Well it's come through I have my PIP assessment next week and when I saw the reminder as not seen the letter I called to check. And it will be at home!
Great news in one way as I dont have to worry about driving anywhere as I already know next week is going to be hard as a conference to go too as well for work.
Hi Dee. I had my pip assessment at home .it didn’t go well. She was horrible. My husband and I cleaned the house it went against us. I was clean and tidy it went against me. I answered the door it went against me. I took my dog to the garden as she was uncomfortable around her( 3 steps to the garden 3 steps back) all she mentioned was I reached down and grabbed my dog by the collar and walked her out the room.(greyhound head comes above hip) the inaccuracy of her report was unbelievable. I said I was was having a continual flare which at this point been going on for 4 months and she reported I only had one flare in 4 months.
Sorry waffling.... when I do this again I’m going to record my interview and let them know this is my intention. I went to mandatory and wrote page on page as I broke down her report sentence by sentence.
Get a letter from your Clinic nurse your gp supporting you . You can ask them to report your worst days . Have more bad days than good how fatigue disables you eg driving is dangerous due to fatigue and brain fog so you don’t leave the house. You must report your worst days . For me some days I can’t walk up the stairs normally and I couldn’t carry things up and down as I needed 2 hands to hold on too the bannister. I know it sounds very dramatic but if you stop and think how much it does effect you you will be surprised. When I go to the toilet at night I’m very stiff and I hold on to the radiator and lower myself to the toilet and again hold on to get up. I did this without thinking and didn’t originally report this but I did later on and this gained me extra points.
Some people get really good and understanding assessors I hope you do. Good luck x
I know I hear you worried but what will be will be - at the end of the day they are in my home so rudeness not tolerated. I have no intention of cleaning for them as not got enough energy to do it for me let alone someone who is a guest in my home!
I will go with flow and report back xx
Tell them about the bad days. Get someone to show them any adaptations that you use or would spend PIP money on. Tell them your partner has to help.you with cooking , do you do internet shopping, how do you dress even down to putting in bras, how you toilet. Where you hold on. Do you often sleep on the couch as you cant do the stairs, maybe would like bannister?? Its very specific and slightly embarrassing what they want to know. Remember to add in how it affects you and your family emotionally . Get a list of what you want to tell them which you write using voice text, as you get brain fog. Ask for a copy if the report . Good luck xxx
All the very best. I hope it all goes your way.
Good advice above!
I had a good assessor, took a taxi to the centre. He even helped me give good responses.
But he had met me about 8 months before when I accompanied my son for his reassessment, changing from DLA to PIP.
And he noticed I was extremely ‘stressed’. I told him then it was due to RA, and I had to have him move my chair so I could look straight at him without turning my head as my neck etc were in such abominable pain.
I was also going through divorce, and he was too. Lovely young man, a nurse.
I hope you get one like him. X
Hi Deeb I had mines at home on Tuesday,hopefully went alright but can never tell,I’ve been getting Standard care for both for the last 4 years so hopefully carries on,absolute disgrace that we have to go through this as they just need to check what’s wrong with us and that should be enough,the last week I’ve had th I s diarrhoea bug and think it was worrying about this assessment,I stayed in my pyjamas had my wife with me so we will see what the outcome is good luck xxx
Also, have as much evidence as you can, hospital letters and any other supporting paperwork , from work perhaps ?
Remember you do not need to do any of the ridiculous physical stuff they ask, like can you put your arms above your head if it causes you pain! You can just say no.
I was asked to take my thumb splint off, to which I answered yes I can do ,so long as you take responsibility for any dislocation that might occur, she said don't bother then !
My daughter was with me and she was very obvious with her note taking, and asked for a few points of clarity 'to make sure her notes of the session were accurate'. The assessor didn't like it, but I got the PIP.
Don't be bullied.
My daughter also chastised her, for her tardiness in calling me 45 mins late for my appointment and asked for her lateness to be recorded. We had to press for this, but eventually got it recorded.
My daughter gave her no wriggle room.
Be confident, hold eye contact, be honest but clear and firm.
I really wouldn't go with the flow, Deeb. These medicals can be extremely harshly assessed. I would advise being very prepared - basically they are not on your side!
I'm not sure if you've still got time - you have to get permission from them in advance to do this - but if at all possible record the assessment. The rules make it as difficult as possible but if you can somehow get hold of two cassette recorders that would be acceptable. Anything digital is not allowed. I actually bought a couple second hand off ebay.
In my view it was definitely worth doing, as it avoids the kind of thing J1707 is talking about here. It means they can't just assume you can do things as it'll be clear you weren't asked. It also makes them aware that you are likely to challenge any inaccuracies. They are much more careful.
