PIP claim rejected, AIBU to feel angry?

[Tobythecat]

I am autistic, have a lot of sensory issues and processing issues and as a result I dissassociate from my surroundings often which is terrifying and I can't safetly cross roads or leave the house because of it. Struggle with unfamiliar and complex familar routes etc. I've never worked and I'm 27, I've a long history with MH issues from my teen years.

I've been on DLA since I was 16, and was given the PIP forms to switch over from DLA. I had some help from my local case worker to fill them in, was quite confident i'd get it. Finally had home interview, but they cancelled 3 times literally last minute. They actually arrived the fourth time, interview was difficult and I cried a bit, my childhood and school years was very unhappy and it was difficult to relive everything and explain my struggles. I couldn't' remember everything I wanted to say so left quite a bit out upon reflection. The assessor seemed really nice and understanding. Waited 5 weeks for the results; they said i'm not entitled to any PIP and they will stop my DLA. The weird thing is, I've just been moved from the WRAG group of ESA to the support group after my ESA face to face assessment.

Meanwhile, friend with anxiety and some depression has her interview at home, and brags about putting on a performance, making herself burst into tears and storm upstairs , and her saying she could win an oscar. She also lied about being unable to make a sandwich as she'd forget about it and walk off (friend bakes things and can make food). She got her PIP award straight away.

I am going to do a mandatory reconsideration, but I dont have much evidence because i'm not under any mental health team. (I was discharged as they couldn't help me due to my issues being autism related).I only have my support worker who wrote a letter and included it in the PIP forms, but obviously that wasn't enough.

I am going through each question and going into great detail about how I cant do certain tasks and why and what help I need. I am hoping this extra detail that I didn't include in the PIP forms will help, but i'm not sure. I'm just really worried I won't get what I feel i'm entitled to. I cannot work, I just couldn't cope with all the sensory issues and interacting with people all day, I would end up hurting myself.

Handhold here...

Handhold here too. My PIP got approved when I transferred from DLA. I've just had a review and they have stopped everything. I have autism and a whole host of mental health stuff going back to teen years too. I had to go to the assessment and the assessor seemed nice. In the letter it said I could obviously look after myself because I was well-presented and dressed appropriately for the weather. Also that I didn't appear anxious and I made good eye contact. Lies! I barely ever make eye contact, everyone that knows me knows that. I'm angry too. The system is totally flawed.

Have a look at this website, there's a tool to help you draft a letter for mandatory reconsideration. I found it really useful

www.advicenow.org.uk/guides/how-win-pip-appeal

OP are you going to appeal? You'll get a fuckload of support here. 🌺

I was turned down for PIP two years ago, the hearing was a farce. Three months after I was awarded it, which was galling because I was a lot better than I had been the previous year.

Take it all the way to a hearing, it might take as long as twelve months.

You've got to let it go if you don't get it though. I know people like your friend who were awarded it, when i was bed-bound and couldn't get it. You've just got to focus on the bigger picture, or it adds to your stress.

Go through MR all three times and expect to be rejected then go to Tribunal.

Lots of "how it is" advice here, please read all linked threads as well.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3133923-To-think-that-my-PIP-assessor-has-deliberately-told-lies?pg=1

People like your 'oscar winning' friend make me sick on behalf of all the genuinely disabled people who get treated like dirt because of her and her ilk's actions.

I sympathise massively.
I needed an at home appointment and was refused one, in fact they tried to send me to a test centre an hours drive down a motorway despite knowing i can't even go to the shop a 2 minute drive away most days.
Went through hell to go to the closest centre, but they made my one allowed reschedule for 9am so i had rush hour traffic and it took 45 minutes to get there. Anxiety was so bad i honestly thought i'd have to walk out and go home, but got called as i was about to.

They took away my mobility part, despite the fact i can only go out with my carer as a chaperone and can't go anywhere walking and cant use public transport and need to be taken absolutely everywhere by car, even my doctors surgery thats only a quarter mile away, because i just can't go out by myself or walk places, at all.

They deliberately underscored me for care too, so i only get basic, when i should be on enhanced. My mandatory reconsideration didn't go in my favour, and my inablility to attend a tribunal means i couldn't attend one so couldn't push for that step.

As for ESA well, they have me on contribution based because i was originally moved over from incapacity benefit. This has been screwing me out of an extra £16 a week for who knows how many years, as well as the fact i can't get free prescriptions, nhs dental care eye tests and help with glasses, or winter fuel payment allowances etc. 2 years ago when i tried to question it was told while i got DLA and my dad had carers allowance they wouldn't change it over but if my "circumstances ever change" to get back in touch.

Right now after dealing with the £100 a month cut i already got from losing mobility, i'm too scared to rock the boat with ESA in case they demand a re assessment as i don't think they'd give me a home one, and i can't go out at all right now, so i'd miss it and be auto taken off it. And i'm scared they'd find some way to weedle out of paying it even if i had an assessment, theres just no trust in the system at all anymore, it isn't judged fairly now.

