Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Assessment - call for evidence - share your experience

[EpilepsyAction1]

Thank you to everyone who sent in evidence.

Here is what we wrote to the DWP: epilepsy.org.uk/involved/ca...

[Rubiksolver]

Hi, I have had epilepsy since I was diagnosed with a brain tumor (partially removed) when I was 27 in 1987, I continued working until 1999 when I was sacked by Kwik Fit for having a seizure in the workshop! (I was a depot manager and was told that I was not fit to run the depot) As part of my job seekers allowance, I was given a DLA assessment, I was awarded the higher rate of care, meanwhile, I was unemployed until I started my own business in 2008 and as I was still having seizures I continued to receive higher rate DLA until March this year, when I had to go for a PIP assessment, I take Lamotrigine, Kapra, and clobazam and I have complex partial seizures which vary between one every 5 weeks or so and then they come in clusters of 2 or 3 a day for 2 weeks at a time. As I could not prove that I was having seizures for more than 50% of the time I was only awarded the medium rate PIP. My Doctor arranged for me to see the surgeries citizen advice advisor who said that I could appeal but she has had experience of other epilepsy sufferers who have had the whole award removed. I personally found the assessment appalling as the assessor obviously had no medical experience and was just following a set of pre-set questions.

I tried the government want your feedback link at the top of the page but it went to a Page not found.

[EpilepsyAction1 Partner Epilepsy Action in reply to Rubiksolver]

Hi Toffeedog

Thanks for posting this. We hear from people all the time who are having problems claiming PIP. The link from our post doesn’t work because the review has already finished. But we will change the post now., to link to the updated information.

I am linking you to the information we submitted: epilepsy.org.uk/involved/ca...

The government have responded to this and we will be posting information about that very soon. You’ll find that in our Campaigns section: epilepsy.org.uk/involved/ca...

I really hope your appeal is successful. It may be a little late, but here is all our information about PIP and epilepsy: epilepsy.org.uk/info/benefi...

Regards

Cherry

Epilepsy Action Helpline Team