PIP - the dreaded face to face interview

Having had a tremendous battle in order to get what I was entitled to by way of ESA, I was eventually given a court date for tribunal. The court had requested that I send in all the evidence beforehand, so that they could read it and know what they were dealing with on the day. I did as requested, and the result was that they tried to ring and cancel my attendance, as they'd already decided in my favour, just by reading all of the information that had been sent to the DWP in the first place. It just goes to show in my opinion, that the DWP chose to ignore information given, in the hope that the weakest of our society, will just give up and go away to literally die somewhere.

Having gone through all this, naturally I was VERY worried when the time came for me to change from DLA to PIP, because we had recently moved further away from town, and I find travelling very difficult at the best of times, we requested a home visit for the assessment. We were dreading it, and were very much on our guard against being tricked into saying things that might be misconstrued, but as it turned out, after approximately an hour of talking to me, and a few minutes with my husband, we were very surprised to receive a letter only about 3 weeks later approving my application for PIP and even increasing my benefit, so I actually think that provided you are genuine, being seen in your home environment can work in your favour, as obviously the assessor can see the aids you need around the house and your normal way of behaviour.

I would also add that to anyone going through all this for the first time, it is absolutely essential that the claimant gets it in their head that they must emphasize their WORST days, and not even mention 'good' days, as it seems that the assessors focus only on the 'good', and ignore the rest. I know from personal experience that we often have a need to make out that we're coping well, even when we're not, as we don't like to look weak, a good example of this, is an old friend who used to go to the GP when he was dying of cancer, but always told the GP that he was 'fine'!

Sorry if I've rambled, it's the morphine! lol. Anyway, wishing the OP all the best, do let us know how it goes.

HootyMcfOwlface. My husband has had three of these assessments regarding PIP. There is really nothing to worry about, the people who conduct these assessments on behalf of Capita have to treat you with respect and courtesy. They are not trying to trick you or catch you out. The second time my husband was assessed was regarding his application to have his PIP increased to the higher rate due to the decline in his health. The result came back that he was to remain on the lower rate. I appealed and thanks to a letter from his GP had the decision overturned, he now receives the higher rate. So the appeal process does work if you don't agree with the decision made.

Our world is becoming so difficult for so many people.

It really makes me sick the way ill and disabled people are treated in this country,
I know there are some who play the system, but the genuine ones are tarred with the same brush
I am having to help both my sons financially at the moment,and i just have my state pension and very little savings,
Also why are ill people having too apply for work, its all wrong,i think they are trying to kill us off, and they are doing a good job
Have you read about the DWP employee in Wales, who had a panic attack and was was made fun of because of it and called a whinger
He has just been awarded 26000 in compensation,by a court

icanhandthemback I know this to be true, because i also have a family member in this situation too, not sons or daughter, but he has a flat,rent paid, ESA of a very good amount, just had back pay of £4000, previously had back pay, [not sure what of] of £3000, and blown the lot in less than 3 days, this time bought himself and friend expensive mountan bikes [£1000 each] spent the rest on clothes and drugs,
Wrecked his flat between him and friends,
Is that right,i dont think so
When people who try to do the right thing have to live on £73 a week
My son who has had the strokes has even tried to find a part time job which he can possibly do, was told for every pound he earns 63p is taken out of it
Is the incentive there to work, especially when you are ill, i dont think so

They also have to look at what you are like the majority of the time:- not a particularly bad or good day.

Can I please emphasise that the members of an Appeal Tribunal have nothing to do with the DWP. They are independent people who are employed by the HMTCS.
THEY TAKE A COMPLETELY FRESH LOOK AT THE CASE. All the evidence is considered. This is why it is so important that the claimant appears in person.

It is important to emphasise what you often struggle with and not what you might possibly manage on a good day....

valeriej43, it may seem that you have to have drink or drugs problem, I can assure you that it is not that easy. As someone who has had experience with this through a family member, I can testify they have as many problems as the rest of the disabled population. As many of them self medicate through high levels of anxiety, the current PIP system can often cause them to fall off the wagon even when they have been doing well before the papers arrive.
I think the system was designed to remove as many people as possible without taking their needs into account properly and by giving assessors or their bosses incentives to remove people from the list, it is open to abuse from all sides.

Thanks Val. Job centre have told me to ask for a mandatory reconsideration, but well, its so ruddy difficult when you feel like death warmed up!
Plus, I have to be seen to be applying for jobs so that I can get my 73 pounds a week!

MissaAdventure so sorry for the loss of your daughter, dont really know anything about your loss, but its terrible what people are having to go through, especially at a time like yours, when you dont need the extra stress,and need time to grieve

I failed my assessment for ESA, and am currently signing on for work.
I can feel myself slipping further and further into a dark, dark place.
I just needed a bit of time to grieve the loss of my daughter.

