My Mental State affects....

[Vanessa2712]

my mobility according to the DWP. HUH? I just don't get that. My mental state was a reason for giving me 0 (big fat zero) points on the mobility component of my PIP assessment.

I'm not surprised I wasn't allocated the mobility component (healthunlocked.com/nras/pos... and granted, I am very disappointed because I did explain that what she (assessor) was seeing was not a true reflection.. but hey ho, the reconsideration letter is in the post with a bit of back up notes for the RA specialist.

I was awarded the lower rate care component which reads to me as - i need aids etc to dress, bath, eat etc due to RA affecting me, but I have no problem with the lower half of my body and the RA only affects the upper half? (excluding my mind :)) I guess they have to go with what they see on the day but I did repeatedly explain about the Steroid jab and they should really have taken what I wrote on the initial form into account. So much for not "taking a snapshot" of the day but taking an overall view (PIP assessment guidelines quote).

If only those DM's realised I would happily give back any money they pay me/allocate me to live as freely (and go back to my marathon training) as they perceive I can.

Live and learn and hope

Take care everybody

Ness

[bydand75]

It is awful that a 30/60 minute interview is used to say how you are all day every day! How can this show anyone the pain that people suffer when trying to live a basic life. My husband would also give back every penny to be healthy and 'normal' again. It's humiliating the way people are treated.

My husband's health was not caused by self harming with drugs or alcohol - the illnesses have taken over without any help or invitation - yet he is treated (like many others) as if it's his own fault!!

He was recently assessed for move from IB to ESA and was declared fit for work scoring 0 points. He can't walk far and only really goes out to attend appointments, he spends most of his time in bed as he is in constant pain and medicated to the extent where he doesn't know if he's on this earth or fullers. I would love to know what work they reckon he's capable of doing and which employer will take him on.

[Vanessa2712 in reply to bydand75]

Hi there, yeah it is amazing that these assessors are capable of making such a life changing decision "just like that" in some situations, yet Doctors and specialists take weeks of tests etc to ascertain your disease etc. The first thing I asked the assessor was if she had any knowledge of RA - she said "a little bit" - where does that put me when i'm being assessed by someone who doesn't understand what RA does to my body? I tried to explain as best I could, but as proved, she didn't believe me nor understand it which is rather frustrating as I had two letters from SPECIALISTS confirming my RA and challenges. Go figure.

I do hope that you and your hubby have challenged their "fit for work" decision. Fighting the system wears you down, but keep at it. I often wonder if its a general stance they take to see if you will challenge to ascertain how serious you are. I have no issue with providing the proof, but when supplied, hell, take it into consideration.

Good luck bydand.. hit them with all the proof etc you have xx

[bydand75 in reply to Vanessa2712]

Hi Vanessa, we are challenging it - tribunal is on Thursday. It's nerve wrecking and emotionally draining on me so can only imagine how much harder it is for my hubby x fingers crossed they see sense - otherwise I worry for my husband's mental health as well as his physical (he's already contemplated suicide on more than one occasion due to everything) the whole process is humiliating!

[Vanessa2712 in reply to bydand75]

I really do hope it goes well for both of you. It does take its toll - hold on to each other, leave your dignity at the door, lay yourselves bare, tell it how it is and pick up your dignity on the way out - seems to be the only way

Fingers crossed xx

[bydand75 in reply to Vanessa2712]

Thanks x that's what my hubby has found so hard - he's a proud man and having to tell every little detail and seeing it all makes him feel worthless - I've told him that we are facing this together and we will reapply on the grounds that his health has got worse since his medical last year.

