Leaving my PIP assessor job

BTDoglover · 2025-01-06T23:33:16+00:00

I am looking to leave my role as a pip assessor as I have come to realise it is that what is triggering my poor mental health! The job is terrible and applies so much pressure on you each day and then penalised for getting behind with targets when asking for help. Assessments are unfair and do not allow for a true representation of the claimants condition and the whole process is soul destroying I have come to realise. I am looking for advice from others who have had similar experiences in the job and how you went about leaving. I am currently off sick as of today as I really cannot face another day there. I am considering handing in my notice of a shorter period than stated in my contract but don't know if this will go against me. Thanks for reading!

Miley1967 · 06/01/2025 23:36

I've no personal experience but have known two people who felt the same as you for the same reasons and left. One almost had a breakdown. I imagine with the huge numbers of people applying, it will just become more and more pressured unless they can recruit more assessors ! Do you have any thoughts as to what you will do next? The last person I know who left the job went onto the other side assisting people to make claims. This is pretty much what I currently do also although I am looking for a change.

MeganM3 · 06/01/2025 23:43

The job market is tough.
As awful as I am sure it is, you should have something secure lined up before leaving. Unless you have savings behind you to cover all your bills for a few months. Or support with that.
The job sounds soul destroying, but you still need to keep a roof over your head. I suppose in this situation, any job would do as it can't be worse than the current one.

lovinglaughingliving · 06/01/2025 23:47

I left and went to work for NHS CHC assessing which was much more aligned to my beliefs!

nats2010 · 06/01/2025 23:54

Hey OP.
Sorry you are feeling this way. I left my NHS ward nursing job to do this. Ended up feeling exactly as you do now. Stuck it just under a year. Went back to nursing in NHS again. Took a while to find somewhere I was happy in my work again, but never looked back. I still however value the time I spent as an assessor. Came across a lot of learning opportunities and don't regret doing it - even thought it nearly cost me my soul at the time lol.
As other PP mentions.....try and have something else lined up.
Good luck OP x

Original poster

BTDoglover · 07/01/2025 00:00

Miley1967 · 06/01/2025 23:36

I've no personal experience but have known two people who felt the same as you for the same reasons and left. One almost had a breakdown. I imagine with the huge numbers of people applying, it will just become more and more pressured unless they can recruit more assessors ! Do you have any thoughts as to what you will do next? The last person I know who left the job went onto the other side assisting people to make claims. This is pretty much what I currently do also although I am looking for a change.

Edited

I have been on the brink of having a breakdown because of it. They feed you with one hand and take with the other, it's horrendous! I am part time there so will just do my other role front line full time again. I honestly want nothing to do with the system because it is flawed in how it works in my opinion. Very unfair and inaccurate. It's all based around targets which I feel is the wrong approach.

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Original poster

BTDoglover · 07/01/2025 00:01

MeganM3 · 06/01/2025 23:43

The job market is tough.
As awful as I am sure it is, you should have something secure lined up before leaving. Unless you have savings behind you to cover all your bills for a few months. Or support with that.
The job sounds soul destroying, but you still need to keep a roof over your head. I suppose in this situation, any job would do as it can't be worse than the current one.

I should have mentioned in OP, I am part time elsewhere so will jusy increase my hours there 🙃

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Original poster

BTDoglover · 07/01/2025 00:05

lovinglaughingliving · 06/01/2025 23:47

I left and went to work for NHS CHC assessing which was much more aligned to my beliefs!

I think the whole office working just isn't for me!

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DailySnail · 07/01/2025 00:06

I was an assessor as well. It absolutely broke me. As someone who suffered with mild anxiety anyway, it made me realize that there but for the grace of God go I. How easy it would be to be in any of those people's shoes with a few changes in circumstance.l. How much they just needed a break but weren't saying the right things or filling in the right boxes to get the funding. The constant pushing to do more and be faster. So dehumanizing.

I hated the job and I hated myself for doing the job. I honestly had a huge mental health crisis and it was largely in part to the job. Clearly I was not cut out for the role!

