To be scared of PIP assessment?

[PIPinghell]

DH has finally had the dreaded “DLA is ending you have to apply for PIP” letter.

DH gets contribution based ESA (he was able to work up until about three years ago). He is in the support group and exempt from future reassessments due to his condition being severe and lifelong (he has a rare neurological condition that is degenerative and I am now his full-time carer), this was all awarded first time around, no needs for mandatory consideration or appeals.

So for DH the ESA process was fine, but I feel really scared of the PIP process and that it may be a very different experience to the ESA one.

If anyone has been through this recently, please share how you got on if you feel able! Thanks.

Best advice I’ve seen is to tell it like it’s the worst day. Whatever you do don’t be brave or tell them you manage ok most days.

Don’t tell them as if it’s your worst day every day, that’s really bad advice and fraudulent. Have a look at the benefits and work website, it’s 20 I think but worth it with the help and advice they give filling out the forms.

Have a look at the descriptors for each category and try and Obtain medical evidence to fit each of these.

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/Global/Migrated_Documents/adviceguide/pip-9-table-of-activities-descriptors-and-points.pdf

It says on the form that they will contact professionals, they won’t, you need to send it to them.

This thread might help
http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/amiibeingunreasonable/3497761-To-ask-for-help-with-PIP-descriptors-and-regulations

And this link www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-assessment-guide-for-assessment-providers/pip-assessment-guide-part-2-the-assessment-criteria

Thanks both, Milton I will have read of those links.

No one said pretend his worst day is every day. You absolutely should say 'on my worst days its like this'. They will then ask 'what percentage of the time is it like that'?

The assessments themselves aren't too bad, its similar to the ones for DLA in that respect and most of the assessors are nice to your face.

But the criteria is completely different than it used to be for DLA, its a different benefit. Make sure you know what is relevant because the categories are different.

Absolutely join Benefits and Work for the guide.
It's £20 (prob can find it free if you are skint) but you will learn how to navigate the disingenuous sods.
I used it for my DB.

I'm in the same boat and found sending the report from ESA in helped, with PIP.

You can ring and ask them for it it is called ESA85A, it will tell you about the support group criteria he was given.

This site is helpful as the PIP criteria change. B & W tend to be up to date also with the changes. pipinfo.net

Try not to be scared, he should qualify. You can appeal if they give him a shorter award like 2/3 years - ask for a long term one. I got 5 years last time after a bit of persuading.

Yes, I have heard so many horror stories about how they can twist things and try to trick people. I have done loads of reading and I think I have a good handle on the descriptors. I may join Benefits and Work site as well. Luckily we are not totally skint so can afford 20 quid.

It's just so crap that any disabled person has to go through this. I have started writing out what I think we'll need to put on the form and it is so dispiriting to constantly focus on all the negatives.

It is 'for the majority of the time" and 'reliably and repeatedly' - how you are for those, which matters.

Don’t believe all the scary stories online. People post when they don’t have good experiences, they rarely post when they do. For balance purposes I applied for pip for chronic autoimmune conditions and had a home assessment. The woman was lovely and it was very straightforward, i was very honest about what I could and couldn’t do and was awarded PIP first time a couple of weeks later for 4 years. So yes, read all about the assessment process but don’t be terrified. It may be okay!

YY to horrible focusing on negatives. and support needed. Hope it goes OK and just keep going through MR/ Appeal if any problems, 75% of them are successful and you WILL win an appeal if they mess you around.

Appeals can also be used for stuff like length of award so if you aren't happy with it, say they give a lesser one than DLA or a short one, it is worth taking them to appeal stage, you never know they might ring you and make it better (they seem to not want successful appeals to go ahead and ring you and change it I find)

Orangeblossom78 oh, that's a good idea about the ESA85A. I have had a good rummage around in that PIP info site and found it very helpful, some of the appeals are a real eye-opener.

Yes and also include the DLA award and any other evidence recently etc.

As a PP said you may well find they are lovely and do a home visit, if there is clear evidence of it being serious etc. Oh and if you are there as the carer to talk to them also that is helpful.

They like letters etc from consultants as in just the letters you get after appointments and plans and stuff. Anything like that helps.

Orangeblossom78 yes, have a lot of letters etc so was planning on including them. During the assesment am I allowed to speak as well as my husband? For some reason I thought this wasn't allowed.

Fairylea it is good to hear a positive experience!

I went through a PIP assessment just over a year ago as a first time applicant - also neurological disorder.

My assessor was lovely, supportive and sympathetic. I was awarded standard living and higher mobility.

It was genuinely the complete opposite of what I'd steeled myself for.

I got the same letter about six months ago and I’m also in the ESA support group. I had my face-to-face assessment at home and I was awarded a higher level of PIP than DLA. It was absolutely terrifying and very stressful but I submitted a huge amount of medical evidence with the claim form. I’d recommend looking at the descriptors although I was surprised when the report came through because I scored points where I assumed I wouldn’t and vice versa.

Welshmaenad and JJXM that's really reassuring, thank you both for posting.

My mum has just been through this, she has a life long degenerative condition also. She collected a lot of supporting information from doctors and specialists and they sent a nurse out to assess her. She has been awarded the higher rate for 10 years. I would say get as much supportive information together as you can including an account from you about what you do for your husband. They sped the decision making process up for my mum as she also suffers from depression/anxiety caused by her condition.

My husband was present at the assessment and answered some questions I’d not thought of and that really helped.

You might well find you get more than with DLA if he fits the criteria for the higher mobility and care. Try and get it filled in well so he gets the best award and then a long award also. (from being through this twice and being successful)

Thanks again everyone.

Orangeblossom78 he currently only gets the mobility component (HR) of DLA. We kept planning to apply for the care part as his needs have changed a lot since the original claim (which was decades ago) but kept putting it off because of the hassle and worry involved.

I'm feeling very low today about it all. Filling in the forms just reinforces how bloody difficult things are for him day to day. He has tried so hard all his life to keep working and be independent, but it's now just not possible, his condition has got so much worse. The whole PIP process seems to be based on the disabled person having to prove that they are not lying and it's bloody upsetting.

Sorry for the moan.

My dad went through this not that long ago and I had to work from home to support him as he's prone to having seizures which can be unsettling for those who aren't use to it. He also has a massive amount of other issues so he'll never be able to work again.

They will ask you and your husband questions about medications, daily routine, bath routines and other things. Like others have said, tell it like it's a really bad day but don't lie, my dad was going to tell them a few lies, like he needs to be monitored daily and can't do tasks such as cooking which weren't true.

We were lucky as it was a past nurse who came to our home as we couldn't get to the centre and she was pleasant and nice. It's important to understand they are doing their job and hopefully will see that your husband needs the support of the money due to his inability to work.

My dad was awarded some more money due to his seizures (he had two whilst she was there) as they are quite recent so weren't declared on his last assesment.

Hopefully it all goes swimmingly for you.