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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

PIP assessment

13 replies

ItsNachoCheese · 14/05/2018 20:02

I have recently been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and i also suffer from IBS and anxiety and depression. I currently recieve ESA at present. After my diagnosis i was advised by citizens advice to apply for PIP. I struggle with mobility and some days it takes me to even get dressed due to pain. I have help from my family and friends with ds on really bad days.
I got my appointment letter and my assessment is next tuesday and said the assessor will visit me between x and y time... but i didnt specifically ask for a home visit Confused what can this mean? And has anyone else had a home assessment before? What happens at it?

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SickofThomasTheTank · 14/05/2018 20:06

It's a good thing! I had one and they were lovely. And it means they can't mark you down for the fact that you got to the assessment centre!

The ones that come to see you are really, really nice. Just relax x

Ps, I have same conditions as you, as well as Hypermobility. I receive full PIP and have a Motability vehicle. I also had a home assessment x

Akire · 14/05/2018 20:09

I’ve had a home
Visit I asked but be gretaful you don’t have stress of travel! I found it reasonable ok giving it’s obviously worrying jumping through hoops. She asked me most questions that I had filled in, didn’t really ask me
Anything new. Didn’t do a physical exam just wrote what she saw.

Lady was actual pleasant and professional, I hoped seeing how home was set out helped my claim as such. I know not everyone has a reasonable experience but for me who can’t travel it was best outcome so I was pleased they let me do it at home.

SadTrombone · 14/05/2018 20:09

It's good. They're acknowledging it could be difficult for you to attend an assessment centre.
The assessment will still comment on your appearance (whether you're dressed or in PJs, whether your hair is brushed etc.) so be sure to highlight it if you've had help getting washed and dressed as you describe. Best of luck.

ItsNachoCheese · 14/05/2018 20:11

Ah thats reassuring. I struggle going out at times on my own and feel better having someone with me. I have a dog though and my friend thinks ill get marked down because i need to go out and walk him.
Does the assessment take long and did it take you a while to hear back?

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MyDcAreMarvel · 14/05/2018 20:13

Capita nearly always do home visits Atos only forced.
Have somebody with you who answers the door and sits with you. Do not treat them like a guest eg offer a drink, turn phone off as they knock. Do not go to the toilet stand up etc ( unless in examination) do not pick papers up from the floor etc.
Be very clear in what you say , do not let them lead you in questioning. Do not minimise your limitations.

MyDcAreMarvel · 14/05/2018 20:14

Do not say you walk your dog!

Akire · 14/05/2018 20:14

Think you may need to say XYZ happens when dog needs walking if you find it hard. If you don’t say they may presume you don’t have problems. It took good hour and they write to DWP as they don’t make decisions DWP “do”. Said 6 weeks heard in 5. Try not to worry to much it really helps
To get PIp even if you may have to appeal!

CheeseRollingChampion · 14/05/2018 20:16

My DH has a home visit first assessment with his fibro. We didn't ask for one.

ItsNachoCheese · 14/05/2018 20:17

If im having a good day my dog gets a walk across my road to the grassy patch and gets to have a run. On a bad day he just gets out the back. Atm there are more bad days than good :(

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alittlequinnie · 14/05/2018 20:21

I did my daughter's only last week. I have gone on loads of dwp assessments and not yet met a nasty assessor.

They will ask you to describe your condition - tell them - for instance if it makes you tired, say so, if it decreases your appetite say so, if the drugs you have to take make you "fuzzy" say so.

They will ask about your day - don't say I get up take the dog for a walk and then come back for breakfast - say, if it's a good day I get out of bed but sometimes it takes me a while to do this because... sometimes the dog doesn't get a walk because.... sometimes I can get my child dressed but sometimes I hve to phone for help because...

it's little things like if your condition means you are not strong tell them that you can hoover but you can only do the middle of the room you can't move furniture - if you aren't strong tell them that you can't carry shopping

obviously don't lie but tell them every little thing

for instance for my duaghter we said that she wakes up and she then has to transfer into her chair, it takes ages to do this and she has to try to scoop her little baby into her arms and then guide her toddler to the lift - if she didn't have a lift in the house she would have to sleep downstairs, then into the kitchen to get them breakfast but she can only do this becuase her kitchen has been adapted - even the door has been widened to get the wheelchair in and her carer has to come and help anyway... etc etc.

they have a points system and they give so many points for each thing - you have to get 12 points for each section - there are guides for the points online.

hth

HeyMacWey · 14/05/2018 20:24

Good luck.

Make sure you have someone with you.

I'd also record it on your phone without them knowing. Then you've got a record that you can get a typed up should you need it in tribunal.

HeyMacWey · 14/05/2018 20:25

Get whoever is with you to take verbatim notes too.

You can ask for a copy of the assessors report by phoning the dwp a few days after the assessment.

ItsNachoCheese · 14/05/2018 20:27

My esa reassessment was at a centre and i was barely in 15mins. The lady looked at the first 2 pages asked me how my conditions affect me and said she wouldnt make me do the physical test as she could see i was too sore. She called it a curtailed assessment. I got put in the support group. If the person who comes is as nice as she was ill be a bit less worried

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