Mummysparkle That is the exact website i'm using to do my reconsideration! It's so helpful.

Snow I didn't realise you had to go through MR three times? I thought it was just the once then off to tribunal?

AlmostaJill That's awful, i'm sorry you are not getting what you are entitled to.

I feel like the government just want to cull the disabled honestly. It's depressing enough not being able to have the life I wanted and hoped for, but now it looks like i'm going to be humiliated and live in poverty too.

If there is anyone here who has knowledge or experience of PIP, please can you offer some advice?

My award was down graded despite there being no change in my condition. MR was unsuccessful but with the fantastic support of CAB I was successful at appeal. It’s very stressful and arduous.

One tip is to get your GP to write in your support with points that match specific descriptors on the forms. They say don’t do this as we will write if we want any further info. They won’t. They can’t ignore letters which they have.

And keep copies of all your applications and support letters as they are very quick to reassess and you can reuse the information.

Did your support worker attend with you? I found it better if I attend with people, so I can say ‘remember when...’ ‘the other day...’ etc to give examples ( not to make the person look shite, I tell them what I’m going to do beforehand, usually I say I am going to bring up every example I know of when you have needed extra help, I’m going to make you sound like you do sod all for yourself, as if you say on a good day I can xxx, but on a bad day I can xxx, they only seem to hear the good day stuff, you have to say everything is a bad day). Have examples written down for next time and if possible have someone with you.

You need to make sure you're writing any answers in relation to the criteria they use to assess people. There's a really good website (I think it's called benefitsandwork) with a membership fee but their guides are amazing, very detailed and show you how to think through your medical issues and apply them to the criteria. I definitely agree with taking notes with you next time and taking someone as support.

I did have my support worker with me at the home assessment, but they lied and said I attended the assessment alone!

Looking at the other thread, has anyone eequested a cooy of their assessors report?

Contact Citizens’ Advice. They have people trained to help you navigate this.

Looking at the other thread, has anyone eequested a cooy of their assessors report?

Yes, because that shows their scoring and all their comments about how they decide you are able to do all sorts of things for yourself.

@snowmelt can I do that over the phone or does it need to be in writing?

Sorry for jumping in on your thread a bit Toby

handhold here.
I am currently waiting for the outcome of the assessment I had three weeks ago. I have been on DLA since I was 18 because of health problems and I am not even more unwell then I was before then.

Thats meant to say I am even more unwell then I was before.

@MummySparkle From memory, there was a tickbox on the form given out at the face to face, the one where you can claim travel expenses. It was over a year ago so it's a hazy memory.

Do thoroughly check what the poster Wildlife on this Scope thread from last year says though about having your "1 month from the date of receipt of the DWP decision letter" to notify them of your wish for MR.

Apparently you can ring DWP and ask for a copy of your face to face report and they will extend your deadline to 1 month from the date of your phonecall. I wouldn't trust them with several bargepoles, so if you do decide to do that, do make a note of whoever you speak to at DWP and the time of the call and then follow it up in writing.

community.scope.org.uk/discussion/32229/pip-assessment-report

If anyone hasn't yet had a face to face, make sure you record it in condition with their stipulations, that's my only regret in the whole process. If both parties have a copy of the recording, the "misunderstandings" can't happen. some help agencies already have the right equipment. Apparently, Facebook groups for PIP support are very good but I've never used any, I don't like sharing any personal details online and I n/c on here frequently.

Bottom line is, you need the assessor's report because IME that's ALL the DWP base their case on, even if you have medical evidence that contradicts it.

Have a look at a site called Fightback4justice they have information to help you at every step of the way. I feel for you as I know what you are going through.

Good luck OP, defiantly go for the Manditory Reconsideration and tbh I strongly believe that they turn people down in the hope they won’t appeal.

I’ve had my PIP assessment 2 weeks ago and I’m waiting for the outcome which should be in the next 4 weeks, mine is different and I’m physically disabled I’m just hoping I get it again (did for 3 years post DLA but was reassessed early). I had to attend my assessment in my wheelchair as was having a really bad day just hope it doesn’t count against me it’s such a stressful time

Ginjoints do you know how long you were supposed to be awarded PIP for? I got reassessed after 2 years, possibly less than that actually - it seems very soon.

I never filled in my travel expenses form, probably too late to do it now, but I'll see if it's got that box on it, if not I will call. I wish I'd recorded it, but I only had about a weeks notice of the appointment and didn't have a chance to get recording equipment. I hate hate hate the whole fucking system. And I remember thinking that applying for DLA was bad...

I applied for PIP and was turned down, I did the MR and got the same outcome so appealed at tribunal and won. I have just submitted my renewal (which gets treated as a new claim) and am planning to lose my PIP payment (I figure I’ll either be right or pleasantly surprised!). It is a very emotional and disheartening process and I wish you the best of luck

@Tobythecat Snow I didn't realise you had to go through MR three times? I thought it was just the once then off to tribunal?

I do apologise, the process has fried whatever's left of my intelligence, yes, there's only one MR.

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