pip nightmare

[iluvroxnsky]

i had my pip decision back with no points and loads of lies he said i can still ride a motorbike eventhough he never asked my anything about bikes apart from how my tbi took place, he said i have no Noise Sensitivity or emotonal outbursts even though i ended up loosing my temper shouting and i punched the table because he was typing on his laptop loud as hell like a 5year old trying to wind me up, Also he doesnt beleve i cant emember the accident even though i was unconscious with part of my scull smashed in on my brain, i dont know how they sleep at night, i got a appointment with cab next week to do MR wish me luck.

[Steve49]

Hi.

I'm so sorry about this !!!!

It seems to be a regular acourence the days.

Yes fight your way through it !!!!

Please let me know how things go !!!!

Steve.

[iluvroxnsky in reply to Steve49]

thanks steve i will, there has to be some light at the end of the tunnel somewhere.

[steve55]

first of all welcome to the group. did you go on your own ? thats a points earner.......able to plan a journey.

you probably had no medical backup for your claim. whats mr?

[iluvroxnsky in reply to steve55]

the assessment was at home and no i haven't rely got any medical evidence other than admission and discharge letters for the actual tbi then a year or so later a Craniotomy. a MR is the start of a appeal against the decision for my pip claim.

[iluvroxnsky]

the assessment was at home and no i didn't have much medical backup apart from admission and discharge letters from the hospital for the tbi then a year or so later for a metal plate to be fitted. a MR is the start of the appeal process for pip.

[Gaia_rising]

Snap, except I lost ALL the points for the mobility/getting around section, because I found the 'assessment centre', despite a map that looked like it had been drawn by a chimp, and then photocopied backwards 8 times. Oh, and a bus service that didn't actually exist.

The Mandatory Reconsideration 'decision', in my experience, was just a re-hash of the original assessment, with the typos I had pointed out removed. Being absolutely cynical about it, the system wants us to jump hoops, and, when we do manage to jump them, because we NEED to 'win' that assistance, we're declared functional.

Contact your local Headway branch for assistance with the next stage, CAB know forms and processes, but they don't know Brain Injury. That's what I'll be doing when I re-apply later this year. (Please don't take that suggestion as a 'you need help', or 'they are better', the system is massively skewed and convoluted, and it's MEANT to trip us up.)

[daveeb]

I agree entirely with you, I have the same points as you. The totally idiotic questions they ask, can you cook a simple meal? Yes I live by myself and if I don't, I starve! Can you wash your self? Same again, I live by myself. I know they wouldn't like to do it. Yes it's rubbish. I have epilepsy, heart disease, had two TIA's and two brain haemorrhage so course I need some help. Also I'm 62 years old.

[sospan]

Whilst the assessment and questions of the "PIP" process is flawed, one of the biggest problems for claimants is understanding what the process is about. Many claimants assume that the process is trying to prove that you are ill or have a disability. They couldn't be more wrong, the process is about wether with your symptoms you can work!

What the assessors are primarily looking at is - does your disability or an illness prevent you working for even a few hours a day? Establishing this then slants the review process into how much care the person needs. If you take an example someone with Downs Syndrome, whilst it has a huge effect on people, it doesn't stop them working but it does limit the work they can do. Whilst nobody would dispute they need some level of care or supervision, whilst being generalistic, people with Down's syndrome can do most of their basic levels of washing and eating and therefore score very little in PIP points.

Mobility has the same challenges, as an extreme example many lower limb amputees are competing in the Paralympics in the track and field. Even though they may have lost a limb, many can run on a track faster than non amputees, So should they score points for mobility ?

The majority of people in the UK including genuine claimants would agree that the old system was flawed with a huge number of people "playing the system" . However, what they have implemented is a confused assessment process for something that is relatively simple - an ability to work assessment, which if you are able to work be followed up by a proper "work capability assessment" i..e something that determines the level of work you are capable of and then the support you need to do it. It is the same with living and mobility capability work out what people can or can't do and then what support is needed after that.

[Hidden in reply to sospan]

I am not sure that it is only about work. I scored null points and I am in bed on an oxygen machine 22/24 hours a day becasue my TBI led to central hypoventilation syndrome (not breathing enough automatically and feeling sleepy!).

Quite simply the PIP test was not referenced to BI at all in the draft stages and that ought to be addressed if we are to be assessed appropriately.

[sospan in reply to Hidden]

The primary function of the benefits rationalisation is to reduce the number of claimants in receipt of ESA / PIP and move more people onto JSA. Hence some of the bizarre questions as to whether you can move an empty box or carton with one arm. This test is intended to see if people can work on something like a production line or sorting office.

It isn't so much as if can you can actually find a job suitable it is more like if a theoretical job exists could you do it.

All sorts of head injury, mental illness, cerebral palsy, downs syndrome etc all don't fit well into the PIP criteria.

