Help with advice on PIP assessment

[Ardea]

I need help and advice. I am having my PIP assessment on Friday. I have Fibro, Rheumatoid and oesto arthritis and recovering from thyroid cancer. I have no idea what to expect or what they are looking for. I also have a bad back and have nerve ablation nearly every year I am so scared

[Ardea]

Thank you - I am taking my husband with me for moral support. I is hard as for most days all affects me - I have odd days that I feel a bit better but I have more bad days than good. I will try and answer as honestly as I can. Do they try trick questions? Do they ask to perform certain tasks?

[Badbessie]

Hi, People always try to look their best but dress how you would normally dress for a day at home. If you wear loose easy to get on clothes then wear them. They will ask you about good and bad days. Obviously if you are taking pain medications every day the answer to that is I have all bad days and a few that are better. There are ten physical tests remember you can refuse to do them if they are painful or compromise your safety. How are you climbing stairs? My wife's assessment centre was on the first floor. Yes there was a lift but could you get down the stairs in an emergency? My wife got a home visit because I basically said the building was unsafe. Do not let them rush you. Your husband needs to be got advocate and step in if you have problems explaining.

[Ardea in reply to Badbessie]

Thank you for your reply. Could I ask what the physical tests are? I find steps hard so a lift would be ok. But I think if something is hard for me then Iam not going to put myself in pain for them as I have enough of that already. I am dreading Friday and wait for it to be over

[Badbessie in reply to Ardea]

Most of the tests are pretty simple . Bending your neck etc. You will be asked to squeeze the assessors hand. Lift arms. You many be asked to stand on toes or lift one leg. As I said if it causes you pain or you cannot do it repeatedly and safely you are well within your rights to say no. I know it's easy to say but try not to worry.

[Ardea in reply to Badbessie]

Thank you - it helps to know what to expect

[papakebo75]

Turn up with greasy hair and no makeup whatsoever,dress down in something like joggers and jumper,USE Your walking stick or crutches put on tour wrist supports etc,Have your Husband with u at all times and walk slowly into interview and on exiting, do not accept any drinks of water etc if offered and refuse any medical 'assessment ' at end,have no buttons on show in your clothing or zips so leave jacket in car if your Husband is your carer tell them you rely on him heavily for cooking and bathing and u dont go out without him ,These are how i imagine u cope with your illness every day but if im wrong tell them your version ,And yes trick questions are asked, at my 1st assessment i went alone,,ooofttt ah no no! i accepted a small white plastic cup of water,,trick!! in assesment letter i had good manual dexterity cos i took a drink without spilling any!! so be on guard cos these assessors are NOT there to help you they are there to help the goverment avoid paying you PIP abd its cynical of me i know but it is how it is im afraid , although i have found the last cpl of assesments less stressfull and more user friendly..Im in Scotland so dont kno if that helps cos PIP will soon be Devolved to Scottish parliament to implement . .Good luck

[Ardea in reply to papakebo75]

Thank you for your reply and comments. It does sound so horrible and nerve racking to have to go through this. I can't wait to get this over with. Thank you for your advise x

[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.

[Ardea in reply to Farmerboy]

Thank you for your reply and advice. Oh dear this sounds like a nightmare and horrendous. Is it a trick question when they ask about your past? What are their memory games? I can't wait for this to be over.

[Hidden]

Hi

First of all, I wish you all the very best for Friday. When it was my assessment, I was warned they will ask me a question and then further along ask me the same question to see if I give the same answer, and sure enough thus us what they did but I was ready, haha!! Please let us know how you get on. Take care of yourself.

Lynne

[Ardea in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for replying Lynne. It sounds like a nightmare. I will look out for them asking me the same question- but they will get the same answer. I can't wait for it to be over as I feel sick with sorry. I will let you know how I got on

[Hamish142]

Hi Ardea I know how you feel I've got my assessment next Tuesday at home and I'm terrified too. Please let me know how it goes. I'm not really up to it as my partner died 12 days ago but I just want to get it over with and hopefully get the right result. Good luck on Friday. 😊

[Ardea in reply to Hamish142]

I am so sorry that you lost your love. If must be extra hard for you as I know I am so dependent on mine for so many things as well as his support over matters like this. I too want to get this over with as it is making me feel sick. I feel that there is so much wrong with me that they might find it hard to believe although I can provide evidence. I don't know why they can't go off the letters I provided or the referral letters from doctors. I will let you know when it is all over. Thank you so much for your response as I know you must be hurting. Xxx

[Topcat64]

Hi Andrea

I got 6 points , they failed me on having good eye contact, holding my bag and and my walking was at a good pace,

Don't be fooled by there kindness

While your in there just remind yourself of the pain your in at the worse times .

Good luck x,