Makes you laugh though as it stated in their report that we said he cannot walk more that 50m before having to stop due to severe pain and discomfort and that he usually only mobilises around the house (mostly staying upstairs near to the bathroom) yet they claim this means he should be able to easily mobilise more than 200m! It's a complete and utter farce

[Vanessa2712 in reply to bydand75]

be thinking of you guys tomorrow xx

[bydand75 in reply to Vanessa2712]

Thanks Vanessa x feel physically sick with nerves but I've got to put a brave front on for hubby xx

[EnglishRose63 in reply to bydand75]

Hi hun. How did your hubbys tribunal go? X

[bydand75 in reply to EnglishRose63]

He won (sort of) 18 points and WRAG x he should be in support personally - but then so should loads of other people - Don't know if you can see full details as I just replied to Vanessa with an Essay lol

[dleadley]

Hi please please take a look at fightback for justice either on fb or the web fabulous site lots of information and help for people fighting to get the benefits they deserve xx

[Vanessa2712 in reply to dleadley]

Thank you for the information x

[nomoreheels]

Hiya Ness. I can understand how frustrating it is to have been completely honest on your application form, faced with the questions & having to admit not only to the DWP but yourself how RD has affected you isn't nice for anyone. But then to be considered ok to walk much further than you claim or actually can isn't acceptable.

I was awarded daily living at the enhanced rate but fell short by 4 points for mobility at the standard rate. My issues aren't related to the mental capability part of the form rather the moving around part. I believe that because I had little written evidence of how my RD & OA affects my walking & distances I can manage before the pain has increased to the point I have to rest is the reason it was considered I could walk much further than I had to admit (I prefer not to say claimed). The problems I have in my neck & back are well documented but as my feet had never been examined at the time I applied I'm of the opinion that I wasn't believed just how bad my feet are & how it affects the distance I can walk as set out in the descriptor. It appears no amount of explaining how poor my feet are & how they affect my walking made so much as an ounce of difference. Without documented evidence our word counts for little.

I requested reconsideration but the decision was upheld. The reason given was I was "observed to walk unaided the 15 metres from the waiting room & neither pieces of evidence submitted indictated severe walking restrictions". Because of this it's considered I can "likely waIk in the range of 50 to 200 metres reliably and repeatedly". The evidence submitted doesn't include my feet because they'd not been examined previous to the assessment.

I guess my problem is that it's a case of bad timing. At my last appoinment my Rheumy at long last examined my feet, confirmed I had active disease in my feet & ankles & increased my MTX. She also referred me to Podietry. Three weeks later at my initial examination the following was found.... I'm walking on bone as I've lost the fleshy pad on the ball of my foot, I have inflammation in my tarsals & metatarsals, big issues with my mid metatarsals, I have very poor rotation in my ankles which have inflammation, my arches have virtually collapsed & when tested walking barefoot had very poor balance & very unstable. The only positive she gave me was that I had no rheumatoid nodules.

I've since applied for & received a Blue Badge which has proved invaluable.

I hope my experience & rather long reply shows you're not alone in feeling that the PIP assessment isn't realistic & without written evidence assumptions are made by assessors & the DWP.

[Vanessa2712 in reply to nomoreheels]

Hi NMH

happy to hear there was light at the end of the tunnel for you. (not so happy to hear of your health issues cos those i'm sure you would happily do without)

I did request xrays or whatever needed to be done to check my feet due to the extreme pain but I was given the steroid jab (which did initially give me some relief) and told they would revisit my request further down the line - looking back now, being new too all this RA malarky, I should have been more insistent - it is after all my body being affected. I can actually feel the arches (or what were arches) of my feet touching the floor when i walk bare foot. I'll be more prepared come my next app in April

xx

[nomoreheels in reply to Vanessa2712]

It's difficult to know just how hard to push without being considered a problem patient & that I will never be but being told "it's out of my hands" once too often rankled. I suppose I have to be grateful I didn't have an awful lot to report after my last visit as GP has sorted my pain relief & why she did eventually cave in & examine them. The response from her was such a relief, even though in some ways it's not what I wanted to hear & what I basically knew myself that it's where the inflammation shown in my bloods lay. She was most apologetic & I can only hope that my example will serve as a positive to her other patients who complain that their feet are painful.

