Pip Telephone consultation..I'm struggling.

Anyone any advice regarding pip telephone consultations. I've had a text today saying my consultation is 25th November. I'm seeing my doctor next week 18th to show him my disabilities for the 1st time so I hoping he will write a report for pip. Any info will be greatly appreciated 💯👍👍

[Trevor78]

I decided not to claim PIP (despite following the process, including completing the forms but not posting them) so lost my DLA. I assume that you've completed the forms if you've got an assessment. I'm not sure how much a GP can help, if prepared to (mine wasn't at all helpful), at this point? You have to meet the descriptors and score points, which potentially isn't easy, if it's not changed much since 2019 citizensadvice.org.uk/Globa... - good luck, prepare as well as you're able.

[Trevor78 in reply to Trevor78]

Just to add that the members guide at Benefits and Work will help with the technicalities within each descriptor, although it was £20 for an annual subscription when I joined in 2019. From memory, I seem to recall that you need to be able to do things safely, in a timely manor and to an acceptable standard compared to someone able bodied. I thought that there was one more thing but I can't recall it if there was benefitsandwork.co.uk/help-...

[CanisLupus]

There are some useful Facebook support groups and Citizens Advise has a good page as well, it’s all about was your disability does not allow you to do and the support help you need.A1/​

ESA/DLA/PIP Benefits Help & Support UK

Mental Health & Hidden Illness is one of the groups on Facebook

[Pairofboots]

Hi, you can download the descriptors from .gov.uk. I would say that you are honest, but honest from the point of view of the worst day possible when answering questions. If you are not granted PIP, don't give up. Ask for a copy of the assessors report, and pull it apart. Be prepared to go all the way through the appeals process. The time limits are pressuring, but be aware that the majority of applicants that are denied, win on appeal (some ridiculously high percentage). Good luck 🍀

[Trevor78 in reply to Pairofboots]

Important to pull it apart with facts though (such as why you meet the descriptors) and not the emotions of an inaccurate report from a poor assessor. I agree about following it through (and getting better educated on what to say and do). I saw people on the Benefits & Work forum go from 0 points to double digits several times. Their guides are very good though at telling you what to put/say.

[Pairofboots in reply to Trevor78]

It is a shame you didn't apply.

[Hidden in reply to Pairofboots]

I'm at my doctors on thursday of this week and he will see first hand what my disabilities are my no balance doesnt change and neither does my memory. No one as ever seen my disabilities for what they are since 1983 I've just tried to hide them and fix it myself without success. I have a determination that will never give up. I just walked away last time without knowing how to do it. The last 3 years have been so hard for me. I cant do anything about my past living with tbi but I can certainly do something about my future with the right support in place and I'll not rest until i get what i need. I were a support worker in my last job 3 years working with people with tbi and end of life care so I know all about it. My accident disabled me but it didnt knock all my intelligence and I'm more than ready for them this time round. Hope they are ready for me 🤣

[Skallagrigg]

I found the lady on call lovely she asked questions about my son and as has been said go with bad day effects, don't just answer yes or no, try to be completely natural, I think most of my answers started with oh hell lol no way can he walk that far he struggles getting 6 ft etc etc good luck

[Marnie22]

Hi. I found the Scope helpline very good for this. They were understanding about my difficulties on the phone once I told them. They advise loads of people about PIP and really are specialists in this area. Their number is 0808 800 3333. If you speak to them before you see your doctor, they will probably be able to advise you on that meeting too.

Also, when deciding if you can do something, keep in mind that you need to be able to do it:

'Safely

To an acceptable standard

Repeatedly

In a reasonable time.'

So if you can do an actitivity once, but not in those four ways, you can't do it as specified by their criteria. An example would be if I could walk up a step, but only once and it took me half an hour, under the criteria, I would count as not able to do that activity. Hope that makes sense.

