Pip assessment

I had mine on the 13th and a text on the 21st of September, heard nothing since but I'm told it can take weeks for the actual decision.

I didn't know whether to ring them but decided not too in case like you said maybe they would think I was badgering them and put off telling me, or is that paranoia LOL

Hi yes I was told by the assessor that he'd be submitting the report later that day but id expect to wait 6-8 weeks for a decision....was just wondering why they text some people and not others 😌 they can't possibly need anymore info they've every consultant and scan letters ...I'll give it a week and ring 😊 good luck with your claim

Had my face to face home assessment Monday. Just received a message that all info received. Wonder how long till I get a letter. Is it a bad thing it's been received so quick I don't know :-/ worry mode again now

Fingers crossed for good news i had my assesment Tuesday but not received any news or notification . But i wish you well and hope you get some good news  

I've just joined this forumn  so as to relate our own experiences about PIP assesment and hopefully put a few minds at ease about waiting for the dreaded results.  

When you recieve a letter from ATOS explaining about the consulatation you are about to have, on the back of it (page4) under frequently asked questions it mentions that you can ask for a copy of the conulatation report if you phone : ATOS on 0345 850 3322   or   0345 601 6677.

The second we came home from the consultation we phoned up and within 1 week we had a full copy of the report  and each categaroy marked.  You can then compare that mark with the score sheet available on the PIP or citizens advice website and we were then 99% confident of the result.   The actual dreaded brown envelope with the official notification didnt arrive for another 8 weeks !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   but Yes! it was exactly as we had allready found out to the exact detail.  . My wife recieved standard rate for care and enhanced rate for mobilty.    

SO DONT SIT WAITING FOR WEEKS WORRYING.  IT IS POSSIBLE TO BYPASS THE SYSTEM !!!!!!!!!!!!! (but they wont broadcast it to loudly)

I would strongly recomend that anyone going for a PIP assesment phones up for a copy of the report immediately they get home.    It will save weeks of worry.  We would have been worrying all the time we were on holiday if we hadnt bypassed the system.   Why it takes so long for the DWP to actually inform people goodness only knows.

The other things we did (apologies if mentioned before on here  but we contacted social services when we knew the assesment was coming up and got them to come out to the house with their recomendations and then sent a copy of that with the PIP form.  Try and keep every Doctors report, hospital report (dont worry about asking for them) and send them off.   We  sent about 15 attached documents going back years with the completeed form.   

Also at the last minute before going of to the assesment I took photos on my phone of grabrails around the house,and,also  the bathroom with the  powered bath lift.   The assesor said she couldnt really take them into account as they were on my phone and not recorded down BUT the point is she had to  look at them as I put them in front of her and its anything to help sway their decision. 

Hope this helps .

I had my assesment done Tuesaday just phoned up to get the report but they dont have my report yet and i cant request it till they have it

 

They should have the report  certainly within a few days so keep on at them.  When I phoned for the report (as I said in my post ,literally on getting home from the assesment)  they said they would send it as soon as it came from the assesor and they were as good as their word.   It came within a week.    

It really can be a stressfull time waiting for the dreaded results and if this is a way around the wait then I really hope as many people know about it as possible.

What does the report look like?

Does it have the points you scored on?

The main part of the report runs in exactly the same order as the PIP questionare that you fill out.  

Ie: (No 1)...Preparing food..  (No2)... Taking nutrition   etc, etc

The box is then ticked that applys to you.   She then gives her reasons underneath for why she has ticked that box.  The points scored are not on there but  as I said in my previous post just get the scoresheet up from the PIP website or the CAB website and work out your score from the boxes ticked . It really is foolproof and saves all the stressfull waiting.  