Should say dont give back payments

These assessors blatantly lie, one of my sons has had several srokes,he has Haemochromatosis,[overload of iron] which makes him at risk of having more as his ferritin is causing him joint pains and stomach pains,his feet are very painful, he was medically dismissed from his job he had worked at for about 30 years never been out of work
He answered all the questions asked, but lo and behold, most of them wee put down as something he never said
He has been given a flat with warden service, and rarely leaves it,it is painful for him to walk very far
He has been put on Universal credit of £73 a week, which is supposed to be the minimum to live on, out of that he pays part rent, gas,water,electric, food ,and anything else he needs,but now been landed with a letter for overpayment of tax credits from 7 years ago, which he cancelled when it was due to be reviewed, and he has had almost £50 a month taken out of his UC ,how are people supposed to live
This Government is despicable, with this Universal credit business,
My other son, his twin has similiar problems apart from strokes, he is also on long term sick with osteoarthritis too,, but has been told he has to apply for jobs, absolutely disgusting
They both have back up of Drs and consultants
No wonder there are so many suicides, both have appealedpip, but doubt if they get anywhere
This second son has had no money since before Christmas
Also they give back pay
If you want help,you have to be a drug addict and alcoholic,you get plenty then,and thats a fact

I had to go to the Assessment Centre when mine changed from DLA in 2016 to PIP. My DD came with me as I couldn't drive at that time. She has attended these interviews with various family members.

I was on lower rate for care on DLA, I was granted Daily Living Allowance at higher rate than I was paid on DLA also as I have no Carer I am paid Carer's Allowance alongside my ESA. My PIP will be paid until October 2019 at which point I presume I will be re-assessed. Good luck to those of you waiting for assessment

It is a fact that people do better at tribunals if they appear in person. NEVER choose a paper hearing. Representatives can be helpful too.
Do remember though, that a tribunal has the power to take away points as well as increase them.

If you have not already seen it, you may find this helpful - it is the Citizens Advice section about PIP www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/

I've found Benefits and Work to be really helpful over the form filling, then the Mandatory Reconsideration - they have example forms (and letters for MR). Their cost for a year of membership to access their papers is reasonable (£19.95 a year). You can find details here:
www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/join-us

I was on low care for DLA and high mobility. After my assessment by ATOS I was given standard payment for both activities of daily living and moving around, so lost my Motability car. I was 67 when I was called for PIP assessment, and 68 by the time I got to Tribunal last June.

Because of my age I decided to seek further help for Tribunal (as too old to make a new claim for PIP), so went to Fightback4Justice. They do free help, but I joined them on their higher level of membership. I was very fortunate that one of their advocates was able to accompany me to Tribunal. There is a further charge for this, plus travel costs. Highly recommended. With their help I obtained enhanced rate for both activities of daily living and moving around at Tribunal. I continue to make monthly payments to them, as they help others too. And I'm sure that without the benefit of their advocate coming with me to Tribunal I would have been a gibbering idiot there!
www.fightback4justice.co.uk/

Fightback are also on Facebook if you want to find out more about them.

I'm not meaning to advertise either of these resources for help with benefits - just I have found both really helpful.

For anyone who wants to follow my PIP "journey" and has time enough to read 20 pages about it all, I wrote about it on Benefits and Work forums. These don't need membership to access and read them, but if you want to ask questions or post you do need to be a member.

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/forum?view=topic&defaultmenu=100549&catid=10&id=110744&limitstart=0

Wishing the best of luck to everyone who is having to go through PIP and other benefit applications.

Two years ago my charity supported a learning disabled man at a Tribunal where the points he was initially awarded were increased by an extra twenty points, but he also has to be assessed again after two years. His learning disability is never going to improve so why he has to undergo the stress of re-assessment I don't understand. The man is already in an extreme state of anxiety about it and I hate that these things cause untold stress needlessly.

The assessor will ask what aids are used for your husband, so the hoist should be a great help for information. Try not to get to down about it.

My DD has a congenital condition which will not get better but she still gets her PIP awarded for 3 years but assessed after 2. It is such a waste of their time but, hey ho, that is the system. It wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't such a stressful time as so much hangs on it.

Gosh Phoebes that sounds awful. Can you ask your GP if he can refer you somewhere else for a second opinion?

My sister was asked to go to an interview to change from DLA to PIP lasy year and I accompanied her at the appointment.
The young lady asked my sister many questions regarding her problems which are no use of her right arm and weakness all down her right side,she cannot lift anything and has difficulty walking without an aid.
She was granted the change to PIP until Sept 2019 only when she has to reapply.
Her condition will not improve at all so we will have to do it all again next year for her,what has amazes me is that on the report we received from DWP was that my sister had use of her right arm and it was not as bad as stated on the forms,but when the person was interviewing my sister she was sitting opposite her and the arm she was looking at was my sisters left arm not her malfunctioning right arm so she did not receive the full amount she should have done,the thing is my sister will not get in touch with them as she says she can't stand the stress of it all.

yes it is very stressful as was filling out the application form. My husband absolutely hates saying what he can't do - and he really can do very little. He has been in a foul mood ever since we did the form, I'm getting to the end of my tether with him. I am worried that at the interview he will say he can do all sorts, when I have to hoist him in and out of his chair, dress him, wash him, feed him and everything else. I have said to him he needs to be careful what he says he can do as their job is to try and get out of giving him the PIP, and he could lose his wav (motability wheelchair accessible vehicle), and I could lose my pittance of a carers allowance.

The problem with PIP is the criteria are aimed at physical disabilities and do not take mental disability such as Autism into account