Best of luck. 🌼

[Hidden in reply to Marnie22]

I've just spoke to Scope regarding the pip telephone assessment and he was really helpful. I were panicking as I didnt get chance to put on my form about me falling and struggling on my left. Scope gave me some advice on it. I'm going to try get my balance issues to pip with help from my family before the 25th November. Thanks Marnie22 it's much appreciated.👍👍

[Marnie22 in reply to Hidden]

That's great to hear. 👍

[New_beginning in reply to Hidden]

I found Scope good with how to write my husband's form, but this forum directed me with everything.

I did ask health professionals involved if I could put there name down first, and PIPS did contact them which for me I found really good. All the best

[Lady70a]

Hi Stammers1.

DWP say we can ask for the call to be recorded on the day of the call. I asked for my call to be recorded and was told a lie by the assessor. However, I covertly recorded the call, I had to because I would not remember much of what was said to me and I am so glad that I did.

The lady assessor had me in tears. I suffer with complex PTSD and obviously brain injury. I have many neurological cognitive issues; short term memory is one of them. I had given them all of my medical reports to prove how my life is affected. Yet I was treated unfairly and really badly by the assessor.

What was written about me mostly where lies and the points that I should have had, I did not get. This lady said I remained calm throughout, yet I can be heard crying and very overwhelmed when she mentioned how does PTSD effect me. There was a lot of things said that where not true.

Hopefully you will get a decent human being, sadly I did not, but I feel it important that you should know as much as you can before the call. I was awarded standard rate PIP. Yet I am severely disabled! I will be fighting this and thankfully I have my recording for proof otherwise I would not be able to fight them.

Please look at benefits and work link below.

You will get help from others who went through the same as me. It is shocking how people who need help is treated by these people. Even if you do get them to record your call. Please still have your own recording. You can read more about this on benefits and work below.

Arm yourself with as much info as you can get.

A subscription to Benefits and Work costs just £19.95 for a full year and it is worth joining.

Copy and paste the link below

benefitsandwork.co.uk/perso...

Good luck

Celestite

[Hidden in reply to Lady70a]

Thankyou for your comment its much appreciated I got my form in with supporting evidence about my mental side but didnt get chance to put in it about my physical disabilities with my left leg and no balance at all on my left. got my pip phone assesment in 2 week 🙈🙈

[Lady70a in reply to Hidden]

You are welcome.I feel it is so important for people to know that there are some assessors who lie.

I had given everything I had about my diagnoses by all doctors and was convinced that I would get through my assessment fairly. Sadly I didn't.

I had my own recording of the call, I asked for a paper copy and I was extremely upset when I read it. Hence my recording will be useful when I fight them. My call was cancelled twice. The third time the call was supposed to be at 10 30am. She rang me unexpectedly half an hour before.

They use trick questions such as, "so when you lift your leg onto the bed to put your socks on do you do that easily. Like yourself, I lose balance and cant do that. They would know by my medical reports that I could never do that. But they still use many trick questions, that is just one of them.

I hope you get someone decent. But I have read so many stories from others who say their assessor was so nice to them on the phone.

But then they wrote so many derogatory remarks that left them not been awarded anything.

Please know, I am hoping you don't have a bad assessor. But knowing it can happen should help you in some way.

The link I sent you has a lot of info, I hope it helps.

[Hidden in reply to Lady70a]

I've waited all my life to tell my story of living with tbi and my disabilities because of it no more hiding anything I'm ready to tell it how it is thanks for yor comment 👍

[Lady70a in reply to Hidden]

Do not hide anything. Having your family with you is great. I was on my own. I am sure you will do just fine. Like Lite75 says. Give them your worst days.You should write a book on your life experiences. I am sure it would help others too.

I wish you all the best.

[Hidden in reply to Lady70a]

Thanks for that I'm ready for the pip this as been a long time in coming so I shall bare all pardon the pun and I'm guna right my story not by hand as I cant write properly but by touch screen..there was none of this technology stuff back in 1983. Hopefully my story will help others with their own journeys👍

[Lite75]

I had to have assessments by the DWP for Daily Living Allowance and also Mobility Allowance.

