Pip assessment : Hi all pip ass this month I have ra... - NRAS

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Pip assessment

modoogan profile image
35 Replies

Hi all pip ass this month I have ra, osteoarthritis, fybromyalgia back pain I've had mobility component and care since diagnosed not holding out much hope of keeping the car anyone been assessed recently love to all x mo

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modoogan profile image
modoogan
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35 Replies
lifeboatann58 profile image
lifeboatann58

Hya Modoogan. Thought I was reading about myself there.lol exactly what I have, I'm just waiting to go for my PIP assessment. Not had any money since my SSP ended on the 4th of January. (Apart from my husbands wages) Hopefully it goes well for you. Xx

JanWellcome profile image
JanWellcome

Morning,

sorry to be a Debbie downer this early but they seem to have made getting the mobility part of pip impossible to get, your assessment will be individual to you.

on the day of my assessment I was in pain and had to use my walking stick, but because I fall in the category I think it's walking 50 to 200 meters I only got 4 points and you need 8, there is another section about planning and undertaking a journey will get more point, there is some helpful stuff on line.

Just so you are aware I have the same as you but also failing kidneys and a number of other health problems and only got standard rate on daily component (11 points)

But again the assessment will be individual to you, there is lots of help on line definitely look at that, and take some one with you who knows you well and can add helpful backup. if you use supports or walking sticks use them on the day, don't where cloths with small button but wear pull on cloths.

I'll take some time later to find you some links that might help, but good luck the assessment is not as bad as we all feel it is.

All the best

Jan

youngnanny profile image
youngnanny in reply to JanWellcome

Hi Jan its not called PIP for nothing Practically Impossible Payment!

Knip profile image
Knip in reply to youngnanny

It makes me cross that someone I know who can walk her dog and do a great deal of socialising etc, is receiving the full mobility allowance, so much so that she doesn't pay road tax. She isn't pain free...but it's her shoulder that hurts! I see others who find walking very difficult (or dangerous where heart conditions are concerned, one having a leaking aortic aneurysm which is too risky for surgery at this age) who get nothing. When I went into a long remission I had to argue for ages to get them to STOP my payments...because they were 'for life'. It took a long time for them to do so. I felt so guilty having them. Of course, eventually along came a bad flare! Regrets aplenty, especially about the Blue Badge for parking.

flow4 profile image
flow4

I made a fresh PIP claim in Sept and had my assessment in Dec, and was awarded the lower level of the mobility component, but not enough to qualify for a car... My diagnosis is similar to yours. Here's what I learned while I was doing the application...

PIP is not awarded based on the condition you have but its effects on what you can do. People used to get DLA automatically if they had certain conditions, but that doesn't happen any more with PIP - it's down to what you can do and what you need support with. There are now two levels of the mobility component, and the thresholds are high: to qualify for the lower level because of physical problems, you have to be unable to walk more than 50m safely, reliably and repeatedly (it's different if you are blind or have a learning disability). To get the higher level - that qualifies you for a car - you have to be unable to walk at all, or unable to walk more than *20m* safely, reliably and repeatedly. 20m is a very short distance, so many people who qualified for a car under DLA do not qualify under PIP.

HOWEVER, many companies running Motability are offering people the option to buy their cars - it seems £2000 is what they're often asking. If you can afford that, it means you don't lose your car. And if you get the lower level of mobility, you'll then have about £20/week towards running it. It's not ideal, and personally I find it shocking that they're hitting disabled people in this way, but it might be an option for some people.