The other piece of advice I would allways say (I guess many people already do this but ......) keep photo copys of your questionare that you have filled out and take it with you on the day to the assesment..   Again everything on the day runs in the same order as the questionare so you wont get any shocks and you will know exactly whats coming and what you have said in your answers.    I know this sounds obvious advice but when we were waiting to go in I saw others go in with nothing as in paperwork or files etc: (not unless they had them well hidden)

Again good luck to anyone going for an assesment.

The other things we did (apologies if mentioned before on here  [wink] but we contacted social services when we knew the assesment was coming up and got them to come out to the house with their recomendations and then sent a copy of that with the PIP form.

?You do realise that most councils have had to cut back on staff at their Social Services Dept? I don't particular think that the advice you give about getting an assessment carried out purely to support a benefit claim is reasonable.

?If every claimant took that advice that is claiming either ESA or PIP (or DLA) the system would be swamped and unable to deal with the more important cases that actually need help and not just a report to send to the DWP.

?This is much the same as using 999 to ask if they can contact a taxi for you.

?Abusing the systems to this degree just makes it more difficult for those that need real genuine help.

Sorry Les but I strongly disagree with you.   The last time social services came out and did an assesment on my wife was10 years earlier and things needed updating. Because of that assesment we were told that we needed a new stairlift amongst other things. It was the forthcoming assesment that prompted us into action but a new assesment was long overdue.   As for using social services the same way as using 999 for a taxi that is just ridiculous.  So how do you think about asking Drs to write out reports to back up claims as indeed the PIp ask for?   Isnt that waisting Drs time then in your opinion.     If your opinion was formed because a wink appeard in my post by mistake I didnt even realise that was in there untill reading it back and wouldnt even know how to put it in there. .

As for 'abusing the system to this degree' I find that highly insulting having as a carer and husband looked after someone confined to a wheelchair and who was written off by the hospital and not expected to survive 6 years ago.

I guess offering advice and experiences of our own on an internet forumn  to try and help others was a mistake.   

Believe you me youre not the only genuine person posting on this forumn. 

As for asking a GP for a report to back up a benefit claim - I haven't and won't. GP's are far too busy dealing with ill patients and time lost having to write a report eats into the time they could be seeing a patient in desperate need.

?However if you are willing to pay for such a letter at a private appointment, then that is up to the GP to offer that service or not - he will be doing it in his time.

?And when the DWP contact a GP for such a report he/she charges the DWP a fee for completing it.

?As for Social Services, yes I contacted them when it became impossible for my wife to lead a totally independent life at home. They suggested aids and adaptions which were supplied by them - electric bath lift, bed riser, perching stools etc etc.

?Once again their time is highly restricted now and in our area will only deal with people that they consider as being vulnerable and in urgent need that could affect a life.

?You seem to suggest that they should come out and check that everything is OK - in our county you would politely be told that it may be months before they can see you and only if they feel that it is absolutely necessary. The last and only time that I contacted SS for my wife was nearly 10 years ago and in my opinion there is little more that they could even offer her so why waste their time.

?I could give you chapter and verse on what I have been through both with the NHS and the DWP, but in doing so it would probably put you off even thinking about making a claim.

I can comment on this because my Dr wrote me a report without being asked, he also contacted Occupational therapist, physiotherapist and a social worker on my behalf, they have been amazing and with there support I have applied for pip, don't know whether I will get it only time will tell, but it does sound like some people apply for pip without any written evidence to support there claim, i would think there claim will be rejected otherwise we could all say whatever we wanted and as long as we say its real we should get the awards we want.

Everything has to be backed up by a clinical report surely???

But PIp ask you to provide as much details as possible to back up your claim..Are you really recomending that people do not support their PIP claim with Drs supporting evidence ?   I could also give you chapter and verse on what we have been through but suggesting that people do not contact DRs for back up reports for PIP claims because of cost is not good advice for anyone about to make a claim.    As for the suggestion that I think that SS should come out and check everything is OK, how come after they carried out their assesment we were told that we needed many new aids.    

I really think a negative attitude to PIp claims on forumns such as this rather than offering positive advice from people who have been through the system is not helpful to anyone. .

