PIP

[fandjango]

I've just got off a phone call for a PIP assessment. It felt a bit brutal.

The lady had a nice enough manner to start with but then kept saying I needed to just answer the question and not give her any background "i thought" she might need! Plus reiterating we didn't have much time and then taking an age to go over again how she wanted me to answer.

I'm not an imbecile I know how to answer a simple question but I have many overlapping issues where a yes/no just isn't possible.

I tried to explain why I was giving more detail and she snapped at me and I snapped back.

I don't think this is going to go well for me is it?

I got full award first time. Pip assessor was fine.

Dd (ASd) got full award. We had to take over form filling etc. Assessor was lovely and actually suggested moving her up to full points on communication.

Oh I see what you mean. As far as I know they didn't contact my employer or manager.

I didn't get a very nice lady on my call if i'm honest. She kept interrupting me and saying we had a short amount of time to go through everything. I ended up being quite firm with her and saying I am trying to explain my conditions and you aren't letting me talk. When she did finally listen she did apologise as she could then understand the point I was trying to make.

I had a copy of my application form with me so I could refer back to it and make sure nothing was missed off too.

Good luck x

He feels like he doesn't want to ask for money now he's been turned down. He's working, in a new role at the same company, mainly for mental health reasons as he's feeling useless, the look on his face when he can't manage to take our little girl to the park opposite, or watch our son play football is heartbreaking.

@Hotpinkangel19

I understand how he feels but it is there to help support him. I use part of mine towards a mobility scooter which has been life changing for me as I can go to the park with my toddler and be involved. He calls it my bike!

They are faceless people who know nothing about your husband's difficulties and that payment is designed to help people in need.

I hope he reconsiders and appeals it. I have now got a blue badge too and it also helps on days out with the little one.

What an awful system it really is

Everything has to be described as your worst day. You have to assume they are trying to trick you - sad bit true. Also do a freedom of information request with the DWP (you can do this online) requesting everything they have in relation to your PIP including the third party assessment (specify this). It's a real eye opener and gives you an idea of what awful people they really are. The assessor would have been really kind and patient, but it's the epitome of deviousness. They are not to be trusted.

@fandjango ok thankyou! Im sooo nervous! I feel like they are just gonna wanna try and push me down :(
what work do you do? Xx

@TiptoeThroughTheToadstools The thing is i may get 2or 3 ok ish day( symptoms still there but not awful)
do i have to say everyday is my worst day? Cause obviously when i go to work the next day is a day at home not doing much as ill be too tired etx. X

@fandjango do they already know your job etc before asking you? X

Yes, if you tell them it fluctuates then they will take your best day. You can't have a fluctuating condition according to the DWP, you're either shit all the time or fine all the time. So think about if you didn't have that rest day, how would you be at work the next day, would you be able to carry out your normal activities, would you be able to function when you got home etc. Think about how much you are limited by your condition, not the things you do to combat those limits. It's hard, but you have to think about what you'd actually be able to do in a day if it wasn't for your condition, so housework, DIY, work, kids, shopping etc. It's an awful system so you have to tell them what you are at your worst

@TiptoeThroughTheToadstools can i pm you please ? X

I think there are a lot of piss takers, and so they make it very difficult. Also if it was too easy, they'd have even more claiming it. My husband got it straight away, significant spinal injury (various surgeries, we'd saved all the letters from various different NHS departments - spinal, bowel, bladder, electromodulation, neurological physios, occupational health, a three page prescription list) etc. Been off work for 20 months at point of application (it took us a while to get our heads around the life changing incident and get the info together and apply).

You need to explain a worst day and how often you have these. Not answer the questions as if every day is a worst day.

@HairyToity so sorry to hear that, that sounds awful :(
im in my 20s and since ive been left with longcovid i have alot more of diagnosis . I used to do soooo much in a day. Now i have to work max 18 hrs a week, at my age i shpuld be able to work 45hrs a week like i used too. And even on a “good” day i cpuld cry as its not a good day. I have a little child qnd i cant even be a proper mum. Most of my family have my child . I hope they arent horrible to me on the phone. And im very private. I dont wanna be telling all my work that ive applied. My manager will tell them all :( x

Of course 🙂

Last year, they rejected me because i can go literally downstair to buy milk.sainsbury is literally just downstairs of my flat. You basically need to tell them you cant do anything

@mizuno35 thats do bad and unfair that u fidnt get it due to that. I go to work on my “good days” but i have no choice c

I've just had a tribunal today and it was a disaster. They did over turn the DWP decision to award me only 4 points and add in another 7 but it still
Wasn't enough to be eligible. The last 14 months waiting for this have been hell and I feel like I wish I hadn't bothered applying. I have Fibromyalgia, CFS, PTSD and depression and anxiety, in constant pain all day and struggle to walk far but because I also work (from home) (I have no choice) that's all They focused on. It has been degrading, shaming and demoralising. The disability expert even made some snarky comment about the fact that I have had my
Nails done (which is the one thing I do for my mental health to try and perk myself up)
I feel so deflated this evening. Never mind. It was worth a try.

@AcerPacer79 I'm so sorry to hear that. 💐

@AcerPacer79 Apologies if I'm wrong, but if you now have 11 points, why aren't you eligible for PIP?

@Smokeysgirl you need to score 8 or over in either or both of the 2 components so I scored 7 in daily living (1 point under low rate) and 4 in mobility x

@AcerPacer79 I am so sorry you don't have enough points. That is absolutely terrible, is there anything you can do now, any way of appealing the tribunal decision? This seems so unfair x

There's nothing else after a tribunal unless there has been an error of law.

@Smokeysgirl there is apparently a higher tribunal but it is very unlikely it would be overturned so I can put in a whole new claim from the start if I can gather more evidence or if my situation gets worse. I don't think I'll bother though as this was shaming enough x

@AcerPacer79 Do you think it's worth reapplying and getting more supporting documents together? what supporting evidence did you have? Surely, if you are only one point short it's worth reapplying. It's seems so unfair. I can't believe they stooped so low as to comment on your nails, no wonder you feel so deflated. I can imagine you don't feel like reapplying at the moment but maybe in a couple of weeks you might feel differently.

I'm working through the form, it's shit

I have spent loads of time working on cbt and other therapies downplaying my pain, controlling my reactions to it, finding joy in the little things

And all that work has been ripped apart so they can view the raw wounds, & pain, & trauma my life actually is

It will take me montha if not years to build up my masking, my public face, my coping strategies

& the gp have lost loads of notes/data/letters so my evidence is patchy

Thank god for the NHS app I have screen shot everything