Original poster

BTDoglover · 07/01/2025 00:07

nats2010 · 06/01/2025 23:54

Hey OP.
Sorry you are feeling this way. I left my NHS ward nursing job to do this. Ended up feeling exactly as you do now. Stuck it just under a year. Went back to nursing in NHS again. Took a while to find somewhere I was happy in my work again, but never looked back. I still however value the time I spent as an assessor. Came across a lot of learning opportunities and don't regret doing it - even thought it nearly cost me my soul at the time lol.
As other PP mentions.....try and have something else lined up.
Good luck OP x

Thank you, I am a paramedic in the NHS also and have kept that part time so would just increase my hours again so I honestlydo not want to work the 12 week notice period. Is this something that you did? I am unsure whether I am legally allowed to end my role earlier 🤔 x

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Original poster

BTDoglover · 07/01/2025 00:09

DailySnail · 07/01/2025 00:06

I was an assessor as well. It absolutely broke me. As someone who suffered with mild anxiety anyway, it made me realize that there but for the grace of God go I. How easy it would be to be in any of those people's shoes with a few changes in circumstance.l. How much they just needed a break but weren't saying the right things or filling in the right boxes to get the funding. The constant pushing to do more and be faster. So dehumanizing.

I hated the job and I hated myself for doing the job. I honestly had a huge mental health crisis and it was largely in part to the job. Clearly I was not cut out for the role!

Thank you for sharing, this is literally me aswell! Did you just leave immediately or did you have to work 12 weeks notice?
The thought of doing one more day there fills me with dread!

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DailySnail · 07/01/2025 00:14

@BTDoglover yes I did leave immediately. I was prepared to deal with the fallout. But there wasn't any for me thankfully.

I think the turnover rate was so high for assessors that they didn't even bat an eye.

Original poster

BTDoglover · 07/01/2025 00:17

DailySnail · 07/01/2025 00:14

@BTDoglover yes I did leave immediately. I was prepared to deal with the fallout. But there wasn't any for me thankfully.

I think the turnover rate was so high for assessors that they didn't even bat an eye.

I am just wondering if they will pay me for a month whilst I am off sick, sorting out my own mental health as well as sorting out my hours elsewhere or will they say leave straight away!

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PIPnamechanged · 07/01/2025 00:18

Which provider do you work for?

i do the job currently too, and I’m curious about the targets you mention. What targets are you being given?

Original poster

BTDoglover · 07/01/2025 00:21

PIPnamechanged · 07/01/2025 00:18

Which provider do you work for?

i do the job currently too, and I’m curious about the targets you mention. What targets are you being given?

Its not a local company. 3 assessments a day aswell as responding to all the emails, carrying out amendments, training, meetings, working over and not getting paid. It's ridiculous, there is no regard for own MH struggles, just expected to keep up the workload regardless of whether it's a complex or simple case, so frustrating.

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Buttermill · 07/01/2025 00:23

Hi OP I am currently in the role and could have written your post last night. I've found it to be excessive hours, endless prep which is not allocated enough timing. Constant audits with each one being inconsistent and one battle after another and unachievable targets as everyone is not singing from the same hymn sheet. I also find it difficult discussing m/health so much day in day out it drags you down and the same repetitive questions are daunting. I personally find a lot of inconsistencies and over reporting and then the ones who need it are denied which breaks my heart. I think people truely believe the decision lies with us when all along we are told to alter and adjust without anyone else's name being added which I disagree with personally. Let me know how you get on.

PIPnamechanged · 07/01/2025 00:25

BTDoglover · 07/01/2025 00:21

Its not a local company. 3 assessments a day aswell as responding to all the emails, carrying out amendments, training, meetings, working over and not getting paid. It's ridiculous, there is no regard for own MH struggles, just expected to keep up the workload regardless of whether it's a complex or simple case, so frustrating.

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Do you not work for Maximus, Serco, Capita or Ingeus?

I agree about the assessment durations. Sometimes they’re just ridiculous and impossible to keep up with. I just let my next assessment be cancelled in those cases; that’s not down to me, it’s the fault of whoever’s allocating them and knowing they can’t be done in the allocated time.