Well said Alexander, I also think that anyone applying for PIP without back up reports from there Drs are on very dodgy ground.  

Surely it must.

?But I would certainly not be happy if I needed to see my GP urgently for a serious medical issue only to find that I couldn't get an appointment because most of the appointments had been taken up by people making claims for benefits asking/being issued letters/reports to back up their demand for more money!

?What's more important, my life at risk or your expectation of a letter to support a benefit claim?

I've never asked for one as I believe that my GP's time is more important in treating the sick.

?Incidentally the DWP (IIDB) once wrote to my consultant psychiatrist asking for a report on my mental health condition. I saw the letter that he wrote back to the DWP and although I can't actually recall it word for word but the gist of it was " please find your request for a report which is returned in the same condition that I received it - blank - I have more important things to do with my time such as treating seriously mentally ill patients than to complete your form. I would suggest that you ask my patient  Mr ******* who will be able to explain his difficulties with you in great detail" 

errr if you want to refer to the ACTUAL wording on the PIP2 form, it asks that you ONLY send in what evidence and documents you already have to hand. It goes on to say that you are not requested or required to search for or ask for evidence that may cost a fee or that you don't actually have.

?Obviously it is common sense to get as much evidence as you can.

?As for having been through the system, I wouldn't get me started on that subject!!

?Had 18 face to face assessments in the past 21 years and all bar 2 ended up with having to appeal.

?I have had a long and colourful experience at the hands of the DWP since 1995 as the majority of users on this forum all know about.

?As for being negative towards benefit claims and PIP in particular that is not true. I fought long and hard for ESA, DLA and Industrial Injuries Benefit throughout that 21 years.My latest fight was for Attendance Allowance the result from that actually broke the camel's back so to speak.

I'm not sure how to reply to your post as its obvious from your own statement that at some point you have submitted reports to the DWP, these reports would have had to come from a qualified medical person, so at a pont in one of your unsuccessful/successful claim's you had paperwork to back up your claim? If that's correct, then how do you know that the 3 mins it probably took to send an audio request to his Secretary to type up report someone didn't need urgent care.

I'm not trying to undermine your advice/support I'm just stating a fact, that all requests for PIP/DLA requires some medical backup for the powers that be to even consider looking at your case.

Every consultant I have seen has cc me into the report he's sent to my GPs this is no more time consuming than sending one letter and I have yet more evidence to back up my claim.

I only ask for a result that reflects my disability, no more no less, and I think that the more physical proof I throw into the mix the more I'm likely to get some help to live a relatively normal life which without there help I am obviously not going to be capable of, so I'm sorry if my opinion/actions makes you think I'm wasting my DR's time or putting you in serious medical danger, I stand by my opinion that if I give the DWP all the evidence up front with my claim I want be disappointed when it takes them months to get all the information they need to make a decision in my favour.

Considering how long ive had my problems for my dr knows every thing and has sent me for cancelling xrays psycho mri etc so tbh id leave it for pip to contact them. saves you paying out £20 for just a small summary of your history . All i sent in with the forms was my percripons as im on alot of meds for different things

Les, Im not looking for an argument BUT if you have had 18 face to face appeals and 16 of them have failed do you not think you are doing something wrong rather than continually blaming the system.   We (my wife with my help) have been to one face to face assesment and it was succesfull therefore I think I am proably in a good position to relate our experiences and maybe offer help to others as opposed to posting negative information and worrying others about forthcoming assesments.

As for the letter from your psychiatrist stating he had better things to do I find that hard to believe.  Sorry !! but if a medical expert acted in that manner you should have complained and action would most cetainly have been taken against him.

I didn't have to pay for any of my reports/letters and as I said I didn't request them so maybe that's the reason I didn't have to pay for them, would the request for payment differ between surgeries.

