PIP interview this afternoon...

[19KMcG87]

I’ve been wide awake since 5am, all week I’ve not slept well at all. Seems funny, I don’t know if others will agree but if your tired - you can sleep and feel refreshed. BUT if your fatigued, no amount of sleep helps. And this morning I’m sick to my stomach, never before have I wanted to curl up in the corner as much. Says something after 18 years of having my ABI eh? What are the people who are meant to be ultimately looking after us as a country doing, if we’re made to feel like this because of their ‘consideration’

[Pip70]

Don’t worry(easy 2 say I know it’s not that easy in reality when u have a broken brain!) be honest tell the assessor how it is on a daily basis and how you have had to change every aspect of your and your family’s life to accommodate your abilities!

[19KMcG87]

As ok as can be I guess thank you..usual doubts and thoughts what I should’ve/could have said now though!

[sealiphone in reply to 19KMcG87]

As you realise most people will think I should have said, much like coming out of any exam. When people think that it often means they've said many good things.

Hope it did go well for you.

[19KMcG87 in reply to sealiphone]

Thank you. I’m expecting it to be refused - I don’t think I said enough...

[Chelle3069 in reply to 19KMcG87]

I'm sorry to say but these people from PIP don't recognise brain injury. I had mine refused and in the process of going through an appeal as I was turned down at the mandatory stage too. The hard part is finding an organisation that can help with your forms and assessments as they don't have advisors that know anything about brain injury. I do hope it went better then mine did, as you have a long road ahead of you, with officials not believing you. You can walk and talk then there's nothing wrong with you, they don't see the struggles you have everyday.

[19KMcG87 in reply to Chelle3069]

It actually reminded me of my court case years ago - as I was so young at the accident I had to get assessed constantly growing up until I became an adults. Walking into pip interview brought all these memories back I’ve already been assessed by a load of ‘experts’ mental health especially brain injury should have a different test

[Chelle3069 in reply to 19KMcG87]

They don't though it the same test one test fits all. My assessor said that my cognition was good and nothing wrong with my memory, but she never tested me for any of these things. At one point when my friend tried speaking up for me was told to shut up, and she never did ask me anything to do with my brain injury. She even took the piss out of me and when tried complaining to her bosses, she denied it and they didn't believe me. Just makes me wonder whether she would have done the same if I had been in a wheelchair of got a limb missing, I bet not!!!

[19KMcG87 in reply to Chelle3069]

Sounds awful sorry to hear that’s how it went for you you can demand to be assessed by a medical professional if you haven’t been already

[Matt2584]

“What are the people who are meant to be ultimately looking after us...”

That says it all.

I don’t trust our leaders/government/royal family/doctors/dentists... etc.

The people who are meant to look after us is ourselves, our friends and family.

[19KMcG87 in reply to Matt2584]

True, thanks for stating that Matt, I’d not thought of it like that. Of course we’re all responsible for our own lives and happiness, I was meaning these are the folk running the country, setting the rules and ensuring we live in a good fair country... sorry it my reply sounds a bit funny I’m struggling to convey what I need to at the moment- been up over 24 hours now just can’t sleep

[Matt2584 in reply to 19KMcG87]

I know you meant the people running the country, setting the rules and blah blah but that is something I do not understand the slightest bit... why do and why should we have leaders? And “ensuring that we live in a fair country”, well they have done a bang up job with that haven’t they.

Look at all the muslims and other immigrants getting better benefits and living conditions than the English folk that have lived here all our lives... Not forgetting the war veterans where half of them, if not all are homeless.

I swear England is slowly becoming an Islamic state.

[19KMcG87 in reply to Matt2584]

My point exactly - they are not

[Mrspepperpot1 in reply to 19KMcG87]

I totally agree, it makes me so angry!

Don’t know what this world is coming too.

[sealiphone]

If you are refused get yourself to a CAB straightaway and come back for more guidance, many appeals succeed.

Many people have absolutely no idea what it's like having to rely on the DWP if you're disabled, that's why they can get away with labeling people as scroungers and people will think less of you if you're reliant on "handouts".

[19KMcG87 in reply to sealiphone]

Thanks sealiphone x