PIP assessment

[stockden73]

Has anybody recently been for their PIP assessment and is it true everybody has to go through this? I do have all evidence GP,consultant letters,outpatient letters,repeat prescription,asthma plan,so I’m hoping with all this evidence they won’t ask my son a go,he is stressing already and he’s also not sure if he wants to go to this assessment.Any advise greatly appreciated

[Minushabens]

I have recently been through a PIP application which was successful. In my case, they did a home assessment but I don’t know why as it wasn’t anything I’d requested. It is true that virtually everyone has to be assessed and that the process can be very intimidating. Also, there are tales out there of people being treated very badly. In my case, and it’s only my personal experience, the assessment was fair & I felt listened to.

What I was advised through, and stats back this up, was that there’s a high chance of refusal at first & second stage, but a lot of people are successful if they see it through. One nurse I saw about something else told me that you have to just keep plugging away if you don’t succeed at first.

There’s a few organisations out there that are very good. I used Fightback but they have a monthly charge. Others can help though. Feel free to message me if I can be of any help.

[johnsmith]

Read what the law has determined on the point scoring. Seek advice from a expert on benefits in the voluntary sector.

[Minushabens]

Sorry, just to clarify as well...is your son the applicant or accompanying you? It is strongly advised that you should always have someone with you who you have talked to & knows your situation. Remember as well to focus on how the illness affects you; what you have is important but not their main concern.

[stockden73 in reply to Minushabens]

Thanks for this tip,it’s my son who is 18 and he’s not looking forward to this and he is doing everything to avoid going,so as you can imagine it’s a battle for me to encourage a young lad to gouge was awarded the high level about 4 years when it was DLA,but like most people I got caught up in the confusion of DLA and PIP therefore didn’t reapply ,so hoping they will check his previous records to read he was awarded this sometime ago.Im just as nervous I think.Anyway will keep you posted on our success

[Tinytune in reply to stockden73]

You can ask that they look at previous applications / awards. I applied for my daughter who was transferring from DLA to PIP a few weeks ago and sent my old applications (which were successful) off, I had kept copies of everything, she was age 10 when I first applied and 21 now but much of what she was awarded for originally is still the case. It is extremely likely that there will be a face to face. My son, who has autism and attends a specialist school, had many reports from all of his therapists, psychs etc... and avoided the assessment but for my daughter there isn't so much evidence so I imagine they will request an assessment. I did say it will have to be at home but we shall see what they decide to do. Good luck

[geoffreythompson]

go for it,mine was breeze and l ended up better off

[Jackwabbit]

As others have said you do need to attend, otherwise the application for PIP will be rejected, from experience they don't always take any notice of any medical history. We have had to go through this a number of times with our son, who is autistic & has panic attacks & will not leave the house on his own. First time he went was a terrible experience, where the assessor didn't listen to anything & tried to trick him into saying what they wanted to hear. When he & ourselves didn't say what they wanted they just made it up on the report. I was able to pick up 36 comments on the report that were inaccurate & tried for an appeal. They rejected the appeal so we took it to a tribunal, where they not only found in his favour but also at the higher level. We had to go through this twice before we saw someone at the 3rd assessment that understood his problems & could see the state he was in & told us to insist on a home visit in future. None have been very pleasant, in fact they have been very embarrassing, upsetting & stressful for him & us but in the end worth doing. Don't hold back on anything!

[strongmouse]

When the application is sent in if your son has a condition which means he doesn't easily cope with stressful situtaions then you can ask for your GP to write a letter confirming this.

They do seem to ask for a face to face assessment in most cases, but not always. It is worth seeing if there is any benefits advocacy service locally. The Citizens Advice Bureau may be able to help.

citizensadvice.org.uk/benef...

Be as informed as possible about the new criteria as it is different to the DLA. If your son has to go to a face to face assessment it will help if someone goes through the process with him beforehand so that he knows what to expect.

I was transferred from DLA to PIP and in the end it went much better than I expected although I had a face to face asssessment. All the best to you.

[Elspe]

First, all the written evidence you have is likely to be ignored!

Second, you MUST attend or they simply refuse you.

The process is intimidating and when my hubby and son were "assessed" no notice at all was taken of their evidence except to tell my son (autistic since birth and was on long-term disability benefit for life according the the people assessing DLA) that his presence would not be required for interview as he clearly was not disabled enough to receive ANY PIP. Hubby's interview was unpleasant and patronizing - "you can see me sitting here therefore you're not blind." His benefit was granted but at the minimal level. We had to use a solicitor (RNIB) to fight them to get him a better rating. Agree with Jackwabbit - the assessor took little if any notice of our responses and simply filled in the form to suit her own decision.

The assessor her/himself is probably not qualified to assess you medically and is simply paid for filling in a form. If you can get a solicitor or someone knowledgable to represent you, (maybe on appeal) and are very persistent, you may find you can win through - a lot of people do. This is purely a way for the government to reduce the number of people on benefit, with no mercy or kindness or sympathy, by bullying as many as possible OFF benefits.

I wish you and your son all the best luck. You will need it!

I'm glad to hear it has worked out for some people, but everyone I know who applied felt very bad about their interview and assessment.