PIP Assessment Torture and Victory

[Banditqueen]

I have two tales to tell, one of part victory for my husband victory award of standard PIP and my assessment stress.

My husband after his nightmares with the administration and his appointment, the actual assessment was fine and he got the standard daily activities but nothing for mobility. We have a couple of issues, the nurse put his incontinence was from UTI not prostate cancer which is one of his main problems and only mentioned 20 times during the visit. Didn't note his neurological conditions either and the fact he has falls and stumbled a lot, can't feel his feet and gets disoriented outside so has help. I have to be his memory and he has to be reminded daily to take tablets. I don't know if it makes any difference but our rep says we should highlight to see if we can get enhanced. He was two points short apparently. Still just pleased to get something.

Had mine today and have not slept for four days with anxiety and worry as I was physically abused by an assessor whom I got sacked years ago and didn't claim again on DLA it was so bad. I had a home assessment as well back then and the doctor could not cope with my mental health problems and had to leave. Another doctor took one look at me and wrote me a good report but then the same nut case who couldn't cope came for a review and we wouldn't let him in. It took me two years to get it back. I couldn't go through it any more.

This is my first claim for anything benefit for a long time and I have been very badly stressed out. This morning I had blood pressure very high and heart racing and my migraine was very bad before he came, but took pills and took time and wasn't actually ready when he came. Had not sorted the cushions properly downstairs so I actually wasn't very comfortable. The assessor was alright but I was actually shaking. Had to have something to calm down. Then I started crying. This was a few moments in. It wasn't his fault, it was just how I felt and have been last few days. I was anxious the entire time and just wanted it over with. Had to stop twice and take a break. Had to have more tablets and do some breathing exercises before I could go on and was very fidgeting as was not comfortable. I had shooting pain in back, so cried out. Talking a lot about mental health problems and how bad things get. Steve told him I can get very aggressive in a psychotic break and I didn't want him to. I just hope he didn't think I am a nut job and has me committed. I was in visible pain most of the time. You would think I was being tortured not having an assessment. The assessor was fine. Wasn't able to do physical stuff. I felt like a right ninny. But that was the state that nightmare coming back has put me in.

Steve and a friend who came later took me out for tea and cake so cheered me up a bit. I then slept for several hours when we got back. I was worn out. I just hope I get something. I won't be appealing. I don't think I could cope. Our rep is good though.

[Lisalou19]

😣 I had my assessment last week!!!! It was not an assessment it was an out right interrogation.

I have struggled ever nice to regain a strong mind.

I actually really could do with some help but I doubt that will happen. The interrogator was more concerned about what I can do and not what I can't do!!!!!

It's a joke that people who have no idea how these illnesses affect us are given the raines to judge our capabilities.

I do hope it turns out good for you

Xx

[LupusKaren in reply to Lisalou19]

Have just gone through my interrogation today, because that is what is was, that, and the farcical waste of time of asking me the same questions as was on the form, of which I had my copy so just read out what my advisors had written. The section on Mental Health was tortuous for me, and that is what tipped me over, and my husband put a stop to the line of questioning. My first F2F in 10 yrs, a lot tougher than I recall. The assessor a Nurse had a basic grasp of Lupus and my other issues, but not interested in that, it was wholly focused on what I cannot do. She declined to do the manual tests at the end, saying clearly you are exhausted and in pain, I made her read back what she put on the laptop regards that point.

Will I be successful, I doubt it, I really do. 6-8 week wait to find out. Just glad it is over, she was a Nurse, and nice enough, but there to do a job, so I ignored attempts of friendly chatter, and viewed her as the person who will decide if I am entitled to financial help, that gives me some life quality or not.

[Banditqueen in reply to LupusKaren]

She should have been interested in how lupus affected you: that is what affects your every day life. How ridiculous! Hope it turns out all right. Try to stay positive and get some recovery rest. I couldn't do anything today. Actually slept till midday but have not done anything. Too worn out. I tend to recover about middle of the evening. What is the point of the questionnaire? Why not save time and money by filling in with your rep, family and the quack all at the same time and not have the second interrogation? They ask more or less the same things twice, then probably put what they want. You can challenge it at least. I hope everything goes fine and I am sure she will be fair. Take care.

