Received a copy of my assessment for PIP...
Posted , 7 users are following.
Yesterday I received the good news that I have been successful in claiming PIP so when a copy of my face to face assessment arrived this morning I wasn't too worried about reading it. The assessor had scored me enough points to receive both care and mobilty at enhanced rates and thankfully the DWP agreed!
Anyway a few pointers that might help others who are awaiting their assessments:
In the report, the assessor refers to 'observations' made by herself AND two other members of staff at the assessment centre - one was the secretary and another must have been someone who had watched me arrive at the centre (maybe from a window or from outside!) Luckily both of these members of staff had been honest and I was observed to have been dropped off at the door by taxi with my friend, walking with a stick and looking anxious and unsteady on my feet. The secretary had described me a slow and unsteady on arrival, looked in pain when I walked, pale looking, thin, casually dressed, sat quietly with little eye contact....etc etc I won't go into too much detail but the secretary had described how I walked, my complexion, mood, facial expressions, interaction with my friend, eye contact with her, etc whilst waiting to go in for my assessment.
Now please note: The secretary had been honest and correct in describing what I was like in her presence so think about how you present yourself from the moment you enter the doors! I am only warning you because whilst I was waiting for my assessment this young man arrived at the centre with his two friends and even I could tell he was 'playing up to the cameras' as they say! He continually grunted and groaned when he sat down or moved and he talked really loudly saying things like 'I am in pain today because my prescription delivery didn't arrive from Boots yesterday I couldnt go to the pharmacy to pick it up myself!' and 'I am so hot today but I couldn't get my t-shirt on myself!' (yet he was wearing a tight polo-neck jumpers, jeans with a posh buckled belt and lace up boots which he must have managed to put on AND he was waving his arms around in despair as he talked!?????) And also when the secretary called him to the desk to show his ID, he was quite rude and just shouted over to her 'I'm in pain, you'll have to come and get it!' She didn't look to happy with him so I dread to think what observations she would have recorded about him.....obnoxious, fake looking, loud, confident......maybe!
So just act as you normally do and try not to look like you are playing up to the cameras!
The report itself read quite well and I couldn't see anything wrong with mine at all. I think if you just make sure you reliterate what you wrote on your initial PIP application form then you should be fine. I didn't send in too much paper evidence with my application so I made sure I gave as much info as possible myself when answering each question.
During the assessment the assessor had made comments on the way I communicated with her, the way I looked, my mood, my interactions with her as well as my responses to her questions.
To end, if you have an assessment coming up, just try to relax and be how you usually are during the day. Yes you will be anxious - I was, and the assesor and secretary picked that up just from observing me and without the need to hear me say it. So good luck to you all 
0 likes, 161 replies
SLD35 TCup
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TCup SLD35
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TCup
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SLD35 TCup
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Thank you. I've read someone having it for 3yrs, so I guess it depends on disability.
TCup SLD35
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nicolette72364 SLD35
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Yeah maybe mines for 4 years , but I heard that you get reassessed a year before it is due to end.
at least I don't have to worry about anything for 3 years at least and they put me in the support group last week too , so hopefully that will be as long a time.
TCup nicolette72364
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yes I was told I was remaining in the support group for esa last month so it is nice knowing I don't have to worry about either benefit for a while.
TCup nicolette72364
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nicolette72364 TCup
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The thing is though with the PIP term length of 4 years , the assessor recommended that , but for reasons that are nothing to do with me getting the award.
like me getting my hearing aids , I have got tinnitus it's horrible, but she didn't award me any points for that anyway?
TCup nicolette72364
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nicolette72364 TCup
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Yeah so have I maybe they won't make it as soul destroying in the future , because all this just makes you worse,
nicolette72364
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nicolette72364 TCup
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Yeah but it's not the points I'm bothered about its just the fact it doesn't make sense.
TCup nicolette72364
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nicolette72364 TCup
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Oh no way would I query it , like I said it doesn't affect my award and I'm more than happy with what I got.
I just find it confusing that this is why she recommended the award length.
les59996 TCup
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One of the major complaints the general public had about DLA was that awardees were getting the benefit but were unlikely to be re-assessed to ensure that they were still entitled to it.
Their may well be consequences further down the line upon a re-assessment for PIP if you tell the DWP that you have had difficulties that you then rely on have been there for years and certainly at the time of the original PIP award. The question then could be asked that if that is the case why did you not bring that to the attention of the DWP at the time of original decision if you believed you were entitled to more points?
This is still happening with Attendance Allowance - once someone is awarded it for an idefinite time very few are ever challenged to prove at a later date that they are still entitled to it.Â
This to me is unfair and ageist. Age by itself does not differentiate from those that are genuine and those that might stretch the truth a bit.
AA awards should be tested in the same way as PIP is for it to be fair to everyone.
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TCup les59996
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les59996 TCup
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I fully understand TCake and understand what you have said about putting the info on the PIP2 from. I was only pointing out that if you rely upon these 'dismissed' diffulties at a later re-assessment the DWP could well want to know why you didn't apply for a MR/appeal.
It could lead them to think that they weren't that important or important enough for you to challenge the decison.
TCup les59996
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Yes, I defo told them on my written form. I wasn't asked about them during the medical so that is why the nurse probably didn't award me as many points for them. I have kept copies of everything so I have my evidence if they challenge me in future.