Help! My PIP assessor lied about everything!

[adammylove]

Hi Please can someone give me some advice?
I submitted a PIP application after years of suffering from headaches, the assessor has given me 0 points for everything, even though I am not able to open my eyes or function for more than half of the week. I explained I am probably going to lose my job soon but they said I currently am holding down a job. They said I am able to drive, which is true, on the days I do not have a severe headache. I feel let down that the report provided to DWP is not a true reflection of what we discussed in the assessment. Is anyone else in this situation?
Thanks

Oh no! Please stay positive, I don't think all assessors will be the same. From the research I found online, there are a good percentage of successful claims for migraine sufferers. I think what it comes down to is what kind of assessor you have. Your symptoms are similar to mine, along with the sensitivity to sound and light. So I am unsure how they have decided I am able to walk 200 meters, cook a meal, drive, read some sign and symbols, follow a journey, eat and drink in this state? But, Good luck I really hope you get the help you need 👍

I empathise with you because migraines are horrible. But I think it's going to be an uphill struggle to claim PIP for migraines alone if you work and drive and haven't tried lots of options.

I get migraines and am under the migraine clinic. I'm just coming off another medication because it's not effective enough, and I've been referred to another clinic for a new treatment. Treatments that have failed are:

Sanomigran, Propranolol, metoprolol, gabapentin, topiramate, aspirin, nortriptyline, amitriptyline, candesartan, Botox, fremanezumab...a couple of others I can't remember.

I get around 15 migraine and 7 or 8 bad headaches per month, but I still wouldn't be confident that I should get PIP for it because I can just about function as long as I take my zolmitriptan, naproxen and prochlorperazine, and life just stops for a while until I can cope with what I have to do.

Hi, I applied with the understanding that the decision to award would be based on the impact of the condition, not the diagnosis itself. I have tried many triptilynes, propranolol, aspirin. Currently on the injections which are expensive but do reduce the pain. I have 4 to 8 migraines a month. One episode of a migraine lasts 4 days. That's a lot of time and has a huge impact on me. That's from when the symptoms start, having the migraine, and symptoms fading. And that is my point, I am struggling to keep a full time job, even with a good employer. I went into detail with the assessor and explained to him the issues with my performance and attendance, I explained I perhaps drive once or twice a week. My decision letter simply stated I was able to drive and work, and that I couldn't be awarded. Everyone's migraines impact them in different ways, were not all the same.

Aw I'm so sorry to hear that. Glad she got awarded though ❤️

I think it's always really difficult to get a PIP award with variable conditions. When you go part time will your employers just allow you to work different days around whether you are affected on a particular day ?

@adammylove I'm not disputing that it has an impact, at all.

My decision letter simply stated I was able to !drive and work, and that I couldn't be awarded

Have you looked at the descriptors to see where you think you should have scored points?

It's going to be very hard to say you need help with taking nutrition for example, if you are working. They are not going to accept you need help to wash and bathe but are able to drive a car. That's what you are up against. You need to be able to evidence where you think you should have scored a point on each individual descriptor for your MR

It's not the condition you have...but the help you need.
Some people with cancer or MS or something similar don't get PIP because they don't need any help with their day to day care.. or have mobility problems.
So if you get headaches are they stopping you from dressing yourself?
Washing yourself?
Making a simple meal?
Walking less than 50 yards without pain or breathlessness?
I don't think you have actually read up on the points system for PIP or what qualifies you for it .

Yes clearly op can do activities when she is feeling well but not when she has a migraine. The key is proving the 50% of the time ruling really. I can understand how difficult it can be for assessors to determine this when conditions are variable like this. From experience it is just really hard to get an award in these cases.

Yes clearly op can do activities when she is feeling well but not when she has a migraine. The key is proving the 50% of the time ruling really. I can understand how difficult it can be for assessors to determine this when conditions are variable like this. From experience it is just really hard to get an award in these cases.

