'Interesting' read about PIP assessments

[Bookworm55]

disabilitynewsservice.com/p...

[Hidden]

Sadly, I am neither shocked nor surprised. As part of my previous role, I used to write reports as supporting evidence for people with very complex needs and they still got rejected for certain benefits. My other reports could convince senior managers that people needed up to £500 worth of social care per week, yet the DWP felt my assessments of people's care needs held no weight.

[Bookworm55 in reply to Hidden]

I despair 😩.

[Cathy777]

I too sadly have to agree. This system is so inadequate. My assessor gave a totally different slant to my situation. Had I not heard I could request a copy of her report I would not have known. I got so angry it spurred me on to appeal and won. So please everyone ask for a copy of these abysmal assessments which are carried out in a mostly cold hearted and distorting manner. It is worth the fight believe me.

[LizzieR]

Shocked but not surprised... The tick box, point system doesn't suit lots of people. Especially if the assessor has no idea about the disease...

[AgedCrone in reply to LizzieR]

A few years ago my 94 year old unmarried aunt was assessed for attendance allowance by a very young social worker who came to the house & proceeded to ask her if she had any sex problems!!! I couldn't believe my ears!

Luckily my aunt was quite deaf & didn't hear the question & when I asked the social worker to leave as I thought the question was so inappropriate...she said the question was "written on the form" & no she didn't think she should use her discretion when asking the questions!

I reported what I thought was such an unsuitable question - & the young woman's attitude - such an old lady, & eventually a retired doctor came to interview her & she was awarded the highest rate of AA (it was then.)

Sadly she died before she received it.

From what I know/read many assessors are still not fit for purpose.

I do urge anybody who feels their applications have not been dealt with fairly to request a copy of all reports submitted & if they are wrong challenge them forcibly. The CAB will help with this.

[Eiram50]

Appalling . More needs to be done to address this issue- such an unjust, inhumane treatment of vulnerable people.

[nomoreheels in reply to Eiram50]

What needs to be done is for the DWP to hold their hands up & admit such deception is happening from the employees of agencies working on their behalf, don't you agree Marie? It truly is unjust, people who are truly in need, swallowing their pride & admitting the most personal things yet being denied money that could make their lives so much easier. Not fit for purpose is never a truer description. I can't just recall where but I've read from a reliable source somewhere recently that there were a huge amount of PIP appeals in the space of 3 months at the end of last year, I do remember that two thirds were successful though... it's surely time the DWP were held accountable. I do wonder what the European Parliament's Human Rights would make of it, whilst we still have the option of access to their opinion.

[Eiram50 in reply to nomoreheels]

I absolutely agree with you . I think it us beyond disgraceful that given the high level of complaints in relation to falsifying reports etc, there had been no investigation to date!

You've raised a good point NMH in relation to human rights- may be worth some exploration?!

Hope you and your husband are as well as can be.

Marie

[nomoreheels]

Shocking, just shocking. Unfortunately this isn't the first time I've read about inconsistencies in applicant's & assessor's view of actual events & facts at assessments. If anyone in any other position lied as assessor's have they'd be had up for libel. Something has to change, be it each assessment video'ed or taped, in a similar way to police interviews, equipment to be provided by the DWP of course. Can't see that ever happening though.