They’ll ask for every little detail of your physical and also mobility needs. Try not to let it get to you as it can feel a degrading-they’re doing a job that as they’ve been told to do.

The best advice I was given is to put it on the worst possible day you can have-so don’t feel embarrassed or degraded. That really is the only way-‘say it as it is’- and when you’re at your worst. That’s the most important thing.

My Support Worker was there too as my speech was also badly affected as were my thought processes and I easily get mixed up and lose track of where I’m upto -if possible, ask someone to be to support you. That’s also important.

Good luck and Best wishes

Lite75 .

[Hidden in reply to Lite75]

Thankyou for this it's much appreciated all I can be is honest about my disabilities my word retrieval is horrendous so it will be an interesting call for sure I will have my family with me when they call as they are my support network. I will be o.k I've wanted to tell this since I was 11 so I hope they are bracing themselves as they will get it all I have my pip claim saved so I can follow what they ask me off my form. I've typed an 11 page personal statement all.about my balance and fatigue. My hardest battle is getting all this out to the right professionals I'll get there 👍

[Lite75 in reply to Hidden]

I you’ve done 11 page statement that’ll give them a good start, and I’m sure your family will help you out in keeping track and prompting you with words you want to say-I’m too independent for my own good but my assessment was long time ago. One of my Support Workers drafted another a Questionnaire to update for my mobility needs but I haven’t sent that off yet.

DHS forms are bit of a Minefield and just wish I could be ‘healthy and normal’ but it is what it is.

Lite75

[Hidden]

Hi Stammers, I would advise you to make a note of all your difficulties and keep them in front of you during the consultation, for easy reference. It’s easy to forget things when in that scenario. Good luck and I hope you get a sympathetic hearing!

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Oh I'm ready they failed me the first time round due to CAB not supporting me properly and nothing none of my disabilities were on it and I just walked away thinking noone would help me but this time round I'm armed and ready with my boys behind me to tell it as it is I have my pip form saved so I will have what I put in it in front of me plus my no balance and mobility issues everyday wernt put on there through this forum I've been able understand my own disabilities more so its game on 💪💪💪👍👍👍

[Hidden]

Good for you! Citizens’ Advice were hopeless when my daughter had her brain injury - they took one look at her and I believe because she was young and didn’t look disabled they told her there was no point and that she wouldn’t get it. I helped her fill in the Pip form with all the disabilities (mainly hidden) and am pleased to say she got her award. No thanks to Citizens Advice - I feel sorry for anyone who is completely reliant on them with no family or friends to support them.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Sorry to hear about your experience with CAB and well done to you I wont use CAB for owt again pip know nothing about my physical disabilities yet but they will and the rest I struggle everyday but this time I'm not on my own this time I ain't walking away from this one 👍👍👍

[Plenty]

I've just received the letter about my pip telephone assessment - the consultants report has awarded me zero points.

I will now have to do the mandatory reconsideration notice and if that does not work I will put in for a tribunal.

unfortunately the pip assessors have an incentive not to write reports that will award pip.

Please let us know how yours goes.

[Hidden in reply to Plenty]

Sorry to hear about pip scoring you zero..its so wrong how so many have to bare their souls to someone that knows nothing..I didnt put on my form about my drop foot I've hidden it best I could since I was 11 but cant and wont hide it anymore. Pip will make their decision based on a phone. I tried to claim pip on my own without telling anyone in 2019 I used CAB but they failed to support me and i was scored zero this time round i am armed with my family support and doctor confirming my balance and drop foot. What will be will be regarding the decision I wont let this go a second time good luck with your appeal I'll take it to its end for..thanks for yor comment 👍👍

[Plenty in reply to Hidden]

I've had many doctors read the same evidence I've given and then ask me "how are you even still alive?"

The PIP assessor scores zero points, what a joke.

How can they still get away with doing this to so many people with brain injuries!?

You would of thought they'd just give a couple of points to cover their own backs but no they are so focused on not helping others.

The assessors really should be unbiased and independent.

Definitely better going to tribunal and letting the court decide.