DWP phoned me yesterday to arrange a time for home visit today. Very surprised as I thought I would have to attend some Atos clinic or whatever they're called. Another surprise was that it wasn't Atos who assessed me but a medically qualified DWP rep, who seemed like a very nice chap. Assessment was carried out in a very relaxed easy going manner, was expecting interrogation tactics of some sort, but no.. far from it. All in all I'm quite satisfied with how things went, but not knieve enough to think I'll qualify for PIP as easy as that. He told me the next step was for him was to access all my medical records and then forward all info to DWP, who will then decide if I qualify for some form of PIP. I'll have to wait 60 days for their decision.................
Had my PIP home assessment this morning...: DWP phoned... - NRAS
Had my PIP home assessment this morning...
Well done and good luck xxxx
Sounds as though that went ok wishy. I do hope they're rolling out more medically qualified assessors, as I had heard on the grapevine that could be happening. Maybe being a DWP employee that bodes well & the ones employed by ATOS who went before him are long gone. It makes far more sense for someone who has at the very least a modicum on knowledge of how those who have need of PIP struggle.
Hope you get what you truly deserve. x
Thanks heelsy,
Seems like it went ok, I ain't counting my chickens though..I'm a 'glass half empty' sort of bloke anyway! I've heard a rumour that Atos have stopped assessing in certain parts of the country, wonder if this is why they did not assess me (?) One thing I found very pleasing, was that the assessor was more interested in how I cope on bad days rather than so called good ones, which hopefully bodes well for others if this practice continues and becomes more widespread. Make no mistake though, the assessment was very thorough and lasted over an hour, I just didn't get the rough ride I was expecting.
Nooo change that!! I do hope the rumour is right as I'm in an area they assess & it's been a bug bear that they employed unqualified assessors. Anyone can fill in a tick box but without having some idea of medical conditions how could we ever reach a fair result? Yours sounded to have a better idea than some we've heard about on here eh? Surely listening to you & concentrating on your bad days equals more points, that's a positive so that glass is filling nicely!! Let's hope he recognised you're not applying for it for no reason & sail through. Anyway, hopefully that's it & you hear soon.
Yeah, I know as I've read some shocking posts on the subject, which is why I was expecting the worst. I hope he realises that I'm a just case too. As you probably know, I have a number of other health conditions besides RD which he also questioned me about, so he seems to have taken these into account as well.
I do, that was my reason for saying you truly deserve it on my first reply. 
Thanks heelsy, that's very nice of you. 
x
I think that things might be changing,
I too had heard so many horrific tales that after I applied last September and was asked to go for an assessment weeks or months later, I didn't go thinking that there was no point they would only say no. I forgot about it and accepted that I just had to get on with things.
I had a phone call from the DWP, must've been 2 months ago, asking me some random questions about was I any better or worse than when I applied originally...... I have to say that I was not very polite with them then promptly forgot about it again.
You can imagine then my utter amazement when last week I opened a letter from the DWP to find that I had been granted the daily living component of PIP based on letters from my GP and rheumatologist!!! It was completely unexpected and out of the blue.
Now I can have my cleaning and garden done which is a big deal for me.....and it was back dated to when I originally applied.
Maybe they're softening up after all the bad press that there has been?
I don't know where you live Moifoi but was this ATOS? Whatever, that's very encouraging & so pleased for you. It must help a great deal & I've applied for exactly the same reasons as you! I love my garden & even though we've got rid of the grass to make it easier there are things neither of us find easy to do any more such as lopping bigger branches & would be so nice to just be able to have someone to do it as & when. I still tickle it & have loads of pots instead of beds but it's the bones of the work that need attention. Ironing & hoovering are also more difficult so it would help there too.
Food for thought how the things we took for granted & did without a second thought not so long ago are so difficult & tiring now. Makes you think!
Thanks for posting this.
That's wonderful news Moifoi!!!
I really don't know who dealt with it as I never turned up for the assessment and the only dealings I've had eg phone call and letter the other day are from the DWP.
I agree, it has been awful watching my garden go to ruin, (in my eyes) and the house which was not a bother at one time looks awful (to me) my friends who visit disagree.
This damn disease has changed my life so much in just the past year or more, Ive had to retire from a job I loved, endure depression, pain, side effects of drugs, weariness beyond comprehension, ....... All the usual stuff we all suffer from.
Like most of you I have worked all of my life (I'm 64) and never claimed anything and even now am trying to talk myself into thinking that I deserve a little financial help at this point......when i read on here about people's difficulty with applying for PIP I feel so angry that people are treated the way that they are with a genuine debilitating illness and put through hoops to get some help to have a modicum of independence and a bit of a life!!
....which is why I didn't go for the assessment and why I was rude to whoever it was that phoned me.
Can't imagine why it was granted in my case.
Don't question it!! I hope it's as you're thinking & they're softening up or possibly Mr Cameron is so embarrassed by the fiasco that the job's being done as it should have been done from the start & no longer diddling those who didn't question their first decision & so didn't appeal. I would think that once those who realised only applicants with limited life expectancy were being awarded it at first assessment & led to the deluge of appeals they realised they'd got it wrong & with the cost of reassessing & lengthening timescales it became a hot potato.
Maybe if they hadn't hoodwinked us from the start, been upfront & all pertinent applications automatically invited for assessment there wouldn't have been the furore there has been & hopefully now it's being conducted as it should have been from the get go, fairly.
Rant over!! (Sorry Moifoi)
BTW I'm in Leicestershire, East Midlands.
This all gives me hope, I won't be able to get support from my rheumy or GP as they don't know me due to moving to a new town and I've never discussed the problems I have now (I have gone downhill badly recently) for them to be on my notes. Maybe I could get awarded it just from an assessment.
I've just been explaining to another member that home visits were far more relaxed and sincere,and I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who has had a positive experience - I also found it speeded up the decision rate in my case,so here's hoping you won't have to wait 60 days - good luck.
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