i got my call from Capita yesterday and they wanted me to go to a f2f but due to my severe mental health and physical disabilities i asked for a home visit. The woman on the phone said, "but you go out on a daily basis, don't you?" As if i could! I don't know what she was thinking of, but she agreed to me having a home visit.
However, due to my mental health i don't let anyone into my home and i don't have anyone to be with me. I haven't lived here long and don't know my medical team well at all. I am so worried.
Any suggestions please as to discuss my actual health would appall the average person and i don't want to embarrass myself.
Did you explain these difficulties on your pip form? eg you dont leave your home or let anyone in. How do you manage shopping, medical appointments etc? Do you live alone?
Do you have a family member or close friend who could be with you for your f2f assessment.
Hi there. You donot need to go into great detail about your mental health. Only how you manage to do whatever you do on a daily basis. When I attended for a mental and physical healrh assessment jt was quite obvious she never knew juch about the nature if my illness. And was only interested in what I could, and could not do. Like shopping, and washing myself etc. Do not let rhem convince you that you are capable of doing rhings that you stated you could not on your form. Stick to your guns.
I agree with michael. I had my f2f 3 weeks ago and the nurse just basically asked me the same questions I answered on the pip form. It lasted just 30 minutes too and wasn't half as bad as I had expected. She was very symathetic infact so dont worry too much x
When i attended ESA assessment i had a social worker from my local Mental Health Team , my PIP assessment i was told it would be home visit without me even asking for home visit , that one i coped with on my own , could you not ask your medical team to help - tell your concerns , good luck xx
Thanks for your responses. I'm just so worked up about this, and the woman on the phones was rather aggressive with me too. I'm still worried about her assumptions that i go out on a daily basis. I just find it strange that she would say that.
Hi, i did explain this on the form and sent in lots of medical evience too. I will go somewhere familiar if someone has gone with me around 8-10 times first. I can get in my car outside and go to the closer shops but can't get too much as i find it exhausting just pushing a trolley. Neighbours will get me some things, but i don't have a relative anywhere near. I don't realy want to explain about my severe mental health and Crohns disease in front of friends as i don't want them knowing how bad things really are for me.
Unfortunately they will probably say that if you can go into a shop and see strangers then you can see an assessor. They are pretty hard! I have crohns and the nurse never brought it up.
Only you know the facts about your activities . What she said was just an assumption. They may try to catch you out, or trick you. But just stick to what you put on the form. And make sure that you are not persuaded to change any of your facts.
I agree with Michael again - the nurse who assessed me just basically asked me to confirm what I had answered on my form. I think they do this to see if you change your answers and trip up. Really try not to worry too much.
thanks both, i hope they just go over the questions with me. I am worried i'm going to be dealt with by their worst bully. Just me being paranoid i suppose. I shall try and keep cheerful and thanks for responding so fast. it is a help.
If your house was spottles they'd think you could hoover, mop, dust and clean! Better for you if it looks a mess I know it is hard - I never slept for days before my assessment so I went in with huge black bags under my eyes as well as blood shot eyes so my pale and tired look probably went in my favour! Just be honest and stick to what you have already told them. What level of DLA were you on? I am on middle rate care and low rate mobility for my present DLA and just waiting to heard regarding my PIP. I had my assessment 3 weeks ago and the nurse said I should probably hear in about 6 weeks. The waiting time is just awful!
Well my assessor was really kind and sympathetic and my assessment was not bad at all - and once it was over I was so relieved and slept well that night!
Whatever level of DLA you were on has zilch to do with PIP - the two benefits assess things totally differently.
DLA was all about how your disabilities in general affect your life whilst with PIP you have to ensure that what you claim your difficulties are fit exactly to one or more of the descriptors no fit - no points = no award!
Incidentally I was on DLA High Mobility/Middle Care indefinitely (since 1995) and would have got nothing for PIP with only 4 points for Care.