Like I was asked "can I work out a route to the doctors" well possibly but I would have a greater problem remembering what day and time I was going or travel to the outpatients in the hospital rather than the GP. And as my assessor openly said I can understand the problem but it doesn't fit the question.

[daveeb in reply to Hidden]

There seems to be the wrong idea of what disability causes. One such case of mine was whilst cooking breakfast one morning, I'd put a grill in to cook, turned away and promptly passed out. A burning stove followed and I had a chest full of smoke. As an ex-firefighter I knew how to deal with it and didn't need the brigade (I'd be too embarrassed ).however a trapped fox would chew off his own leg to get out of the trap. That's not the only time this has happened, on Monday I passed out at the bus stop. I had time to call the ambulance then. Hospital again for more tests. I'd have a guess and say there's some incapable persons working for the DWP I believe one was reprimanded a short while ago?

[angelite in reply to Hidden]

Hi Caroline,

As far as I'm aware PIP replaces the old DLA ( Disability Living Allowance ) and is designed to establish how your disability affects you, ie. how much more difficult your daily life is made as a result, compared to a 'normal' person.

ESA is a straight forward assessment on fitness to work.

By PIP standards, taking into account fatigue, breathlessness, pain, ability to repeat activities safely, in a reasonable time frame, as often as needed, you should surely score points. I do not even have a formal diagnosis yet but was still awarded high rate daily living due to how my multiple deficits affect me. Please reconsider applying again, perhaps with some help from Headway.

Angela x

[Elenor3]

I'm truly astonished to read that they've refused tour claim. I can't help wonder what the assssor was thinking about. It sounds completely bonkers.

[Miss_Dizzy]

Try and not let the stress, anger and infuriation upset and exhaust you too much. Neither PIP or the WCA are fit for purpose and the system and its implementation are designed to grind you down and make people give up.

MR is just a delaying hoop they make you jump through, predominantly there to force ESA claimants to decide if they can afford to pursue n ESA claim whilst MR is going on without any benefit payment. Go through the process properly but do not expect anything from it.

At this point your time and effort is needed to prepare for appeal. Get some supporting evidence, try and secure someone to come with you. (I've never really heard much positive from so called reps though). Anyone who knows you, can be a little less emotionally involved and has a decent amount of confidence will be better than a random person who doesn't know you or your problems.

I honestly cannot believe the uk has come to this. Whilst the old system did need reform , this, this is a very unfunny joke!

Sending you lots of strength for the coming months - and don't take the insult to your honesty and integrity personally - you are, unfortunately, just a claim reference number.

C x

[fred59]

I complete these forms on behalf of my partner as there is no way he would be able to even start them, let alone remember what they are for, or that he had received them in the first place. So far we haven't had any problems keeping his benefits, but I have attached a link that gives guidance on these forms if its of any help. Good luck!

benefitsandwork.co.uk/

[AliCathy]

Thank you so much for letting me know I have not shared the fact that I got mine taken off me a couple of months ago. They decided I had recovered! Physically I can do stuff, apart from recognising places - one of the strange things they reported was that I seemed positive. Those of us with an invisible disability don't meet the criteria. Yes I do now manage to find my way around my home, didn't recognise it when returning from hospital. Hopefully they will be switched on next week - good luck. I am still attempting to be reconsidered.

[angelite]

Hi Iluvroxnsky,

My local Headway have helped people to reapply after refusal the first time. They can help with form filling, all important wording and can provide someone to accompany you for support to the assessment ( or attend your home, if that is where you are being interviewed ). So sorry you have been treated so badly this time.

Angela x

[iluvroxnsky]

thanks everyone for your support, all of you going through the same i wish you all luck even though luck shouldn't come in to, it we are disabled end of, and should be in tilted to this pip/esa without all this stress on top.

[Julesgettingthere]

Hello Ilurxky, Jules here

Really sorry to read what you have been through/are going through - on top of your problems.

It sounds very very wrong - bonkers.

I was awarded pip but I would have been wound up trying to answer the questions, my husband filled the forms and 'filled in the blanks' at the interview when I couldn't answer, or forgot the most important thing I wasn't to forget, but did.

Sometimes the system gets things wrong, keep going, but get people to fight on your behalf it will show the real you and the real problems you have clearer to the assessor.

You probably already know this, but just wanted to show support.

Kindest regards

Jules

x

[spideyman]

Its ridiculous. Ive had 3 brain haemorrhages and 1 stroke and in their wisdom they decided to send me to the job centre and sign up for job seekers allowance.

Long story short i got my GP, MP and food bank (ive volunteered there for 4 yrs) involved and with mandatory reconsideration i got it back.

Still not got my PIP back. They stopped that last May.

Theresa May can stick her Tory party up her A@#e