According to the Capita I have a new role - I have been classified as a walking aid, how I rank compared to a guide dog for the blind or an assistance dog for intelligence or hazard awareness is going to be a some debate !
Yesterday, my wife had her PIP telephone assessment. We had the usual trick questions where a question is asked about something innocuous but really slanted to get an answer about some other aspect of your life.
It came to the inevitable question "How far can you walk?" not very far because I am visually impaired was the response. The sight loss was dismissed as not being relevant to being able to walk (bizarre!). My wife said, she couldn't walk unless someone (me) held her arm and guided her because she can't see hazards or traffic. We told that if I hold her arm, I am classed as a walking aid much like a walking stick or guide dog!
Going to wait for the postman to arrive to bark at him and then of to the park to chase sticks!
Written by
sospan
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
That's bizarre Sos - but funny ! I think you should consider yourself as more an 'Aide' than an aid ; it has an air of grandeur, but not if you intend to bite the postie or chase around the park....
It was very difficult keeping calm on times. One point the assessor argued why it took several minutes to walk my wife from the house to the car - that would be two people with brain damage, two people with mobility issues, navigating single file through the front door, down steps, through a gate. checking for traffic before my wife can feel her way around to the passenger door and get in.
A doddle if you are fit and able but when she has a torn meniscus in her knee, stick in her left hand and torn tendon in her right shoulder.
Strangely the ones we find the worst at doing the assessments are the ones that should know better about peoples difficulties - the physiotherapists, ambulance technicians and nurses.
I have just had to reapply for PIP. There are so many comments I have made in this forum that demonstrate the problems I have, I wish I could have recalled them.
Capita, Atos employ people that have no experience in occupational health, let alone qualifications. Occupational health is a separate qualification beyond, the basic registration requirement. Next time I have either a face to face, or a telephone interview, I want the full name, and registration status. All registers are publicly accessible, and I won't have any problem raising a complaint against them with the relevant body if I was to get a fantasy report.
I always ask who the person is and what role they have outside of doing assessments.
I believe a lot of the problem is that the assessors are under pressure to not be "sympathetic" by an unwritten policy,
When you have a condition or symptoms that is unlikely to improve over time and you have already been assessed, I don't understand why the process requires all the basic information again. It should only be interested in changes since the last assessment.
I once got challenged about my head injury because I hadn't seen a doctor for over 3 years. A difficult task to get them to understand that once you are brain damaged there isn't a lot that can be done. It isn't like "take these tablets and come back in 6 months"
Yes I agree totally. The old DLA at least recognised long term conditions, and reports that stated that further recovery was unlikely due to the period of time, and gave indefinite awards.
This time they said don't re-submit previous documents, well I haven't got any new documents, so I had nothing to submit other than my own testimony.
They did say on the form that you may not have to attend an assessment. I don't know how long it will take them to process the form, so will just have to wait and see if they have cured me again. Clever them pen pushers are, amazing the cures they achieve, they should be canonised!
The lack of evidence is what I struggled with at first. Because the specialists "discharge" you. The assumption they take is that as you found - you are "cured". Rather than the recovery has plateaued and there is nothing else they can achieve
You may have a telephone assessment like my wife. She had the usual PCS symptoms of word finding and slurring, yet the assessor said my wife had no problems communicating.....have to wait for the results
You may find that you have to wait 3 months or more for a telephone assessment.
The previous time for my wife we submitted 7 reports from different doctors. They initial offer was a rejection. We appealed and they awarded her PIP grrrr
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Hello, I'm new 'in town'.
New to HealthUnlocked
New symptoms after 3 weeks?
Jobs for people with brain injuries
Toe Job (blatant sympathy request)