But I agree if every letter requires a payment of £20 then I wouldn't ask, I would just have send in all the letters which I received from other consultants and health care workers who have to written to my GPs anyway to inform them of there conclusion as to why I am suffering with whichever ailments I've seen them for and I would still be taking up my GPs time because he will have to read those said reports especially if you are referred back to him for care in the community.

As for DWP having to write to a Dr/consultant for there opinion I'm sure that for some it would put too long a timescale on there claim which maybe would impact on there mental/physical wellbeing having to wait longer for a positive reply.

We are none of us experts regarding PIP/DLA but all we can do is put our personal opinion/strategy forward for others to maybe get some insight on which route will give them the outcome they are hoping for, so forgive me if my opinion seems flawed but I hopefully will get the result I think I deserve.

Best of luck to all those on site trying to also claim a benefit that is there ticket to maybe a more independent lifestyle and maybe a better quality of life as well.

We asked 2 consutants that my wife sees for supporting letters and both dictated them in front of us during routine visits.   Took them about 2 minutes and didnt cost anything.    It certainly didnt distract them from seeing more urgent cases.   2 minutes,!!!!!!!!!!!! I know their time is precious but .............................   Dont ever worry about asking for back up letters. You are NOT wasting their time and the supporting evidence is invaluable.    

Again take a look at Les's posts. .   18 assesments and 16 failed,  

Now whose advice do you want to follow.   

I strongly believe these forumns are great for supporting people but sadly there is a lot of negative stuff posted which can have the opposite effect.    Stick with the positive stuff, and good luck to anyone about to go for an assesment.    

"As for DWP having to write to a Dr/consultant for there opinion I'm sure that for some it would put too long a timescale on there claim which maybe would impact on there mental/physical wellbeing having to wait longer for a positive reply."

This is such an important point.  The claim and assessment process already has an impact on the mental and physical wellbeing of many claimants.  It would be great if the assessors or DWP requested the evidence themselves but we know they often don't.  It doesn't matter that the PIP2 form tells us to "ONLY send in what evidence and documents you already have to hand" as Les pointed out.  We can and should ignore that if we want to give ourselves the best chance of getting a correct/good result at an early stage in the process.

This is not wasting our GP's time.  If it prevents the extra stress and potential deterioration in our health that attending a tribunal might cause then it's likely to save our GP's time in the long run.  My GP offered to write a report for me as soon as I mentioned that I was claiming.  If my claim is turned down despite this I'm sure she'll write me a further report to counter any incorrect information given by the ATOS assessor.  I'm not feeling positive about my PIP claim but I will do all I can to improve my chances.

Fully agree with Scally.   Again i will also empasise: GET AS MUCH EVIDENCE AS YOU CAN.   YOU ARE NOT WAISTING ANYONES TIME.

We were sucesfull with our only assesment and we sent off 15 supporting documents from Drs reports to Consultants reports to Social Services reports and Hospital discharge reports.  

I felt really positive and thought my meeting went well and id sent all consultants and scan letters with my claim...its my 1st time claiming benefits but I'm now worried sick after what ive read on these forums 😌

Deborah try not too worry, just look at how many post on here with negative comments and compare that to how many thousands get excepted each year and don't even consider looking for this type of website, usually you get only the worst case scenarios on these websites but on here you do actually get some excellent advice as well.

Try to be positive and cross bridges as you come to them instead of imagining the bridge has collapsed and your going to drown, there is also the option of appealing even if you didn't get through first time.

Read and absord the good results.

I will do thank you 😁 its out of my hands ive done my best and hopefully will know soon but I'm not giving up...thanks 😊

Deborah, please stay positive.  Sending all your back up evidence and letters was the best thing you could have done. As I have said in my previous posts you really have to back up your report with evidence.  

Some people posts on these forumns with only negativity, Yes ! I can understand why but of course if we are meant to be supporting each other it really does not help to be getting .negative vibes. Remember the majority of people who come on these forumns are usually worried and looking for advice.  If everything has sailed through for them with a good result people wont feel the need to post on these forumns. 

