Not sure if it's the same in every area Denise, I can only speak for my own experience in the North West. I routinely advise claimants to contact the DWP The week after the assessment to request a copy of the report, because it's useful to know the assessors' opinion and of course the earlier you have it, the better placed you are for any reconsideration request. I also advise people to keep the report safe until the PIP review date so that it can be compared to any subsequent assessment report and used to challenge it if necessary. In a few cases claimants have been told that the report has not yet been received, but that a copy will be sent as soon as they have it. The claimant inevitably has to ring back because the report does not arrive, and then they are told that it's not available until the decision has been made and notified to the claimant. I only know of one claimant who was sent the report within a few days of the assessment and her decision letter arrived at the same time.
I think the problem is the DWPs interpretation of the rules regarding this because there seems to be a lot of variance from what I'm reading here, and I don't want to put anyone off requesting the report ASAP because it's an important tool for challenging the decision.
Thank you so much to EVERYONE...I am seriously considering not bothering as I cant stand the stress....i cant face a F2F I really cant. I start blacking out when faced with stressful situations and feel sick and dizzy just reading the replies. They are extremely informative but makes me realise how daunting this process is...They have received my forms so Ill just have to see...cant thik straight at the moment and cant take in too much information at one given time so will re read messages but by bit over the next week or two x THANK YOU ALL
Please don't give up. If you have given a clear picture of your condition and provided evidence you may not have to go for an assessment, but if you do, the key is to be prepared and don't go alone. I know there are some horror stories out there but there are some good outcomes too. I won't deny that it is a very stressful process but try to take it one stage at a time. See what happens with your application and if you do get called for an assessment, come back and post on here and I'm sure we'll rally round and support you.
Pam is right. Don't give up. The problem is with these assessments for both PIP and ESA is while there are a very and worrying process for all of us. We very often never hear of the success stories. All we hear is the bad bits. Don't get me wrong, it's not an easy process for so many people. However i've had to for PIP and 1 for ESA and i have to be honest i was worried sick through all of them. Once they were over i didn't really know what i was worried about. All of the AP's i've had were really nice, fair and very understanding. I have a lot of conditions to deal with and i just went there told them exactly how my conditions affect me daily, what i can and can't do and why. Produced my evidence and ended up having very short assessments each time. Just remember not to answer each question with just a yes or no. Tell them why you can't do something. The more detail you tell them the better it is for you. Good luck and like Pam has said if you want more support before the assessment please do come back. We'll help you all we can x
Too right, don't give up as that gives them the impression that you have claimed DLA without good reason and you know you haven't so get writing, there's loads of very knowledgeable people on here so there's answers for every question.
Also there are 10s of thousands claiming that succeed and this site is a very small example of the system
I would agree with that. If the claimant does not apply for PIP within the time limit for transferring from DLA the whole claim is closed. If the claimant changes their mind and then makes a claim later on, it makes for all sorts of difficulties when the DWP check their records because as you rightly say, the assumption is that they didn't claim PIP because their claim for DLA was dodgy and they assumed they wouldn't qualify for PIP. I also think that the claim process is deliberately challenging and stressful to put off all those people who simply can't face it - and there must be lots out there. Anyone with mental health issues is particularly vulnerable.
Excellent post Denise and sometimes we need to look beyond the excuse that the assessor was ‘incompetent’.
As you know (this info is for other readers) the assessors are bound by guidelines they must follow. They can’t veer from that path and are not there to help you.
Evidence and a proper completion of the PIP2/ESA50 forms are vital. Like you I have had a number of personal assessments and the HCP/Doctors couldn’t have been more pleasant and gave me a positive outcome.
However, I have been on other assessments where I have witnessed the behaviour often associated with HCP at assessments. Being objective the difference was IMO the amount and reliability of the evidence and linking it to the descriptors on the PIP2/ESA50 forms.
There is a poster on this forum who told his story that after 20 years of claiming DLA he was invited to claim PIP. He still suffered with his medical condition and was looked after by his wife.
Unfortunately (for him) he simply managed his circumstance and hardly saw his GP never mind a consultant at his local hospital. When he went for his PIP assessment he simply couldn’t verify anything he claimed in his PIP2 form with evidence and as a result lost his benefit.
IMO they make up their minds BEFORE even seeing the claimant. If there is overwhelming evidence to back up what the claimant has said on their PIP2/ESA50 forms then they get an easy ride as the balance of probabilities is well in their favour.
Opposite to that if a claimant is relying just on their PIP2/ESA50 forms and then the assessor will spend the whole time phishing for answers in order to reject the claim (e.g. Do you drive? Who does your shopping? Do you have a pet?) and I have seen firsthand this happen and the resultant Nil Points which follows.
The key is EVIDENCE both MEDICAL and CARE along with a credible explanation to why you fit a descriptor. It is also advisable to keep in touch with your GP on a regular basis and attend all outpatient appointments.