I hope your Rheumy listens to you, even if feet aren't included in the DAS 28 there's no reason in my mind they can't be examined to prevent damage or before any occurs, or at least refer to Podietry to make them more comfortable. You need to be able to walk barefoot for as long as you can Ness, I shouldn't but I envy you so you keep on at your Rheumy & make him/her listen to you. Don't let your feet become as bad as mine. x

[Vanessa2712 in reply to nomoreheels]

Shows how naive i am, i didnt even know there was such a thing as a DAS28 - seems my rheumy doesnt use that system then. just gone on the sero-positive bloods and what i told him. i will keep at them. thanks NMH xxx take care of yourself

[nomoreheels in reply to Vanessa2712]

Does your Rheumy ask you to score yourself on a rising scale, either 1 - 10 or 1 - 200 on a sheet of paper, the idea being you put a mark to determine how much pain you're in? If so that is called a global assessment & is part of the DAS 28. You'll find a full explanation here nras.org.uk/patients

[Vanessa2712 in reply to nomoreheels]

nope. not had that - i'll ask him in April. NRAS website says not all use that scale thingy. maybe he doesnt.

[nomoreheels in reply to Vanessa2712]

You could well be right Ness, some Rheumies don't but it's more common to do it & why I questioned about the scoring of yourself. I wish my Rheumy didn't, particularly as I now have big problems with my feet because as a result.

[bydand75 in reply to Vanessa2712]

Hi Vanessa, well we had good and not so good news today. After an agonising interrogation of my hubby (well that's how it felt-especially when I was told to sit up and move away from my hubby whilst comforting him when he got emotional and anxious) he was lucky enough to actually score points - 18 in total. Now the not so good news - this put him in WRAG!

The doctor upset me when asking my hubby about how far he can walk before he gets in pain or discomfort, he told them he was no good with distance, so she asked if he was familiar with the are of town where we were - he truthfully replied no - she then asked if he knew where the train station was - yes was his reply - so how would you get there from here she asked, how far before you would have to stop? - The endof the street hubby said (I checked when we left and that is around 45/50m max) -then what? she asked- he said he would have to rest up - then continue walking? She asked - (no question of how long before he would be able to carry on).

The train station is 0.4 mile from where we were, I feel that she badgered my hubby to answer her and kept pressuring him - despite knowing he suffers from depression and cannot always think straight - surely this is wrong according to the mental health act (as well as downright disgusting and underhand).

When I tried questioning their decision they looked at me in disbelief and said 'we agreed to your appeal' as if I should be grateful that we got somewhere (which I am) and should not dare question them.

The judge did however apologise to my hubby for making him feel like a bad and inadequate father with some of her questions - she assured him that's not what she was getting at at all.

The whole thing left my husband feeling empty, useless and worse than before (his thoughts of suicide are back with vengeance and I'm scared to leave him alone - so phoning MHT tomorrow to chase up his appointment)

It's amazing though how we can go from 0 to 18 points - makes a joke out of the whole WCA process really dosent it

[Vanessa2712 in reply to bydand75]

hiya bydand. sorry to hear you guys had a bit of a rough time. i can understand how he is feeling and how degrading and belittled the process makes one feel. he's come this far, he's been strong enough to get here, giving up now isnt an option ok??? Stay strong, both of you 'cos you've got them to see they made a mistake and corrected it. It may not be the exact outcome needed but from 0 - 18 points is a good thing, and yeah does make a bit of a joke of the whole process. I don't want to come across as patronising, but hopefully tomorrow the weight of all the stress and worry about this will lift a bit and you can start building strength to tackle the next round take care xx

[bydand75 in reply to Vanessa2712]

Thanks Vanessa x and you don't sound patronising - I hope he feels like that too xxx hope things work out for you xx

[Azabat]

I'm not in the UK but similar programs in Canada can have similar problems. It's very frustrating I'm sure, but if you can get your care team to back up your appeal perhaps you'll have better results? I would be sincerely grumpy about this, and I'm actually pretty grumpy on your behalf anyway. I can come slap someone, if you like. It's a bit of a swim, but I'm stubborn. xx Bat

[Vanessa2712 in reply to Azabat]

hey bat - mind the sharks apparently they bite

I'm getting my ducks in a row, and if they (the powers that be) don't want to listen i may just resort to slapping... it may not get me much further but it'll relieve some frustration

[Azabat]

This is why I like my white cane. What I really want is one with the optional cattle-prod