PIP Assessment

[AmyFx]

So pip assessment, I have mine on Sunday 😬 is there any advice or things I should know? I have Crohn’s disease too. I’ve heard that they are not very nice people!

[FRreedman]

Don't worry what disease or illnesses you have, they don't count. What you have to remember is how difficult it is for you to do everyday, routine things, like making a cup of tea, doing your shopping having a bath or shower, going to the toilet. How far can you walk without feeling pain or very uncomfortable? Please do not over estimate what you can do and do not underestimate what you can't. Be honest and truthful, but don't base your answers on your best day, base it on an average or even slightly worse than average day.

[skit]

Hi Did you keep a copy of your application? They use that for the assessment mostly in my experience. Do not do anything without thinking e.g. picking things off the floor ,standing too quickly. If you need to stand to stretch because of pain tell them at the begining of session. If you are having home assessment do not make drinks for visitor. If you have to travel to centre then get someone with you and do not make yourself more sore by doing things you normally struggle with. Best wishes

[Hidden]

Hi

They asked me one question and then asked me again a different way round to see if I gave the same Ani, which I did cos I'd been warned 😁 good luck Lynne xxxx

[Merrrm]

Hi, i'm looking into PIP myself but stress/anxiety exacerbates my fibro massively. Just the application form fills me with dread.

[trudym]

My assessors (I've seen 3 over the years) have all been nice to me during the f2f, but then written bullsh*t in their reports & ive had to go through the stress of mandatory consideration & even an appeal. They are the devil in disguise 😈

[Farmerboy]

Hello and welcome, Firstly filling in the application form giving as much detail how the applicants illnesses, disability affect their daily lives in relation to the PIP descriptors. Suppling up to date medical and supportive evidence that will comfirm you abilities to or not meet the PIP descriptors. Keep copies of any information documents reports evidence you send to DWP as sometimes they get lost or mislaid. On or at your assessment t if you need or use aids use them don’t just give yes or no answers let the acessor re ask the questions to allow you to answer describing why you can or cannot do the descriptors being decused, in reference to the physical examination do not do any movements that cause you pain discomfort or aggregate your condition. Be aware of the memory games they play being able to remember things from your past will indicate to the acessor your mental state even though your just talking about things which have nothing to do with the current part of the assessment . Be aware there are CCVTs outside and in and around the the assessment center, the acessor know the distances from the nearest car parks, bus stop waiting rooms to their assessment office so if yo can walk from the bus stop or car park or easily from the waiting room to the office these distances will be noted and recorded. And lastly having had your Face to a Face assessment about a week afterwards ring DWPmand request a copy of your assessment report which takes about 14 days to arrive one requested. On receiving it you can and should be able to work out what your award may, should be as the decmakers at DWP usually go with the assessment report, but you still have to wait for the official award letter notification. If it’s not what you expect then having the report early has given you time to prepare starments ready for submission for an MR which has to be made with 30 days of receding the award letter can be done by phone but best followed up by a postal request.

[waylay]

They're not all horrid - I had 1 great one, 2 unpleasant and poor reports, and the last guy was just... Well, my complaint about him is 39 pages. You may get a really good one, who knows?

The thing is, they all seem to be in a huge rush - they're extremely behind, and getting pressure to catch up. Some take bonuses to do extra assessments, then rush through all of them. They also get pressured if they recommend more people get awards than the norm in their area (which is ridiculous, but too long to explain here).

[waylay]

Oops. Part 2.

1. Don't let them rush you (can be difficult!)

2. If they ask a leading question, ex. "You can make yourself dinner, right?", don't say yes. Restart the subject: "Cooking is difficult..."

3. In fact, for any question, unless it would be 100% correct to just answer, "Yes" or "No", add more. "Yes, but only...", "Sometimes...", or my favourite, "As it says in my form..."

4. Take a copy of your form with you. If you get flustered or can't remember, you can check.

5. If you need a break you can ask for one. They may say no, however (but they're supposed to say yes!)

6. Prepare, dress, respond and behave the way you usually do. Try not to be suspicious/angry/adversarial (unless that's how you always are, obviously). Politeness can help, and if you do get very adversarial they can end the assessment.

7. If they don't ask anything about a PIP activity you think you should get points for, ask them why. They may have enough info to decide what points to give you for that activity. Or they may not think it applies to you at all.

8. Bring a short list of the most important points they need to understand. Make sure (as much as possible) that they really do understand them. These shouldn't be copies of the descriptors you think you should get (ex. "I cannot walk 50m on a level surface without an increase in my pain, safely, repeatedly...."). They should be important functional issues/effects.

For example, here's one I should have used: The worst part of my chronic pain is the back spasms, since they're by far the most painful, mobility-impairing and unpredictable aspect of my pain, I pace carefully to avoid triggering them, and most of the meds I take are for spasms. My last assessor missed them out entirely. 0 points. I should have said something like, "I just want to make sure that you understand that the worst aspect of my pain is my back spasms. Here's why."

9. If your conditions vary/fluctuate, make sure you say so!!

Good luck!!