Recently I had a telephone consultation for PIP assessment then got a reply refusing my claim. It appears that everything the GP confirmed was ignored and dismissed. I wasn't anxious on the phone do I don't suffer from anxiety. I don't have brain fog because I could tell them about my meds that were in front of me so I did remember! I don't have proximal muscle weakness because I can drive, do they think I drive a tank not a modern power assisted car? Then as I do drive I have no cognitive problems. I don't have heavy types of meds for my constant breathless so I'm ok. I don't see mental health for depression so I'm not depressed, I actually have counselling outside of the local authorities. I don't have falls despite me telling them I constantly trip and stumble and have ripped my arms open several times catching them on handles etc and also I told the guy about falls. My husband is my registered carer and has to do my meals for me but apparently if I sit on something I could do a meal for one! I can walk about 50 yards or metres whichever it was but I told them due to extreme breathless I can only manage a few stairs at a time and just going to the loo from my bedroom makes my heart race and causes breathing problems. I'm going to appeal but how do I word this as they've dismissed just about everything giving me a total of 4 points.
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MandaM
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Sorry to hear you have been refused. I was refused a few years ago because I could sit for 20 mins. Shows you how much they know about lupus and fibromyalgia.I did get awarded pip a couple of months ago, so don’t give up and appeal. Speak to your gp and rheumatologist to write up a report. I’ve heard some people are more successful on appeals. I appreciate how frustrating it can be, but don’t give up.
Thank you for your reply. You were refused because you can sit? Are they for real? Doesn't it make you mad. Does that mean paralysed people sitting in a wheelchair aren't disabled! 🤦 You couldn't make it up. I am going to appeal just need to try and refrain from the sarcasm I so want to add in! I assume the fact you could still sit when you reapplied wasn't a problem with a different assessor? Thanks for your advice. I'm just off to park up my WW1 tank the assessor thinks I drive lol.
I know it’s ridiculous. My recent assessment was done over the phone. I have just come out of a really bad flare and then reaction to hydroxychloriquine, so was in a bad way. I think that helped. They caught me at my worst. The thing is, I would rather be working, but I just physically can’t do it. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you.
Yes, they lie. I was told that as I said I could sit to chop veg as I can’t stand I was ok. Appears if you make adjustments then you are not eligible. Go to the next level it’s all a sifting process. Good luck.
Hi, I am so sorry about the problems you have had with PIP. Unfortunately, it is a very common story, which makes me so mad as if we haven’t got enough to worry about, deal with! Anyway, first you must ask for the written report from the assessor, then go through every single point and correct anything they have put down wrong. On mine they actively lied! Remember do not say what you can do, as we are very much likely to do, you do not get rewarded for this in this instance. Instead put down what you can’t do on the days when you are feeling the worst.
It is so sad and is symptomatic of how people are viewed if you have a long term chronic illness, you are seen as trying to cheat the system!!! It took me over 6 weeks to go through mine, because of the brain fog, but I was so incensed about it. I literally lost much of my life overnight from getting autoimmune disease and they had the cheek to try and basically make me out to be someone trying to get something for nothing! These systems need standing up to although it is the last thing you need/ want when feeling ill. Anyway good luck with everything.
Hi Manda, I am so sorry that like so many you have encountered lies and unfairness in your application for PIP. I have said this before here but honestly the Work and Benefits site is invaluable. It costs £19.99 a year and will walk you through your Mandatory Reconsideration in order that you maximise your chances of getting the level of benefit you need. I wish you the very best of luck xx
This makes me mad!! 😠I've had ESA refused n when I read the assessors report..she commented that I sat for 64 minutes..she didn't say that I was sat in my wheelchair!! Honestly makes u wonder what planet these people r on!!
I will say that it took over a year for my appeal to get to tribunal by which time I was sick of it all so I didn't go to the tribunal..they phoned me n I didn't answer the phone..I thought 'they can stick their money where the sun don't shine' 😹 guess what..I won the appeal!! Honestly what a waste of taxpayers money!! Not to mention the impact on our physical n mental health!!
