At last PIP date!

[FarmerD]

After 8 months I have PiP appointment on Monday.It,s in the middle of nowhere,it has wheelchair access but no disabled parking bays near the building.They really do make it as difficult as possible for us.Oh well the fight now begins in earnest!!!D.

[megannell]

"Finger's crossed for you Farmer, and Yes..Difficult they try to make it. But you will show them.. But!! Good Luck My friend..and keep positive...Megan."

[FarmerD in reply to megannell]

Thanks Megan.

[jimmyg23]

best of luck farmer hope everthing goes your way come on farmer lay into them

[FarmerD in reply to jimmyg23]

Thankyou Jimmy.

[butter-fly]

Go get 'em lad! No disabled spots seems to be really rubbing it in too. I guess they expect someone to be wheeling you in. Or just maybe parking is not an issue where the are. Highly unlikely but who knows. Hope all goes well for you anyway FarmerD. How did you weather the storms? I believe you are in the Highlands or am I wrong. Anyway heard it is still pretty rough there.

Good luck, Sara.

[FarmerD in reply to butter-fly]

Thanks Sara,apparently there is "long term" parking "near by", just means I,lol be even more knackered when I get there.I no longer live in the Highlands,lived in London for 30 years now mind you it,s cold enough here for me.The cold does,nt help with the breathing but I like the changing seasons.Hope you are happy and healthy,regards D.

[butter-fly in reply to FarmerD]

I hear that the more knackered you are when you are at your PIP's appointment the better, so maybe it'll work in your favour!

Guess I just heard you mention the Highlands somewhere in an earlier blog and it stuck somewhere in the little grey cells! You are getting the same weather as me then as I'm a Londoner of 40 years. (South of Old Father Thames.)

Good luck again tomorrow Farmer. May the force be with you!

Sara

[katieoxo60]

Good luck FarmerD on Monday, your right they don't make things easy plus they make comments like well you got here to spite the distance from the parking point. It is all aimed at seeing how much you can cope with really. You ought to have been assessed at home but this will at least show the strain on your health outside of the home. Best Wishes for a good outcome. Point out the difficulties with this venue for parking ect, I would.

[FarmerD in reply to katieoxo60]

Thankyou Katie,I will be pointing out the stupidity of not having parking bays but will have to bite my tongue not to launch into a political tirade.Regardless of my own situation the treatment of those less well off by this government is appalling.I think I have an infection so I,lol be pleased to pass that on lol. D.

[katieoxo60 in reply to FarmerD]

That's one way of leaving your mark so they remember you, I am sure you will be glad FarmerD to give the infection away. Agreed those less well off are treated disgracefully.

[Offcut]

Good luck do not get caught in the dirty tricks I have been told of. Think about what they have said and always tell them of your worse day as that is when you need the help and support.

Be wEll

[FarmerD in reply to Offcut]

Thanks Offcut.D.

[Dedalus]

All the very best of luck

[FarmerD in reply to Dedalus]

Thankyou!D.

[Hidden]

Hi Farmer,

I am disgusted that you waited 8 months for your appointment. I waited 4 weeks and they came home. I suggest that you give then

m a ring and stress that the effect of your condition upon you means that you will not manage to get into the centre from parking spaces that are not directly outside. The journey there etc are all too stressfull and will make you exhausted. This is a game on their part to prove that your condition does not prevent you doing what you need to be personally independant. If they refuse to give you a home visit ask them who can transport you. They expect someone to be bringing you and if, like me, you have nobody this puts a completely different spin on everything. When they ask you if you have help with eating, dressing, bathing etc, concentrate on the fact that you get far too exhausted, it hurts your joints etc to do these things. For instance, I am capable of cooking but By the time I have done it I am too tired to eat. Therefore, even if nobody is helping you now, you do need help to meintain your personal independance and hygeine. They asked me why, if I get so exhausted out of the house, I don't have one of those little walking trollies. I replied that I have nobody to lift it in and out of the car for me and it would be something to have to lift up doorsteps and pavements etc. They had not realised that. I also told them that if I am going to somewhere where there are no disabled spaces, the spaces are too far from the building that I wish to access, or I don't know if there are spaces I am now forced to pay for a taxi because I am afraid that I will not manage to park and get to the building.If you tell them that you can walk 50 yards make sure that this is 25 yards out and 25 yards back, with stops to get your breath back. With our condition is is mostly about breatlessness and exhaustion. The person who writes your report is supposed to be impartial and so they need to get all of the info on how this affects your life. The people at the DWP who make the decision are not medically trained. They are simply adding up points based on your assessor's report and trying to make them insufficient to give you the PIP. Good luck.

[onamission]

Hi Farmer is it Atos that are doing the assessment ? some parts are being done by another company and they come out to your home.

Good luck I hope all goes well for you

[FarmerD in reply to onamission]

Hi Ona,yes it is ATOS,I wonder if any British company put a bid in for the contract. D.

[onamission in reply to FarmerD]

No I don't think they are as we know labour took on Atos and after making such a mess the Tories said they were not fit and I can't remember the name of this company but they do seem better than Atos you get an a assessment in weeks with them and they treat you with respect.

I have been told if you are assessed by Atos and you make the journey to the centre yourself they automatically turn you down so make sure your better half goes with you and remember Atos are a I T company

[onamission in reply to onamission]

The company was Capita

[FarmerD in reply to onamission]

It is actually the DWP and Iain Duncan Smith that is causing the trouble by giving them the criteria for tests.I,m just worried that I may lose my temper,lol.My wife is driving me there.Viva la Revolution D.

[onamission in reply to FarmerD]

I can't remember the guys name but he was the one who did all the guide lines for Atos and changed the all the rules for disability he was labour and when the Tories got in he jumped ship. I admire your loyalty towards the labour party Farmer D but the fact is they are to blame for all this mess and the Tories are as bad for continuing they only stood up and said Atos were not fit for the job when it all went t**s up.

It looks like Capita will take over the assessments for PIP & ESA which who knows if they will get any better but what is a fact is how people like you and I have been treated by Atos and that Ed Millerband has said if he is voted in he will continue with Atos.

Please don't loose your temper I full understand your frustration and calling them for everything wont get you anywhere we need to vote with our feet and get the system changed back to what it was before Gordon Brown and Tony Blair took on Atos, I do hope all goes well for you