Pip nightmare

[newlifenewme2020]

Posting for traffic
I have seizures so I claim pip. I came up for reassessment and my first appointment was in December. We were just walking into the assessment centre when I got a phone call cancelling it.
The next appointment had to be abandoned because I had a seizure half way through. When I have a seizure I lose my memory for a few hours so not point in carrying on.
Yesterday I had my appointment and had a seizure again so it had to be abandoned.

My mum on the advice of the assessor rang the DWP there and then and asked if this happens again (highly likely as I had fits in stressful situations) could she speak for me.

Turns out yes she can but this process which takes months to set up and my money stops on the 11th March no matter what. They suggested I make another appointment and hope for the best. They can’t do a home appointment in time for my money to continue

I feel sick. The first appointment was them cancelling and then the other 2 was stopped because of my disability. I don’t know what to do they say no matter what my money will stop if I am unable to compete the assessment process.

I have fibromyalgia, anxiety and suffer effects of post traumatic stress disorder after a traumatic birth.

Gosh you would have thought after the 2nd fit in front of them they would have awarded it to you

PetiteMuffin
I don't know why you are surprised. Disabled people have been vocal about this for years.
That IDS was awarded a knighthood disgusts me.
My son is autistic. We were lucky. He was awarded PIP following the move from DLA for ten years. He's fucking autistic - it isn't going to change. He had a lifetime DLA award. There was no face to face, the assessor told me she had an autistic child as well - so at least she had an understanding of my son's difficulties. But the assessor may be someone who is in a health field totally unrelated to the condition a claimant has.
Other posters are correct, the introduction of PIP is to reduce the number of claimants. The tory government has succeeded in demonising disabled claimants.
Anyone who supports them literally has blood on their hands.

Your epilepsy does not sound very well controlled. Are you able to get your medication increased and a letter from your GP asking them to delay until it’s working better?

Contact your MP and perhaps local newspaper.
This is cruel and ridiculous.

Also see GP

Hi I am a benefit adviser. I don't work for the DWP. They should not be stopping your PIP if the assessments were not completed due to you having seizures. I would definitely go to your MP about this. I would, without doubt, make a formal complaint to PIP also. Now the DWP have decided to stop PIP I would get specialist benefits advice. Try Citizens Advice or local advice agencies that specialise - if there are any. If Capita say you missed an appointment you should argue you didn't miss it. Challenge any decisions within the time limits but if you have missed them you can challenge late but need reasons why it is late and will need specialist help preferably. It may be advisable to ask for a paper-based assessment for the next assessment.
If they do a paper one I would give as much paper evidence as you can to PIP (eg hospital letters, GP letters etc) and point out which PIP criteria you satisfy then check Capita also see the evidence before they make a paper assessment - which they then pass back to PIP for a decision. Capita can do a home visit but you may still have a seizure at home I guess. You can google the PIP criteria. If your GP does not know your condition well you could explain to your GP how you satisfy the criteria as Capita may write to the GP. Capita may insist on a GP or hospital doctor letter to say a paper assessment is best. Get specialist advice if at all possible.

Also make a formal complaint to Capita.

If they are stopping PIP on the basis your award was to end in March and PIP think that they don't have enough evidence to decide on it and Capita say they cannot do a paper assessment in time for a decision in March then they should pay the new award from when the old one stops if they continue to think you are entitled. Though it may take a long time to sort out.

I’d go straight to your MP they really are the only people who can make headway in these frustrating situations. It’s a stupid system. I’m sorry x

If this is the case and you involve your MP and send evidence from your GP or hospital doctor to Capita saying a paper assessment is needed (it would help to point out how you satisfy the PIP criteria and give evidence of it if possible) then Capita may agree to do a paper assessment and PIP can decide on this without you having to be seen. Make sure you understand the PIP criteria you satisfy and get evidence from your GP or specialist doctor for the paper assessment if possible. If this is not possible then explain to your GP what criteria apply.

The first bit of advice was based on PIP stopping benefit due to missed assessments though clearly you did not miss them - yet I would not put it past them to do this. The second bit of advice was based on PIP stopping as your award was to end and they are considering your renewal claim still. The second seems to be the one that applies here. Either way - don't be intimidated. Get advice. Consider asking for a paper assessment. Get evidence if possible and get specialist help if you can. Look at the PIP criteria. Involve your MP. Good luck.

I'd contact them saying they've clearly made a mistake.

You had a seizure mid assessment and couldn't continue due to the effect of the seizure. Therefore they have everything they need to know about your condition. They know you require FULL care due to seizures which can happen at anytime.

Ask them what exactly they are going to ask you at the reassessment that cannot be answered from their observation?

Lastly - if you were not happy about the way the past Capita assessments were conducted and how you were treated in the assessment then complain to Capita and the MP. If they insist on seeing you again for a face-to-face assessment then complain if you have concerns about how the next assessment was conducted. Never be afraid to complain to Capita. Get advice to help you complain to Capita. I have complained a number of times about Capita assessors and it was never held against the complainant but always get advice and help with it if you decide to do it. Again - good luck and don't be scared or intimidated.