Hope that helps. Good luck with your assessment - remember to take as many bits of concrete evidence with you as possible - consultants' letters, occupational therapists' reports, X-rays of deformed joints, etc... It's a horrible process but it'll be over soon!

modoogan profile image
modoogan in reply to flow4

Hi flow4 thanks for the advice I'll take up to date evidence I'm lucky my partner has his car and will take me out many don't have that luxury take care xmo

DelicateInput profile image
DelicateInput in reply to flow4

I don't really understand how you can get mobility allowance and qualify for a car. I can't drive because my shoulder would not permit the movements and I could not grasp the wheel because of stiffness in my hands. Added to that, I get sudden stabs of pain that make me either scream or almost scream. I would nowhere near qualify for any sort of allowance. I have difficulty getting dressed (getting clothes over my head, pulling zips and fastening buttons). I am told these symptoms are very mild.

wishywashy profile image
wishywashy in reply to DelicateInput

Who told you your symptoms are very mild? That seems quite shocking to me as they are your symptoms and being unable to dress/undress doesn't seem mild to me. Also you don't have to be the driver of the car. If you don't have someone who could ferry you the money could be used for taxis or a mobility scooter. Hope your not too bad today.

modoogan profile image
modoogan in reply to wishywashy

Hiya maybe I'll get assessed by someone who is in tune with the conditions ha ha ta much for advice hope you are having a good day x mo

modoogan profile image
modoogan in reply to DelicateInput

Whoever told you that needs to walk in your shoes for a week I hope you appealed any decision re benefits xmo

flow4 profile image
flow4 in reply to DelicateInput

DelicateInput, you may find you DO qualify, for the daily living component if not the mobility one. Problems getting dressed will give you at least 2 points; if those same impairments give you trouble getting washed, that's another 2; if you have trouble cooking, that's another 2... They assess your ability to feed yourself, take meds, plan journeys, communicate and make decisions too... You get points for needing special equipment or needing help from someone else... You need 8 points or more to qualify.

Knip profile image
Knip in reply to DelicateInput

That is so wrong...only mild! The person who said that should try having them for a month or two. I bet you felt like telling him/her that, didn't you? Kx

youngnanny profile image
youngnanny in reply to flow4

Hi Flow thanks for clarifying this for us, at last someone has explained it.

Sue

RAYJAYC profile image
RAYJAYC in reply to flow4

Sorry have to correct you on a couple of points:

Motability is a charity who buy cars for people in return for their higher / enhanced rate DLA/PIP payments. There aren't different 'companies' that do Motability. Different garages take part in the process - they get to sell a brand new vehicle each time!!

The £2000 is OFF the price of your current Motability vehicle should you choose to buy it if you lose your enhanced/higher rate PIP/DLA. They are doing this as a on off gesture as so many people are losing their awards.

If you can't afford to pay for the rest then unfortunately you have to give the vehicle back to Motability.

Didn't want people thinking that they could buy their car for just £2000!!!!! Sorry to give even more bad news though!!

RAYJAYC

flow4 profile image
flow4 in reply to RAYJAYC

You don't need to 'correct' me, because I'm not wrong :)

I know someone who bought their car for £2K just last week; obviously how much your car is worth depends on its market valuation, which in turn depends on its age, condition, mileage, etc. Plenty of second-hand cars sell for £2K, including some people's Motability cars.

As for your other point, I'm afraid you only have a part of the picture. The charity Motability only plans and oversees the scheme; the actual operations are run by a private company, Motability Operations, which is owned by 4 of the Big Banks (yes!). It has a number of sub-companies including a hire purchase company and an insurance company, and they work with a whole load of car companies, and 4800 dealerships, which they call 'suppliers'. I called all these the "many companies running Motability..." Anyone who is interested can check the details here: motabilityoperations.co.uk/...

modoogan profile image
modoogan in reply to RAYJAYC

Hiya rayjayc I spoke to motability today if I am not awarded mobility component I qualify for the £2000 as I've been on higher rate before 2013 they give me 21days grace after final decision is made the car I have at present must be returned to dealership mo

RAYJAYC profile image
RAYJAYC in reply to modoogan

Yes, I had the same 21 days grace between the award end date and the 'hand back' date.

The £2000 will hopefully help you but it doesn't buy much does it?!

I took my decision to tribunal and won on the mobility component so I'm telling everyone to appeal!!

