Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask for positive PIP / DLA experiences.

35 replies

ItsTheSmallThings · 22/11/2022 10:55

Just that really. DSD had an assessment and have heard nothing but negative experiences. Has anyone had a positive experience?

OP posts:
Elmo230885 · 22/11/2022 20:30

People that have positive experiences are unlikely to make noise about it so you'll always hear more negative stories. Also with something like PIP, everyone who applies will believe they qualify without knowing the full ins and outs so if they are turned down they will inevitable feel wronged.

Afterfire · 22/11/2022 20:35

Positive here!

Both Ds and I accepted for high rate as ongoing awards, no issues whatsoever and neither of us needed an assessment- they judged it on the form alone and also spoke to my rheumatologist (I have lupus and lots of other conditions, son has autism and learning disabilities).

You just don’t hear about the positive stories as people have no reason to post about them.

MilkyYay · 22/11/2022 20:37

I know 3 families who have accessed it easily but all have severely physically disabled kids - eg reliant on supportive seating, mobility devices, fully incontinent, tube fed, on vast amounts of medications for comorbid conditions like epilepsy, unable to communicate without assistive technology. The money they get is a drop in the ocean compared to what they face caring for their kids.

NeedAChangeAsIAmSoooOuting · 22/11/2022 20:40

My sonsbeen getting DLA since he was about 5 way before his ASD diognosis. He's always got middle rate care low rate mobile. Never hada problem. Time to claim PIP soon though.

NeedAChangeAsIAmSoooOuting · 22/11/2022 20:40

Mobility sorry, not mobile.

LargeglassofRosePlease · 22/11/2022 20:43

I get it for my very poor mental health. I can’t work because of it. Had no issues getting it at all.

PickAChew · 22/11/2022 20:46

@NeedAChangeAsIAmSoooOuting i found the PIP forms so much more relevant for both my DC. There is no equivalent to the cerebra guide but the scoring criteria are freely available online so you know what's relevant and what's not.

Original poster
ItsTheSmallThings · 22/11/2022 20:47

If anyone has had an assessment how was it? What was the assessor like? Is it like an interview?

OP posts:
forrestgreen · 22/11/2022 20:50

I got pip first time. Enhanced for both. They rang me out of the blue to ask a few questions. Then got the letter.
It's now up for review so we'll see...

Tirrrrred · 22/11/2022 20:52

I have anxiety autism dyslexia dyspraxia sleep apnea. I got turned down, appealed and got the lowest and now I've reapplied.

Tirrrrred · 22/11/2022 20:53

ItsTheSmallThings · 22/11/2022 20:47

If anyone has had an assessment how was it? What was the assessor like? Is it like an interview?

The accessor seemed ok but reading the report made me think they had mixed me up with someone else. Lots of inaccuracies!!

Friolero · 22/11/2022 21:02

We had a fairly positive experience, DS was awarded high rate mobility and mid rate care DLA at age 3 until he's 16, so no need to keep filling in the forms until he's due to switch to PIP.

Windtunnel · 22/11/2022 21:02

I work in that area (not DWP) advising and filling in the forms. My boss told me they watch you the moment you get out of the car!

Asher33 · 22/11/2022 21:02

ItsTheSmallThings · 22/11/2022 20:47

If anyone has had an assessment how was it? What was the assessor like? Is it like an interview?

She didn't have a clue. Decided that my consultant was a liar and so is my GP. And she decided before doing an eye test there's no medical reason why I can't drive. Virtually everyone with my diagnosis can't drive.

It's more of an interrogation than an interview. It's supposedly to get more information. They do it to try and catch you out.

Got 4 points on care and 0 on mobility. Got it looked at again and got standard care and enhanced mobility.

GordonRamsaysBumCrack · 22/11/2022 21:07

My teen got awarded PIP via paper based assessment. After dreading the worst the process was straightforward. We were fully prepared for mandatory reconsideration and appeal.

forlornlorna1 · 22/11/2022 21:10

I applied in January, sent in everything I had evidence wise, consultants letters, physio report, occupational health report etc. had a phone assessment in April and was awarded in may. Got a copy of my assessment report and it was accurate and fair.

I think you only really hear the bad experiences online really

Afterfire · 23/11/2022 13:52

If you do have an assessment make sure you ring and ask for a copy of their report. You can then see what they’ve said about you and if you need to appeal it will help you.