[Banditqueen in reply to Lisalou19]

It's terrible the way some of them behave. I am sorry it was bad, hope they see sense. I would advise you get help from a rep or advice agency if you have to ask them to reconsider. They know how to challenge things. Take care and good luck.

[Lupiknits]

I’m in the process of Tribunal to get the points added to get me full daily care. At the assessment I mentioned my urinary and faecal incontinence but was awarded nul point because I was buying my own necessities. Since then I have NHS prescribed incontinence pads and bowel irrigation equipment. My WR Officer is confident that will give me the necessary points for the “toileting aids” or whatever they call it. The reason doesn’t affect the points, just that the NHS is helping. It’s ridiculous that the assessor seemed lax enough not to get hubby’s condition correct.

I got points for needing reminders to take meds ( my crazy meds are dispensed in nomad boxes so I know whether I have taken the right ones on the right day or not)

The summing up said that I was visibly nervous and shaking etc. I lost out on being able to open a pre- loosened bottle of water and drink from it, and that I could use a computer: no account taken that it’s an iPad I tap on with one finger ( just like a ***ing phone) and I have voice recognition apps.

I received some extra evidence letters from the Clerk to the Tribunal yesterday. I then got hold of the WRO who told me to send in the recent summing up 3 page letter from the research I took part in ( which notes I have Sjögren’s, plus the bowel irrigation. She’s already sent in a copy of the NHS prescription for giant Tena Ladies.

Don’t worry about being sectioned. These days you would have to be waving a sharp knife around for that ( I mean downright dangerous). I haven’t been banged up for bi polar for a long time, and am told they have so few beds they can only take in those who are virtually criminally insane but have not committed a crime.

I once had full care component DLA just on the back of being bipolar, but they have been tougher, and horribly, sometimes dangerously,

tough on mental health, but there has been a lot of pressure to sort this out.

I give you a great big hug here and hope all is not as bad as you fear. I’d get thrown off if I said exactly what I think of DWP and all it’s money grabbing incompetent contractors xxx

[Banditqueen in reply to Lupiknits]

Thanks, hope your evidence is taken into consideration. The incident my husband was talking about in hospital was the stupid nurse poking at me with something as I was just coming round. I was not down from the gas and asked her to leave me alone. Instead of doing just that she started trying to restrain me for no reason and I pushed her off me. The stupid doctor drugged me and hauled me off to the Royal. I woke up in the ambulance, restrained and then on a mixed ward. I wasn't restrained but was too hot and hungry. I was round from the drugs and said I would like something to eat and got told to go back to bed. My husband was there, so since I was not getting fed or anything to drink within the next half an hour I was dressed with his help and on my way home. I think they are still looking for me. I was a day case in for a minor thing, what was I doing in another hospital across the city for the night? Are you kidding me? I have had nothing to eat for almost 48 hours, I am on a mixed sex ward with some fella who has gone missing wandering around. The nurse had just hurt me. Oh yeah! I am not staying there. I got home and had chicken and chips and a very comfortable sleep in my lovely comfortable electric bed. My own doctor called out the next day and I had a nurse come for 7 days. I was fine.

Anyway, I am much more stable now in any event but the wrong thing can set off an incident. I was more anxious than anything but got through it and the guy was fine. I am sure it will be all good. Yes, the other nurse or probably someone writing up very off to miss my husband's main diagnosis. I am like, dude, he hasn't got a prostate and has just had more radiotherapy! He does not have half his large bowel or a colon. Why do you think he is double incontinent? Do you think he gets boxes of catheter and pads and stoma supplies just to fill a space in the house? Honestly, we have just been talking to you for an hour on mainly that and you can't get the diagnosis right?

Oh well, at least we got something. Cheers for your support.

Thanks and best regards.