PIP decisions are made partly on the basis of people satisfying activities/descriptors/getting points. Different to the criteria for DLA. You have already had an award of PIP so they must have thought you scored enough last time so that is a positive. In terms of the daily living component, you would have an argument based on supervision needed doing daily living activities but may score points for other things too. It's always a good idea to Google the activities and descriptors and look at the Citizens Advice information.

This is the first time I’ve wanted a thread picked up by the press. Disabled people have been attacked like this for years. I still suffer from the effects of 3 WCAs in 3 years and am so thankful I don’t need ESA anymore. I haven’t yet had my DLA changed to PIP but I won’t go through with it when they ask as DH earns enough now for me live without rather than go through the horror. Others will continue to suffer however. Go to your MP, complain to everyone x

I said don't be scared or intimidated. I know it's not that easy. I meant - try not to feel scared or intimidated. It is very frustrating. But keep going.

It could be worth requesting a home visit for your assessment. They are really against doing them and often say they aren't allowed to. However, I have had every ESA and pip assessment done at home, after giving reasonable grounds as to why it is unreasonable to expect me to attend an assessment centre. This could be an option, to ensure the assessment can be carried out.

I would also do as someone else advised, and write an outlined letter to your MP, I've had to do this a few times and although not directly helpful in my case in can be helpful further down the line should you need it.
I would also request anything you are being told verbally over the phone to be confirmed in writing (yes they must do this) and then confirm any action you take and any reasons you have for failing to compete an assessment in writing to DWP PIP as well.

I had multiple assessment issues and disagreements with atos at the time, but as I had documented everything and confirmed everything at the time with DWP, atos didn't have a leg to stand on. And reverting was resolved in the end.

Remember though it is not the assessment company that controls the benefit decision that is solely DWP, so if you keep DWP informed as to why an assessment wasn't completed and, if possible, supply a doctor's letter in support, then they will usually support you in reorganising it. Also remember it is DWPs legal obligation to make reasonable adjustments and consider a disabled persons difficulties. I have often found them to be helpful, despite it taking several years and 2 appeals to resolve my claim. Good luck, I hope you get things sorted out ok.

I have attended a number of assessments with clients and each time I have been told not to speak and have seen relatives ' shushed' by the assessor too. It's terrible because sometimes people are just so anxious or breathless they cannot speak. I had one client who could barely move due to spinal fractures and osteoporosis and the assessor had her holding onto the door frame and bending down. I explained to the client she did not need to do anything that was going to cause her more pain but she tried to do as she was told.

Yes, some assessors do this and they should not. People who accompany the person being assessed could voice concerns during the assessment to the assessor that they have not been allowed to support the person they are helping who may be very nervous or scared and if things do not improve ask the assessor to record the concern. Also anyone has the right to complain. Nothing changes if nothing is challenged. Though it is hard to assert oneself when feeling in a vulnerable position.

I am currently waiting for tribunal for Pip i had dla for life awarded decades ago yet I was refused pip i feel I am being "punished" for having the audacity for stil being alive they are a fucking disgrace !

The only way I managed to deal with the stress of it all was to imagine I was doing this for a friend and supporting them, seeing it as a 'case' rather than taking it personally. Just looking at going through the errors and correcting them politely, but showing how wrong they were...and explaining any issues.

Just ploughing on really and seeing the Appeals as the real decision makers, and not missing any deadlines for putting in the MR and Appeal.

the MR stage was the worst for me as they took ages, months and this stops you going on to the Appeal.

My home assessment didn't record my DH as being there at all, (he did have to take a phone call during the assessment though so was not there for part of it). Didn't take his details down on the form.

they tried the sneaky tricks of phoning and asking me for directions etc (they do this to say you can plan journeys etc) Dh answered them for that though, (they seemed disappointed)

The DWP have cured my son of his disability. He had a lifetime award of DLA. He scored no points in his PIP. They do not deem him to be disabled because he knew that if you bought something for 75p gave a £1 you would get 25p change. This means, apparently, that he has no problems at all. We are using Fightback. I am very stressed. Fucking system.

It is so stressful @Flyingarcher well done on your son being able to count though arseholes that they are ! It was noted on my assesment I was well nourished I didn't really know what to say !

Formal complaint to DWP, formal complaint to Capita re the first cancelled appointment and get your MP involved. Ask for an urgent assessment, ideally at your home to reduce the stress as much as possible and hopefully prevent you having a seizure.

It is perfectly possible to get a PIP award without the assessment process being completed, I have accompanied clients to assessments where this has happened. In both cases, the clients were so unwell mentally they couldn't engage with the assessment process. (Actually, I'm doubting myself now - that was a few years ago and they may have changed their practice since then).

Strictly speaking, though, they're sort of right. If you had your seizure when they were asking you the questions relating to descriptor 4, they can't assess your abilities with regards to descriptors 5-10. The PIP assessment process is very mechanistic, eg they're not allowed to say you can't bathe safely without supervision because they know you have seizures, they have to actually ask you about bathing.

It's absurdly inflexible. Please get some specialist advice (the Epilepsy Society might be able to help) as it seems absurd that the existing award will have to terminate before the reassessment has been completed, through no fault of your own. Still, absurd is not uncommon when it comes to benefit matters.

And I hope those people that think that people can get PIP when there's fuck all wrong with them read this and see how people with very real and significant needs are losing out because of this obsession with leadswingers who are in such tiny, tiny numbers as to be statistically insignificant.