Check the rules about recording in case they've changed (I don't think they have)
As others have said, answer according to how you are on bad days. Don't look too well turned out and don't be too chatty - both can be seen as 'evidence' that you're fine! Be careful of things like picking up dropped pencil etc. and anything else that might make you seem less affected. If it's a push to do it, don't be heroic - don't do it. This includes things they ask you to do in the physical examination.
Have someone with you if you possibly can.
There's a good website called Benefits & Work that has helpful advice about assessments.
Hope I haven't made you too stressed and anxious about it!
Anyway, very best of luck with it. I hope it goes well!
Terryx
P.S. I wouldn't mention the conference!
thanks Terry I wil look into it. I was having a bad day so was not meant to sound flippant but it was how I was feeling yesterday as I know it could make a huge difference re work for me too. Many thanks again to you all for the info.
You didn't sound flippant! But so many people aren't prepared for the PIP assessment - or the Work Capability Assessment for UC, either. It seems so obvious that when you're clearly having difficulties and you've got doctor's letters to confirm your level of disability that there shouldn't be any issue. Unfortunately, the DWP are notoriously difficult to convince whatever your doctor says. Also, people are reluctant to say how much trouble they have - it's a very British thing to play down illness - and so they lose points.
Very best of luck with it all! I hope it goes well! x
Good luck with assessment. I almost had breakdown before mine, as its all i have to live on. Used to work for most of my life. Very best for you xx i feel its wrong we have to prove we are ill to them as they dont take notice of doctors letters. Have to say, I was ok as had ex nurse x
You don't need permission from anyone to record anyone including PIP assessors in your own home if you don't tell them. If you do tell them they can - and will - stop it. I record all my assessments although mine have been in their own building not at home.
Whatever you do, do not put any make up on, do not comb or brush your hair, leave your pyjamas on, just keep remember one thing and one thing only, THEY WANT TO STOP YOU GETTING PIP, that is what they are paid to do, I know of friends and family that have had their disability payments taken or reduced, because they walked up stairs, could lift their arms, had make up on and looked well groomed, go on line and read what the CAB say to do during a PIP interview, Good luck xxx
Sorry but I don’t agree that she should do that at all. Making out to be worse than you are is fraudulent. Do not lie or put on a show, tell it how it is.
It's not fraudulent, it's them seeing you as you are, even our CAB person was surprised that my wife got her PIP, they see so many cases lost through people just looking neat and tidy, how long do you think it takes a disabled person to look presentable, struggle putting make up on, struggle trying to do their hair, struggle to get dressed, as I said, I have family and friends who have had PIP removed and lowered, just because the looked presentable. Go on line and find out how many others have lost or had their PIP lowered. Disabled people are a soft target for these assessors, it's a know fact that they are paid by results, results in saving the government money, yes there are people out there abusing the system and it's the real disabled that are made to suffer. If you have been through their assessment not just PIP bur ESA, their questionnaire is complicated and out to trick you. Anyone having to do a PIP assessment should contact their CAB. One of the ESA questions was, if you can see across the road and nothing is coming, can you cross the road, nothing about do you need assistance to help you cross the road, so if you tick yes, you are fit for work. these people REALLY BOIL MY BLOOD. Sorry for the rant, not getting at you, but having a disabled wife and watching the fear about the assessments, delays and texts from them. xxx
But if that is not how Dee is then she shouldn’t be doing that. I’m only saying you should be truthful. If you don’t they will catch you out, I fully know how long it takes a disabled person to look presentable. I think people should act as they normally do and if someone normally gets up and gets dressed then that’s what they should do. My PIP wasn’t removed because of how I was dressed or turned out. People wouldn’t lose out just because they were dressed well or their hair was brushed. I don’t need to go online and look because I looked at all this in depth when I did my own PIP. The questionnaire wasn’t complicated and out to trick you. You’re talking to me like I don’t know what I’m talking about/am not disabled but I assure you I’ve been there myself and helped many other people go there as well. I do not qualify for ESA so I can’t comment on that as I haven’t seen the questions. My only point was to be honest.xx
Kitty, I don't think that's fraudulent, if you often can't or don't get dressed or get washed because of your health condition.
My good friend went for an assessment because of severe depression. She couldn't leave the house and had severe panic attacks all day long - she just sat about in her dressing gown all day, unwashed and ungroomed. She had always been a well-groomed woman before she became ill and it was a kind of defence for her to put her face on especially in stressful situations. So she made an effort for the assessment , got refused benefits because of it _ as per the report from DWP - and died of a heart attack two months later from the stress of no money.
So I think it's fair enough.
Well it just goes to show that it all depends on your assessor. They did comment at my assessment on my clothing and how I looked but I still got PIP. I’m sorry about your friend, that’s awful.
There are so many people who deserve Pip but don’t get it or have to fight for it. My own Gp told me when I asked for a support letter that he had a patient who was paralysed from the waist down and was turned down because he could lift himself from chair to sofa using his arms 🤷♀️🤷♀️
But the person being given all this “helpful” advice drives to work & has now got over the worst of getting started on her RA drugs, so presumably she gets up & dresses herself for work? The assessor will know this.