Apologies for repeating myself but our assesment went well, it was our first and every thing worked out.and I just want to reasure people that assesments can be OK.     

Also, if possible have a read back of my post 2 days ago in reply to Icequeen when I said rather than sit about waiting for the results, phone ATOS on 03458503327 or 03456016077 and ask for a copy of the assesors report.    We did the second we got home and we had a copy within a week.. Then compare her marks with the PIP scoresheet available on PIP website or CAB website and you will find out your result.  Saves weeks of worry and waiting.    

Good luck. 

Thanks very much 😊 I'm so glad it all went well for you...im ringing tomorrow for my report....i rang DWP on Thursday and she said I should have a decision in 2 weeks or probably less...my assessor to be fair was nice...i gave him even more reports which he read and took notes on ....fingers crossed on a positive note I was awarded my blue badge this week....no problems at all 😊 thank you for your advice xx

Dont forget its ATOS you are phoning for a copy of the report, not DWP !.

I absolutely agree with you.

​I was replying to the statement that there is nothing wrong in going to your GP and taking up his/her time to write up a report whilst we all know how difficult it is for us all to get to see a GP with a genuine and urgent health problem. If you feel the need to ask the GP - do it privately and pay for his/her time, and not cause an even greater backlog than already exists.

​I was also replying to the statement that given the strain that Social Services are under nationwide it was deemed OK to ask for an assessment purely to gain additional evidence for a benefit claim.

​I then pointed out when questioned that I have done neither in the past as I know that sometime in the future I may need help from both of those health professionals and would not be happy if an appointment was being used to seek this evidence.

​If there is a need to get hold of this information or assessment - pay privately for it.

As for my own claims, I paid for copies of my files from the GP which I believe was about £70 plus I paid for copies of all of the hospital files which came to just over £300.

?As for getting copies from the consultant when they communicate with the GP I have only just been made aware that that was possible. For me now it is immaterial as I no longer claim any disability based benefit.

That's all I sent in too - my repeat prescription which runs into 5 pages every 28 days.

?Then when I lodged the appeals I sent copies of the GP/hospital reports that I paid for. 

I said that I have had 18 face to face assessments over the past 21 years. 16 of them resulted in no award so an appeal was lodged. In all of those 16 appeals the DWP backed down just days before the hearings were to take place. They re-awarded me what I had previously,

?DLA - High Mobility & Middle Care

ESA - Support Group

IIDB - 40% disabled.

?

?My own situation is probably unlike the norm. I have previously gon einto this on other threads. Suffice it to say that my name is flagged up by the DWP for probably a good reason. 

Yes, these services are under pressure but everyone is entitled to ask for reports and should not be made to feel guilty for taking up to much time. As I said it literally took 2 minutes for the consultants to dictate a letter whilst we were there !!!!!!!.  

By your own admission you have 16 failed assesments behind you. Do you really think you are the right person to be offering positive advice and support on a forumn such as this.

Sorry if that sounds harsh but people also need positive feedback and good information and not all doom and gloom., 

As for the matter of what my pychiatrist told the GP - in a way I agree with his comments. If he was to spend hours writing reports for the DWP this is time lost that could have been used to treat people.

​When I asked him about this he told me that the DWP pay him a pittance for the work and that he is under no obligation to send reports to the DWP unlike a GP. 

All GP surgeries have different policies. Mine refuses to issue benefit claimants letters or reports citing that they will only do so when and if the DWP contact them direct. Hence why I pay for copies of my GP medical files.

As I have said already, there is a good reason why I believe that what has happened to me has nothing to do with evidence but more to do with the fact that I have had difficult times with the DWP since the mid/late 80's. It is on record in their files what exactly they think of me.

?As for not suggesting positive actions you only need to read the posts that have been between myself and Anthony. Yes you must fill in the PIP2 fully and correctly and you must submit all evidence that you have that would help with the claim.