FluffyPancake · 23/11/2022 13:54

Afterfire · 22/11/2022 20:35

Positive here!

Both Ds and I accepted for high rate as ongoing awards, no issues whatsoever and neither of us needed an assessment- they judged it on the form alone and also spoke to my rheumatologist (I have lupus and lots of other conditions, son has autism and learning disabilities).

You just don’t hear about the positive stories as people have no reason to post about them.

Did you automatically get an ongoing award? I’ve got PIP but keep only getting 2 year awards despite having a lifelong condition which will never go away. I’ve told them that and they never change their minds.

FluffyPancake · 23/11/2022 13:59

Windtunnel · 22/11/2022 21:02

I work in that area (not DWP) advising and filling in the forms. My boss told me they watch you the moment you get out of the car!

She’s half right. When they ask the question ‘how did you get here?’ It’s not to be nice. You need to say things like.

  1. I was dropped at the door by a friend as I struggled to walk from the car park
  2. I then used the lift the get to the second floor so I could have my appointment with you
  3. I parked in the disabled bay using my blue badge so I could be closer to the entrance as I can’t walk far
  4. It took me Xx mins to walk from xx to the front door as I got breathless
  5. My friend/spouse needed to support me in case I fell over
  6. I used a mobility aid to get to you

They don’t sit there gazing out the window as they need to be doing the assessments for other claimants.

nokidshere · 23/11/2022 14:01

I got PIP for the first time 5yrs ago. I didn't send evidence, I simply filled in the form and out my Drs details. The assessor came to the house, she was polite and friendly although quiet. I got the award for 3yrs. When it was reviewed 2yrs ago it was just a phone call, they asked me a couple of questions then sent me a letter saying I had got the award and it would be 'ongoing' and they would contact me again in 2032.

It was easy and stress free.

Original poster
ItsTheSmallThings · 23/11/2022 14:01

FluffyPancake · 23/11/2022 13:59

She’s half right. When they ask the question ‘how did you get here?’ It’s not to be nice. You need to say things like.

  1. I was dropped at the door by a friend as I struggled to walk from the car park
  2. I then used the lift the get to the second floor so I could have my appointment with you
  3. I parked in the disabled bay using my blue badge so I could be closer to the entrance as I can’t walk far
  4. It took me Xx mins to walk from xx to the front door as I got breathless
  5. My friend/spouse needed to support me in case I fell over
  6. I used a mobility aid to get to you

They don’t sit there gazing out the window as they need to be doing the assessments for other claimants.

Show quote history

🤣🤣 I have visions of some man in a black cloak and mask spying through a peep hole to see how we get out the car and up the road.

OP posts:
WolvesOfTheCalla · 23/11/2022 14:08

I had a fucking awful experience with PIP, including being asked if I was so depressed, why I hadn't killed myself? Never mind that there was evidence in the application of me attempting just that. I was awarded MRC and LRM anyway, without the need for an MR or an appeal.

Anyway. I was dreading DDs DLA claim. It took months to fill in. 16 weeks for it to be assessed. The only other person they spoke to was her MH nurse. I was surprised when she was awarded HRC and LRM immediately, no MR, no appeal.

But my PIP assessment vs hers - mine was horrific, the report she wrote was a bunch of lies that she must have just sat down and made up off the top of her fucking head. Her DLA was fine - the assessor didn’t ask any horrible questions, seemed very on the ball with her specific issues.

Afterfire · 23/11/2022 14:10

FluffyPancake · 23/11/2022 13:54

Did you automatically get an ongoing award? I’ve got PIP but keep only getting 2 year awards despite having a lifelong condition which will never go away. I’ve told them that and they never change their minds.

Show quote history

Sorry to hear you get such short awards. I really don’t know how they decide these things. Yes, mine was completely automatic. I didn’t have to challenge anything.

x2boys · 23/11/2022 14:16

My 12 year old son has been getting DLA since he was three ,got medium rate cate for 13 years! With Lrate mobillity added on at five ,however it became apoarent that his nerds were very complex so to cut a long story short i enedd up doing a change of circimstances when he was nine and goiing to tribunsl he now gets High rate care and high rate mobility under SMI rules (severe autism and learning disabillities ) just renrw3d a few months ago renrewed for five yeats which will take him up to PIP..

Legallypinkish · 23/11/2022 16:01

My son gets enhanced rate for both on PIP. No problems getting it. Forms were easy compared to the DLA forms, assessor was lovely.