Original poster

BTDoglover · 07/01/2025 00:26

Buttermill · 07/01/2025 00:23

Hi OP I am currently in the role and could have written your post last night. I've found it to be excessive hours, endless prep which is not allocated enough timing. Constant audits with each one being inconsistent and one battle after another and unachievable targets as everyone is not singing from the same hymn sheet. I also find it difficult discussing m/health so much day in day out it drags you down and the same repetitive questions are daunting. I personally find a lot of inconsistencies and over reporting and then the ones who need it are denied which breaks my heart. I think people truely believe the decision lies with us when all along we are told to alter and adjust without anyone else's name being added which I disagree with personally. Let me know how you get on.

Yep, i completely agree! It's terrible isn't it. How long have you been doing it? I have managed 2 years and have had so many times I wanted to leave but couldn't due to childcare reasons but have now managed to find a solution which means I can finally leave!

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Original poster

BTDoglover · 07/01/2025 00:29

PIPnamechanged · 07/01/2025 00:25

Do you not work for Maximus, Serco, Capita or Ingeus?

I agree about the assessment durations. Sometimes they’re just ridiculous and impossible to keep up with. I just let my next assessment be cancelled in those cases; that’s not down to me, it’s the fault of whoever’s allocating them and knowing they can’t be done in the allocated time.

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If I don't reach the DWP promise of monthly amount of assessments, I have to have meetings to explain why I didn't achieve the targets, I have to explain myself over and over to my non clinical manager which is soul destroying. They just see it as black and white which it really isnt

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PIPnamechanged · 07/01/2025 00:32

BTDoglover · 07/01/2025 00:29

If I don't reach the DWP promise of monthly amount of assessments, I have to have meetings to explain why I didn't achieve the targets, I have to explain myself over and over to my non clinical manager which is soul destroying. They just see it as black and white which it really isnt

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You must work for a different provider than me, as we have nothing like that.

No wonder you’re going. It sounds like they’ve pushed you off a ledge, then demanded to know why you’ve broken your leg when you landed.

Original poster

BTDoglover · 07/01/2025 00:34

PIPnamechanged · 07/01/2025 00:32

You must work for a different provider than me, as we have nothing like that.

No wonder you’re going. It sounds like they’ve pushed you off a ledge, then demanded to know why you’ve broken your leg when you landed.

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It just feels impossible now. I get that it suits some people but I do think you have to be a certain type of person to do it and I'm clearly not suited for the role

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Original poster

BTDoglover · 07/01/2025 00:34

It just feels impossible now. I get that it suits some people but I do think you have to be a certain type of person to do it and I'm clearly not suited for the role

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Who do you work for? I'm ingeus btw

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Original poster

BTDoglover · 07/01/2025 00:36

PIPnamechanged · 07/01/2025 00:32

You must work for a different provider than me, as we have nothing like that.

No wonder you’re going. It sounds like they’ve pushed you off a ledge, then demanded to know why you’ve broken your leg when you landed.

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Who do you work for? I'm ingeus btw

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PIPnamechanged · 07/01/2025 00:38

BTDoglover · 07/01/2025 00:36

Who do you work for? I'm ingeus btw

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Maximus.

There are lots of things wrong (the assessment complexity level being the biggest issue, I think), but yours does sound worse.

Do you WFH, or are you in office?

Original poster

BTDoglover · 07/01/2025 00:42

PIPnamechanged · 07/01/2025 00:38

Maximus.

There are lots of things wrong (the assessment complexity level being the biggest issue, I think), but yours does sound worse.

Do you WFH, or are you in office?

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WFH. It is interesting to hear how the companies differ. I was with IAS before the tupe

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Buttermill · 07/01/2025 00:43

I am under one year, everyone i did my training with with has now left already and people are dropping like flies 😳 we also do 3 assessments a day separated into 3 separate slots and allocated one hour for each call which always runs over especially if an interpretator case or complex case will take 1.5-2 hours. 1 hour is not enough time to gather all the relevant information for complex cases. I'm thinking of taking a pay cut and finding other wfh jobs. Can't return to wards sadly due to childcare lone parent with no support I need a basic Monday to Friday and to be available for school drop off and collection but luckily has school transport so I dont have to leave home or else I couldn't even do this job