PIP - the dreaded face to face interview

I think, given the rising number of people on some sort of disability/care/tax benefits, that assessors have to follow stringent rules as people can and do exaggerate and some even tell outright lies.
It might only be a few people in the great scheme of things but it is taxpayers money, often paid out over a prolonged period of time.
The majority are probably totally honest but the few who are not, spoil it for the many who are.
I'm quite surprised to read that there are so many GNs themselves or with relatives who require this assistance.

FYI: I have legally represented a number of persons in the above brackets so I can vouch for the above statement.

valeriej43
I very much doubt that there is more help, financial or otherwise, for alcoholics and drug addicts than for anyone with other 'disabilities' or illnesses.
I know for a fact that the system is just as fraught with hoops to be jumped through and difficulties with suitable housing, help with their addictions and payments.
For one thing, they have to be clean for 3 months to even be considered and that's before the paperwork and hoops.

Appeal. It is a hassle but never take rejection, just argue

I did not get Blue Badge because the assessor said I was not in enough pain - how does she know how much pain I am in? I was told beforehand to big it all up but that seemed so wrong to me.

The badge would make a massive difference to me, because I cannot walk at all without pain, and it worsens the farther I have to walk from the car.

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My OH made a point to be at my home assessment but he wasnt asked anything. I suppose it demands on your disability and level of care needed. By the way I was told the assesser should not ask to look round your home at adaptions etc as they couldnt do that at a centre based one, but my assesser used the bathroom and went in the kitchen to speak to my OH so obviously did look around! She remarked on my shower stool in the wetroom and how maybe I needed another grab rail!

Quick question from me, I’m currently filling in the paperwork to attempt to transfer to PiP . If the assessment is at home, is my husband expected to be there as well as me the claimant? Anyone know?

Hooty It certainly sounds as though your OH should have been awarded the higher band for his personal safety and medicine administration,you can apply for a review as far as I know but how long it would take I'm not sure but its well worth a try.
When my sister went for her assessment the Nurse based her finding on none use of her left arm when in fact it was her right arm that had the problem so they do get things wrong sometimes.Her advisor at CAB had the report amended and she was granted the higher rate back paid from her original report so it is worthwhile getting it looked at.

Thanks maryeliza. She isnt on MN. She phone the Tribuneral office yesterday but they just say there is no time limit for when an appeal will be heard! She has to sign on tomorrow and of course they will again question her reasons for limiting her job search. Its made worse by the fact she lives "up in the hills" so employment is limited anyway!

HAZ does your dd use MN - there are regular threads on there about all the issues around benefits and disabled children. There’s lots of sound advice and support from people in exactly her situation - I’m so sorry - this is I could think of to say to you.

Glad it was good news Hooty ??

Oh Hazbeen, that is awful. Could you complain to your MP and see if he/she could help?

Thats great news Hooty! Unfortunately my DGS is still waiting for his Tribuneral hearing, his appointment for March was postponed (no Doctor for the panel) and he hasnt got a new date yet. It will be 1 year in July since they stopped his DLA! My DD is really struggling to make ends meet as she lost his DLA, disabled child tax credits, carers allowance etc. she now has to sign on but couldnt take a job anyway because he cant be left alone and and doesnt interact with anyone else. The Job Centre are starting to hassle her so I can only hope something happens soon.

UPDATE: We have had the letter with the result back from the assessment and he is to transfer onto PIP at what looks like similar payments to his DLA. However, a couple of the assessment scorings are totally wrong - no points for administering medication - if I didn’t give it to him he wouldn’t be able to get it himself; and no points for making or planning a journey - he is totally not safe on his own, he would not stop at pedestrian crossings or look for dropped kerbs, he would just keep going! He has no idea of where anywhere is either and goes in the wrong direction! Anyway, I don’t suppose it is worth the hassle challenging these as he gets enough points overall to qualify for his PIP.

lemongrove Exactly! Husband loves to show off and says he can do all sorts when he can do very little at all. I had to chip in a bit so hopefully the assessor believes me and the evidence we submitted.

Hooty

Good to hear your update was thus far positive and it will be interesting to know the final outcome when it arrives.

You sound as though your experience echoes mine and I am pleased all went well.

My son (3 strokes and multiple pulmonary embolisms) is to have an assessment for PIP . I fully expect he will be turned down and neither of us are well enough to go through the process of appeal and court . It is made as difficult as possible to get these benefits , I lost my mobility car on going from DLA to PIP . The very long and detailed form plus Drs letters and test results are ignored in favour of a ` medical Professionals` opinion The person who did mine was an Occupational therapist , she insisted on examining me ! even though not qualified to .

Hooty hope it goes well for you. My DD had the assesment done a couple of months ago, same as you, a pleasant young man and it didn’t take long.She got a letter saying the payments would continue.
Hope your DH didn’t say he was fine! Men are inclined to say they are better than they really are.

Update: the assessor came yesterday. He was a very pleasant young man, not at all scary!. He was here about three quarters of an hour and took loads of notes on his computer. He didn't look around the house nor at any of the equipment in the bedroom, which I thought he would. He said we would get a letter in about 4 weeks with the decision. I just hope we don't have the experience of valeriej43 and others - fingers crossed.

My best advice,as this is one of my professional areas of legal expertise, is take notes of all that happens. Remember that the assessor will watch every movement that your husband makes to assess it against the stated difficulties, so if a task is painful he must say so.
Don’t underplay anything, its not helpful to play the stoic and doesn’t give an accurate picture.
Lots of people are too embarrassed to be honest especially when it comes to personal bodily functions, don’t be!but be very detailed and honest about all the help he needs. try to make sure that you do not over estimate walking distances or under estimate the time it takes to do a task remember the benefit is awarded due to the help he needs not his medical problems.
Make very sure that the level of pain a task causes him is clearly and frequently stated, if she or he asks your husband to do any physical things like bending to toes or standing if it hurts and he has to hold on to you to do it he must clearly and unequivocally say so.
Finally remember that if the decision is unsuccessful he will have one month from the date of the decision to lodge a mandatory reconsideration.
I would not suggest paying for help with the appeal process you can get free expert specialist help from your local Citizens Advice and I would suggest if needed you went to them for this as soon as you received any decision.

valeriej43, I guess it must depend who you get because our experiences have been very different to yours. However, I do agree with you that the way the genuine disabled are treated is dreadful. Unfortunately, a lot of people who have been expected to work because they have children of school age or similar have found a reason to be disabled with "disabilities" that are difficult to prove especially with the internet available to give them all the symptoms. I think if I were ATOS or Capita, these are the people I would probably look at more carefully whilst taking into account there will be genuine claimants in there. Unfortunately a PIP is a gateway benefit so it is in a claimant's interests to really push for it.

HAZBEEN, your daughter can claim to get her carers allowance backdated to. Not everyone knows that, but if they stopped your grandsons benefits and it was deemed to be the wrong decision via a tribunal, they would have to backdate the carers benefit too. Just been through it all myself and hubby ended up getting more money backdated than me!

It's rare that they give PIP until you've appealed the decision to disallow it; I was fortunately in a position to claim AA, being seriously disabled - severe diabetic complications, unusable right elbow and unable to walk, but being almost 70 can't get help with mobility. We were ATOS, but assume Capita same rules. What annoyed me were the lies and contradictions they put as excuses. Good luck, everyone, but be ready for a real fight!