RAYJAYC

in reply to RAYJAYC

Sorry but you are incorrect. You get the £2,000.00 from the government. ...they send you a cheque to use against any car from anywhere. You could put it against your mobility car but as in our case the appeal took longer than the period before the car had to be returned. We were forced to go out and buy s new car,which we did ftom a different garage. We would never go back to a mobility car now ......its cost us thousnds having given our cars away in the first place only to find the hov movef hoal posts. ....please read my other rants lol. The 2000.00 comes backfrom the gov and we also got 800.00 ftom the car comcompany as we had paid 1000.00 for adaptations only 3 mths ago. .........which we do jot get back!!

RAYJAYC profile image
RAYJAYC in reply to

The £2000 comes from Motability Operations as a 'good will gesture' to put towards buying a vehicle - if you can't put up the remainder of what they value your current vehicle at, you have to give it back to them. You can then use the £2000 to buy another car.

I was only trying to explain that your post, quite innocently, made it sound that Motability would let you buy your current car from them for £2000!

Anyway, we're getting ahead of ourselves - we're supposed to be giving advice & support regarding a PIP face to face assessment!

When you arrive for your assessment - I believe they're filming you as soon as you enter the building, possibly in the car park!!

Keep that in mind people!!

Give clear answers and elaborate, elaborate, elaborate on each point!!

Good luck

RAYJAYC

JanWellcome profile image
JanWellcome

Hi again

This link is really helpful and has a online point assessment which will help understand what they are looking for, flow4 is completely right with the information.

benefitsandwork.co.uk/perso...

Good luck with your assessment.

Best regards

Jan

flow4 profile image
flow4 in reply to JanWellcome

I used the Benefits and Work info to make my claim :)

modoogan profile image
modoogan

Thanks for the advice and links Jan I can live without the car many people cannot but I'll go through the process keep well xmo

Hi. Firstly, good luck to you but i have to say the new pip rules fir mobility are titally stupid. We had a mobility car for 3 years. My husband had a stroke as a result he has to drag his left side around so eould not even call it walking. He has not been out alone since his stroke in 2011. He suffers vast vagal attacks and immediate onset blinding attacts. BUT HERES THE STUPID PART for mobility component you need 12 points for car ....he was given 10 and why.......well the 2nd question is can you plan and execute a journey.........theysaid he can........because he does not have any problem planning a route or understanding a map.......they deemed he can execute his plan..........how stupid is that........he has no real spacial awareness and bumps into doorways etc.......is no longer able to drive and has to have someone with him at all times.........if he falls he cannot get up on his own......but according to them he does not qualify. When we decided to have a mobility car we gave away mine and his cars because we had this situation we knew would never change.....now 3 years on its the government who changed.......changed the goal posts also moving pension ages too......when this happened to us we both had small business .......my husbands was a second career having done 32 years in the police force......never eving having had 1 day off for sickness in his whole working life.....neither of us ever claiming anykind of benefits. ......now we've lost our businesses, lost our independence, lost our cars and hadour retirement age increased......we are both now 62.......now we've had our mobility car taken away.......so please forgive me when i say modogan.....if i were you id startlooking for a cheaper car than you have now. ......if you are turned down the appeal will take longer than time you have to return the car.....so even if you are successful on appeal....you still loose the car you have now. Yes you get 2,000.00 towards your new vehicle but lets hope you have savings because you do not get much for that price. In hindsight now we would never have gone into the mobility scheme in the first place.....we have been well and truly shafted by this government .....you get nothing for loyalty and being good honest upright citizens who have worked for 46 years paying taxes and ni contributions and now in the health failing years pushed into undeserved unwanted povety living and as for the car thats just another kick in the face.......do you think i sound resentful? You bet i am. We have been married 40 years this year and when this Stoke happened it ended both our lives as we knew it and threw us both into this disability world and our lives will never be the same. I sincerely wish you all the best with your claim.