?My only gripe is I don't like to think that people are taking up the valuable time that GP's and Social Workers have in asking for evidence to help with their claim. If you do want that type of evidence then pay for it privately.

Hi Les I work for the NHS and you should always be copied into the letter when you see your consultant....any letter your consultant sends to your doctor you should always be sent a copy and never have to pay for them....its where ive got all my information to send with my claim form

Not everyone has positive results. To make people think that everything will be unky dory is giving false hope. Some will succeed some will fail.

You can only do your best.

?I will repeat - most of those face to face assessments were for DLA. I have always had the same award since 1995 and each one was for life/indefinite. Maybe you could give me the answer then as to why you think that the DWP decided every 2 years since 1995 to ignore the 'indefinite' status and demand a full re-assessment with face to face assessment? Each time the assessors report was like reading a fairy tale. "I walk the dog for 2 miles each day" - I don't and never have had a dog. "The mental health condition stated is not one that the particular medication is prescribed for" - The psychiatrist prescribes if for my mental health problems. " It is claimed that you have two hearing aids that were prescribed by the hospital, yet it is clear that you don't actually need them" - I had run out of batteries so I reverted back to lip reading.

"I was well dressed and looked able to care for yourself" - would you have me turn up dirty and wearing my pyjamas instead?  

Most of the assessors that I have come across were complete muppets and they were told so.

 

Again, you really must stop making people feel guilty in contacting their Gps and social workers for reports.   I believe its at the Drs and Consulatants discretion if they charge.   You really are not taking up time as I pointed out, 2 minutes at a consultation for them to dicatate a letter.

We all know time is valuable and precious within the National Health but come on ............................... .

"All GP surgeries have different policies. Mine refuses to issue benefit claimants letters or reports ...."

That's unfortunate.  I realise I'm lucky that my GP is willing to support me in any way she can which includes writing me letters of support.  I have a good relationship with her and she understands how stressful I find benefit claims.  I'd have been disappointed if she'd refused based on a blanket ban rather than considering my needs as an individual.  My GP's time is valuable but she and I understand that providing a report is time well spent as it reduces stress and potentially prevents a deterioration in my condition.

I also paid for copies of my GP files (it only costs £10 for copies of electronic files) but there wasn't much in them that linked directly to the PIP descriptors.  I don't think providing evidence solely from them would have been as helpful as the letter my GP provided.  That might be different for other people with different conditions and obviously better than nothing if you're unable to get a letter.

I'd still advise anyone claiming to ask their GP for a letter.  They might have a blanket policy to refuse but they might not.

I have no answers to your questions Les I was merely pointing out that its standard practice to be copied in to any correspondence between your GP and consultant....im sorry you've faced difficulties but I'm not getting into a debate over the workings of the DWP

16 appeals and in all of them the DWP backed down days before !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Really ????????????????????

 Yes really!!!!!

​If you are in the South Kent area and would like to see the history just ask - I have nothing to hide - I find the DWP rather tiresome.

It is NOT standard practice in the three hospitals in Kent (Ashford, Margate or Canterbury), Kings and St Thomas' both in London and the University Hospital in Prescott Street Liverpool!!

I have never had a copy letter from any consultant that I have seen in all of those hospitals as far back as 1995.

?However I recently found out that you can ASK for a copy. So it seems to work that if you don't know that you can ask for one you don't get one.

?Still this does not affect me any longer as I don't have any disability based benefit in payment since they shut down my DLA claim because I 'failed' to apply for PIP when told. Being over 65 - now 68 I don't have the option of going for PIP again. I did try for Attendance Allowance and was told a few weeks back that following a face to face assessment at home that I now don't have any care needs.

Hi Scally I think we have good docs coz my Doctor done the same for me and the hospital help me

Seems then that it is all a lottery if you recent support from either the GP or the hospital consultants.