I’ve name changed for this but have been here many years.
I had my PIP re-assessment back in early November. I’d previously been on it for 3 years, receiving money for standard mobility and higher rate daily living. I have bipolar, hyper mobility syndrome, fibromyalgia, problems with my back from a car accident, and a heart murmur. Apart from the heart murmur, I’m under consultants for the rest.
I had my outcome this week- standard mobility stays, daily living gone, totally, not even 2 points!
However my assessment is full of ‘lies’, things she never asked me etc. So here’s a few:-
Says Spunkymonkey can manage a budget and has no problems at all. Reality, my finances were handed over to my dp and exdp (we still have an amazing relationship), under the suggestion of my psychiatrist last year, as I am unable to budget (normal bipolar over spending etc), will spend a huge amount of money in one go if it is available to me, will book holidays on a whim which my psychiatrist have to get me out of, and so on.
Says that spunkymonkey is obviously okay as she drives daily. I don’t have a car. I borrow my dads a few times a month if I am well to go to my appointments. I don’t have anywhere else to drive too!
Says I have no problems dressing at all. Mmmm that’s why several times a week my teenage son has to help me get dressed as my back is too bad to bend. Likewise this is another reason that he may sleep in my bed with me, to help me to turn when my back goes into spasm (I know some may find that weird, but as he can’t hear me through thick walls if I shout, needs must), also I wil often speand several days in pj’s.
Spunkymonkey has no problems with nutrition and looks well nourished (fat? I’m a size 12 btw)- the problems my family have is getting me to eat, as I’m frequently going 4-6 days without eating, plus I was on olanzapine last year where I put on 3 stone, and although I’ve changed to lithium the weight hasn’t changed. It’s a big discussion with my psychiatrist at the moment about me going on to a different bipolar med to see if the weight will come off.
She says I have no problem taking my medication. That’s why I was sent to hospital by my GP a week before Christmas as I took too many tablets for several days running. Also when the depression kicks in, due to previous suicidal thoughts, my family give me my tablets I don’t have them myself.
Spunkymonkey was appropriately dressed- I was wearing pajamas, as my fibro was flaring up so clothes like jeans etc hurt me.
There’s more but I’m just giving some examples. My point is she didn’t ask me any of these questions!! I would not allow anyone to stay with me for the assessment which was at home. Dp came over to help me shower before the assessment, as I hadn’t showered for a few days. My mood was hypo-manic/mania. Which any other time I would have begged for someone- my mental health support worker stayed with me the previous time. So as far as I was concerned I could do it all on my own- the joys of mania!
However we’ve been trying to figure out ‘triggers’ to my bipolar, which means me keeping a journal each day. So I’d wrote up what I’d been asked and what I hadn’t that I know I was at the last one. I also immediately sent dp a text with what I was and wasn’t asked. So I know for a fact I wasn’t asked these questions!
I wasn’t asked about my nutrition, how I managed cooking, how I dressed, how I managed my meds, how I managed budgeting. I thought she’d didnt ask me, because they wouldn’t have changed from last time!
So obviously I’m putting in a mandatory reconsideration. But please do anyone have any suggestions about best places to get support etc? I got this through the post on Monday, it’s dated the 3rd jan, and has to be returned in a month- so I get two weeks! I’m not going to get an appointment at CAB, with MIND, my GP, or my psychiatrist in this time. Is that why they send them out late with a date from 2 weeks previous so they know you can’t get the support? Sorry this was so long.