Pip assessment

[Lilbear89]

I have a PIP assessment on the 15th of this month. Does anyone know what they are like and what happens during one? Thank you xx

[misspicky82]

They will go through all your conditions and ask what each day looks like for you. Be careful though as when I tried to answer this, I went onto to say well it depends on what day it is. The assessor kept stopping me saying we'll get to variability later, but I couldn't answer her questions without saying that. Just watch out for that as alot of my information got forgotten about and wasn't discussed in the assessment and I only realised that after listening to the recording.Please record the assessment on another device if you have one, or install a call recorder but I can't advise you on that, I just used to my daughters mobile. But he's it's important as a lot of my information in the medical report as inaccurate. She told me I didn't need help during the assessment but I had someone sat with me writing things down and I even asked him questions openly which are heard on the recording so that was incorrect.

Generally it's your opportunity to really explain how your days are affected, down to the finer details! Get everything written down and have a copy of your claim form with you. Don't allow the assessor to lead you in any answers and make sure she allows you enough time, inc taking breaks if you need to. Don't worry about taking her time up, if you need it then you get it babe!

I felt mine was really intimidating however she said I managed well throughout the whole assessment even though I'd cried etc and my voice was shaky as f**k throughout the whole assessment. I decided not to MR I'm the end as it was only 3 descriptors in DL and 1 in Mobility and bcoz she gave me more on mobility than I had reported I. Didn't want to risk losing the mobility, plus given it was the medical report that was incorrect it wouldn't make a difference as the next assessor would be going off that same medical report but I should have gotten enhanced rate on DL, even my GP said that so I'm going to wait until my renewal and get alot more medical evidence from my GP to explain how some of my conditions affect me so the same miscomparable info used.

Good look, just be alert as they will ask the and questions in different ways so be aware if that, be alert at ALL times, have someone with you for support if needed and. And definitely record it, just tell the assessor at the start of the assessment, making sure this is recorded too. Then you can use it as evidence then.

[misspicky82 in reply to misspicky82]

Miscomparable info can't be used I meant to say 🥱 not had enough coffee yet, sorry for all the typos, I'm not good at typing and my phone changes my words all the time!!!

[Lilbear89 in reply to misspicky82]

Thank you for the reply, I'm worrying as I don't have anyone who can come with me but I will definitely record it. This is the 2nd time round I've applied but didn't even get a assessment last time. I easily forget what I'm saying in the middle of it too. I've got my claim answers from my form all sorted. I just get so overwhelmed xx

[misspicky82 in reply to Lilbear89]

Sorry for the late reply, how are you feeling today about your PIP assessmenttomorrow? Is there anyone at all that can attend with you as they will record that you were able to attend without needing help. I'm so sorry, I wish I'd seen this earlier so you'd have more time but I've had a rough week. I had a telephone assessment and I had support but the assessor wrote down that the support didn't support me as he didn't help me answer, I had him sat next to me and prompting me on paper as we thought your support wasn't able to give answers etc. Anyway, that kinda sent against me, they said I didn't need support with communication etc, but he did step in a couple of times so she lied about that! It went against me about my cognitive issues with fibromyalgia. They basically said I didn't have any when I have huge brain fog and I got mixed up alot in my assessment. She even helped me find the words I was trying to say and then in the report she said I spoke well throughout the whole assessment 🤷🏻‍♀️It's difficult to kind of guide you specifically as I don't know what conditions or difficulties that you've put in your form. If you want to PM me, I'd be happy to try and help further ☺️

[Lilbear89 in reply to misspicky82]

I'm so nervous I did ask if my mum could be with me but she just can't get here so I do have to go alone. I'm having a really bad flare up today and yesterday I have hardly got out of bed. I'm dreading tomorrow so much. I have booked a taxi there and my friend said she would pick me up from the car park next door. Plus I feel like I have the start of a migraine so that's not good and isn t going to help at all. I do have a recording device I need to put on charge which I'll do now. Thank you for helping me and I'll give a update tomorrow or a few days after depending on how I feel xxx

[misspicky82 in reply to Lilbear89]

Hey Lilbear,It could be a good thing that you're in the middle of a flare up as you're more likely to present yourself better in the terms of what you are like on a bad day, and tell them you had difficulties getting help for the date and time your assessment was booked, but you didn't want to cause any delays and you thought it best just to come and try your best. Make sure you tell them the nervousness and stress of not having support has flared up your fibromyalgia. You need to show them that you do need help and that you do normally have help but it was just this time there were issues with your usual carer being able to support you. Try to show that you're struggling as I imagine you will be anyway if you're in the middle of flare. Show how tired you are, ask for some short breaks due to you feeling fatigued. They will likely ask how you got there, tell them you got a taxi that dropped you right outside and take your time from getting out of the taxi to the reception as I'm aware they use this to record information regarding your walking distance. Remember your difficulties need to be most of days (MOD), so explain how many times you flare up and for how many days you'll count as being your "bad days" needs to be more than half the week, or more then half a fortnight etc. I'm sure you'll get it all right if you're currently in a flare up, they will be able to see your physical and mental state. I wasn't asked anything about the side effects of my medications and realised this afterwards when I listened to my recording. I advise you tell them about these a lot of the medications we take can make us drowsy., confused, weak, dry mouth headaches etc and they have to take that into mind also when they're assessing you. Definitely show them you're struggling without support. Don't be afraid to ask them to repeat their questions. Sorry for any typos in this essay, I'm very drowsy right but l not

[misspicky82 in reply to Lilbear89]

And good luck chick xx

[Lilbear89 in reply to misspicky82]

Would it be okay if I take my pain meds with me in case I need them while tgere? Thank you for the luck. I can't sleep going to take my tablets now and try get at least a hour hopefully xxx

[misspicky82 in reply to Lilbear89]

If course you can take them. In fact it'll show you are in need of them. If you haven't already, give them an up-to-date repeat prescription list. Let me know how you get on and try and rest now, you'll need to be alert to their questions as they will ask their questions in a couple of different ways so my make sure you're not tripping up so always think carefully before you answer any questions. I'm off to sleep hopefully myself now, got to be up early. Let me know after your assessment how you think it went. Don't forget to set your recorder on also but you do need to tell them that you're recording and they can't stop you, they'll just go thru a scripture strut basically like ...... you can only use recording as your own information and it's not too be passed onto anybody nWishing you the best of luck 💞xxx

[jimmyshoes in reply to misspicky82]

I’d advise having a copy of your answers with you if haven’t got them go in list of descriptors. And write a few notes for yourself or even write out a day from getting up , it will refresh you in what you need help with even where your shopping comes from etc , delivery etc can you a order it yourself medications . Even how you manage leaving your house for an appointment, basically everything you do on a day to day basis

[releasethemagic]

They will be looking for inconsistencies between what you wrote on your forms, what your medical evidence says if you submitted any, and what you tell them. For example if you just say you get out of bed, go downstairs and have something to eat, but on the form you claim to need help with these activities, that will be zero points awarded for those activities, unless you explain in depth what you can and can't do. Anything you can't do for 3 days out of 7 does not count at all. It has to be 4 days or more and if you imply you are OK for most days, then zero points again even if you put on the form that it was 4 days or more.

[Lilbear89]

Thank you everyone for all the advice I used pretty much all of it. Made it a little less scary. I think it went okay just the waiting to find out now. I'll update when I hear anything. Hope everyone is having a good day and again thank you so much xxx