I think also, from having done several applications (successfully) over the years, you have to realise the terms that are used are very specific. For example 'a simple meal' means a meal cooked for one with fresh ingredients. So if, when I have a migraine, I can't cook the usual meal I would normally cook my family, but I could slice a tomato, grate some cheese, and make an omelette with it, that is 'cooking a simple meal'. It isn't the function I'd normally have, but it is enough that I couldn't say I can't cook when I have a migraine, as long as I had taken my medications and they had been given time to work. My head would still be hurting a lot, I'd still be feeling sick, and I'd still be really sensitive to noise and smells, I'd still lack coordination, I'd still be wobbly, and my decision making time would be slower, etc., but I could crack an egg into a bowl and pour it into a pan, then grate some cheese on top and slice a tomato.

You don't get weeks to fill in the form.. you get 30 days.
My friend suffered a stroke caused by migrains and got refused PIP..
Your condition needs to effect you every day not just some days or part of week.. you need to want help part of the day and part of the night.
Even if you don't get the help.. but most people who do get it have carers / and,/ or help.. if you can do most things yourself .. it's hard to get..
Do you nerd aids? Bath aids? Walking aids? Appliances to help you undo jars? Or put your socks on?
High chairs to help you up?
Someone to help you in the bath/ shower?
Seems like you're managing to function most days.

Hi actually you do, you get a month. There are many weeks in 30 days. Sorry, I'm not trying to sound like a smarty pants, but it took me around 3 weeks. And condition doesn't need to impact you everyday, its the majority of the time. Sorry, but if you ask any migraine sufferer, when you have an actual migraine, you don't put socks on, walk around, undo jars or use high chairs, yes bath aids i.e. hand grab rails for the vertigo and to help with the aftermath. Thanks

They will give you more time to complete the form. They usually grant a two week extension automatically.

There is inaccurate info on this thread but babyroobs knows what she is talking about and probably does the same job that I do.

I have done my parents PIP assessments for them for years now. Always get awarded the higher amount. I think it’s so bloody easy to swing and you just have to read the booklet and mould what you say. It’s all genuine, of course, they can’t work. However, it’s ensuring you make it clear that you cannot do something. The questions are sneaky. It’s just about being mindful of how you are answering.

I have many clients who can drive and work, who are eligible for pip. The pa4 often does come back citing those as reasons not to award, but that doesn’t hold water at tribunal.

Many are terminally ill or are review assessments, not new claimants for long term disability.

I was a new claimant for long term disability and was awarded enhanced for both. I know a couple of other people who've been successful first time. It does happen. I didn't recently fill my forms in because I was so overwhelmed by the process and they had contacted my gp had had listed conditions, what I'm like during appointments.

A pp said they disregard anything for more than six months ago, that's not true either, things from in my teens were taken into account because they still affect me now but I don't have treatment for it because there is none, Im supposed to be reviewed every three months for rheumatology but it had been seven months at the point of my assessment and almost a year for the mental health nurse that's supposed to happen every six weeks.

PIP is nothing to do with whether you can work or not. What on earth do you mean by easy to swing?

Proving the 50% of the time is going to be key for you, op. If you have medical evidence you should absolutely do an MR, with help.

Thanks so much, I explained to the assessor, that my migraines is very disabling for me. I can't stand, the pain in my head I described as being hit in the head with a brick, severe nausea, vertigo, visual disturbance blurry vision. My concern is none of this has been reported. Everyone's migraines affect them differently.

I do think that OP needs to check the descriptors. 1 day bedbound isn’t going to meet the over 50% requirement to get enhanced everything. If you can get out of bed, you will have some baseline capability for daily living and mobility. It can’t be none. It’s ok to say you have this worst day, but PIP is based on your average day.

You don’t need to be bed bound to qualify for enhanced pip!

That’s not what I intended to say, I meant they disregard any medical reports that are more than six months old as this is true for fluctuating conditions that can improve, like migraines. Obviously if you have a degenerative condition like rheumatoid arthritis or something permanent for which there is no treatment, they won’t want to see something recent.

Sorry to jump in on a thread. There just seem to be experienced people on the thread. Can anyone suggest somewhere to get advice on claiming PIP? I think my husband should be claiming something but don’t know where to start.

Thanks, my understanding was it doesn't matter if you work, if the conditions impacts you enough then you can be eligible. Also driving, there are many motabilty drivers out there on the road, they were awarded? It just feels so strange and I am definitely going to take it to tribunal if I have to.