole thing. We need to keep shouting from the rooftops what is really going on and that this current government is no more compassionate than the Eton boys were.

Oh and to reiterate: disabled people who have to take this to the final stage - tribunal - are being treated like criminals.

Have also seen people with really minor things that wouldn't stand a chance under DLA, when you had to have good evidence from actually well qualified medical people like consultants. I think they let those through just to say "But look, it's a better system!" Meanwhile truly disabled people get turned down.
You sound like George Freeman there. I'm one of those people, I suffer every fucking day. Who do you think you are to judge who is disabled and who is not?

Who do you think you are to judge who is disabled and who is not?

My mum was a First Aider in the 1960s. And I walk past a doctor's surgery once a week. Which probably makes me overqualified as a PIP assessor.

Glad it went so well for you.
I have a very rare illness and had an awful experience. Couldn't face appealing.

A bit baffled by the posters who think physios shouldn't be assessors. I think physios are well placed to be assessors.

Depends on the illness/disability

brasty appeal. I didn't think i could. My appeal was so short i didn't think i'd been believed, but i was awarded the top in one part ( the part were the examiner tried to lie),

tarragon maybe because not all physios know about illnesses. I had one who said he didn't even believe i had it my disability, or that it even really existed ).

Louise would the £2000 she will get from mobility be enough to buy a car suitable for her short term needs?

Really Tarragon why?

A bit baffled by the posters who think physios shouldn't be assessors. I think physios are well placed to be assessors.

Depends what they are assessing surely...a physio assessing someone with a mental illness is going to be pretty useless.

I am glad your application went well OP. Its rare to hear good stories of this process.

It can't be saving them money?

I personally have gone in there with reams of evidence, reports from consultants, doctors etc.

And some glorified desk clerk had sat asking me how my condition affects me.

How about reading the notes from the actual fucking medical experts.

Just to say if anyone needs help with their appeals etc please message me as I am more than willing to give you some guidance X

KillDora yep.it doesn't matter how much evidence you have by how many consultants, you're lying, they know better

I do believe there are good assessors who haven't sold their soul and realise my angry post may have been a touch offensive, so sorry if I have caused any. Especially when some have been so helpful on here

It does make me furious that some seem to think they know better than a horde of consultants though.

Do the government believe all these medical professionals are complicit in helping people fiddle the system? To the point of faking reports?

Surely it should be ok you don't have evidence, in that case we will assess you just to check, sorry about that. (Should be fine fairly though)

And if you DO have a metric crap ton of evidence no need to waste everyone's time and money dragging you to an assessment and possibly an appeal that you'll definitely win anyway.

kill yes iagree!if you have pages and pages from various consultants they really should not think they know better (or lie so they can fail you).
I don't think they are all bad, however i def had bad ones!

I had an OK PIP experience, I got enhanced care and standard mobility which was equivalent to the DLA rate I'd been on for 10 years. I sent in a ton of evidence though, and it was stressful going through the assessment at all. My son gets PIP and he was lucky not to need a face to face, but he had even stronger evidence as he's in a special school and has had numerous interventions and hospital treatment. He has challenging behaviour and meltdowns as a result of his disabilities and I told them their staff was at risk of getting attacked at a face to face - they obviously decided not to risk it.