Query

[YMEPLEASE]

Hello everyone,I applied for PIP back in Dec, and I only had my video/fone assessment yesterday. The lady did not ask me to do any movements, is that a bad sign?

[Hidden]

Hi

It’s not a bad sign, don’t worry. I dealt with mine by post. They are usually happy if they have up to date information and diagnosis

Johnny

[YMEPLEASE in reply to Hidden]

Thank you

[Hazel_Angelstar Administrator FMA UK Staff]

I don't think they all you to do any movement over video /phone

[YMEPLEASE in reply to Hazel_Angelstar]

Thank you

[YMEPLEASE]

Thank you, I got a text this morning telling they got the report for my assessment and they will let me know within 8 weeks

[CM1EDSUK]

Altho the text always says you'll get a decision in 8 weeks, I don't know why, as it can take anything up to 12 weeks to hear back.

The assessor's report is just a recommendation, as the decision maker will not only take this into consideration but also your claim form together with anything else you sent in. The assessor's report can also cause more anxiety than it's worth, so not always great to request this!

I would politely disagree that you need a copy of the report....if it comes to a tribunal, they are aware that assessors reports are often poorly written, & it's not worth referencing if even a Mandatory Reconsideration is needed unless there are at most a couple of irrefutable inaccuracies; concentrating on this report will not win a person's appeal process.

[Smoggie1]

Hopefully its ok and also you should get it back dated from when you applied..fingers crossed.

[CM1EDSUK]

I agree that normally a DWP decision maker will go along with a Health Care Professional's report, however PIP is more an assessment as to a claimant's functional ability with regards to any applicable PIP activity/descriptor.

Whilst a Health Care Professional (HCP) will have an understanding of many medical conditions, it's not a medical assessment as they're not Drs. The HCP is also not there to write down what a claimant says, rather form their own opinion (otherwise there'd be no point in having an assessment). This unfortunately is where many claimants feel there are, to be polite, 'inaccuracies,' if they request the assessor's report. Any complaints should be sent to the assessors (tho I've yet to hear of anyone getting a satisfactory reply). It would also be very difficult to prove an assessor had lied in the legal sense, as you can't know their intent.

Claimants can be awarded PIP even if their assessment report does contain 'inaccuracies,' as many often do, so I feel it's inaccurate to say, 'if theres discrepancies or blatant lies you have no chance of an award unless appeal.'

Not all charities recommend getting an assessor's report; why? because often a claimant will put their energy into concentrating on this, whereas they should put the report behind them, & rather concentrate instead on where they should have gained points & exactly why.

A Statement of Reasons is something that can only be requested after a tribunal.

[CM1EDSUK]

I'm sorry we disagree, as I know we're both trying to help benefits claimants, & I've seen how much you do.

HCPs do have an understanding of many medical conditions; one presumes this is why they're so employed rather than someone purely in a secretarial role to not only write down what a claimant may say, but also then form theit own opinion?

HCPs include nurses, physios & paramedics. Speaking as a long-retired physio, my training included teaching by the same Drs that taught medical students neuroanatomy & neurophysiology (previously having been also taught as much anatomy & physiology as medical students); rheumatology was taught by a world reknowned Consultant Rheumatologist, etc. We learnt about many disorders, but not even a Dr can know about them all, not even a specialist. However, as we know, PIP isn't about a diagnosis, so any disorder a person has becomes somewhat irrelevant.

Look at any number of fibro suffers, those with osteoarthrosis or rheumatoid arthritis, or whatever disorder, & they'll all be affected differently as far as the activities of daily living &/mobility with PIP are concerned. PIP is not a medical assessment as it's not done by Drs.

DWP decision makers however do not have a medical background as you say, so therefore will put some reliance on the HCP's report, especially if the claimant hasn't understood about the need to identify their own individual difficulties as far as being able to reliably do any of the 12 PIP descriptors.

I stand by what I say, but know that an understanding about how PIP works is important, which I believe you also think. Again, I'm sorry we disagree.

[YMEPLEASE]

So I got my assessment report today, could not make out the result, but using the assessment point calculator, it came to 12 points, is it good or bad?

[YMEPLEASE]

Ohhh, and how do I know which qs falls under what please

[YMEPLEASE]

Ok I looked again, I scored 8 for care, and 4 for mobility, but there are lots of added infos that I didn't even say its lies