It is sad but to be eligible you have to play to there rules evidence, evidence and then some, and then its not just about saying I have rheumatoid arthritis, lots have it and literally have no problem and then others have it and are so disabled they need a wheel chair.
I was diagnosed with it 14 years ago, for about 5/6 years no problems at all, so good I thought they were incompetent and had got it wrong, I then had a flare that knocked me sideways, I was so bad I could do my job properly, I was a chef, I was a lucky one though cause I had good staff and they carried me for a year, so because you have a disease it doesn't guarantee you the benefits, you have to prove that you need it, and that you are entitled to it.
I'm saying there are no hard and fast rules where evidence is concerned. If a gp report is all you have access to, make sure its' relevant. And yes i have seen quite a few instances where a family careers report has made the difference - for reasons pointed out in my reply above. Everything I have said is based on experience of the system.
Suzeelew, I apologize for being a part of the group who seem to have hijacked your thread, hope I'm forgiven, I think that you have a really good case to win and get back the benefits you have had taken away, don't be put off by a small minority of claimants who sadly don't achieve the results they would like but continue to the tribunal if you have to and also remember dependant on your given disabilities there are many groups out there with qualified professionals who give there time freely to help individual make a claim for a given benefit no matter whether its PIP, ESA and any of the other benefits and grants available.
Apologies again
Aww Alexandria of course you are forgiven.....I feel a little calmer now Ive sent the forms and evidence all back....What will be will be eh...no need to apologise but i thank you anyway as to be honest I stopped reading the answers as it did seem to go right of my original question ....I hope everyone who is genuine and in need gets treated fairly...there is a lot of scare mongering but also a lot of people treated totally unfairly. I think the key is to be calm and make sure we all record everything and take a carer or family memver with us at all tmes!!! Then any lies or information missed out can be witnessed....good lcu Alexandria and all x
Hi All well an interesting thread to say the least,,,,I have been really unwell so didnt come back for a few days....I do feel like ive been side stepped but then again I spose the answers all help in one way or another....If anyone is readng this can I just have an answer to the following questions please??
How long do you wait for a decision or F2F after sendig the original forms back....they received my forms 2 weeks ago?
How long and in what stages are the stages for the process from DKA to PIP?
And may I ask how many of you received the same benefit amount you were getting on DLA? Who had their amounts increased or decreased? And has anyone lost their claim completely and been awarded nothing??
With regrds
Suzee x
Hi Suzee,
I had to transfer from DLA to PIP and had my F2F about 4 weeks after sending the forms in. I sent for a copy of the assessment report just a few days after my F2F and received that around 10 days later. I then received a letter saying that they had all they needed to make a decision, I rang them a couple of days later and was eventually given the decision over the phone. The whole process took about 7 weeks. With DLA I had MRC and HRM and on PIP I now receive high rate on both care and mobility. Hope this helps. x
Hi again suzeelew 4 weeks for me from them receiving forms to receiving decision, went from low rate DLA to high on both due to major change.
Good luck
Hi all,
I have deleted all of the off topic/argumentative posts from this discussion. I would have acted sooner but have been busy. If there are any posts that need my attention or any user is causing issues can I ask that you use the Report link or send me a PM to let me know rather than carrying on debates etc. I don't read all posts so rely on you to let me know if things are getting out of hand. Once reported I will take appropriate action. I hope this can go back to a normal discussion but let me know if anyone has any queries (via PM, don't reply here and take it off topic again).
Regards,
Alan
https://patient.uservoice.com/knowledgebase/articles/398331-private-messages
thank you Southernbelle....Im in agony but another irony is i collected car thinking id be waiting ages and then got letter to say assessment is beginning of January...Lovely thing to worry about over the ''festive season''...dont know how I will manage with out a car....my carer takes me to nuerous medical appointments which include seeing specialists outside of my area...aw well I can only wait and see...I know without doubt I am a genuine case but it is all the talk of the assessors lying and not writing things down in full and making things up as to not let the person receive benefit..I could say it is scare mongering but the sad fact os this seems to be true!!! so stressful
Hi Emis. I thought a lot of the replies had gone....there do seem to be a lot that have been deleted but I trust you know what you are doing so thank you. It makes it easier I guess to stay on track
Sukes thank you. so when I go for my f2f what do i di then? Im sorry I am so confused. Do i then ring them a few days after f2f and ask for decision?? Or do I have to wait? Do they give an honest answer as to the decision or can it change? with regards Suzee x
wow thats great Alexandria! after F2F what did you do yourself? I cant wait for this to be all over, the worry and stress is making me feel unwell x
I tansitioned from DLA to PIP in early November. I had high mobile and care with DLA indefinitely. I was given 0 points for PIP. Didn't realise that I could appeal until it was too late.