PIP Assessment

[Itlooksworsethanitis]

Hi, I wonder if anyone could shed some light on what is asked during a first PIP assessment? I have put in an application because of mobility issues. I expected to be invited to a one-to-one meeting in person, but my appointment is going to be on the ‘phone! The conversation, I’m told, will last for about an hour. Obviously I am able to describe the difficulties I have, but why is it going to take so long?
Thanks in anticipation….

On fb there are pip/esa groups who can help you answer these questions and tell you what to expect. Join and have a look on there it's very helpful. Also look up pip descriptors.

Hi I received my last pip payments with no assessment for 3 years. I sent off my review forms and they have posted them to me again with no assessment, but with this new government faffing about with all the benefits I'm wondering if this is a good or bad thing I currently get low daily living and enhanced mobility. I'm majorly stressed and have developed bells palsy through the stress of it, any and all info is greatly appreciated

Generally speaking irregardless of whether you only applied for the mobility element I think they will probably assess you on all of it.

If you look at the form, basically they will ask you questions regarding each descriptior (so for the care part: can you cook a meal unaided? Do you ever help to take nutrition? Can you manage your medication/treatment? Can you cope with washing/bathing? Can you cope socially around other people, can you manage money etc).

The mobility part is really only 2 questions,
Can you navigate an unfamiliar journey unaided and can you walk more than 20 meters etc.

They won't necessarily ask you direct questions. They may ask if you can drive. They ask this, despite it not technically being relevant because what they do is for example use the fact you can drive to say that that you have sufficient concentration/navigation/cognition etc. they might ask if you have a pet. If you do they may from that decide you have no issues remembering to feed or walk them. And if you work, whilst working is 100% not a barrier to claiming PiP does your job contradict what you say you can't do? (Often having a job is a reason they use to justify to have sufficient motivation to eat/bathe etc).

That sounds like I'm saying they are trying to "catch you out" it's not that per say but be aware that the questions they ask may seem irrelevant but they are in fact relevent to them.

My advice, dont lie. And please for the live of god do not take the often offered bad advice of describing everyday as your "worst day" (unless everyday literally is a worst day). If it's a fluctuating condition give them the full picture, good/bad and average days. To be eligible you must have the needs more than 50% of the time to be eligible.

Submit as much evidence as possible. Any medical reports that reference your daily living/mobility/restrictions especially as that will give you a stronger case.

They will ask you about what disabilities you have put on your assessment form. Then they will go through each question you have already added. They might ask you for an example. They might ask you if you drive or if you go out to work. It might last less than an hour but they put 1 hour just in case.

No u don't get me they've decided without assessment again I was just asking if anybody knows if this is promising that I'll keep my money. I've got chrons, short bowel stoma bag depression anxiety van load of meds arthritis in both hands neck problems that needs an mri can't feel my right leg the list is endless

Don't lie but also don't contradict what you have put on the form.

No one can answer that question for you. How would they be able to? You have been awarded your claim for 3 years , you say, so all you can do is see what happens at your next review, like everybody else.

Just noticed that this is an old thread.

I realise that I was wondering if anybody had a similar experience to me no harm no foul

I very strongly recommend insisting that the interview is recorded, because if you are unlucky you will be unable to recognise what you said when compared to what the assessor has written down.
I was asked what my favourite TV programme was, and answered that I didn't watch television. The interviewer seemed disgruntled and as if she didn't believe me, which seemed peculiar at the time. Later on, in benefits forums, I was told this is because they want you to answer Coronation Street, or some other regular show, and it will be then used to "prove" that you have the "ability to concentrate for half an hour".
I am old enough to remember when they changed the mobility criteria from "able to walk 20 metres" to "unable to walk 20 metres" and everyone who have been on full disability for years who ticked "max 20 metres" to the question about how far they could walk got told they were no longer entitled to full mobility because their answer indicated they were capable of walking 20 metres. Someone very cruel had made that change with the conscious intention of saving money by stripping full benefits from people who needed them but weren't up to date with the weasel word change.