This is how they do it

[paffuto]

I thought MN's might be interested to see how "they" are cutting disabled benefits. Son 24 has severe autism and lives in supported living. He has received DLA since the age of 4 or 5 and is in the support group for esa which means he is not required to work. Has just been changed to PIP and given 0 points, a drop of £320 a month. So now his family, his Carers and Social Workers are going to have to fight for him. Letters cancelling his direct debits will have to be written (he can't write) because there might not be enough money in his bank account to pay all his bills. The council will have to do a reassessment to reduce his contribution towards his supported accommodation. His GP needs to be called and will probably prescribe meds because son is now a wreck. Any future dwp assessments will now require home visits, there is 0 chance of ever getting him to another one. For one of the PIP evidences we used Social Care Report. And here is a few examples of they did it: Social Care - son has an inability to manage and plan bus journey's unaided. PIP decision - I decided you can plan and follow the route of a journey unaided. Social Care - without care support in situ son would be at risk of self neglect. Will only wash every 2-3 days. PIP decision - you wash daily and dress in clean clothing. Social Care - reports on anxiety when going out. PIP decision - you report anxiety going out, however you do not take medication for anxiety. And the whole letter is like this. WTF????!!!!

This is describing how ATOS and Capita looked for information for their ESA assessments in 2017.
I don't think it's unfair to say the current PIP assessments are carried out with similar observations.
dpac.uk.net/2013/04/what-people-need-to-know-about-atos-assessments/

Thankyou everyone for advice and support, you have given me renewed strength soupforbrains your name is how my brain feels at the moment thankyou so much but I don't think anyone can actually do anything. It's just down to us, his support staff and social worker to fight for him. Let battle commence!! Thank goodness ds does have his family and support, what on earth happens to those who don't? Dread to think!

Incredibly you are all helping already, supporting me on here. Thankyou x

We are awaiting their verdict for DH. I doubt it will be good. I don’t see how watching him stand on one leg for 2 seconds gives an indication of him being fit to work.

BlankTimes I've just read your link and yes, PIP assessments are virtually the same. I don't even know the profession of the last person who assessed me, they never told me.

Meyoumeanmeh omg, that is ridiculous but please tell me he was holding on to something for support whilst doing that? How degrading for dh

Thanks for that info BlankTimes autism isn't on those lists is it? The following comments are heartbreaking

Country has gone to pot!!

@NoBaggyPants
I don't dispute any of your assumptions. The issue isn't whether they were pretending or not, it is that government policy applies regardless.

What I'm saying is that the evidence is discounted mainly because there is no where to score that evidence.
Please re-read the example in my earlier post.

Imagine the doctor's evidence says Mr. B is in severe pain 24/7 and bleeds out of his ears daily which is still being investigated. Common sense says this person is not fit for work, doctor's evidence, family evidence says so. However, the points say NOTHING about pain, bleeding, dizziness, nausea etc. The points say 'Can you walk 50m'? 'Can you put your hand on your head?' 'Can you pick up a pint of milk'. If you can do all those things but you're in constant pain or feel very poorly, you will probably score 'nil' points. There are 15 points to be awarded for specific abilities. Remember they are to look at what the individual is ABLE to do, not their disability.
This is regardless of whether the staff are lying or not.

My point is that it's not the staff that need looking at, it's government policy around disability and benefits we need to focus on. No matter how wonderful the staff may be, they can't award points where there is no where to award them.

Law in action a couple of weeks ago had a feature on the tribunal process. I thought it was very reassuring. You can listen again on bbc radio 4 online.

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/243337 this case is tragic, if people would like to sign the petition?

Another example: Social Care - son is at risk of self neglect without statutory support in situ and has been identified care and support needs in the following areas: nutrition, domestic tasks, personal hygiene, laundering, understanding correspondence, finances and developing and maintaining relationships. PIP Decision - although you are in supported living, you do not have regular input and they are not assisting you with activities of daily living. I decided you can manage these activities unaided.

My sister works for a local advocacy team and they have 100% success rate when assisting people with their appeals. Just wondering if any of you have anything lime that where you live?

It's disgusting, and all lead on by the popular press, cos 'people are scrounging'

Yes we do have something like that here but I think the care manager and social worker might want to tackle the next stage. If not and I'm doing it, I will definitely get help.

Sorry, that was to MrsZola

We don't have to deal with pip as my son is 9 but he recently was refused a reclaim on his dla (going from higher rate care I might add!) because he apparently no longer needs the care, doesn't need assistance and school, doesn't have a care plan in place at school and isn't under a specialist. He has and needs all of those. I was seriously shocked when the letter came through saying he didnt need it so it was being refused. Based on the evidence I have it will get overturned at appeal but I foresee a stressful road ahead.

Look these up: fightback4justice.co.uk They have a face book page if that helps, I’m sure they can and will help you.
They have a 95% success rate on overturn8ng wrong decisions.
I wish you luck

Ring up and ask for the copy of the medical assement report straight away
I normally tell anyone to do this a day or so after they have been seen
One you have this you will know what you are working against
You will find it hard to appeal without this
So get it straight away
Keep everything every single piece of papers as appealing will be something u May have to do every few years so keep a file with everything to hand

When you appeal Or do a MR
I found using the words
The Doctor social worker Care worker
Mental health worker et all agree that my son is xxxx and has xxx and will have this for the rest of his life
The only people that don’t agree is the assessor
So xxx amount of people with professional knowledge and qualifications all agree that my son has xxxx
But the assessor seems to believe that they are all wrong
Also you need to appeal each point. Don’t get emotional be factual
If they say he can do xx you reply with no he can do xx because of YY which is proven by letter from xxx

If he gets ESA and has been assessed recently send in that assessment/medical report as lots of stuff from ESA and PiP cross over

Also if his rent is going to be screwed up by no income
Apply for a nil assessment from HB
This used to be easy to do but may have changed under UC

I’m not a professional in This but I have helped several friend family members go through this and they have all won at appeal

Keep a copy of the PIP report as well anything you send them send recorded and also copy everything you send them
You will need this for future reviews and the more you have the easier it is to do
Also look at benefits and works forum
They have loads of really useful stuff on it

Pretty much word for word the decision on my son's PIP claim.He also has autism. We appealed (it took a whole year) and the Tribunal stopped when he had enough points for enhanced rate daily living and mobility so it wasn't even as if it was a borderline decision.

DWP turned up for ds's Tribunal but couldn't explain the decision at all and didn't have anything to substantiate the decision.

it is utterly disgusting. Two of my own patients committed suicide because of this. They simply did not have the strength to fight and these bastards are relying on this.
I actually hate and despise this government, they are evil. There is no other way to describe what they do.

My mum had to appeal after hers was cut off. The "assessor" was a psychiatrist. A psychiatrist sent to judge a woman with massive medical needs. It's like getting a dog groomer to work as a veterinary surgeon. One look at her medical notes show clearly that she is disabled. She won the appeal but ran up huge debts in the interim. Everything got non payment charges added so her backdated pay paid her bills but not the fines and late/non payment fees.

Thanks everyone for your support and advice in this. Have already sent for that assessment report Sosayi dread to think what it's going to say!!