A lot of the members here did advise her to take more time off to get used to her drugs but she refused to do that and kept on working....... that will all be on her record.
If she takes a lot of the advice that is being offered here .....the first thing the assessor will ask her is how does she get to work and how does she get dressed ....if on the day of the assessment she says she can do neither? Assessors do read this site too you know!
I know a lot of people have been denied PIP, when they might have deserved it.....but it is irresponsible to advise somebody to pretend their condition is worse than it is,.....especially in the present climate
of cuts in benefits,..the penalties for somebody trying to give misleading information can be quite severe.
We are not asking her to be fraudulent. On my bad day’s I don’t do house work I don’t get dressed or wash my hair . I and my husband did all of the above because of pride and it went against me. If they called in unannounced on a bad day they would be lucky if I could summon the energy or mobility to open the door and I doubt my washing up would be done never mind hoovering and I would still be in my pjs wrapped in a blanket on the sofa. This my reality.
Yes but this is Dee’s assessment. We all know it’s individual, all I am saying is be honest about you your situation, not what other people are telling you to say and be.
The point is, don't make any effort you wouldn't normally make on an ordinary day. Don't behave as if it was any other appointment or social event and try to look smart or anything. They need to see how you usually are in real everyday life, warts and all.
I couldn’t agree more
But J1707 you were telling Dee to say fatigue and brain fog makes driving dangerous so she doesn’t go out and that’s not true. She needs to tell it how it is not how others say it is. That’s all I’m saying 😊
I wasn’t saying she say that . It was an example of my own situation. It is true I am a danger on the road when I have fatigue it is like a drunk driver my reactions are so much slower. I would never forgive myself if I injured or god forbid worse anyone . It’s is what I explained to my assessor who ignored this statement completely and didn’t even report it. I never told Dee to do anything I was giving examples of my experience. Like you gave yours but you had a much better experience than I and a lot of others have by past posts.
J1707, In the first 3 sentences in the second paragraph you do say “you” not “me” or “I” . We will have to agree to disagree😊
I had my PIP assessment year had to go to an office which my husband drove me to. Held onto his arm to walk to steady myself and assessor came to door to meet us think to check on my walking. Was on DLA allowance before with low care and high mobility. After loosing this was awarded for 3 years high care and 10 out 12 points for mobility so still kept my blue badge but lost my car which I went on to purchase from Motobility. Just stress how hard things are to do and especially the fatigue that is so bad some days you need to go yo bed.
As long as you have submitted lots of evidence with your form hopefully you'll be ok. Good luck x
Do not get up while they're there assessing you make sure someone is with you. you can refer back to the notes on your claim form if you wish. You are entitled to see the report also wait a few days after the assessment ring them and ask them to send you a copy.
Don't tell them you drive that will go against you unless you have an adapted car. Part of the scoring is can you plan and execute a journey
Try saying someone drives you as you find it difficult to drive and concentrate due to pain and brain for
Hope this helps
A journal of how your health has been, supporting letters from rheumatology and an honest view of how your health is, taking care to pay attention to how limited this disease makes you on bad days and on average how many bad you have is the most honest and safest way to go.
Also being confident and taking no nonsense from assessors is important, as is someone to attend the appointment with you.
To wrap us this PIP feed the words from this song say it all
Go Gloria Gaynor
I am what I am
I don't want praise, I don't want pity
I bang my own drum
Some think it's noise, I think it's pretty
And so what if I love each sparkle and each bangle
Why not try to see things from a different angle
Your life is a sham
Till you can shout out
I am what I am
I am, I am, good
I am, I am, strong (well maybe change this one)
I am, I am somebody
I am I do belong
I am, I am, good
I am, I am, strong
I am, I am somebody
I am I do belong
I am, I am, useful
I am, I am true
I am, I am worthy
I am as good as you
I am, I am, useful
I am, I am true
I am, I am worthy
I am as good as you
Your obviously feeling a wee bit better this morning 😜
Hidden trying to locate my sense of humour as I lost it this week with the rest of my body¬
😂😂you found it yayyy
Hi all. Just a gentle reminder that anything filled in on a PIP form or said during the PIP assessment MUST be accurate, truthful information, otherwise you risk prosecution. For example, if you say you can't drive, then someone sees you driving.
You should certainly make sure you are thorough in what you tell the assesor and don't leave out key info, but the info you include must still be truthful. I know you all know that, but the phrasing of some comments on here doesn't make that fully clear, so thought I should just add this.
Victoria
NRAS
Totally Victoria I am not going to be something I am not to get a PIP. Thank you Victoria-NRAS
PIP Assessment phobia
Pip assessment 
Pip assessment 
PIP Assessment
PIP assessment again!