Anyway what I'd like to say Manda is keep on keeping on. Yes rant ,rave, punch pillows..whatever helps u to deal with this situation..but appeal because u will get it eventually!! Look at it like a savings scheme coz by the time u get to appeal..all that money will have accumulated from your original claim..I bought a lush carpet for my living room n hallway!! 😹👍
Keep fighting..it's what us lupies do best!! 😜🌈😽😽Xx
I know all to well the painful experience of a bad assessment. Unfortunately if you fill in the forms yourself and do your assessment without having guidance, the likelihood of refusal is extremely high. As soon as you get help and guidance to fill in your forms and understand what they are looking for, it really is so much easier. Its all a bit of a game.
There are a number of people that can help with your appeal but firstly you need to do a mandatory reconsideration. Benefits & work or fightback4justice are both amazing charities who help with this. Your local council may also have welfare workers who specifically do appeals and can attend with you. Please look into your options before you complete the mandatory reconsideration.
I should also say that if you have completed the form yourself and had a bad assessment, sometimes it is easier to start again. I fought my first application through a number of appeals but in the end lost by 1 point (I was original scored 0 but 7/8 or 11/12 still means no award). As soon as I reapplied and had someone professional complete my forms from the beginning, I was successful. I know its a horrible thought to have to start again and lose backpay but it is something to bear in mind.
Symptoms and conditions aren't really what counts for PIP. It's all about how they impact you and what you can do. It's very much like completing a job application where you need to hit key words and demonstrate specific disabilities to get points. Always tell the truth about good as well as bad days, but having a better understanding of what they are looking for really does help. Both charities mentioned above have guides that break down the points structure and what you need to demonstrate for specific points. The questions also often have double meanings so they explain what types of things to put in each box.
If you log on to the Citizens Advice website there is a section on helping to fill in the forms which I found very useful.
I found the silly little boxes the DWP ask you to put your answers in are nonsense and trying to squeeze in little writing to get your point across is frustrating.
I answered the questions by saying the question number was on a separate sheet of paper and continued to do this for all the questions which needed more detail. I took a long time in my answers to make sure all the information was there.
They want to know more about how your condition impacts on your life rather than what you are suffering from, strangely. Athough if your medication does alter your thought processes, make you confused or you are still drowsy in the morning and not able to SAFELY do your normal chores or duties this should also be noted, as should nausea, pain from constipation etc.
The key points are safety, if you can walk 50 metres but cannot repeat it without breathlessness or fear of falling that is unsafe, as with stairs. The same can be said that you are not able to prepare fresh fruit or veg without cutting yourself, moving a hot plate from a microwave could be dangerous if your grip is not good, etc. If you cannot put your underwear on because you get dizzy or your limbs hurt, than that does affect your life. If you take sleep meds and need the loo in the night your husband needs to help you by being aware you may fall. This means you require care at night.
It does help too if you sometimes need the assistence of a spouse, partner or friend, my husband said he contributed by helping me complete showering or cutting up food, he also signed the form declaring his input.
Remember too that you do not have good and bad days, you have bad and better days, a small difference but very important. Also your needs must be for at least half the week or they say you can cope the other times.
I would recommend you write all of these points even if you do have a telephone consultation so you don't miss anything.
There does seem to be a tick box script so be prepared!!
Your points are most helpful for my appeal thank you. I applied over the phone some time ago but didn't feel well enough to fill in the forms sent out. Out of the blue recently I got a text then a call to say I was having a telephone assessment despite not completing the form. I thought it was a hoax to start off but no it was real and I got the assessor call me as planned and verified. A very upbeat, jolly sort, behaving as if we were best friends, think this was part of the plan to relax me and reduce anxiety! So he reported I didn't suffer with anxiety. I had time to prepare everything with my husband who was there with me on loud speaker helping me, made known to the assessor but the assessor deemed I was very able to answer questions! I just don't know how they are allowed to dismiss medical evidence.
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