How’s does PIP work

[Taylo123]

I have applied for PIP, had f2f assessment, I have SVT which has led to AF, asthma, back problems as well as other health conditions and have been awarded 0 points for both daily living and mobility components, any advise or anyone else had same experience?

It's not about the money, DG.

Tell the government, not me.

But you're the one who mentioned it on this thread

PIP assessors should have a special level of hell assigned to them.

That's not really fair. Blame the person who set up the guidelines, which isn't the individual assessors. They are just doing a job and while it's a shit job it might be all they can get in their area.

They do have to pretty much fail as many people as possible though. Don't think it's a set number, just as many as possible. If you can do something, you don't get PIP basically.

That's not really fair

I think it is. I've come across three PIP assessors now, and they have all been liars, generally nasty people and that comes from within, not government guidelines.

One asked me if I was that disabled, why hadn't I killed myself yet? That's not in the government guidelines.

WhyDontYouComeOnOver

You get shit people in every job. You should report people like that. Their calls are recorded and if its said in f2f take someone with you as a witness in future. But their basic guidelines were made by some dipstick in government.

I had a witness and complaints were made. Nothing was done. It was strange then, for all three assessors to be rude, liars and one was a bit aggressive. I'm sure there are some nice ones out there, but then again, I don't see how they can be if they choose to do that job in the first place with how things are at the moment.

SVT is not seen as a serious condition and most sufferers can get along with their daily life.

Absolutely, most sufferers can carry on with their daily life. I certainly do. With the help of medication my SVT is currently controlled, however it was definitely considered serious enough to blue light me to A and E, where the staff were on standby to take me straight to resusc for treatment, sometimes a drug to stop and restart your heart or sometimes defibrillation under anaesthetic.They don't tend to like your heart beating at 200bpm for several hours.

I had months of debilitating episodes several times daily before they got on top of it. It may rarely be life threatening, but it can certainly affect your quality of life, depending on the severity and frequency of it.

That's very true - it can be a bugger before it's controlled and awful for the sufferer. I was just talking in terms of how a PIP assessor would see it, because they're crap with "invisible" conditions (despite their supposed medical experience) and unless you're bleeding to death in front of their eyes, it'll be a struggle.

They expect you to have a carer and they expect you to be pretty much bed confined.

Complete nonsense

A child is awarded PIP without an assessment.

Children get DLA not PIP.

Well you may say it's nonsense but that's what I was told by two of my PIP assessors.

Ucan - that's rather pedantic. I realise what children get. It's just a different acronym for those under 16. PIP and DLA are both disability benefits.

I’m not confined to bed - I work and get pip.

The forms are different why, as is the criteria and scoring which is why so many lost DLA when it changed over.

When my DLA was up I didn’t claim pip out of fear because of being told things like “you can’t work and claim” and “you must be bedbound”

Good for you. PIP is a working benefit.

I'm usually working too, had a good period recently. Back to not working at the moment.

My point was what PIP assessors expect, because that's what I was told. By PIP assessors.

I know the forms are different. I have a disabled son and am a primary school teacher so I'm well aware. It's still the disability benefit for children under a different acronym.

I’ve heard so many bad experiences of PIP and PIP assessors, it makes me so angry! I know my positive experience is rare but I do think it’s helpful to share. My assessor was lovely and on reading the report there were only a few things a disagreed with.

Claiming the drop in people eligible is represented by 'fraudulent claims being weeded out' is a lie. I cant beleive anyone has bought it.

DLA was to help people with the additional expenses incurred by their disability.

PIP represents a complete change in ideology. You can have additional expenses related to your disability and not be eligible for any help.
You can be so disabled you need a carer for some tasks, and still not be eligible for any help, because you don't need help with enough of the tasks that are counted.

I'm glad you shared, ucan. It gives me hope for my reassessment which I'm assuming will be due before long.

I would recommend recording the interview - I didn’t but know of people who have. Also have another person there if you can, my mum was able to chip in which was helpful as if anything i overestimate what I can do.

That said, it was horrible - we both were in tears for chunks of it.

PIP assessors should have a special level of hell assigned to them.

Quite, myself and DP have had assessors blatantly lie on their reports. DP is registered blind and has rheumatoid arthritis affecting her walking. Assessor claimed she saw DP walk 40 metres in our front room (perhaps four metres long) twice, run to the door and accept a parcel from a non-existent courier.

It's the assessors who aren't being fair.

I will be next time. Phone in pocket, even though it's not allowed. I couldn't care less. Mine were at home, I was apparently deemed disabled enough to now have to go to an assessment centre, but not disabled enough for PIP so DH was there. He was absolutely appalled by the whole process. It's shocking. The lies mine told were actually unreal.

I've several invisible conditions, including ME (renders me bed bound and wheelchair using), I've had one utter shite assessor and one who was absolutely incredible.

My back problems prevent me from doing normal tasks without assistance, my asthma causes me to be short of breath which affects how I am able to mobilise, cannot walk too far without being severely short of breath, and palpitations/SVT is an issue which affects how I move around and complete certain tasks, cardiology have advised I have an operation
Surely this is enough to be awarded some PIP, is it because u work and am not completely bedbound why I was scored zero?

Me? No. Hadn't worked for two years and had been in bed for that time before I applied.

My best advice with PIP/ DLA and the like I that it has an element of randomness.

I’ve met people with very significant needs fighting to get it. For my DD we were lucky, a 6 yr award of High Rate DLA and mobility, yet I know children with higher needs on lower rates.

My sister has high needs, but has struggled a lot with PIP. She was also having issues with ESA until the job centre said they couldn’t manage her level of need.

If you need to ask for reconsideration/ speak. Get more advice on wording and don’t let it get under your skin. It’s a little bit of a shambles