DelicateInput profile image
DelicateInput in reply to

You might need to reapply. I feel "can you plan and execute a journey" was a trick question. They were asking whether he could physically carry out the journey, so he should have said that he could not.

in reply to DelicateInput

He did.....and at the face to face interview....the intetviewer even said i can see your situation im not even going to ask you to stand. ....so you can imagine how shocked we were to have the claim turned down. He was 2 points short! My husband willl not appeal he has found the whole matter too stressful....That's why he he had a stroke in the first place ......and i cannot appeal for him so there are are resigned to our position in life!

wishywashy profile image
wishywashy in reply to

Here here! I can only agree with your sentiment and hope you have appealed good luck

modoogan profile image
modoogan in reply to

Hi joyp any health issues I have pale into insignificance I was devastated having to give up my job in 2011 I worked as an emergency response night warden in the community my life changing overnight but you have got a raw deal joyp I hope you appeal the decision I'm sixty one and wish I could still work hope things get better for you both soon xmo

popsmith1874 profile image
popsmith1874

i know how y feel ive tried 3 times to go back 2 work but it just isnt possible but had good chat with my manager yesterday and im going for early retirement ,and i think its a big wait of my mind plus i need all my energy trying to wrestle with this horrible disease

modoogan profile image
modoogan in reply to popsmith1874

I'm glad you have made that decision we put so much pressure on ourselves hope it goes OK and you can adapt to a slower pace of life apply for the benefits you are entitled to trouble is people look at us and think oh you look well they don't get the effort it takes daily life is good hope all goes well xmo

Sorry for the long rant.....there are many people on this site who are in the same or worse position as us but for the lifetime ccommitment and contribution we feel we have made we feel thoroughly let down. As for appealing......my husband will not demeanor himsrlf so there we are......we went andbrought a car from ouf already depleated savings that were supposed ti be for when we were 70/75 not 57/62 62 is where we are now. I do sincerely hope people read the horror stories and learn one thing tell it as it is on your worse day. Hugs and best wishes to you all. X

modoogan profile image
modoogan in reply to

It is appalling joyp that you have both spent a lifetime working and things have gone against you its all wrong sometimes it's good to have a rant I do hope things improve for you both its just as well we don't know what the day will bring or we would never get out of bed my friend said this 20years ago when my 17year old died in a car accident and I've always remembered it life throws some horrible things at us but somehow we get up and on with it take care hugs from me xmo

in reply to modoogan

I cannot know modoogan what it must have been like for you to have lost your child. That's a pain only someone in you position will have to bear. My children are now 37/35 and both have children of their own. My heart goes out to you for all you have missed xx i did loose my father when i was 26 and pregnant with my second child and that affected me for many years and eventually the intense sorrow turned to bearable memories of better time . Thank you for sharing this personal news modoogan it reminds us all that there are other people out there who are living with same/greater/harder situations than our own. I really should be so thankful that i still have my husband as there are many who do not. Money makes life easier but it does not make life easy.........whatever the outcome in terms of finance i am greatful that we have each other and cannot put a price on that . Hope you have a really good day today modoogan😊😊

flebsndawn profile image
flebsndawn

Hello everyone new to the site and it is full of information I did not know. I have however been put on pip and failed the mobility component at my assesment. I appealed and failed again. What I want to say is then go to citizans advice get them to redo your forms and represent you. I was terrified as the word judge was used being a tribunial. I went although I felt unwell with rheumatoid flare and fatigue. What a result they tell you straight away and I would tell everyone to go through it as at this I passed.

Hope this gives some hope dont give up.

modoogan profile image
modoogan

Hiya will go through the process and appeal if needbe citizens advice have been great went tribunal for esa and got it they filled form in this time they carry a lot of clout I believe in fighting for what I am entitled too having worked all my life ta much for replying let you all know how it goes take care everyone xmo

modoogan profile image
modoogan in reply to modoogan

Flebsdawn so pleased it went well for you I'm a determined bugger. tee hee xmo

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